SMALL SCHEMES, BIG CHANGES - BARNSTAPLE
Hazardous side road crossing Coney Avenue on Hollowtree Road, priority change required; turning drivers should give way to cyclists!
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:
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Hazardous side road crossing Coney Avenue on Hollowtree Road, priority change required; turning drivers should give way to cyclists!
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Button Toucan Crossing Hollowtree Road not working (Lidl side, button north side)
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
The Square: signage required to guide cyclists into subway (for Town Centre, Braunton and Tarka Trail) and onto Square (for Sticklepath via Long Bridge and bike parking "The Square")
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Rock Park corner: arrow on cycle path to direct cyclists onto road before the New Road Roundabout. This to clarify cycling route FROM Town Centre TO Newport.
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Replacement of last yellow “No entry to the Square from 23rd May” sign on Glouster Rd by signs with just “No entry to the Square”.
This makes clear that traffic calming of the Taw Vale route in favour of sustainable transport is PERMANENT and not temporarily!
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Two-way traffic for cyclists on Barbican Terrace-Litchdon Street, allowing to cycle from the Strand to Summerland Street
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Open or remove barrier to make use of Richmond Street as connecting route easier
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Gate under Western Bypass was closed two years ago, only to annoy cyclists? Incovenenient and annoying; re-open gate please!
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Removal of annoying gate on ramp Western Bypass-Tarka Trail; where is the cattle which needs to be held back by this gate?
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Surface and lighting improvements route Rugby Ground Alley Way/Car Park
20 mph speed limit on Fair View Road/Pilton Quay between Abbey Road and Pilton Causeway (Yeo Dale Hotel)
Upgrade footpath on river bank to shared path (with new shared path signs), making the full connection between Abbey Road and Rolle Quay.
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
This NCN sign on North Walk has been wrong aligned for several years! "Welcome to Barnstaple"; great impression for visitors on NCN3 and NCN27!
New high-profile bike parking at main entrance Civic Centre
New bike parking Boutport Street at Green Lanes shopping entrance
New bike parking Boutport Street near Post Office/Butchers Row (also to reduce illegal pavement parking!)
New bike parking Church alley way (next to co-op on High Street); info signs at this location already regularly informally used as stands
More capacity bike parking Cattle Market (end of Holland Walk)
Re-allocate benches and bike-park on pavement next to the Square and removal of first taxi rank space; all required to create a logical off-road route connecting Boutport St
Allow cyclists to cycle on pavement next to the Square FROM Boutport Street TO The Strand
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Allow cyclists to turn right from Boutport Street onto Boutport Street (in front of the Post Office) - arrow signage on tarmac?
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Allow cyclists to turn left from Butchers Row onto Boutport Street (current sign only allows taxis to do this!)
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Allow cyclists to use Cross Street/Butchers Row at all times to cycle FROM Strand TO Boutport Street (one way)
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Allow cyclists to use Joy Street/High Street at all times to cycle FROM Boutport Street TO Rolle Quay Roundabout (one way)
Created by North Devon Cycling Forum // 0 threads
Boutport Street: new signs to confirm cyclist's right to go both ways: Alexandra Rd-Post Office. Current signs have a mixture of "buses and taxis only" and only occasionally a mention about bicycles.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
The path linking Bank Lane to Palewell Fields is currently pedestrian only, with gates across it. Opening this up to cyclists would improve permeability and provide a quiet route to Richmond Park Academy school from Roehampton (east-west); and to Ibstock Place school from Sheen (west-east).
Despite the number of bridges that link Newcastle and Gateshead, there is not a single route across the Tyne that throws bike users in to conflict with either high volumes of motor vehicles at high speeds or that uses shared paths that create potential conflict with pedestrians.
Due to the amount of people who already cycle between Newcastle and Gateshead and the potential for this to grow, there should be at least one high level crossing that gives bike users there own space when crossing the Tyne.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Footbridges at Mortlake railway station should be fitted with troughs to enable cyclists to easily wheel bicycles to the other platform. Cyclists frequently carry bicycles over the footbridge, as per the photo - one going in each direction!
Created by Paul James // 1 thread
The cycleways along the Thames Path and along Ducks Walk are not connected with the south/east side cycleway across Twickenham Bridge and only to the north/west side cycleway via a long detour through Old Deer Park or along The Avenue.
A ramped way down from the bridge would create a useful route for people into and out of Richmond town center that is currently only possible by using two flights of steps.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
It would be much safer to have cyclist priority on the slip roads here as is done in The Netherlands http://www.flickr.com/photos/smsm1/10046288016/ , or even the following example from Britain: http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/photos/good-cycling-facility-of-the-week/good-cycling-facility-of-the-week-14th-november-2013-0
The slip roads also need to be narrowed to slow motor vehicle speeds as does the turning radii of the roundabout.
Created by jpennycook // 1 thread
"Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has commissioned Sustrans, a leading UK charity that aims to encourage people to travel by foot, bicycle or public transport for more of their local journeys to help create a ‘cycling strategy’ and new cycle network map in consultation with the people who live in, work in or visit the borough."
