Bridge across King's Cross station
There is a campaign to get Google (who are currently building their new HQ in the King's Cross development) to provide this much-need bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. See http://googlebridge.kccp.org.uk/ .
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:
There is a campaign to get Google (who are currently building their new HQ in the King's Cross development) to provide this much-need bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. See http://googlebridge.kccp.org.uk/ .
Created by Sam Saunders // 0 threads
A recent Bristol Cycling Campaign ride returned to Bristol from Nailsea using the Festival Way.
Daylight was fading & they were already using front & rear cycle lights (which would be "side on" to approaching traffic whilst crossing B3128).
The final North Somerset stretch after Long Ashton crosses the B3128 to use the off-road route past the Dovecote.
Concern was raised about the safety of this crossing to the central island due to:-
traffic approaching at speed on a bend - potentially endangering "Bristol bound" cyclists
Poor site line - "Bristol bound" cyclists view of approaching fast traffic is obstructed by both the bend & by vegetation
low cycle capacity at the central island (for a Festival Way route potentially with significant numbers "stranded" on the island or left waiting to cross to it compounding the dangers of poor sight line).
One of our concerned participating cyclists on that ride is the Chair of Bristol Civic Society.
This location was previously raised in my snagging email of 12 April 2013 14:11 headed "Re: 24 April Cycle Forum reminder and item for discussion"
.
" 1.1.2 NCN 33 crossing B3128
Vehicles approaching from the SE have a "cycle crossing" sign but will tree growth soon obstruct drivers vision when approaching?
Does the central island have enough capacity for peak numbers crossing?"
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
There is a loading bay in the cycle contraflow cycle lane, which means that the cycle lane is blocked for cyclists as soon as a vehicle is parked there. This means that cyclists have to pull out into the path of oncoming buses, thus making the NCN route unsuitable to young children or inexperienced cyclists.
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 Simon Nuttall // 3 threads
London Cycling Campaign's Space for Cycling campaign
Has a clear message - what can we learn from them?
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
South Cambridgeshire District Council is considering a bus that carries bikes.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
The County Council has sent Cambridge Cycling Campaign an outline consultation on a proposed cycleway to Granta Park (the PDF will be attached to this issue in a thread). There's not a lot of detail about e.g. junctions, and nothing about how this relates to any extension of the cycleway between Wandlebury and Brabraham. It appears they have abandoned attempts to use the bridleway between Baraham and Abington and chosen a route along the A5050 instead.
Created by Edward Leigh // 2 threads
Hidden away in the planning application for the Skanska development around the new Northern Access Road to Cambridge station are detailed proposals for the redesigned cycle access to the western end of Carter Bridge:
http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=MPYVR2DX08L00
[Scroll down to 'CARTER CYCLE BRIDGE WESTERN ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS'.]
My concern is that the new junction with the bridge on-ramp will be difficult and dangerous to negotiate for cyclists and pedestrians. With 450 cycle movements towards the city at peak time, this will be a busy junction where cyclists are moving rapidly as they descend the slope. Those cyclists heading for the station will have to break hard before turning across the path of oncoming cyclists and across the footway in order to join the new link path.
This is undoubtedly an improvement on the existing arrangement (which involves crossing Devonshire Road twice to access the station), but two options that seem to have been considered in the past but rejected would be safer and more convenient:
1) Opening a route via Ravensworth Gardens through the existing wall at the boundary of the station car park.
2) Adding a cycle-only ramp joining the south side of the bridge opposite the stairway.
Any thoughts?
Created by Chris Brown // 1 thread
Conflict between pedestrians and cyclists on stretch of CGB shared-use path alongside allotments and CGB in Trumpington
Created by Kate // 1 thread
I would like to propose the parade of shops in Ashburnham Road, opposite Ham Library as a spot that would greatly benefit from cycle parking. This spot was turned down for cycle parking in 2012 on the grounds that there is already cycle parking in Ham Street outside Hansel & Pretzel (opposite Grey Court School).
The Ham Street cycle parking is not convenient for people who want to park their bikes in order to pop into the shops in Ashburnham Road. The cycle parking in the library is reserved for library users only. As you can see from the attached photos people end up laying their bikes down on the pavement, thereby causing an obstruction for pedestrians.
2 or 3 Sheffield stands would be sufficient to solve this problem.
I have obtained signatures from all but one of the shops in Ashburnham Road in support of this idea. The remaining one also supports the idea but they want to be sure that the parking would not be directly outside their shop, thereby possibly obstructing deliveries.
My suggestion would be to put stands either as a group on the corner next to the mosaic and the Indian takeaway restaurant, or to locate them on the opposite side of the road to the shops, in a similar way to the ones in Back Lane, Ham (see attached photo).
