City Cycle Forum Nov 2009

From CycleSheffield

The formal minutes are here. The main items on the agenda were:

Contents 1 Cycle Sheffield Members' Action Item 2 SY Integrated Transport Authority 3 St Georges Terrace 4 Parking in Cycle Lanes 5 20's Plenty for Us 6 Misc. Notes 7 CycleSheffield Members' Issues

Cycle Sheffield Members' Action Item

Bernard Little would like to have suggestions of what cycle facilities to include on the new Ecclesall Road Smart Route from CycleSheffield members - I suggest posting these to the Cycle Sheffield [email] mailing list and I'll collate them for him; if you prefer to contact him directly he's bernard.little at sheffield.gov.uk. Update: This has now been sent to Bernard.

Also see further down under members' issues for a few more action items.

SY Integrated Transport Authority

We had a presentation on the new PTE / Transport Authority setup.

In the bi-annual bike count in June 2009, 30% more bikes were parked at stations in South Yorkshire than in June 2007; the 2009 figure being 141 bikes in total, of which 93 were in Sheffield [rail] station and 3 in the Interchange.

Northern Rail were noted as being very pro-active in catering to cyclists' needs.

Bikes on buses: Currently the 61/62 to Bradfield and the 284 to Stannage Edge. 30 bikes/month carried during the summer months (unmodified bus sharing wheelchair/pushchair space - no conflicting demands noted so far for this space). Also see the "Bikes & Public Transport" Leaflet.

St Georges Terrace

Parking in Cycle Lanes

20's Plenty for Us

Misc. Notes

• Work on the contraflow cycle lane on Pond Hill should start in January, initially as far as the Queen's Head.

• Surface level toucan crossing of Hannover Way is now in construction and the link to Broomspring Lane should be done by the end of the financial year (April?).

• More city centre cycle signage currently being erected.

• Re. bikes on trams it's worth pressing David Young at the PTE, he's "Director of Customer Experience", email david.young at sypte.co.uk

• The proposed [temporary] city centre bike park @ 66-68 Cambridge St now has greater uncertainty due to a possible increase in likely costs. If it goes ahead it would be a joint venture of the council, Pedal Ready & Recycle. There would be storage for 60-100 bikes at the rear of the ground floor with changing, showering, drying and locker facilities on the 1st floor. Separately, a permanent city centre bike park is included in the Sustainable Travel City bid; if the latter were successful work on this would start in mid 2010.

• Junction of Burngreave Road / Minna Road (S3): The Forum was presented with a possible plan for this junction designed to reduce accidents, particularly between vehicles. Part of this included making the uphill part of Burngreave Road into 2 lanes near the junction but with a cycle lane. This proposal was rejected in favour of removing the slip road part of the junction altogether, instead turning the junction into 'just' a T junction, which should have the effect of substantially reducing vehicle speeds here and also preventing substantial narrowing of the carriageways/lanes.

CycleSheffield Members' Issues

There are some updates on last month's issues, I've updated the issues there...

This months issues:

• FYI: Press release from the Peak Park

Pedal power to help residents and visitors lead more active lifestyles

A £1.25 million project is to turn the Peak District National Park into a haven for leisure and commuting cyclists.

...

It looks as though this money is going to be used to re-open the tunnels on the Monsal trail, creating a fabulous bike/walking route between Matlock & Buxton

A member comments: The world seems to have gone mad recently - Norfolk Park, Beeley Woods and Monsal Trail. All sane schemes and good use of money.

• This was raised at Monday's (9th Nov) Bradfield Parish Council meeting:

"Apparently Beeley Woods has been bought by a private individual. I dont know if this is all of it or just part but it was mentioned that only two of the footpaths through the woods are designated public footpaths (numbered 27 and 90).

No-one knows this individuals plans but obviously there are concerns regarding the remaining footpaths.

I have little knowledge in this area but I think there are forms to complete to request a footpath be designated public. Someone in Stannington is onto this and she has been contacting residents in Oughtibridge for support. I confirmed to my Stannington colleagues that the paths are used by residents of WPV on a regular basis and that Im sure we would support these being made public footpaths aswell so I am waiting for her contact details."

