Queens St/Princes St loop Consultation
The formal consultation has now been set to run from Tuesday 25th February to Saturday 1st March.
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 Shaun McDonald // 3 threads
The formal consultation has now been set to run from Tuesday 25th February to Saturday 1st March.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
Outline application for up to 69 residential dwellings including houses and apartments, open space, landscaping and new access. | Field At Corner Of Coldhams Lane And Hatherdene Close Cambridge Cambridgeshire
New junction onto Coldhams Lane proposed, which includes a central island, the gap on the westbound side is 3.1m, about the worst possible for cyclists.
Created by Caroline Page // 1 thread
Eastbound cyclists wishing to avoid the double roundabout at this point are routed onto the pavement, across the exit for the Shell garage (often to the surprise of exiting drivers), and then (still across pavement) onto a piece of decommissioned road used as access and double-sided parking for a parade of shops. This road has a separate car entrance from the roundabout.
Its a lethal combination -I have personally once been hit by a car turning fast from the roundabout on the road entrance as I entered it from the bike route. The driver was very angry because it was my fault that she didn't look out for me. You then have to cycle between two sets of parked cars/vans: there are frequent hazards: suddenly opened doors, people reversing/leaving the parking place without looking behind.
At the end, the cyclist is signed again onto pavement heavily used by schoolchildren/old people at the eastbound Heath Road Roundabout bus stop, before being routed back onto the road along the pull-off for the bus itself.
My personal view is that this scheme has been created and signed by a maniac
Created by Peter Lawrence // 2 threads
Please sign my change.org petition http://chn.ge/1epSzpK
Accident CC-23012014-0561 (Incident logged by the Cambridgeshire Police)
Leaving Zoology Department 18.15 walking east on Downing St, north side on 23 January, 2014. Car stopped in Downing st just west of Corn exchange road junction, obscuring the light. Lying on the road was a road sign warning cars of road works further left in Corn Exchange St, a needless warning. This 1 metre road sign had been placed on the pavement, occluding it seriously and had been, presumably, knocked over and left lying on the pavement with its black and invisible legs raised up about 10cm from the surface and its reflective surface tilted away (see picture). I tripped over the road sign in the dark and fell forwards injuring my face and forehead; the metal cut into my right leg. My glasses are destroyed, the leg of the sign tore my shoes.
I was taken to Addenbrookes and treated there. I left there ca 20.30 with head injuries and abrasions and now have an impressive black eye and surround.
I am seeking redress. I am exploring legal action against the County Council whose idiotic health and safety rules (for drivers, not for the rest of us) say that drivers should be warned in advance of even highly visible roadworks (in a 20mph area) and the company responsible for placing such a flimsy and dangerous sign right in the middle of a narrow pavement. Also am anxious that in general people who leave road traffic signs occluding the pavement or creating dangerous obstacles there, should be held responsible and penalised. I see these road signs often as I walk around Cambridge, they should be on or above the road, not blocking the pavement in my opinion.
The next day the same road sign, with my blood still on it, was back in the middle of pavement waiting to be knocked over again and even now forcing pedestrians to avoid it by diverting on to the roadway. I attach a photo of it taken on Friday the day following my accident with a diverted pedestrian on the right.
It was again fallen on the ground waiting to kill someone on Saturday night, presumably following the afternoon storms.
Bike users can turn right and cycle contra flow using a very narrow on road cycle path. Motorised traffic cannot do this, Park Road is one way to motorised traffic. Traveling down Queens Road there is no signage to suggest that bike users can turn right. Once into Park
Road there is awkward raised 'island' to manoeuvre around. Suggest signage saying right turn for bikes only and reconsider design of Island to make it less of an obstacle.
Created by Charlie Halliday // 1 thread
Proposed off-road cycle path following the A323, Norris Hill Road, to link Fleet with the existing cycle-path from Norris Bridge towards the centre of Farnborough.
It would enable cyclists to avoid Norris Hill Road, an unlit road with speed limit of 60 mph. Once built it would be possible to cycle from Fleet to Farnborough without cycling on roads.
