Waterfront cycle access confusing
Comments at Cycle Ipswich meeting:
* Westbound cycling is confusing as you currently technically need to ride on the pavement.
* Are vehicles really needed along here?
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Created by Shaun McDonald // 2 threads
Comments at Cycle Ipswich meeting:
* Westbound cycling is confusing as you currently technically need to ride on the pavement.
* Are vehicles really needed along here?
Letter for TfL, copied to RCC, by local resident:
I am a resident of the Dover House Estate area and regularly use the crossroads of the Upper Richmond Road (A206) with Roehampton Lane and Rocks Lane (A306) as pedestrian, cyclist and/or car driver. There are three major issues with this junction which need to be addressed.
The first is the pedestrian crossings, which are poorly timed/synchronised and inadequate. There is a significant volume of pedestrian traffic to and from the station and bus stops and the university, yet to cross the road safely using the crossings can easily add 5 mins to the journey. This is mainly as there are push button crossings on only two of the four arms of the junction, a third having provision to cross which requires too much calculated risk (and insufficient island space considering the probability of standing in the middle for some time), and the fourth having no sensible provision at all. There is a high proportion of children using the crossing - with buggies, scooters, bikes, and on the south west corner insufficient pavement space for the volume of pedestrian traffic at peak times. The timing/synchronisation of the green men requires pedestrians to stand in the middle islands for an overly long period of time - during which time they cannot help but notice the very high level of exhaust fumes. Given that the only traffic flowing south along the A306 and allowed to turn right on to the A205 is buses and cycles, the extended wait for the green man in the middle of the A205 to head south seems unnecessary. Heading north there is a similarly unnecessary wait for the green man, as motorised traffic heading east along the A205 is also at a red light while that heading north on the A306 is on green.
The second major problem is the filter lane for motorists turning right off the A205 into the A306 to head north. This only operates at peak times, leaving motorists with a choice between being stuck in the middle waiting for a second round of lights or skipping through an amber or red light (frequently even though they were first in the queue). There is simply too much traffic heading east to not have the filter light operating for a greater part of the day. Even when the filter light is in operation it is for such an insufficiently short period that unless you are among the first three cars you are almost certainly going to wait for at least two rounds of lights - at peak times I have waited for the fifth round of lights. This in turn causes a tail back and high levels of air pollution.
The third major problem is the lack of cycle ways. There is a large number of cyclists on both these major roads but for something like a 500m radius around this junction there is no cycle way despite it bring both possible and dangerous without. The temporary narrowing of Barnes Station bridge only exacerbates the situation and since being put there some years ago seems to have been forgotten. This area is a real hole in the cycle way network and a blackspot considering the attractive options in every direction coming into/out of it.
The junction is an accident just waiting to happen on many levels. I would be grateful if you could me a detailed response to each of the points I raise with where at all possible a timetable for when they can each be expected to be resolved.
Created by Joe Adam // 4 threads
Arbury Road is proposed to be upgraded under the City Deal scheme.
In 2014 there was a consultation running on improving the Arbury Road near St Laurence Primary School.
Created by fishter // 2 threads
At the bottom of the hill there is a "chicane" for motor vehicles to negotiate. Northbound traffic must give priority to southbound traffic.
The chicane is formed by an island on the northbound side of the road. This island has a bypass to the left to allow cyclists to proceed despite oncoming traffic.
After a recent resurfacing of the road the markings for the cycle lane were omitted (see picture). This means that cyclists should now give priority to southbound traffic as the markings indicate they should not use the bypass.
Created by Jim Chisholm // 4 threads
There is now an Area Action Plan for the Northern Fringe East
This is a huge area, and if the Anglia Water Works site is also redeveloped it brings big oportunities and associated risks
The Campaign needs to be involved
Created by MJR // 1 thread
There's an OK cycleway alongside the Bawsey Drain from the Loke Road Junction but the link from the edge of the town centre 20mph zone isn't very good. The section between North Street and Loke Road involves negotiating your way across the multiple lanes of John Kennedy Road which is the northern approach to the town, or illegally using the narrow footway as many people do.
This section is crying out for one of the three or four lanes to be given back to cycling and walking and the 20mph zone to be extended to the north end of North Street.
I see Addenbrooke's have found a solution to all the bikes locked to the railings around by the front entrance.
Not, as you might hope, by providing more cycle parking, but by removing the railings.
