Issues

This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first:

  • NE Ipswich missing link at Woodbridge Road railway bridge

    Created by Jon_B // 1 thread

    The cycle link from Bramley Hill to Haslemere Drive has opened up a route via Lacey Street, Haslemere Drive and Bramley Hill as a much quieter parallel route to Woodbridge Road for cycles.

    However, to proceed to North East Ipswich from here means cycling (or indeed walking or driving) via Woodbridge Road at the point where it crosses the railway line. There are no other crossings for a considerable distance to the North or South.

    The land fronting Woodbridge Road to the North is currently for sale for residential development.

    If this land is developed I believe that this should include an additional cycle and pedestrian bridge over the railway to Belvedere Road to open up access to the residential areas NE of this (as well as Sidegate Lane Primary School) without having to use Woodbridge Road.

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  • Herbert Street

    Sam // 1 thread

    Herbert St is one of the closest streets to the centre of town that has free on-road parking. As a result, it's a little chaotic.

    Councillors are working towards resident only parking (and seem to have been for some time).

    Given that it's part of the cycle route from Midsummer common, and has small gardens, narrow pavements etc, is it worth seeing if there can be some cycle stands added or some other improvements at the same time?

    There are some by the co-op on Chesterton Road, of which about half seem to be used by residents.

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  • Vehicles parking in mandatory cycle lane

    Created by Simon Hewison // 0 threads

    On this stretch of CS7, there's mandatory cycle lanes, which motor vehicles aren't allowed in, but it seems that Southwark Council forgot to include double-yellow lines, or any segregation, just blue paint with a solid white line. This leaves cyclists swerving into the road to avoid multiple badly parked vehicles (often HGVs taking their lunch, and in many cases, unmarked police vehicles at the unmarked police office)

    Quick fix: Armadillos and/or double-yellow lines.

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  • Magdalene Heights student accommodation proposal

    Created by Matthew Phillips // 1 thread

    See planning application at: http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N3SZPOGDGB000

    Good points: plans include secure covered cycle places at a ratio of 1:2 which is exactly what we have recently been asking for.

    Bad points: Council officers have suggested this is too many and 1:5 would be appropriate. This is despite the fact this accommodation is relatively far off from most University sites.

    Issues:
    1) cycle access over footbridge
    2) ensuring development is connected to all local footpaths
    3) bike contraflow needed on Station Lane
    4) navigating Gilesgate roundabout

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  • NCN Route 72

    Created by Rob1968 // 0 threads

    As you approach the end of this particular stretch of NCN 72 past the Egger factory, you suddenly emerge onto a very busy road. This is one of the major arterial routes in and out of Hexam as it leads to and from the A69 bypass, one of the major transpennine links. It is not suitable for adults to ride on never mind young children.( I have a son aged 10)

    The route leads across the main road bridge into Hexham, swings around a small roundabout by the Tyne Green park, and then brings you directly onto another roundabout by Tesco and the Wentworth Leisure Centre. It is as though cyclists have been designed out of the picture on this one. Its a shame as my son would use this route to school if it were safe.

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  • More racks at Clayport Library

    Created by Gregory // 0 threads

    Not an issue but good news I thought worth sharing here. I regularly use the Gala/Walkergate cycle racks outside Clayport Library. Today I was confused, they had been replaced with a slightly different style and moved closer to the wall. The concrete looked wet/new but they are firmly in place, perhaps that's why they were empty but a bicycle was locked to a nearby lamp post.

    An old gentleman walked by and commented it was a better place for them. I thought he referred to being out of the way, but he said the seat won't get wet (if I had parked my bike facing the other way!).

    I have updated the cycle capacity on OpenStreetMap, there are almost double the number of racks as before!!! I don't know what happened to the old style racks, hopefully they are being installed somewhere new. I might ask.
    http://www.openstreetmap.org/node/744912599

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  • Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2015

    Created by Hester Wells // 1 thread

    Consultation on road markings and traffic signs at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/traffic-signs-regulations-and-general-directions-2015

    There are a number of things which I believe affect cyclists, see http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/dft-to-allow-better-signage-for-cyclists-including-removing-asl-lanes/016336
    This is really a national issue, but didn't want to spam all users.

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  • Bus Lane Cameras

    Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread

    I've just spotted a County Council public notice on the post at the point noted, but applying to various areas as far as I can tell. Was in a bit of a hurry - stupidly didn't think of taking a photo of it. But the Council appear to be suggesting putting bus lane enforcement cameras in! I think this has to be good news, and ought to help cyclists - what do other people think?

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  • New Hinxton ford flood barrier will block road to cyclists between Duxford and Hinxton

    Created by James Gilbert // 1 thread

    New barriers will be used to prevent cars driving into the ford when the river is too high. Almost all of the time when the ford is in flood it is still passable by cyclists and pedestrians on the footbridge. On the Duxford side (pictured), cyclists will have to squeeze past on the verge next to a ditch to get round. This will be hard for cyclists with trailers, children in seats etc...