As I am sure you are aware, convenient cycle parking not only encourages people to use their bikes but has also been proven to help the local economy as people are more likely to stop and use the local shops if they can easily park their bikes nearby.
Created by Robin Heydon // 1 thread
Looks like they've just improved the cycle parking at Waterbeach railway station, doubling it to 24 bicycles.
Created by George Coulouris // 2 threads
Camden officers have indicated that they would like to receive prioritised list of suggestions for (very) minor improvements throughout the borough that will make cyclists feel better catered for. Examples of changes that will be considered:
- dropped kerbs
- obstructive barriers (i.e. anti-motor cycle barriers)
- stretches of poor road surface (such that you have slow down on a Brompton or weave around holes)
- Feeders into ASLs that are too short or non-mandatory
Changes that shouldn't be suggested for this initiative include:
- anything that would require a local consultation
- anything that involves changes to parking provision
- individual pot-holes
To compile a list, we want suggestions from members. The Council's deadline is Monday November 25th. So can we have members' suggestions by Wednesday November 20th please. That will allow time for us to compile a list and circulate it here for comment.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
This area has long had dangerous cycle lanes that encourage people to cycle in the dooring zone.
The County have funds to upgrade this section. The question now is what should be present instead.
Created by Richard Jennings // 2 threads
Because of queuing for the Grand Arcade car park, amongst other things, the mandatory cycle lane on Pembroke Street and Downing Street is routinely abused by motor vehicles – one every 66 seconds on a Saturday afternoon http://www.cyclestreets.net/galleries/221/.
The corner at Free School Lane is a particular concern because vehicles traveling east can't see oncoming cycles.
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
Since they appear to have changed the phasing at the lights at Cherry Hinton Road the other side of the railway bridge this morning, it becomes ever more apparent that if you have queueing traffic all the way southbound from Station Road to Cherry Hinton Road, the lack of even a narrow "queue-busting" cycle lane here, combined with the shocking state of the kerbside approx 9 inches of road surface (uneven cobbles and slabs, very slippery, very difficult even to use while scooting your bike along by a foot on the pavement), that cyclists are being seriously held up. Once the advisory lane outside the Centennial Hotel (well obeyed by drivers this morning in general apart from when the right hand turn queue for Brooklands Ave starts) ends, you just get stuck in a queue of kerb-car-car traffic and cannot access the ASL at the junction with Brookgate, in order to take advantage of the cycle lanes which queue-bust you across the railway bridge.
This leads to a) pavement cycling, b) people nipping in and out of a queue of vaguely stationary/starting to move traffic c) nipping back infront of traffic which is starting to move at the lights after white lining to get past the queue. All of the cars stuck in that queue will have to wait at least two cycles of the lights at Cherry Hinton Road before proceeding and thus are just an obstruction.
Given that this is a relatively recently refurbished/altered road, I suppose this should have been spotted at the time.
What can be done about it retrospectively? If the traffic light phasing at Cherry Hinton Road stays as it is, there will be an accident before too long.
Created by David Earl // 1 thread
What on earth do they think they are doing here? The cycle lane alongside the new development on Cherry Hinton Road (former Tim Brinton motors) has been removed (after being closed for months) and now splits into two, one part directing cycles onto what looks like it will become an exceptionally narrow cycleway on the pavement (which ends up rejoining the road just at the lights on the far left); or diverting cycles in a weird swerve out into the road to meet the sides of the constant queue of vehicles.
Created by mike1727 // 1 thread
"The St. Albans Green Ring route will run approximately parallel to Everlasting Lane in Batchwood Everlasting Lane is an un-surfaced green lane that can be used as an alternative route to avoid traffic. "
It is proposed to construct a new tarmac path across the recreation ground in Temple View from access on Temple View going North West to an entrance onto Everlasting Lane"
Feasibility study pages 15-17
Googlemap ref http://goo.gl/maps/MjClP
2.5m wide tarmac cyclepath sloping down from playing fields to Everlasting Lane max gradient 1:12 sides 1:2.5
this appears to be option 3 from the feasibility study
Questions:
Why was Sutrans' reccomended route not taken up?
Will there be a cycling right of way accross the Recreation ground to provide a legal link to City Hospital?
Will cycle parking be installed in the Recreation Ground?
What work is being planned on the Everlasting lane section of this route? (In particular surfacing and width)
Will lighting be installed?
