Sittingbourne Mill redevelopment
Redevelopment of the Sittingbourne Mill site to include a superstore, approximately 150 new houses, and a park.
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Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Cyclenation:
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Redevelopment of the Sittingbourne Mill site to include a superstore, approximately 150 new houses, and a park.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
A dropped kerb with and footway extension to 'facilitate' cycle route.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
A proposal to install lighting on the mid points of the footpaths on Parker's Piece.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Proposed new cycle path beside Westwood Road. This closes a gap in the cycle path network in Thanet.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
A proposal to light the Gough Way cycle/footpath with solar- powered, directional cats eyes. The footbridge will be upgraded soon, so this is the next step. The route is well used.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
A proposal to put in a new cycle path on the southern side of Lammas Land. The comment next to this in the report dismisses it because of the access road. They feel the loss of green space outweighs the need for it.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
This could be important given the traffic calming work that was approved for the section of road outside the rugby ground.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Recently near Petts Wood station there has been a similar junction where the main flow of traffic is round the corner, whilst being a crossroads, which has been changed to a mini roundabout which slows the traffic more and makes it easier for cyclists. http://osm.org/go/0EEBtsaNj-?m
I'm wondering if the same can happen here.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
From the West/Central Area Committee agenda, a proposal to resurface the track from South Green Road to the start of the Grantchester Meadows path. They will consider whether to adopt this on 1st March.
Created by cobweb // 1 thread
In the Environmental Improvements Programme for the West Area Committee, (1st March) they are considering whether to adopt the proposal to ban right turns from Newnham Croft Street.
Created by Heather Coleman // 1 thread
A colleague asked if the gate from Downing to the Downing Site was open again, since he needed to go to Pathology. I said it wasn't, but why didn't he take the route I take, down Norwich St, Panton St, Tennis Court Road. Answer, "because I fell off my bike there, those speed humps are dangerous, and if you go slowly enough not to fall off, it's really slow".
Now I find that worrying. I go my way to avoid the awful traffic jams at the junction by the Catholic Church. I think most people would consider it a safer route. But if some cyclists are being put off going that way, and instead taking the zoo that is Regent St in preference, well, I don't think the traffic calming is doing the job intended.
Too late to fix this here, but we must make it a priority that any future traffic calming in the city or South Cambs doesn't inadvertently act as an anti-cyclist measure and force cyclists onto the much busier main roads which I'm sure everyone would prefer them not to use if there's a better a and quicker route. But if the traffic calming, that was presumably done, in part, to improve cycle safety, has failed, this is a waste of money. The speed humps on Bateman St, unless you do a slalom, you have to cycle over and the ones on Norwich St are viscious. I've just got good at taking them at speed as I've had plenty of practice.
Created by Robin Heydon // 15 threads
New station that will serve the northern part of Cambridge, specifically the Science Park - but also by extension through the guided bus, villages to Northstowe.
This provides a good opportunity to construct another section of the Chisholm Trail (especially a link over the river and on to Newmarket Road). We must also ensure that any footbridge provides facilities for those with bikes AND that there is adequate cycle parking.
The Times is running a campaign for cycle safety.
How can we best capitalise on this in Cambridge?
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Speed limit reduction from National Speed Limit to 30mph on this narrow section of road which forms part of National Cycle Route 1.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Phase 2 of the River Dour Greenway will connect the existing portion of the River Dour Greenway cycle route with National Cycle Routes 1 and 2 on Dover's seafront. It'll also connect to Regional Cycle Route 17.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
The Oyster Bay Trail phase 2 will close a gap in the cycle network between the existing Oyster Bay Trail at Swalecliffe, Herne Bay and Reculver, the Viking Coastal Trail around Thanet, and the Crab & Winkle Way between Whitstable and Canterbury.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
This proposed cycle path will remove the need to climb a hill when following the Great Stour Way to reach Canterbury city centre. It'll also increase the proportion of traffic-free path used for the route and remove some areas of potential conflict with other road users due to parked cars.