Don't know if anyone from the Council knows any more?

Update from Rob Stanley from the council:-

The Beeley Wood route is a project in progress at the present time. The path will be finished off with road planings in the near future, together with top soiling of the verge, and that will wrap up phase 1.

Phase 1 is in effect a footpath improvement, - improving drainage, getting rid of the swampy patches and improving the surface for people who are frail or use wheelchairs. The route is not yet a cycle route or Bridleway so cannot be signed as such. We anticipate that the route can be upgraded to a Bridleway (and allow cycle usage and signage) as part of phase 2 around April time 2010. This will hopefully be done with a final surfacing of the main track, which is to be agreed, and a Bridleway agreement with landowners. Access treatments will also be looked at.

The final surfacing, as part of Phase 2, is subject to consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the Community Assembly, Ramblers Association, Sustrans and landowners. I will be looking to start the ball rolling on this later in November.

Agreements with landowners to upgrade to a Bridleway should be fairly straight forward, provided we have their agreement on surfacing and access management. However, there are four landowners along the course of the route, one of which we have yet to identify and make contact with (despite trying all obvious means). If we can't identify this particular landowner, we may have to look at doing an Order to legally achieve the Bridleway, which would take longer and be more costly. We are currently exploring options on this.

I will update you when we have either indentified the remaining landowner or decided on a course of action to convert the footpath to a Bridleway by legal Order. I will also involve Sustrans' reps in the consultation on the final surfacing later this month.

The crossing of the railway line north of Oughtibridge is the subject of ongoing discussion between Network Rail and the City Council, following Network Rail's opposition to this. Its not an easy one.

• I regularly have to report glass in cycle lanes, particularly the Waitrose underpass. These are obviously deliberate acts to puncture tyres.

I spend ages kicking the glass into the side. I wonder if it would be possible to install a steel cabinet to store brushes etc in, and volunteers me for one) could carry out a spot sweep when passing?

This was considered impractical with the expectation that brushes etc would be stolen on a frequent basis. Instead a sign is to be added with the number to call [Streetforce] to request a clearup. Currently the area is swept at least once a week.

• I am a relatively inexperienced cyclist living in Walkley. I try to cycle to work every day and to use my bike as much as I can for other trips. Most of my journeys seem to involve coming up Winter Street from the university and cycling along South Road, crossing over the lights at the far end down into Parsonage Crescent.

There are two points in this journey where I feel particularly vulnerable both physically and to getting shouted at by drivers. In both cases I think a short cycle lane and advanced stop box might help me...

• ...The first point is the stretch between Harcourt Road and the lights at Crookesmoor road. There is often standing or very slow moving traffic here. I mostly cycle on the inside here because there are buses coming down a fairly narrow section of road on the other side. This can be difficult on a fairly steep hill with some cars staying well in to the left. A cycle lane would make it clear that I was entitled to do this and encourage cars to stay out from the kerb. The advanced stop might make it less likely that cars would try to turn left in front of me.

This is to be proposed to the Central Community Assembly for possible use of their budget.

• ...Similarly, coming up to the traffic lights at the end of South Road there is often quite a long queue of standing traffic. Again, I tend to cycle up the left of this because of buses turning onto the other side of the road. A cycle lane (say from the Freedom pub) would make this legit and an advanced stop box would make it clear that I had priority at the front of the queue and cars would be less likely to try and cut in front of me.

This is to be proposed to the Central Community Assembly for possible use of their budget.

There are a lot of cyclists now using this route and this might encourage more.

Finally, two more outrageous requests...

• ... A short right turn lane into the university from Winter Street?

This is to be proposed to the Central Community Assembly for possible use of their budget.

• ... A sign at the top of Parsonage Crescent warning that cyclists are coming up that road. Because it has a no entry sign at the top a lot of drivers assume it's one way but cyclists from that part of Walkley use it as a route up to South Road, getting up onto the pavement at the very top and using the pedestrian crossing (illegal I know). The alternative involves a steep climb up Compton Street, a queue of traffic and a right turn at the lights.

This is to be proposed to the Central Community Assembly for possible use of their budget.

