October cycle forum

Some good news and some not so good news coming out of this months cycle forum.

Good

1. Bollards are going to be placed along side the cycle route passing Valley Centretainment. The recent addition of signs hasn't stopped the path being used as a car park every evening. This'll stop the buggers.
2. The recent inspection of the 5 Weirs Walk will result in a number of improvements (including getting rid of the invasive Japanese Knotweed).
3. Supertram have agreed to a one day trial of bikes on trams in Spring 2006. We'll be letting Pedal Pushers members know about this. Hopefully this will signal the start of reasonable access for cyclists on the tram network. Well done Simon Geller who has worked very hard top achieve this.

Not so good

1. The junction of Surrey Street and Norfolk street presents considerable danger for cyclists. Cyclists travelling down Surrey Street and continuing past the Winter Gardens (designated cycle route) face the possibility of being mown down by motorists entering from Norfolk Street. The rights of way are far from clear and its an accident waiting to happen. Everyone take care here in the immediate future. Furthermore the use of rough cobbles instead of a better defined and smoother surface for the cycle lane in this area highlighted a lack of thought in relation to the needs of cyclists. Most cyclists tend to use the thin strip of flat paving slabs. This is a bit of a clue as to what surfaces we prefer (especially those of us who don't use bikes with 2" tyres).
2. The use of a build out of the pavement close to the junction of Northumberland Road and Whitham Road pushes cyclists out into a narrow uphill stretch immediately before a length of cycle lane. The build out was necessary to avoid expensive re-routing of underground cables for a pedestrian crossing apparently. Such build outs are becoming quite widespread and are indicative of a lack of concern for the needs of cyclists. Road safety audits really do need input from an experienced cyclist.

Our concerns over a freeze on the budget for child cycle training maybe a little premature as budgets have yet to be agreed for 2006/7. However the debate has been valuable in raising the importance of adequate funding of what is a very successful initiative.