Created by Gregory Williams // 1 thread
Completion of this section of the riverside cycle path will allow students to cycle virtually traffic free from the Parham Road Student Village into Canterbury city centre. Making this route cycleable will allow the existing and proposed developments at the Parham Road Student Village to fulfil their car-free objectives.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
The pedestrian crossing joining the pavements here are frequently blocked by parked cars.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
This development (a clear case of squeezing a quart into a pint-pot) has no cycle parking.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
This attractive, car-free development - heavily used as a cycling and walking route - has gradually turned into an ugly car park in recent months following the temporary removal of enforcement. The County Council are proposing partial re-regulation of parking.
Created by Heather Coleman // 0 threads
An article in today's Cambridge News about the new shops in Orchard Park isn't encouraging reading.
Link to article is
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Build-us-some-more-shops-or-well-all-get-in-our-cars-17022012.htm
The headline says it all. They are proposing shops that will probably only act as "corner shops" so people will all drive along the A14 or Kings Hedges Road to Milton Tesco.
This seems on the face of it, to add to the general anti-cycling design that Orchard Park has had since the first bulldozers went into action. I don't know what others think, or what can be done about it. Presumably a too large supermarket isn't wanted there, as then it would become a magnet for people outside of Orchard Park to drive to, unless, but this is not a suggestion that is possible, it had virtually no car parking, just for the disabled, but lots of bike parking, and good smooth pedestrian paths to all the houses.
A 20mph limit in residential areas of Cambridge would vastly improve safety and enable more people to cycle. What extent should it cover and how can we achieve it?
Martin Lucas-Smith // 2 threads
Planning application here which may be of interest.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 21 threads
The Local Plan is being reviewed - which will be a big process over the coming two years. It's important that cyclists engage with this and ensure that deficiencies, such as lack of cycle parking, are fixed.
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Created by aSemy // 0 threads
A tree on the side of East side of Whiteladies road (next to HSBC) has a notice stating that the tree will be removed and replanted. The tree is on the very wide pavement right next to the road, and the road is not wide enough for vehicles and cyclists: a pinch point.
There is clearly enough space on Whiteladies road for a segregated cycle lane. It is a popular route used often by heavy traffic. With enough shifting of road lanes there's even enough room for an uphill cycle lane.
Replanting the tree away from the road would remove one small obstacle and show evidence that BCC is looking towards improving cycling in the long run.
The cycle lane on Billacombe Road is unusable due to car parking in it.
Outside the old, unused entrance to the boatyard there are barriers that needlessly force cyclists to slow right down.
Created by WilliamNB // 1 thread
When travelling along Billacombe Rd in a westerley direction, there is a dedicated right-turn lane at the junction with The Ride. As is the case with many traffic lights across the city, there is an induction loop system buried in the road.
This seems unable to detect the presence of cyclists waiting to turn right at the lights, thus forcing cyclists to skip a red light.
Created by WilliamNB // 0 threads
When Chapel Street was recently renovated and resurfaced, new on-carriageway cycle lanes were painted. Sadly (predictably?) these lanes end just when they are most needed.
The fact that the lane ends, when cycling in a northernly direction, is in itself an annoyance.
The manner in which it ends is stupid beyond belief:
A yield sign has been painted at the end of the lane. This means, to remain perfectly within the law, cyclists riding in the lane must yield to traffic traveling in the same direction and may only proceed when there's no traffic approaching from behind.
It is legally possible to avoid having to yield by leaving the cycle lane before it ends and by riding on the main carriageway.
Created by WilliamNB // 0 threads
When cycling from Marsh Mills towards town, the pavement is a bi-directional shared path, albeit of poor quality and far too narrow to be safe. As you approach the junction where the off-ramp for Old Laira Road veers off to the left, cyclists are forced around a barrier to meet the road perpendicularly, where they have to wait until there is a large enough gap in traffic to allow them to cross.