Created by mike1727 // 0 threads
2.5m bound gravel cycle path following existing informal route "proposed to widen and reconstruct the existing path through the Recreational Ground to Sandridge Road. "
Feasibilty study page 24
Googlemaps ref http://goo.gl/maps/97an1
Questions:
What is being planned for the crossing of Sandridge road and when will it be delivered?
Sustrans reccomendation:
Cross Sandridge Road via a central refuge – consider creating another central refuge
on Sandridge Road to the north east of Boundary Lane for cyclists wishing to travel in
that direction. An alternative would be to create a Zebra crossing at this location
without a central refuge. This would avoid the pinch point created by a refuge for
those cycling along Sandridge Road.
Created by mike1727 // 1 thread
Link between NCN 6 near Townsend Drive to Edward Beaufort Drive
"It is proposed to cross Bernard’s Heath on a 2.5 metre width hard-surfaced gravel pathway running approximately parallel to Heath Farm Lane. It will follow the existing informal route through the Heath. "
Feasibilty study page 23
google map reference
Questions:
Please ensure any bollards/posts at each end of the section allow sufficent width for tandems and bike trailers.
When is additional work on this link due?
Feasibility study reccomended :
•Widen roadside footway to maximum available using Highways land to rear of footway between Edmund Beaufort Drive and new crossing of Harpenden Road
• Cross Harpenden Road using Toucan on crest of hill
We could do with some photos of this please.
Created by Al Storer // 1 thread
The new road between Addenbrooke's Road and Robinson Way has some poor design features.
Created by Richard Moss // 1 thread
Network Rail planning application for replacement of level crossing with footbridge
Created by Paul L // 1 thread
Between the practically traffic free road through Bushy Park and the quiet roads of Hampton is the busy High Street. This could be a route for all cyclists by segregation as a two-way widened shared footway and conversion of an existing pelican to a toucan crossing.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
Burtons road has been part of the borough cycle network usually acting as a quiet parallel to Queens Rd. Unfortunately growth of traffic has led to it being a rat-run at peak times despite numerous road humps. As parking leaves space for only one vehicle this makes it unpleasant to cycle.
Created by Gareth Evans // 0 threads
This roadworks is very extensive. There are many cones. However this lorry just blocks not only the lane but the sight lines just next to St Kilda avenue
Created by David Earl // 2 threads
The new flats at the fire station seem to be attracting delivery vehicles to unload in the cycle lane at the west end of East Road. The wide lane here is separated from the road by cross hatching. Should we ask for physical segregation on this short length, e.g armadillos. Would delivery vehicles still bump over them to park are make matters worse to get round them? Would a barrier be effective?
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The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
Created by DavidT // 2 threads
The current layout of the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Winchester road and Vermont close forces cyclists out of the cycle lane and into the flow of traffic. This is a risky maneuver and relies on the patience of the car driver behind the cyclist. A possible solution would be to be extend the cycle lane through the chicane, with give way markings so that pedestrians have right of way.
Southampton Cycling Campaign has received many reports of local cyclists having accidents on the cycle path outside the Dominos Pizza outlet at the southern end of The Avenue.
A recent incident was reported in the Southampton Echo, http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10475081.Cyclist_hurt_in_road_crash/
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
There is a loading bay in the cycle contraflow cycle lane, which means that the cycle lane is blocked for cyclists as soon as a vehicle is parked there. This means that cyclists have to pull out into the path of oncoming buses, thus making the NCN route unsuitable to young children or inexperienced cyclists.
We have a tandem which fits in all the spaces on trains in Scotland (as far as I know), but we are prohibited from taking it on any except the East Coast line trains. I've been writing to various officials - elected and otherwise - and contributed to the recent review of the Scotrail franchise, but am not getting much joy. No one seems to think it is a big deal. But, for my family, with 2 kids aged 5 and 1, and no car, if we don't go by tandem and train, we can't go anywhere much. The tandem is not a luxury but a practical transport solution. Does anyone else want to join in and make this more than a one-woman issue?
(another related issue: even once the kids can ride their own bikes, we won't be able to use trains much since most only allow 2 reservations).
Created by Alex Oldman // 1 thread
Disused railway tracks on St Peters Dock provide short section of road surface that is dangerous to traverse from East to West by bike.
If you are avoiding crossing the tracks then you are forced into oncoming traffic.
If you cross the tracks, you are then potentially trapped between parked cars and the railway tracks, which can be dangerous.
The tracks are very slippery when wet or icy, and sections are often hidden underwater because there is poor drainage after heavy rain.
Ideally the tracks are totally removed, or the surface covered with concrete or tarmac.