This is in the Fleet Town Access Plan ref. PC9
Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread
The image above is an extract from the map published by TfL on 18th Dec 2013; showing the GRID routes in Camden with some of the names of the roads added. We should reply to the documents at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/29172.aspx
Deadline 14th February 2014
Created by TMiles // 0 threads
The route marked between Headingley and Armley is heavily used as an intra-urban connector between north west and south west Leeds. Congestion can be particularly acute because it uses one of the few crossing points over the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool canal in the west of the city.
The addition of cycle lanes in both directions along the length of this route has the potential to encourage a modal shift from cars and make a real impact on congestion. These cycle lanes would help to establish a more comprehensive network outside the radial routes, and would be a useful on-road addition to the Leeds Core Cycle Network (forming itinerary Ar - W). The proposed route offers connections to the improved cycle facilities on Kirkstall Road (A65) and the future CityConnect facilities.
The addition of cycle lanes would be of particular benefit to uphill cyclists, minimizing their conflict with motorists.
In addition to the environmental, economic and health benefits, the project would improve car-free mobility between three very different communities in Leeds: Headingley, Hyde Park and Armley.
The width of the pavements along the northern sector would allow for a widened carriageway in order to accommodate the cycle lanes. The loss of pavement width would be outweighed by the benefits of calmed traffic. The carriageway of the southern sector is already generous and would make the implantation of cycle lanes relatively straight forward.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 2 threads
Travel Ipswich (Ipswich Borough Council/Suffolk County Council have a new consultation re proposed designs for the junction of Norwich Road, Vallet Road, and Chevallier Street. This is a major route for people travelling north in and out of the city.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Travel Ipswich (Ipswich Borough Council/Suffolk County Council have a new consultation re proposed designs for the junction of Felixstowe Road, Nacton Road and Bishops Hill. It's a cross roads with one significant use arm at a 30 degree angle
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Travel Ipswich (Ipswich Borough Council/Suffolk County Council have a new consultation re proposed designs for the junction of Woodbridge Road and Argyle Street. It is a t-junction of which 2 arms are one way and part of the gyratory.
Created by Richard Moss // 1 thread
An umbrella issue for discussion of general matters relating to reviewing planning applications in the city and south cambs.
Created by Hester Wells // 5 threads
The County Council is planning to redesign Tenison Road.
East Parade forms part of the one-way Leeds city centre loop. On the stretch shown it is three-lanes wide, a layout that encourages cases of excessive speed.
The addition of a wide hybrid or segregated cycle lane would improve cycle journeys from the railway station and the south of the city towards the Universities, hospital and north of the city.
Towards the junction with the Headrow the segregated system will end to allow cycles and vehicles to correctly position themselves to turn left or go straight ahead. In this final section the road surface should read, from left to right: (1) cycle lane, turning left (2) standard vehicle lane, turning left (3) cycle lane, straight ahead (4) standard vehicle lane, straight ahead (5 - if space permits) standard vehicle lane, straight ahead. Nevertheless, the layout should allow cycles continuing straight across to adopt their position without conflict from left-turning vehicles. An example of such markings can be seen in Cambridge (Hills Road railway bridge, inbound) or in Nantes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclable/9526360512/).
Provision for delivery vehicles should also be considered here, as the left hand lane is frequently occupied by vans or lorries under the current system. To avoid conflict with cyclists, it would be most sensible to site such parking to the right of a segregated cycle lane.
The project would bring additional traffic-calming benefits, with the reduction of the road width to two lanes along much of its length.
Created by TMiles // 0 threads
The width of the road after the traffic lights lures south-west bound cycles into a left position that becomes problematic because of the build-out at the later pedestrian crossing. They either have to stop to let traffic pass through this pinch point or take the risk of readjusting their path to the right in order to join the main stream of vehicles.
One solution would be to guide cycles into the correct position with cycle lane markings from the traffic lights to the pedestrian crossing.
The second solution would be to cut a cycle-lane across the build-out, including a mini pedestrian crossing that cyclists would have to respect. This short stretch of lane should be flush with the road surface and must be kept swept regularly in order to be effective.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
The cycle lane on NCN1 on Stoke Park Drive are rather narrow, thus you cannot cycle within the cycle lane. Having the cycle lane there means drivers often don't give as much space when overtaking. There are also many traffic island pinch point which make it extremely dangerous, as drivers overtake and cut in just before the island.