• Fargate cycle stands: The recent market event completely boxed in the remaining 4 cycle stands at the top of Fargate. This surely sends out all the wrong messages about the importance of cycling, what chance this can be stopped in future (there was supposedly a commitment to keep Fargate cycle stands usable during such events from city centre management)

There was indeed such a commitment made. Action: (Cycle Sheffield members) Please protest to Richard Eyre of the City Centre Management Team, richard.eyre at sheffield.gov.uk, also ask for temporary cycle stands to replace those that get / have been removed.

• There is a set of 4 sheffield stands on top of the Moor (Furnival Gate end opposite Debenhams and near where McDonalds used to be). Having not noticed it before I realised that although the location is fine they are a bit hidden from view and perhaps a mini cycle parking sign (P) attached to the sign pointing to Arundell Gate would make it a bit more used?

Yes (should get added).

• A Toucan Crossing is being built at the bottom of Commercial St and a cycle path. All these different bits of route will link up soon. I was wondering whether rather like other bits of the city a bit more in the way of signs could be put in between the council and sustrans. For example when cycling down exchange street past Exchange place one can prominently see a cycling prohibited sign but there aren't any equally prominent signs down Wharf St to where the Sustrans route was. If I didn't know the route was there it would be hard to guess but for a small sustrans sticker. In general will there be more signage linking 5WW/route6/65 and the inner ring road cycle path?

Simon working with James Burdett (council) on this ('Connect' signage being looked at as part of current phase 3 of signage)

• A section of Gleadless Road is down for being designed and resurfaced soon (can't wait for this). Are there any plans to put in an ASL going out of town just before the traffic lights (carrying on Gleadless Road past Newfield Road shops). Traffic often builds up very badly here. Compliments at the speed bumps on Spencer Road and resurfacing, I no longer get overtaken at 40 or 50mph down there.

Not sure if there's room, this will be followed up (Dick Skelton of Transport Planning, Ken of Streetforce).

• Parking in Walkley. It was noted that there is a single sheffield stand in Walkley on South St/Greenhow St next to a set of traffic lights. Walkley is a long set of linear shops and one often sees a great many people out on bikes, could any additional sheffield stands be put in further into town on Howard Road e.g. Yorkshire Bank area where the pavement is wider or Commonside (next to traffic lights). They would obviously be oriented sideways in most scenarios as space is tight but they would be gratefully received.

Bernard Little (Green Cllr) will raise this at the Community Assembly.

• Parking in Hillsborough. Despite fantastic facilities at the bus terminus Hillsborough which is a large shopping area has a bit of a lack of short term parking for bicycles despite a fair bit of space.

Currently 2 on Dykes Hall Road. Elsewhere in Hillsborough there's not that much space that's not heavily pedestrian trafficed, although there may be some space near the bridge. Action: Members to suggest locations where there's space and it's not too heavily used by pedestrians.

• There is some abuse of the bus gate from Exchange Place into Castlegate which can cause danger for cyclists. In particular a few motorists choose to use the non-bus lane on Exchange Place before cutting across to Castlegate and potentially endangering cyclists in the way. Could any improvements be made at this location to address this issue?

There is a camera in place for enforcement, although this is not currently actively being used for this. The situation on this will be clarified.

• Hillsborough: The possibility of traffic restrictions on Parkside Road. The evening commute is usually through standing traffic here, and cycling down the middle of the road is only heart-stopping when the whole traffic lane moves out to avoid an odd parked car on the Hillsborough Park side and there's little room between oncoming traffic. Commuter-time parking restrictions on the park side of Parkside Road (is this clear?!) would help traffic flow and give cyclists a little more room. Probably more effective than a cycle lane.

The next Driving me Crazy possible projects are likely to include the removal of some inbound cycle spaces (that's what I wrote anyway, I think I must have meant inbound parking spaces).

• Hillsborough: If someone from Streetforce is there, report that there's significant carriageway deterioration basically along the white lining/breed lines on the outbound section of the new section of Penistone Road (Hillfoot Road to Bamforth Street). It's getting quite difficult to cycle between the lines of stationary traffic on the evening commute... If no -one from Streetforce is there I'll report it, but it probably need a bit more than a bit or tarmac being put down...

Not currently bad enough (it has been measured) to need intervention.