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  • cycle routes around East Anglian coastline

    Richard G // 1 thread

    Hi everyone

    I'm looking on cycling round the east anglian coastline with a group of scouts this summer.

    Has anyone done this & could give hints or suggestions to the routes?

    Sustrans maps show plenty of quiet road type routes, but I'm thinking they are not well signposted.
    the NCR01 route cuts through Norwich rather than round the coast, but I guess may well be better signposted?

    Can anyone help me out with thinking about a route please?
    Thanks
    Richard (Cambridge area)

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  • Craneford Way - Pedestrian and Cycle Access

    Created by timlennon // 1 thread

    Note from correspondent:
    At the moment there is an agreement for non-vehicle access in and out and vehicular egress for the Canons leisure club members via a controlled barrier with responsibility in the hands of The Harlequins Management. This is regularly abused by unauthorised traffic. I want to investigate the feasibility of it being made pedestrian and cycling only, in advance of any building developments which might want to bring it back into full use for vehicle entry and egress, which would have a significant negative impact on the safe use by pedestrians and cyclists.

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  • CRC Science Park Busway Junction

    Created by Robin Heydon // 1 thread

    The Guided Busway is a huge success. It carries many adults and youth to and from many destinations, a major destination being the Cambridge Regional College bus stop. Unfortunately, the volume of bicycle and pedestrian traffic along the line of the busway at this point probably wasn’t considered and is now causing problems. It will probably cause even more problems once the new Science Park Station is built at the far end of the busway.

    Current Situation

    When I started looking at this junction, I tried to ignore what was “built” and instead tried to observe how people moved through the junction. In the first diagram I’ve shown the main desire lines. Desire lines are where people actually move rather than those which engineers designed. For example, when crossing the access road to the college, from the busway, people walked in as straight a line as possible pretty much ignoring the supposed 90º toucan crossing.

    Many people on bicycles don’t bother with the toucan but instead just wait for a gap between the traffic light phases and quickly scoot across. Many people ignore what has been designed and have found new, possibly better, ways through the junction - for example, creating a path from King Hedges Road over bare ground. This informal crossing obviously works, but is it safe? Do the bus drivers expect people to cross at this point?

    There are many conflict points, some less bothersome than others. The two biggest problems are at the bus stop exit junction with the science park entrance, and between the toucan crossing and the brick surround of the gas supply for the area. When cycling there can be many people trying to cross the road, especially after the bus has stopped, or just before classes are due to start, all getting in your way. Of course, we are getting in their way too, and this isn’t helped by the poor sight lines.

    I would therefore summarise that the problems are simply:

    1. Severely limited space at the toucan crossing and busway crossing points.
    2. Informal pedestrian crossing show junction isn’t working as desired.
    3. Very narrow access to science park with poor sight lines.

    Proposed Solution

    First, we should always respect peoples desire lines. They are voting with their feet, it is obviously safe enough for them to do it day after day, and they have left plenty of evidence that it works by wearing down the grass. So we should make this a proper pedestrian route. This actually has two benefits: it moves a lot of the pedestrian traffic to the west side of the busway stop reducing the number of people at the science park entrance, and it allows a more “directed” path to the north side of that brick building.

    Second, we should separate the CRC traffic and guided busway traffic as much as possible at the CRC junction. The busway traffic should follow their natural desire line which is straight on. There are wide turning splays for buses to access the busway from the CRC, yet no buses do this. We should remove them and make a straight on toucan in line with the busway. The CRC traffic would be given their own toucan on the north side of the brick building. Some of the existing railing (cycle parking) here may need to be removed, and the car stop line pushed back a car length or so. The space between the car stop line and the new toucan could usefully become an advanced cycle box.

    Third, we should build a proper segregated footway to the north of the cycle track that links to the existing footway going to the “new” toucan. This would be built similar to the Coton path such that pedestrian traffic would be encouraged to seek the higher and safer ground.

    Forth, we should straighten the line for access from the science park to the busway. The current facility bends away from the busway crossing, is very narrow, and limits the flow. I’ve seen times when people are queuing cross the busway to travel through this gate. On the south side, the highly restrictive chicane should be removed. People happily cross the busway at multiple points without problems, as here the buses are moving very slowly as they approach the station.

    Lastly, we should alter the phasing of the traffic lights. A simple desire for people on bicycle is to wait as little time as possible, but we take very little time to cross a road. Therefore, I would suggest that bicycles are given a green light between every car phase, but only for a few seconds. They should also be given a green light whenever the busway is given a green light. The individual phases may need to be lengthened slightly, say from 25 seconds to 30 seconds to maintain the “capacity”, but the advantages it gives to bicycles would be huge. Also, the pedestrian crossing could be changed to a zebra crossing. This route would then become preferable to the slower toucan crossing further pulling people away. It would also allow for a much more pedestrian focused environment around what should be highly walkable area.

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