I wandered around yesterday. There were 91 bikes parked outside of cycle rack spaces & 6 spaces free.
should be interesting for anyone who usually cant park in a cycle space over the next few days
:(
Richard
A fast road - dual carriageway in both directioms and with 6 lanes at one end. Speed limit of 30mph rarely respected - except in rushhour when speeds can be down to zero mph at times.
Cyclists can not cycle safely along either side of the road. Cars, lorries, busses etc are travelling too fast, with drivers jostling to change lanes, overtake busses or 'beat the lights'. The cyclists I see are on the pavement & I don't blame them - frankly the layout is not fit for cyclists. Fortunately the pavement is wide, there are few pedestrians and there is ample room for considerate cyclists to travel this way. More cyclists would use this roue if it was safer & if it joined up properly with Danebury Avenue & the other cycle routes in the area.
With the wide pavements & carriageway there is room for segregated cycle, pedestrian and motor vehicle routes. There may even be room for 'floating' bus stops. A zebra or Toucan crossing on the road would also reduce average speeds.
There are three strips of cobbles across NCN11 here, or maybe they're setts. It seems bad to have these on a cycle route because they are unpleasant for cycling and especially bad to put them so near a junction because rider attention should be on the junction and other road users, rather than man-made problems with the road surface.
Created by Cllr Ian Manning // 1 thread
This pinch point has always been an issue for anyone cycling North along Green End Road. The pavement suddenly becomes wider at the roundabout, forcing cyclists into conflict with cars.
Created by John Chamberlain // 3 threads
Camden are consulting on their plans to extend the Royal College Street cycle tracks to the south, down Pancras Road towards Kings Cross. Unfortunately, the plans for the junctions at St Pancras and contra-flow up Midland Road are not ready yet, so it will remain difficult to get to and from the south and east until these are finalised, but this is another link in the planned North-South route through the borough as part of the London Cycle Grid.
Details of the proposals can be found on Camden’s website at:
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/pancrasroad
For cyclists, the main proposals are as follows:
- Protected cycle lanes from Royal College Street to just south of Chenies Place.
- Removal of two bus-stops to make the cycle lanes continuous
- North-bound bus-stop converted to 'island' style.
- Southbound bus-stop uses Royal College Street style due to lack of road width.
- Additional protection for cyclists crossing Crowndale Road from Royal College Street.
You can reply to the consultation via Camden's website. Please also add your comments to the threads on this issue, or by email to john AT camdencyclists.org.uk . We have already had suggestions for improvements to the lane behind the bus-stop at Chenies Place. We will be saying that cyclists heading north to Royal College Street should use Goldington Crescent to avoid one set of traffic lights and the need to cross lanes. What else?
Our response needs to be in by 14th November so we'll take comments on board until the 7th.
Created by Al Storer // 1 thread
A lot of attention is given, especially by the council, to the radial routes. This is OK. But what about this key (partial) orbital?
Well lane has been blocked to through motor traffic creating a nice quietway for walking and cycling.
However where it meets Percival Road a dropped kerb has not been installed meaning that cycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs have to bump down to cross Percival.
A couple of dropped kerbs and perhaps a parking restriction would really open this up as a nice cycle quietway.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
Bikes leaving the cul-de-sac, heading East, have to cross traffic twice. There is poor visibility and vehicles rat-run through the area.
With the North West Cambridge development coming forward, this problem will get worse in time.
The side roads that access the avenue are a danger to the users of the shared path. This is especially prevalent on the northbound side in the mornings. Cars seem to have two modes:
1) stationary avenue traffic - approach at speed and hit the anchors in time not to hit the queue
2) no queue on avenue - approach at speed hoping not to have to stop. Then go for it or again hit the anchors.
In both stopping cases this blocks the crossing for the cycle/pedestrian
Ideally there would be an advance giveaway line/colored tarmac to identify the possibility of crossing bikes/pedestrians
Created by David Earl // 0 threads
We (Cambridge Cycling Campaign) have received an invitation to this event: Commuting and Health – Research and Policy Forum
Wednesday 21 January 2015, 10.00am – 2.00pm
http://www.cedar.iph.cam.ac.uk/commuting-health-forum/
Free, but registration required.