The strategy ignores most of the Borough, has low aims (lowest common denominator rather than facilities suitable for all riders), and is being made irrelevant by new housing developments.
Responses to the consultation should be in by 11th December.
Here is a map showing the Borough Council's boundaries: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/127249
By zooming in to this map, you can see the proposed corridors as dashed blue highlights: http://opencyclemap.org/?zoom=12&lat=51.2725&lon=-1.15&layers=B0000
Created by Grahame Cooper // 1 thread
Irlams O'th Height roundabout has been the location of a number of collisions involving cyclists (including myself and my daughter last September).
There was a consultation last year over proposals produced by Sustrans for the improvement of this, and I showed my comments (annotations on proposed plans) at a previous GMCC meeting. You can find this annotated document here: https://copy.com/tAIjQdMSxfcsq4fz (large PDF - need to download to see all pages).
A leaflet on the intended imrovements can be found here: http://www.urbanvision.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cycling-Leaflet.pdf
I am disappointed with this for the following reasons:
- Extensive use of shared footways in the scheme (Salford Council seems to be in love with these, but they are bad).
- Southbound approach on A666 looks impractical & dangerous: a sharp left turn onto the shared footway right at the busy entrance to the roundabout!
- Whilst carriageway widths have been reduced, kerb radii at the mouth of entrances and exits do not seem to have been reduced, so "drivers looking right whilst accelerating left" will still pose a danger for cyclists who do not want to use the shared footways.
- Limited improvements to the subways (tile removal, lighting and resurfacing) will probably not result in an attractive facility for cyclists. Access to this from Bolton Road (northbound) looks awkward.
- There is no undertaking mentioned to ensure that facilities will be maintained and swept.
- I'm still not confident regarding the social safety of the off-road parts, especially in the dark winter months.
Those are my immediate reactions. Could be more to add.
Created by SamGW // 1 thread
The Road between Great Wilbraham and Fulbourn is very well used by Cyclists, runners and walkers throughout the year. It is a single track road with a 60 MPH speed limit. A bicycle path here would encourage more people to cycle to Fulbourn and Cambridge. The path would significantly improve safety for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 10 threads
Milton Road, like other main roads in the city, is a mix of typically bad bits of cycle infrastructure. There is considerable scope, possibly within the City Deal funding, to rework the whole streetscape to Dutch standards.
Created by MJR // 2 threads
There was a Heritage Lottery Fund stage 1 project hoping to progress to stage 2 and work for 5 years from June 2014 to regenerate the "old town" around the Saturday Market Place. The initial draft contains no cycle measures but does mention cycle access policy, so may be persuaded to reinstate lost public cycle parking in places like opposite the old Post Office and might even be a way to fill in the missing link in National Cycle Network Route 1. The consultation papers are online at http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=26919 and open until 16 December.
The key cycling problem in this area is the difficulty of accessing Saturday Market Place without passing through the poor junction at its east end and the lack of signs telling cyclists to use Priory Lane to reach SMP.
Created by Frenchie // 0 threads
This is one of the prime candidate for a cycle contraflow in Newcastle City Centre. Currently one way for all traffic from Percy Street to Strawberry place. Allowing cyclists down from Strawberry Place to Percy Street would improve permeability and connectivity for cyclists. Note: not a lot of traffic, space not an issue, short uphill section so speeding not an issue.
Created by Robin Heydon // 2 threads
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
Created by Simon B // 1 thread
The river crossing across the River Dee from Chester City Centre to Handbridge is a key access route for cyclists from south of the city into the city centre, especially since the pedestrian crossing across the suspension bridge from Handbridge/Queens Park has a prohibition on cycling.
The crossing on the histroric Handbridge is controlled by traffic lights operated by inductive sensors at both ends of the bridge. The timing of these lights means that those who are slower cyclists or part of a group of cyclists sometimes do not reach the other side of the bridge before the lights have changed for the traffic in the opposite direction.
This causes an intimidatory situation, and occasionally a dangerous situation when traffic has started to cross on to the narrow bridge confronting cyclists coming in the other direction.
It would be helpful to log any incidents that people may have encountered to accumulate suitable evidence for both English Heritage (who control aspects of what can be installed on to the listed structure) and for the Highway Authroity (Cheshire West & Chester Council) to afford this a greater priority than currently.
The Council is unwilling to lengthen the delay on the lights before they change in the opposite direction (citing unjustifiable delay to traffic), and English Heritage have said that additional sensors cannot be installed into the road surface /bridge structure to delay the changing of lights due to cyclists still traversing the bridge.
Where the quite good segregated cycle lane joins The Ride, DfT advice was certainly NOT followed. As per DfT advice, when cycle lanes are merged with the carriageway, it should be done via a length of dropped kerb that is flush with the carriageway and the cycle lane shouldn't be joined at a 90 degree angle to the road.
Here, the cycle lane runs parallel to the road for a short distance before it loops around a large boulder specifically placed to force cyclists around and then finally joins the road at a 90 degree angle.
The kerb, though dropped, is far from flush and creates a risk for cyclists joining the track from the road.
This junction between the road and the track should be scrapped and redone according to DfT guidelines.