Created by MJR // 1 thread
"The adopted Core Strategy designated South East King’s Lynn (this area) as one of the strategic ‘urban expansion’ areas around King’s Lynn. The independent planning inspector who examined the Core Strategy explicitly stated that, compared to the potential alternatives, the expansion areas identified (including South East King’s Lynn) were preferable to the alternatives in meeting the Borough’s need for substantial numbers of additional dwellings over the plan period. It is relatively unconstrained by flood risk and infrastructure problems, etc., and relatively easily accessed and serviced.
5.2.4 Policy CS09 of the Core Strategy, ‘Housing Distribution’, provides for an allocation here of at least 1600 new homes, with supporting infrastructure. It also identifies this as establishing a direction for future growth beyond the plan period (i.e. beyond 2026). From the sites put forward during the consultation, informed by the work of the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment in connection with the Neighbourhood Plan (see below) a total of 3,000 to 3,500 additional dwellings could be accommodated in the fullness of time. This is indicated diagrammatically in figure 7 of the Core Strategy.
5.2.5 This is likely to be the largest residential development opportunity in the Borough for many years. It provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to form a thriving and vibrant new community immediately south of King’s Lynn. The intention is to integrate a large number of new homes and associated facilities with an existing village community, generate a range of major improvements in a range of areas, and shape a place that promotes a sense of community among its residents, existing and new." (From the Borough Council KLWN, "Preferred Options for a Detailed Policies and Sites Plan", October 2013)
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 0 threads
The west bound ( out of town ) on-road cycle lane is extremely narrow. As are the motor vehicle lanes to accomodate eastbound bus lane. There is plenty of space on verges etc to improve this facility but may mean moving lampposts etc.
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 1 thread
Very narrow carriageway and very narrow footpath on one side only ( I have seen a woman struck on the shoulder by a bus mirror on this route).
High number of pedestrians and cyclists at peak times, poor visibility and abrupt hill make this a very dangerous route.
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 0 threads
Very narrow and winding. This section of Stone Lodge Lane should be considered for reduced access, one way, filetered permeability or complete closure to motor vehicles.
http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_child_injured_after_collision_on_stone_lodge_lane_1_3211524
This isnt the first such incident.
Created by Matthew Phillips // 2 threads
The Mount Oswald development received outline planning permission a while ago. A full application has already gone in for the first phase, at the southern end of the site. It appears connections will be provided for cyclists and pedestrians to the A167 (car access is from South Road). The greater concern is whether an opportunity is being missed to create a new off-road route parallel to South Road.
The picture is taken from the Design and Access Statement of the planning application for the first phase. The big unknown is the middle area, where the large self-build houses will be. No plot divisions are shown on the plan. Will there be public access north-south through this area?
South Road is not shown as a strategic cycle route in the County Durham Plan. The Mill Hill Lane route and the A167 are accorded the status of primary routes, but there is not even a secondary route along the South Road axis, despite it being the obvious route to the University from the south and from all the new housing on Mount Oswald.
Created by Matthew Phillips // 1 thread
The cycle path across the top of the golf course has no barriers at either end but does not seem to suffer from abuse by motorcyclists. However at two or three locations along the path there are staggered half-barriers on paths which lead to the housing estate to the north.
Barriers like this cause problems for longer cycles, such as tandems and recumbent cycles, as well as for families with child trailers or tag-alongs. Such barriers should preferably be removed and we need to seek to ensure that new developments do not introduce further barriers.
Created by Fraser // 0 threads
Travelling along Fore Street from the East where it splits with Key Street there are several traffic calming patches and speed bumps that are difficult and dangerous to negotiate on a bike.
In particular the three sections of cobbles; as the street becomes one way just before Fore Street Pools, just before you cross Star Lane, and just after crossing Star Lane.
They are so ragged that as a cyclist you have to almost come to a stop, where as other road users can travel over them at ~20mph.
This makes them extremely dangerous as just after accelerating away from the traffic lights you then need to slow almost to a stop and weave your way through the cobbles while the traffic behind you is expecting to carry on and the street is too narrow for them to safely overtake.
