Southend Cycle Town - part 2

[FatBloke]

This area is "shared space". post corrected.

[delthebike]

Strange that all the comments have been removed from this page. 

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/10205030.Shared_space_not_responsible_for_cyclist_collision/

Is it because they were mostly negative about Cox and the Tory "this is/isn't/maybe/could be shared space except for the pavement where the incident happened line comments?

The blue signs, one west of the Pier and the other near the Kursaal have "Share Space" written on them. Why not Shared Space?

[FatBloke]

The blue signs, one west of the Pier and the other near the Kursaal have "Share Space" written on them. Why not Shared Space?

Because it is a blue sign giving an instruction, and the instruction is to "Share Space", if it was warning of "Shared Space" it would be on a triangular warning sign.   

[FatBloke]

Email to Cllr Cox

A few years ago I sat on the council’s Cycle Forum and one of the road schemes that was discussed at length was the City Beach project and in particular the provision for cycling along Marine Parade (seeing as the project was part-funded by Cycling England). This area was always designed to be designated as “shared space” where motorists, cyclists and pedestrians would have equal rights of way. A few of us on the forum had serious concerns regarding this shared space but that is beside the point.

The plans I have show the entirety of Marine Parade being designated as shared space and indeed that is reflected in the road signage that has been put in place.

The problem I have is that following the terrible accident that occurred on the evening of 1st February when a cyclist collided with a young girl, you were quoted in the Echo on 6th February as saying that ““..it did not happen because it was within the shared space area because cyclists should not be on the pavement regardless.”.

The plans that were presented at the Cycle Forum show that the pavement area on both sides of the road are shared space, and therefore cyclists ARE permitted to ride on the pavement. Perhaps this has changed.

Could you please clarify for me the status of Marine Parade as regards cycling as I cycle along there twice a day to commute to work and I would like to remain within the law whilst doing so.

[Domestique]

Whilst that area of Marine Parade is shared space, the footpath outside the amusements and Chinnery's  has always been designated for pedestrians where the seafront side is dual purpose for both cyclists and pedestrians. Once full details have been released by the police, officers will naturally look to see if there are any highway implications as a result.

Cllr Cox blog site

http://shoeburyblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/all-about-seafront-this-week.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Flynn]

Posted the following in the comments. Doubt the fat sack of lard will have the guts to let it pass moderation though:

At no time since it was built has Southend Council stated that the arcade side of City Beach was pedestrians only.

 The public have been led to believe, right from the beginning, that the entire City Beach from the pier to the Kursaal was 'shared space'.

There are NO signs saying the arcade side is pedestrians only. In fact it is quite clearly NOT pedestrians only because there are always cars parked on that side of the road. So it is clear that it is permitted for motor vehicles to be driven on that piece of pavement, and if cars can be driven there then bicycles can be cycled there.


It seems to me that Cllr Cox, in now saying that pavement is NOT part of the shared space is trying to remove blame from the council for such an appalling implementation of 'shared space', which the council are now saying is not 'shared space' at all.

I now wait to see if Cllr Cox will have the courage to permit this comment to appear.

[Flynn]

Local paper whipping up a storm:

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/10405993.Cyclist_collides_with_car_on_new_shared_space_crossing/

[nuttycyclist]

The whole thing is a farce.    The "shared space" isn't working as pedestrians can't cross the road to get from one pavement to another (a statement in itself proving the issue!).    A cyclist/pedestrian collision occurred a short time ago and the council's statement was that the cyclist was on the pavement where they shouldn't have been.

They've now had to put in crossings, but seemingly abandoned putting them in because of utility works too close to the surface, but not noticed when they had the whole road dug up?

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10401126.Work_abandoned_on_seafront_crossings/?cmpid=cmt

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Teenage-pedestrian-fighting-life-collision/story-18041440-detail/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[delthebike]

SBC have cured the "cars parking on the bike path/lane/route" at the Garrison...

by moving the cycle path/lane to the side of the road it should have been in the first place! 

They have kept the gravel trap though...

...which, as you can see, is largely ignored and people ride on the grass at the side. 

[Domestique]

Isn't that estate privately owned, Garrison Park or what ever its called. Not sure if the council is responsible. 

[delthebike]

Something to file under " you couldn't make it up!" 
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10481767.We_must_ban_cycling_on_seafront/?ref=mr

ETA: The comments, not too negative, some of them, say that this section is not shared but the signs say different.
Here's a pic of the other side of the pier to where the incident happened. Note the shared path sign.


A closer shot that is more under the Pier, again the shared path sign on the blue column. On the grey pole you can see a silver band, just above the yellow, ride on, car, upon which is the shared path sign when travelling towards camera position.