Created by PeterMac // 1 thread
Redesign of Grey Street to remove the danger of cars reversing (blind) out parking bays into middle of the road.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
The A2 is a hostile environment for cycling. Cyclists should be directed away from using the A2 towards existing safe alternatives (e.g. RCR16) and the current A2 cycle signs should be removed.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 29 threads
Proposed route along the rail corridor through Cambridge, part of which is in the Cambridge Local Plan.
Created by Andrea Casalotti // 1 thread
Here is an ambitious plan for a Bicycle Boulevard from Shoreditch to Fitzrovia, along Old Street, Clerkenwell Road and Theobalds Road, open only to bicycles, buses and motor traffic for local access only.
a. It is now the most cycled route in London, showing that it is the desired EW route.
b. It is of variable width, therefore trying to accommodate bikes, buses, and through traffic in a consistent and safe way is impossible. In other words, a compromise will be a botch job.
c. There will not be mixing of buses and bicycles: bicycles will have a dedicated two way cycle lane on the South side of the street.
d. The Boulevard stops being a mega- EW-rat-run. Motor traffic will have to use Pentonville/City Road.
More details here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yw9mkHhGZaVBKYJs6FxyhC1Z4nNYVl-IFH-aR1ScK9U/pub?start=false#slide=id.p
Created by DavidTheScientist // 1 thread
While some painted "cycle lane" does exist northbound, there is woefully little provision for cyclists considering the huge number that use this section of road each day, a large number of whom are those who work at the General Hospital and other nearby health centres. Southbound cyclists have no real provision of space at all, save a graduated stopline, where cars turning right often try to pass right-turning cycles on the inside. Dale road itself is extremely narrow by winchester road, with almost no pavement space for pedestrians.
Cyclists heading northbound on Winchester road must beat traffic off the line at Dale road to get to the painted centre of Winchester road. North of the traffic light at The Range, the cycle lane is almost non-existent, placing cyclists between 2 lanes of heavy traffic, and cyclists have to stop and wait in this dangerous area in order to turn right onto Wilton road. Furthermore, the road surface, especially at this part of Winchester road, is currently deplorable.
Surface, drainage and width issues.
Planned for upgrade as part of CEC 'family network'
No details/dates.
Was an issue 5 years ago (and before)
Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread
I've visited Riverside to Waterbeach with William Rayner of county cycling team. He's revising signage here and providing it along the St Ives corridor, with the old NCN 51 being renamed Regional Route 24 (blue patch). We've decided finally to continue to sign NCN 11 from Riverside Bridge to Waterbeach Station, and he's looking at suitable (hopefully temporary) wording to advise to follow NCN 51 to Bottisham for destinations beyond Waterbeach, which will hopefully eliminate misrouting those from outside the area.
Our inspection of existing signs showed that only one new signboard was provided on completion 5 years ago of Riverside Bridge. Signboards still send people via Green Dragon. Sustrans considers signage is an important part of any route project.
The intention is to sign Milton Country Park as a destination, not as part of the route, removing route signs within the park, and probably retaining Coles Road as the signed route through the village, though it would be much preferable to have improvements past the shops and the village green, pubs etc.
Retaining the route to Waterbeach as NCN will help keep the gap in people's awareness.
I am planning to contact again the landowner of the missing link between Bottisham Lock and Fen Road, Lode with a suggestion for a low-level route, southeast side of the Bottisham Lode floodbank which is the route of the public footpath, where signs forbid cycling. It might be considered more visually acceptable. All parish councils are for the route, including the one of which he is a member.
Created by David MacKay FRS // 1 thread
Our campaign for safer walking and cycling to/from NWCambridge now has a petition and a first video (of five) summarising our position.
See our new video summarising our petition:
https://youtu.be/hIlQAzsU0js?t=1s
I’d be delighted if you could promote this to your networks. Time is of the essence because a Senate House discussion is coming up [3 Nov 2015], and I will report the number of signatures on our petition there. (But signatures after the date will still be useful.)
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/EddingtonSafety
The petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/EddingtonSafety
Anyone is welcome to sign the petition; we ask people to use the Comment field to let us know if they are University Member / University employee / City resident / SouthCambs resident / etc.
For twitter purposes the recommended hashtag is #EddingtonSafety and there is an @EddingtonSafety account too.
Thanks very much
David
David J C MacKay FRS
djcm1@cam.ac.uk
Regius Professor of Engineering,
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Author of “Sustainable Energy - without the hot air” www.withouthotair.com
and “Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms” www.inference.eng.cam.ac.uk/mackay/
Girton resident and parent.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign Member
Created by londoncycler // 1 thread
Six inch high ridge near left side of north bound lane on the south side of the bridge forces cyclists too close to the kerb or into the path of motor vehicles. Issue reported via CTC pothole reporting site. Resurfacing required.