The section of Fore Street between Star Lane and Eagle Street has better speed humps (still not great, but a dream compared with the above mentioned cobble sections!) with flat section at the sides so that bikes may pass them safely. However the flat sections are occasionally blocked by parked vehicles forcing cyclists over the speed humps.
The less said about the time it takes to negotiate these three sets of traffic lights the better!
Martin Lucas-Smith // 2 threads
This junction has a new cycle lane over a widened pavement. This looks like very substandard infrastructure, encouraging pavement cycling, that should never have been approved by the County Council.
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 0 threads
When traffic backs up on Spring Road from the Grove Lane lights motor vehicles cut through via Bartholomew Street, Alexandra Rd, Warwick and Lancaster Roads to Palmerston and then onto St Helens.
They travel fast and a group of five or more motor vehicle drivers copying each other is not unusual, at peak times.
To protect the residents of these narrow streets, filtered permeability would seem to be the only answer.
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Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Travelling south from North Road to Manor Road; you have to negotiate Manor Circus - the only crossing is a zebra crossing; followed by narrow pavement; which forces a dismount. Could the southern pavement be widened by extending it out over the former gasworks site?
A community consultation 'The Barnes Ponder' in October 2013 has show strong support for making Barnes a 20 mph neighbourhood .
“20mph is plenty enough speed on the roads!”
Created by Steve Crapper // 1 thread
This planning application is a revised version of a previous application that would have infilled the disused railway beneath Buttermilk lane bridge, preventing the disused railway becoming a vital new greenway between Bolsover and Poolsbrook country Park (extending the existing Stockley Trail)
The revised application has changed from infill to ramps, but this forces an unnecessary road crossing, when an underpass is perfectly feasible
please object on this basis if you are able . our campaign has created a Facebook page called "build the Stockley Extension"
Bolsover
Application reference : 18/00178/FUL
Created by Matthew Phillips // 1 thread
The route on the east side of the A167 past Crossgate Moor and Framwellgate Moor crosses a number of roundabouts. The cycle-path leads you across the roads very close to the roundabout, via the central refuge in the middle of the road. Some of these roads have two lane entry to the roundabout. Crossing both lanes at once is tricky as you have to have an eye on whether the traffic is about to move out onto the roundabout. If you have a longer vehicle, such as a bus, waiting, then the route to the refuge is blocked. There are no road markings to warn motorists that cyclists might be expected.
The route is probably going to be improved as part of the Great North Cycleway. If these roundabouts are to be made safe enough for children to use, major alterations will be required. (The route goes past Durham Johnston School so should be available to children.) The route should cross further from the mouth of the roundabout, preferably on a different-coloured surface, maybe raised.
Created by Jack Thurston // 0 threads
Cycle route 42 along Castle Street requires cyclists to make an absurd off-road detour around the castle grounds and through an industrial estate to rejoin the routes east of the town centre at Holywell Road.
This could be avoided if cycling were allowed in a south-west to north-east direction on Lower Castle Street. Ideally this narrow street should be a walking/cycling only street, or a cycling contraflow could be introduced, though the narrowness of the street makes this a second-best solution.
Created by Jamie // 1 thread
At the moment it is possible to cycle from Cambridge Road, near Madingley, to Girton, on a bridleway that crosses over the A428 and then passes under the M11 at the Girton Interchange. You can then cross three roads (A1307) and reach a pavement on the North-East side of the Interchange. Using the pavement you can then reach Washpit Lane and cycle up towards Girton. (The pavement is marked as a shared-use route on the OSM Cycle map, although I am not sure that it really is.)
Apart from having to be careful when crossing the A1307 junction it is a rather pleasant route to ride.
The Girton Interchange is being "improved" to reduce the bottleneck for cars. Does anyone know what plans there are to ensure that the current route through remains open and whether there are plans to improve the bridleway route through? Or will this be another example of roads being developed to the detriment of footpaths/bridleways.
Created by Charlie Halliday // 1 thread
Notices have recently been put up by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership on the section of the Blackwater Valley Path which passes through Hollybush Lakes near North Camp station.
Although there is a legal agreement to use this stretch as a footpath, there has never been one to permit cycling there and the owner is quite within his rights.
This is not a historic route, there is no sign of it on my 1956 OS map.