Created by Matthew Phillips // 1 thread
If you follow NCN 7/14/70 through Durham from west to east, then after crossing Pennyferry bridge and proceeding south towards Fleshergate you find a no entry sign which adds "Cyclists dismount". There ought to be a contraflow cycle lane on this one way street. Round the corner just further on there is a contraflow lane!
Update, 3rd May 2016.
The road layout has been changed in conjunction with the new office blocks at Freeman's Reach. The road was previously wide enough to be two-way, apart from the problem of the bays for coaches to offload tourists. Now the pavement has been extended to enclose the bays, and the main carriageway is much narrower. What had been ordinary footway further along is now a ramp up to the office doors, with the footway now taking the place of part of the previous carriageway. There is a shared-use sign on the pavement, if you are travelling north, but "cyclists give way to pedestrians" has been added, as though they are aware that the space is not really wide enough. On the reverse of the sign is a "cyclists dismount" sign again, so there is still no means of turning south round the corner to join the short contraflow lane.
By the end of Pennyferry Bridge there is now a little shared use sign indicating that it is permissible to cycle on the new walkway round the river side of the office blocks. Mixing bikes and pedestrians along this route will probably be unpopular.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Westbound cycle lane is painted about 2m out from the kerb for no reason; child cyclists tend to follow paint rather than the common sense option which is to cycle next to the kerb.
Created by WilliamNB // 0 threads
When cycling north-bound along Tavistock Road, there is a cycle lane in places. Once out from under the Crownhill Road bridge the lane turns sharply left, forcing cyclists to yield to traffic joining Tavistock Road from the left.
The Highway Code states you should yield to traffic from the right and this junction is very dangerous to cyclists. It would be far better to simply continue the cycle lane straight ahead and erect yield signs to traffic joining Tavistock Road
Created by Colin Bell // 1 thread
Has there been any improvement in the "new" NCN 11 route from Waterbeach to Lode since last summer? Last time I went that way I had to wheel the bike across fields and carry it over two or three stiles.
Any information, including a forecast date when a proper route is likely to be built, welcome. Thanks.
Natalie G // 1 thread
This consultation seeks to gather your views on Hackney Council’s proposals for improving the environment for cycling and walking and controlling traffic flow on Oldhill Street between Stamford Grove East and Feldman Close, including:
• a one-way system on Oldhill Street from Stamford Grove East to Feldman Close
• a School Street to make it safer and easier for children to walk and cycle to school.
The one-way system will serve to stop people driving vehicles along the footway outside Tyssen School.
For the School Street, the same section of Oldhill Street will temporarily become a pedestrian- and cycle-only zone for 45 minutes at school opening and closing times whilst maintaining access for residents, businesses, pedestrians and cyclists. This will tackle congestion at the school gates and improve the environment and safety for those travelling to school.
Residents and businesses who live and work on this section of Oldhill Street will be able to register for an exemption so they can still get to and from their homes and businesses by vehicle.
Created by Matthew // 2 threads
On 1 January 2026, historic routes in England that aren’t properly recorded will be lost to the public forever. We are looking for people to volunteer their time to help us identify and register these routes before it is too late.
Vehicles are continually abusing cyclists who use the road here because the bus lane on the other side forces the carriageway to be narrow.
Although there is the cycleway, it has the usual problems of loss of priority at sideroads, bins in the way, people going in and out of driveways, etc.
Created by t1mmyb // 0 threads
There is a pair of traffic-calming chicanes/pinch points on The Hollow. The one lower down the hill (where drivers must give way to downhill traffic) has a cycle bypass; the one further up the hill (where ascending traffic has priority) does not.
When I cycle up The Hollow I am probably managing about 5mph; this pinch point brings me into conflict with much faster motorised traffic going up the hill, to the extent that I usually avoid the road completely and take a different route (Southdown Road) that has no traffic islands/pinchpoints.
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 1 thread
It is a constant problem that car drivers think it is acceptable to park in this particular spot.
The single yellow needs upgrading to double yellow lines ( is this enforced anyway ) OR we need hard infrastruture design which prevents such selfish behaviour.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 0 threads
The traffic lights at Eagle Street were timed such that travelling eastbound you would always get caught at the second set unless you were extremely fast setting off. After discussions with the council and it brought up at the Sustainability Forum by Cllr Smart, it was fixed to increase the length of time that those lights were green, and was great as you always knew you could get through the second set of lights without having to wait unless you just went through the earlier ones just before they went red.
However over the past few days the signal timing has changed back to the older timing where the probability of getting through the second set is virtually nil. In an ideal world they would be phased such that the first set would go green, then the second set would go green several seconds later at the point where you would be arriving at them, rather than having them change to green almost at the same time.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The chicane at the west end of the Magdalene Glen path interrupts the flow when going uphills, particularly unpleasant for people with weak knees. It also forces cyclists uphills often to stop and start when there are other people going through, as it's not wide enough to pass.
It doesn't serve any useful purpose at it is on the top of the slope where cyclists are very slow anyway. As it's uphills, there is little danger that e.g. kids run out onto the wide pavement of Duddingston Pk South. Cyclists from the West are slow at this point anyway as they turn into the path.