This is one of Plymouth's main cycle routes into and out of the city, while Old Laira Road is not a main arterial route and indeed has a 20mph speed restriction in place further on.
It would be good if the on-footway cycle provision can become a segregated cycle path for a short distance, which may be continued across the slip road veering off to the left, as has been done on Laira Bridge Road recently, as well as on Alma Road, approaching the junction with Outland Road and Milehouse Road.
Clear signage could be erected to show traffic wishing to cross the cycle track that it should yield to cyclists.
The cycle track should be continued past the small traffic island and retain priority over traffic joining from Old Laira Road, before it can merge again with the shared pavement along Embankment Road.
Created by MikeF // 1 thread
Traffic light sensor on Tavistock Road at Derriford roundabout (inbound) is unable to detect cyclist correctly forcing extremely long waits in the early hours until a car comes along to trigger the lights
Created by MikeF // 1 thread
Traffic light sensor on Beechwood Avenue does not detect 6061 T6 aluminium bike frames very well
Created by MikeF // 0 threads
When cycling along western park road towards mutley. On sections that have speed bumps without the traffic islands/bollards, car/taxi drivers dangerously position their cars (across both lanes) at speed to avoid the speed bumps. Friday & Saturday nights is the worst time with the taxi's.
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
The "cyclist priority route" on NCN1, Felixstowe Road obviously isn't that subjectively safe as I've seen someone cycling on the pavement southbound rather than on the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DItGP0Lt200 is a video of the road from another occasion.
Created by Robert Asher // 1 thread
Hello, I'm wondering how many other Cambridge cyclists have shared the experience I've had (about once per month now) regarding a particular elderly lady who insists that bikes are not allowed on the "footpath" adjacent to the Trumpington allotments, between Shelford Rd & the new busway in CB2. This path seems clearly demarcated as a shared pedestrian-cycle path on the cycle maps provided at the council link (below). However, it is not clearly labeled as such on the path itself, leading her to become quite angry with any cyclist who gets near her & her dog while they're out walking (and obstructing the path to underscore her point). "It's a footpath" she yells, and storms away.
So my questions are 1) am I correct in interpreting the council map (below) as permitting bikes on this path and 2) how might one go about requesting proper signage, clearly saying bikes & pedestrians are both welcome?
Thanks for any feedback, Robert
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/www.cambridge.gov.uk/files/documents/cambridge-cycling-map.pdf
Created by George Coulouris // 1 thread
We've launched the campaign for a major upgrade to the cycle tracks on Tavistock Place/Torrington Place. The campaign is fronted by this video:
http://camdencyclists.org.uk/camden/campaigns/ssl-upgrade/index_html
This issue provides a forum for discussion by (a) CCC committee and (b) campaign activists. Please create threads as necessary.
Created by David Earl // 5 threads
Greater Anglia has just issued a consultation on cycles at stations and on trains
Martin Lucas-Smith // 4 threads
The cycle lanes here are a mish-mash of narrow legacy infrastructure, and are often awkward to use.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Dear RCC - I have written because of a junction which is a frequent danger spot to cycle through. It is the junction where Dukes Avenue and Tudor Drive intersect with the A307 Upper Ham Road and Richmond Road.
1. The painted arrows in the middle of the junction suggest that turning traffic should pass on each other's left. This creates a serious blind spot for oncoming traffic and for the cyclist turning. Traffic code 181 suggests vehicles can pass either way but highlight that left to left is the more dangerous for this reason. 90% of the time motorists pass according to how the arrows are painted leaving a cyclist who is turning blind to oncoming traffic. The 10% of the time when a vehicle decides to turn right to right this puts them head on with a vehicle who may have decided to pass left to left. Very dangerous for a cyclist in either situation, there does't seem to be a safe way to tackle this junction as what ever you do.
https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183
2. Recently I was waiting to turn right on this junction (left to left position) when a motorist behind me undertook me to place himself to my left blocking oncoming traffic to pass on my left and therefor forcing them to drive at me and pass on my right. Simply because he didn't want to wait behind me until the coast was clear that I could turn.