The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership is trying to resolve this but the cycling route may have to be diverted.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 4 threads
London Cycling Campaign has reorientated its policy towards a 'Go Dutch' approach.
This aims to learn from best practice abroad rather than continuing with the 'hierarchy of provision' that, in 20 years in the UK, has arguably failed to deliver meaningful change.
This is an overarching issue for conceptual discussion of this issue.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Providing a cycle-friendly surface on the path from Meadlands Drive to the road serving the German School and the Polo Club would improve cycling access to Strathmore and Russell Schools and help provide a better quiet route from Meadlands Drive area towards Richmond - providing more/better options for avoiding the busy Petersham Road.
Meeting with Leeds City Council to discuss possible remedial works due to high casualty rates.
Created by chdot // 1 thread
Longstanding issue about 'optimum' design, particularly to reduce conflict caused by vehicles turning from Teviot Pl due to signal phases.
Created by David Earl // 4 threads
There are some evil short grey posts on the busway cycleway that are really hard to see in the dark. I have heard of a number of people hitting them with disastrous consequences
Over the past couple of years of regularly cycling between Waterbeach and Cambridge on NCN11 I have noticed that the path between Waterbeach and Baits Bite Lock is in really bad repair and is getting gradually worse. I have been in touch with the council to ask them to repair it, and they told me that as far as they are concerned the path is only a footpath, and they have no obligation to maintain it to a standard suitable for bikes. Sustrans tells me they have no responsibility for maintaining that section of the route, and that the council should be responsible for it.
It seems absurd to allow the path to fall into total disrepair, but at the moment it doesn't seem like anyone recognises any obligation for its upkeep.
I am happy to go out occasionally with some secateurs and chop off the more annoying bits of greenery, but the path needs resurfacing and that feels a bit beyond me!
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem? Have they come across it on other sections of the NCN?
Created by Rosalind Lund // 1 thread
further to the piece in newsletter 128, I wonder if any thought has been given to the difficulty of turning right into Emmanuel Street if you are coming towards the town centre from St Andrew's Street? We go fairly often to the Arts Cinema and this is the obvious way for us to go home, but it is impossible to turn right on the correct side of the bollard at present as it is designed only for left turning cycles coming out of town. There is, however, nothing to suggest that such a right turn is illegal.
Create an off-road route along the railway line out to the east, which could ultimately form a route out to Collin.
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 Andrew Woodward // 2 threads
Ham Gate Avenue: As you cycle past parked vehicles which narrow the road by almost half you are trapped in a long tunnel. Impatient motorists who want to enter from the other end do so and simply drive at you forcing you practically into the gutter or off the road completely. Would it be ever possible to ban parking on this avenue and limit the speed to 20mph as it is in the park?
Note - there is a shared use segregated track alongside the road here (part of NCN 4) but it is frequently too narrow to cope with the volumes of cyclists and pedestrians; it is overhung with low tree branches and the surface is poor.
Created by Katja Leyendecker // 1 thread
The (draft / emerging) 1Core Strategy seems to hint at a bus loop (Policy UC7) and a motor vehicle "ring road" (Policy UC9) too. It mentions pedestrian routes but there's no mention of cycle routes. See attached photo. (I didn't mark up the map, as it might become a tad too messy)
The "ring road" is just like Scott / esde84 described before http://newcycling.org/space4cycling/part2 (in comments)
The photo in the attachment is from "Newcastle Proposals Map" listed here http://onecorestrategyng-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/examination_library (not sure how long thi link will stay live, link rot may happen)
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 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 HankChief // 0 threads
There needs to be a ramped access to the school grounds at this point to replace or bypass the 6 steps currently there.
This would not only improve access to the school but also improve connection between the East Craigs Path Network and North Gyle and the only toucan crossing on the A8 in Edinburgh on Dechmont Road.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Railway footbridge should have a ramp/trough added to make it easier for cyclists to cross the railway. This would then create a quiet north/south route to Marshgate school as an alternative to Manor Road.
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 Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
St Peter's Dock on the National Cycle Route 51 just north of Stoke Bridge has a really poor surface which collects water, also the old rails that are no longer used and no longer connect to the rest of the rail network are a hazard for cyclists and ideally should be removed.
Starting a thread about this application here so we can continue on from the previous planning list discussion.