Author Topic: Humber Bridge Closed  (Read 11272 times)

Humber Bridge Closed
« on: 03 April, 2021, 09:13:59 pm »

Beardy

  • Shedist
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #1 on: 03 April, 2021, 09:28:42 pm »
Two things,
bridges don’t kill people, people,do.
And on a less flippant note, perhaps it’s time something was done about the appalling state of the mental health care provision in this country.
For every complex problem in the world, there is a simple and easily understood solution that’s wrong.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #2 on: 03 April, 2021, 10:43:54 pm »
Quote
"We appreciate this might cause some inconvenience, but we ask that pedestrians and cyclists respect the decision and avoid the Humber Bridge at the present time.”

The journey from North to South Ferriby is about an hour by bike, or a couple of hours walk. Without the bridge, it's 5 hours by bike or 18 hours walk.

Driving takes 12 minutes via the bridge, or a bit over an hour round the long way.

Guess who won't be inconvenienced?

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Jaded

  • The Codfather
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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #3 on: 03 April, 2021, 10:48:48 pm »
Two things,
bridges don’t kill people, people,do.
And on a less flippant note, perhaps it’s time something was done about the appalling state of the mental health care provision in this country.

Yes. Also a recognition of where the issues come from. A great friend of mine was abused as a youngster. Mental health issues, oh yes.
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #4 on: 04 April, 2021, 11:54:22 am »
If a road is not a motorway (e.g. the humber bridge) is it legal to say you can't cycle on it? 
simplicity, truth, equality, peace

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #5 on: 04 April, 2021, 11:59:57 am »
If a road is not a motorway (e.g. the humber bridge) is it legal to say you can't cycle on it?

If a road is designated a Special Road you can ban whatever forms of transport you like. All motorways are Special Roads.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #6 on: 04 April, 2021, 02:05:02 pm »
If I were the bridge operator and there was a sudden spate of jumpers, I would feel compelled not to ignore it. Not least because it would have a considerable impact on the mental health of me and my staff.  Not a longterm solution in any shape or form, but maybe a temporary relief.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #7 on: 04 April, 2021, 04:18:18 pm »
It’s not marked as motorway on the map but it’s been a while since I’ve been over it so I don’t know if it’s a special road. If the authorities had any sense of duty then they run a minibus service for cyclists and pedestrians like the Dartford Crossing.
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #8 on: 04 April, 2021, 04:27:36 pm »
It’s not marked as motorway on the map but it’s been a while since I’ve been over it so I don’t know if it’s a special road. If the authorities had any sense of duty then they run a minibus service for cyclists and pedestrians like the Dartford Crossing.
The Dartford Crossing bike service has been reduced to operate only 19 hours out of every 24.
It used to be a 24 hr service.
The reason given for this is to make the service better suited to cyclists needs.
Yes, really.
Time it wrong and you can look forward to a wait of as much as 1.5 hrs before the service resumes.
In reality someone wanting to cross from the opposite side to that which you are on, would  probably end up waiting longer if you turn up 15 minutes before service suspension. The reason given by the service provider (sic) is that they cannot take you and your bike to the other side and return in the time before service suspension commences.  ::-)

Beardy

  • Shedist
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #9 on: 04 April, 2021, 04:28:35 pm »
I don’t believe any of the big bridges are motorway so as to enable most none motorway traffics to use the crossings.
For every complex problem in the world, there is a simple and easily understood solution that’s wrong.

cygnet

  • I'm part of the association
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #10 on: 04 April, 2021, 06:45:53 pm »
If a road is not a motorway (e.g. the humber bridge) is it legal to say you can't cycle on it?

If a road is designated a Special Road you can ban whatever forms of transport you like. All motorways are Special Roads.

I can't see anything on https://www.humberbridge.co.uk/ to say you can't ride on the carriageway. It's been a couple of years since I actually rode over, so I can't be certain that ther are no no cycling signs.
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yorkie

  • On top of the Galibier
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #11 on: 04 April, 2021, 07:01:13 pm »
If a road is not a motorway (e.g. the humber bridge) is it legal to say you can't cycle on it?

If a road is designated a Special Road you can ban whatever forms of transport you like. All motorways are Special Roads.

I can't see anything on https://www.humberbridge.co.uk/ to say you can't ride on the carriageway. It's been a couple of years since I actually rode over, so I can't be certain that ther are no no cycling signs.


According to Google Streetview (Dated May 2019), on the A15 northbound just south of the bridge (at the point where the cycle path starts) there are "No Cycling" signs on both sides of the carriageway. There is also one at the north side at the point where the cycle path diverts to the car park/visitor centre (same date).
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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #12 on: 04 April, 2021, 07:09:06 pm »
I don’t believe any of the big bridges are motorway so as to enable most none motorway traffics to use the crossings.
This is  the case with the Dartford Crossing.
It (and it's approach roads)  is/are yclept the A282 and not the M25 which joins the A282 a few kilometres north and south from each end of the crossing.