3. Needless to say the ASL's at this junction are almost completely ignored.
I hate cycling past and turning at this junction. Is there any way it can be improved to become safer for cyclists? A short head start (green light for cyclists) would be ideal but I doubt this will ever happen.
Google Streetview shows the problem nicely: http://goo.gl/maps/8gdo2
The link is scheduled to be closed for water main installation for six weeks from 30 September.
Nearest alternative ways to cross the railway line are Sandpit Lane (busy road with splitter islands!) or bridge link to York Road (nice and quiet but steps to bridge)
The route through Verulamium Park towards the museum was built to substandard width. There is a considerable risk that this will cause conflict between walkers and cyclists.
Route widening is not due until the Green Ring is built in 2015.
STACC will campaign for widening of the route to begin as as soon as possible since we see no need to delay waiting for the Green Ring.
Resurfacing of the Alban Way begins in September 2013- this project draws upon Green Ring funding so why can't Green Ring funding be deployed now to widen the Ver Park route?
Created by mike1727 // 1 thread
The King Harry lane end of the Causeway route is currently a no cycling area, making the route less effective and dangerous since many people will cycle this part of the route regardless.
Action is required by HCC/SADC to plan and install a bridge and change the route to allow the full length to be used.
Footpath 32 is to be converted to be a bridleway. The footpath runs at the edge of a field parallel to the Wheathampstead road from the Hertswood Forest car park entrance to Nomansland. It will have a garpack surface for cycling/walking and a larger strip of grass for horse riding.
Funding comes largely from a Paths For Communities grant with other contributions from local sources.
Created by mike1727 // 1 thread
Traffic on the redbourn road is often fast and uncomfortable for novice/nervouse riders. The footpath running along Redbourn road sees few walkers and appears suitable for a conversion to a bike route. This is being progresses through the Herts Cycle Forum
Created by mike1727 // 0 threads
The Stonecross/Avenue road junction is to be redesigned. It is rounoured there may be a ban on bikes turning right from Stonecross onto Avenue road, which makes bike journeys W-E using Avenue road difficult. It would be better to redesign the junction to allow bikes through since many people will continue to ride/use the pavement as this is a desire line route.
Created by Jose Ferraro // 0 threads
Coombe Lane West heading towards Raynes Park: There is a long downhill slope which has new potholes appearing frequently which after a long while are filled with blobs of tarmac creating equally dangerous lumps. Grit fallen from HGVs and parked cars narrowing the lane make this a very risky road to cycle along at speed. A cyclist needs to slow down to be prepared to manoeuvre these hazards which puts them into conflict with motorised traffic behind them who wish to pass but lack the room. This is especially true when cycling uphill over the flyover (in either direction).
There is a short piece of cycle lane only at the base of the hill which does not continue over the flyover and leaves slower cyclists to mix in with the much faster flow of motorised traffic.
The result is frequent close passes unless you cycle in a primary position which invites further conflict (tailgating and intimidation) from impatient motorists.
Created by Jim Chisholm // 1 thread
Proposals are coming forward for the redevelopment of part of the Cambridge University Pres Site as a single location for Cambridge Assessment. Some public engagement will apparently start in November
Created by Jon Warbrick // 1 thread
The link from Barton Road to the Lammas Land car park (and the car park itself) have been closed to all use by the County Council for some development work. This is a buisy cycle route, and no effort has been put into providing a diversion. Currently most people are cycling across the grass behind the hedge beside the road (though how long this will remain possible if it rains is unclear); an alternative is to use other paths across Lammas Land, but they are narrow, not actually marked for cycling, and it's further.
According to a notice at the junction with Barton Road this work will continue to the start of December. There was and is no warning when approaching from east of the river.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 0 threads
The Virgin Gym trade entrance is being used by drivers as a shortcut.