"The way we travel can affect our health and the health of people around us. In the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), researchers have been following the travel and physical activity patterns of commuters since 2009, seeking to understand more about why people use different modes of transport and how this is related to physical activity, health and wellbeing. A key aim of the study has been to assess the impact of new transport infrastructure in the form of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which opened in 2011 and provides dedicated traffic-free facilities for buses, cyclists and pedestrians."
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
There are 3 main problems with this cycle route which would be easy to rectify:
* This cycle track is only signed from the retail park side, with no signage from the residential end of this link.
* The surface is pretty poor along here, especially if you have some shopping in panniers.
* There is also a problem with a gate part of the way along, which could pose a problem for people with a trailer or cargo bikes.
Photos:
http://www.mapillary.com/map/im/BMxiiFHdjmrrL0iqIx8WTw
http://www.mapillary.com/map/im/8Y-kQQoHYp0Y_Zjn4dziJw
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Overview
Working together with interested parties - including cycling, pedestrian and motorised road user organisations – we have reviewed the design of a number of key junctions identified as having road safety or other significant issues for cyclists and / or pedestrians.
This junction was identified as having a particular cycle safety problem. We have therefore developed proposals to improve safety at the junction, in particular for cyclists.
The responses to this consultation will help inform our decsion making as to whether we go ahead with the scheme as proposed or make changes to the scheme.
Why We Are Consulting
Our review of this junction has shown that there is a road safety issue for cyclists, in particular those travelling northbound along the A21.
Our proposals for this junction are designed to improve sight lines to make it easier for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians to see each other and hence improve junction safety. In addition the opportunity will be taken to improve the informal pedestrian crossings to make these more visible and easier to use.
Our proposed improvements include:
Amended A21 and Oakley Road junction layout to bring the junction closer to a right angle – this will improve sight lines
The cycle lane on A21 north bound (towards Bromley) will be widened to increase the separation of cyclists from other road users.
Revised informal pedestrian crossings will be provided across Oakley Road and across A21 Hastings Road. A central island will allow roads to be crossed in stages. Informal crossing points offer pedestrians a safe point to cross, with tactile pavement for those with visual impairments.
The right turn from Hastings Road to Church Road, which is not currently physically possible, will be specifically prohibited. The revised junction layout would make this a possible manoeuvre but it would conflict with right turning traffic into Oakley Road from the north and would not be a safe movement.
We are not changing any other aspects of the junction. Traffic will still only be able to turn left (north) towards Bromley from Oakley Road, while Church Road will remain one way eastbound, with changes to the kerb layout to deter illegal movements.
The map below illustrates our proposals.
You can have your say on our proposals by following the link at the bottom of the page.
Created by BrianInBeeston // 0 threads
Proposed route of NCN 15 from Trent bridge to Clifton, following the south bank of the river Trent. The idea under discussion is for the route to be temporarily signed by Sustrans volunteer rangers in the first instance. there are also plans to sign an NCN 15 to NCN6 link route via Wilford Toll, Birdcage walk, Lenton Lane, Abbey St. NCN15 from Clifton westwards to East Midlands parkway station can be signed once the A453 works are complete.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 31 threads
It is important that we engage with the candidates at each election, scrutinise their views, and press for their commitments to cycling.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
'Except cycles' plates missing on No Left/Right turn signs at Mackenzie Road and Stockwell Street, and shared-use signs missing on Perne Road between Natal Road and Brookfields
Created by David Earl // 2 threads
The new franchise for the Kings Cross rail line started recently. We have been sent a letter of introduction.
Created by MJR // 1 thread
Basil Drive, Coriander Road and Bay Walk are residential streets that probably should be a 20mph zone, at least to avoid sat-nav routing cars that way in preference to Rosemary Way.
Created by Hester Wells // 1 thread
"Following a request for a vehicular access outside of 27 Tenison Avenue it is
proposed to revoke a 5 metre length of Residents Parking Bay and replace it with
double yellow lines.
If you wish to object to any of these proposals you should send the grounds for
objection in writing to policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to reach us by no
later than 19th September 2014 quoting reference PR0147."
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
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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.
Hamish F // 0 threads
There are no contraflow signs when entering Devonshire Rd from Adermans Hill. Cyclists have reported hostility towards them as they ride "against the flow". The markings are correct as the cyclist enters Devonshire Rd from A105 but of course the drivers do not see that.
Created by Paul James // 0 threads
All the sideroads between Richmond Circus and Manor Circus are a danger to cyclists on the cycleway.