Mr Larrington

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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #13 on: 04 April, 2021, 07:55:21 pm »
I don’t believe any of the big bridges are motorway so as to enable most none motorway traffics to use the crossings.

Wikinaccurate claims that the old and new Severn Crossings are the M48 and M4 respectively, though it seems the latter doesn’t have a pedestrian/cycle path.
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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #14 on: 04 April, 2021, 08:01:31 pm »
It doesn't.  The old Severn is the M48, but the bike path isn't the motorway.

Pingu

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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #15 on: 04 April, 2021, 08:06:31 pm »
The Queensferry Crossing carries the M90 (there is an alternative for non-motorway traffic to the east, thobut).

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #16 on: 04 April, 2021, 09:06:24 pm »
A new footbridge has opened in Hull across the A63. We walked across it recently and it was obvious that it  could be used by suicides.
Move Faster and Bake Things

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #17 on: 04 April, 2021, 09:19:58 pm »
It's a misconception that roads can't be closed to cyclists unless they are motorways.  I think there are bye-laws which allow councils to do this.  There's certainly a road in Oldham on which it is forbidden to ride.

I certainly endorse the calls for serious efforts to improve (or possibly even start) mental health provision.


Mr Larrington

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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #18 on: 05 April, 2021, 01:00:59 am »
It's a misconception that roads can't be closed to cyclists unless they are motorways.  I think there are bye-laws which allow councils to do this.  There's certainly a road in Oldham on which it is forbidden to ride.

See grams' previous post about Special Roads.  There are plenty of closed-to-non-motorised-traffic not-motorways round here, such as chunks of the A406 and the A roads either side of the Blackwall Tunnel.
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hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #19 on: 05 April, 2021, 02:00:14 am »
I think part of the A40 on the approach to Oxford is No Cycling.

I have cycled on the forbidden bits of the A406 in the wee small hours.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #20 on: 05 April, 2021, 05:46:30 am »
Riding illegally puts you at greater risk if things don’t go to plan.

The opportunities for would-be suicides are legion; in York we have a river which people jump into for example. I fear that a return to socialising in the city will see quite a bit of that starting up.
Move Faster and Bake Things

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #21 on: 05 April, 2021, 07:43:40 am »
I think part of the A40 on the approach to Oxford is No Cycling.

I have cycled on the forbidden bits of the A406 in the wee small hours.
I've accidentally cycled on Westway and the West Cross Route, neither of which have motorway status any more but are forbidden to cyclists.  However, if you get caught in the one-way system on Gloucester Terrace, that's where you end up.  There is a prohibition sign for bigger lorries and buses, but not for bikes.

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Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #22 on: 05 April, 2021, 08:28:56 am »
I've accidentally cycled on Westway and the West Cross Route, neither of which have motorway status any more but are forbidden to cyclists.  However, if you get caught in the one-way system on Gloucester Terrace, that's where you end up.  There is a prohibition sign for bigger lorries and buses, but not for bikes.

That's crazy.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #23 on: 05 April, 2021, 01:19:53 pm »
Some info (or okay it might be speculation) from a comment on road.cc:
Quote
Just to provide a bit of context, for as long as I can remember there have been calls to alter the bridge and make it harder for people to take their own lives by jumping from it.  A few months back there were two young men who took their lives within minutes of one and other.  In the last week or so I understand that six people committed suicide, and as if that wasn't tragic enough what is especially concerning is that some of them, I'm afraid, were schoolchildren.

FWIW I think this will be a temporary ban, and I think it has come about because the bridge board doesn't have the resources to alter the bridge in an appropriate way.  I think this is their way of highlighting their concerns and trying to get the funding from other authorities.  I don't think they're cynical, just desperate.  Of course, I could be wrong. 

The last time I went over the Humber Bridge - a couple of months ago - the east side pedestrian and cycle shared path was still closed as it had been for a very long time.  It was unpleasant and crowded with groups and dog walkers.  I hadn't any plans to go over again.  I'm now wondering if one side was closed so that the bridge staff had only the western "footway" to monitor. 

I don't envy the bridge board.  They must have been under a lot of pressure.  Even though the Humber Bridge is on the National Cycle Network Route 1, leisure cyclists, dog walkers and runners have got quite a lot of options on "their" side of the estuary.  The MP for West Hull and Hessle, Emma Hardy, is seeking clarification from the bridge board about how pedestrians and cycle commuters who live on one side and work on the other will manage.  There has been some talk of a shuttle service, but at the moment that's all it is - talk. 
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Re: Humber Bridge Closed
« Reply #24 on: 05 April, 2021, 01:33:50 pm »
Time to think about a new route for LEL 2021 2022?