Created by Andy Allan // 1 thread
Garratt Lane at Earlsfield station sucks massively for cyclists, and is a jarring interruption to the Wandle Trail (Sustrans route 20). It would be great to extend the riverside path underneath the railway to avoid this dangerous stretch of road.
Created by Charlie // 1 thread
Confusion created by inconsistent design in the two parts of the new segregated cycle path - one bit is clearly segrated with a distinct red surface; the other bit appears on first glance to be shared-use but on closer inspection is intended to be segregated. Why was this allowed to happen? There are also considerable problems with traffic flow which could have been eliminated with a little more thought. I dispair of Bristol City Council's ability to get anything right!
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Cyclist coming from the river come up Friars Lane exit and have to currently route right round Richmond Green because it is one way. Many do not and simply cycle across the green. The path across the green should be formally opened up to cyclists - as a share path with pedestrian priority - or a seperate track provided along the south side of Richmond Green.
Created by Matt Turner // 1 thread
Castle Street cycle lane is a contraflow cycle lane on a one way street in Sheffield. It has been here since March 1997 and allows cyclists enter the city centre from the network of cycle paths on the East, avoiding some big arterial routes with no cycling provision.
For the past 15 years this cycle lane has been plagued by Hackney Carriage drivers parking illegally on this cycle lane, blocking cyclists access and forcing them into oncoming traffic. This has been the case for over a decade.
There is a taxi rank on the pavement side of the cycle lane, taxis often fill up this rank and overflow, parking in the cycle lane, blocking the way for cyclists.
Created by David Wilcox // 3 threads
Proposal
To investigate options to provide a safe, continuous route from St James Barton Roundabout to the top of Park Street.
Rationale
Marlborough Street/Upper Maudlin Street/Perry Road/Park Row (known as the Scope Route) is the most desirable route for cyclists from the east of the city to the University, the Triangle, Clifton etc but is heavily trafficked with little cycle provision.
Research has identified three key perceptions that deter people from taking up cycling: lack of personal safety; inconvenience; poor image. Experience from countries in northern Europe shows conclusively that in order for cycling to become a mass activity attracting all ages and abilities these perceptions have to be tackled and potential cyclists must believe they will feel safe, valued and normal. Facilities are needed that form a coherent network, separate cyclists from fast, high volume traffic and offer them a high degree of priority and convenience both on main routes and local roads. The purpose of Bristol's 'Design Cycling' work programme is to create a network and that is convenient, safe and provides speedy access all over the city. A network which a 12 year old would feel comfortable using.
Part of the 2013 Bristol City Council LSTF proposals.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
The permeability gate between Hooper Street and Kingston Street is obstructive as it only allows passage in one direction at a time.
Given the ever-increasing amount of cycling in areas like this, it's time to get this replaced with a simple bollard arrangement that would allow two-way passage whilst still enable the emergency services to unlock for access in an emergency.
Created by HVS // 2 threads
The A41 ring road cuts across a useful quiet route north-west out of Chester, which is an alternative to the traffic-free Greenway (which is unlit, and slippery in icy conditions). Crossing the A41 during busy periods - e.g. when commuting at rush-hour - can be a slow and potentially very dangerous process, especially after dark. A better crossing for cyclists and pedestrians, or a lower speed limit on the A41 (or both), would be very helpful here.
[Original version of map was wrong; I've now updated it.]
Created by Simon Nuttall // 19 threads
The Reach Fair ride takes place on the early Bank Holiday Monday (May Day) in May.
The web page for it is:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/
The planning overview is summarised:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/timeline.html
I've created this issue to help plan this event.
Created by Robin Heydon // 9 threads
The A14 is a very hostile, dangerous road for cycling.
Improvements to it, as well as broader changes to the national framework for cyclist crossings of major roads, are needed.
Created by Chris Neston // 2 threads
The cycle path crosses the soutbound exit from the M53 at Cheshire Oaks. The exit is light controlled for traffic as they enter the roundabout. This provides a safe time for cyclists to ride across the sliproad. However the lights are not visible to cyclist on the path and there is no light provided to advise cyclists when they can cross.
This makes it very difficult and dangerous for cyclists to know when they can safely cross. This would require no physical change to the road layout simply a new light to show cyclists when to cross.
Created by Kevin Ablitt // 1 thread
Motorised vehicles currently use the rat run through Milner Street to avoid the fraffic lights at Grove Lane/ St Helens St.
This is part of NCN 41 , any extra traffic passing through here detracts from the cycling experience and is negative for residents.
Cyclist comments are needed now !