There is no warning to motorists that there will be crossing cyclists and the building angles make it hard to see if anything is coming.
Turning traffic from the A316 can have an obscured view of the cycleway due to foliage.
Decrease corner radii.
Make road hump more pronounced.
Make cycle surface colour continuous across roadway.
Add markings across roadway.
Add warning signage.
Move give way lines back to before cycleway or add additional give way lines.
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.
Created by Fraser Stephens // 1 thread
RAISED AT PUBLIC MEETING 10-04-2014
If a foot/cycle bridge is not going to happen in the medium term, then how about some traffic calming measures to reduce driver's speed expectations over the bridge? Drivers who have just come of a dual carriage way at 70mph+ or have been zooming along the A40 at 60mph+ are suddenly sharing space with cyclists having had little warning that this is about to happen.
We suggest deploying traffic calming measures, such as marked cycle ways, belisha beacon crossings (much needed anyway!) and signage making it clear that care is required. If the speed limit was clearly lower, many drivers will not be so aggressively trying to overtake cyclists.
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.
Created by JonC // 0 threads
Our club (South Herts CTC) had to cross the A505 to get back into Hertfordshire on Sunday and we took a route between Litlington and Therfield which involved 500 m along the A505 and a right turn at the roundabout west of Royston.
I was quite surprised there was no cycle route to help cyclists here. It was a Sunday so at least there were fewer heavy vehicles than normal, but the speed of some cars coming up behind made it tricky to change lanes on a bike when turning right at the roundabout.
Since then I have studied other ways of crossing the A505 (using Google Streetview) and can't find any easy crossing points near Royston. I see it is the boundary between Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, which complicates matters (although it looks like the A505 road is in Herts).
To the east, I've used the B1368 crossing at Flint Cross, which is also a nightmare. To the west the crossing at Slip End does at least have a central refuge. It seems little or no thought was given to cyclists when the A505 was constructed.
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 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 Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Dove Street is currently one way. It would be useful if it could be made 2 way for cycling for peopl coming from St Helen's Primary School to NCN 1.
The left turn from St Helens Street into Dove Street is much easier than a right turn from St Helens Street into Regent Street, as you don't have to block a lane of traffic and hope for a gap in the traffic in the opposite direction, especially with kids. It's also a shorter route when heading towards the town centre.
Sam // 1 thread
The bollards at the bottom of Herbert St haven't been replaced after the electricity cable was laid last week.
Rather than directly replacing the bollard slalom that existed beforehand, the bollard specialists might have suggestions on what the layout should be here which camcycle can suggest as for the replacement...
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 Cycling Dumfries // 1 thread
No safe route from Collin to Dumfries town centre - the A75 is a dual carriageway along this stretch of road with no direct alternative route
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
There's a very poor dogleg right-angle with barriers at the entrance/exit from the West Cambridge site to Clerk Maxwell Road.
This should be turned into a wide splay with good visibility.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
The route from Kingston Bridge into Church Road and up to Bushy Park traverses busy traffic routes with little protection for people cycling. Making this short section easier and safer for cycling would provide an important link to join up the quiet routes from Hampton through Bushy Park to Kingston town centre.
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 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 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
Created by Sam Saunders // 2 threads
On the eastern approach to Clifton Suspension Bridge the narrow road curves past a pedestrian refuge next to a toilet block. The short cycle lane that had started as approximately 1.2 metres wide narrows to approximately 0.9 metres at the refuge. More than half of the cycle lane at that point is paved with uneven cobbles unsuitable for cycling, especially on a bend. The traffic lane (approx 3.2 metres) is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to pass together. The cycle lane, in effect, is encouraging inexperienced cyclists to adopt a vulnerable road position and to cycle on an unsuitable surface.
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.
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 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 Simon Nuttall // 3 threads
The railway line from Cambridge to Newmarket turns out across Coldham's Common and right through the middle of Cherry Hinton, and then carries on passing to the north of Fulbourn.
There are currently (2013) two main routes from the east of Cambridge to Cherry Hinton - the Tins and Snakey Path. However both have long very narrow sections involving pedestrian conflict.
The railway line is single track - but satellite images show the bridges crossing Barnwell Road and Coldham's Lane were both built for dual track. So this means there should easily be enough room to accommodate a cycleway alongside the railway.
This route could then connect up with the Chisholm Trail and provide a direct fast cycle route to and from the city and the Science Park area.
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!”