I have replied:
Dear Mr Mazhar and Cllr Waite,
Thank you for responding to my concerns re. the new cycle path on Western Esplanade. I would like to respond point by point:
1
"At the edge of the finished path there will be a raised rib white line, which will be 20mm in height. This will divert cyclist away from the edge of carriageway." How wide will this line be?
Will it be painted IN the cycle path or ON the kerb?
Will it further reduce the width of what is already a barely wide enough cycle path for two-way cycle traffic?
Will it be slippery in the rain causing tyres to slip out from under eastbound cyclists in turn causing them to fall left out of the cycle lane into oncoming traffic?
2.
"The kerb, which has an upstand and raised line, would in the first instance deflect and errant drivers back onto the carriageway and in the second instance alert them that they have strayed from their path via the ‘rumble’ effect the raised line would provide. It should also be noted that this scenario could occur on any pavement. Some footways in the borough have a lesser upstand than the new cycle track due to years of carriageway resurfacing."Whether this could happen on any footway is not really relevant as it is illegal to cycle on footpaths and the majority of cyclists would be using the road, not the footpath. Also Western Esplanade is different to other roads in the Borough in that it now has slanted parking bays in the centre of the road, where cars will be pulling out into traffic almost blind because the bays are slanted away from the direction of traffic and drivers have to look back over their shoulder and through parked cars to see if there is anything approaching.
On the new cycle track in Western Esplanade if a child does wobble off the cycle path into oncoming traffic the kerb will prevent them wobbling back onto the cycle path.
What is to prevent drivers swerving into the cycle path if they have to avoid someone pulling out of the new slanted parking bays by Maxims Casino?
3.
"The edge of the cycle lane raised rib line will be moved in a little at this point to ensure that there is an adequate buffer zone between the edge of the cycle track and the edge of the parking area. Our parking enforcement service will be advised that vehicles which park outside the bay will be issued with Parking Charge Notices (PCN), as a deterrent."So the cycle path width will indeed be reduced to below the recommended safe width for a two-way cycle track?
How will the threat of a Parking Ticket prevent doors being opened into the path of cyclists? If a ticket is being issued the offence has already occurred and the danger has not been prevented. This is a reactive measure and not a preventative measure.
The chevron area is not wide enough. It also does not prevent people standing in the cycle path taking most of its width while they load/unload their cars as very young children stand or run unpredictably in the path of cyclists. Experienced cyclists know how to approach such hazards, in summertime the vast majority using this cycle path will not be experienced cyclists.
The only safe solution to this hazard is to remove the parking bays from beside the cycle path.
4.
"Once the scheme is formally opened, the parking regulations will be enforced. The yellow line waiting restrictions apply to the back of footway, therefore any vehicles parking on the cycle track or the promenade may receive a PCN."The yellow lines, high kerbs, red tarmac, clear cycle path signs, and threat of parking tickets do not stop vehicles parking in the already established cycle path east of the Kursaal. See this video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/v/6mxKho5yQew&rel=1I doubt very much that a two-inch kerb, double yellow lines, signs and a 'raised white line' will stop this happening on Western Esplanade which is the busiest section of Southend's seafront. There are several snack bars along this stretch where people pull in to buy refreshments and then drive off. Will they struggle to park in the new slanted parking bays, or will they pull into the cycle lane? I believe it is wildly over-optimistic to think they will use the new slanted parking bays as they are too difficult to get in and out of, and it will be much quicker to take the chance of stopping for a couple of minutes in the cycle lane.
5.
"There will be marking on the cycle track, which will clearly identify it as a two-way cycle track, not for pedestrian use. Pedestrians currently cross the road between the parking area and the Esplanade. All road users, including cyclists and pedestrians are required to exercise due care and attention to themselves and other road users. In reality most pedestrians will probably wait until cyclists have passed, before crossing."In reality very few pedestrians wait for cyclists to pass because they do not see the cycle path as 'dangerous', only a minority look before crossing the cycle path, experienced cyclists know this and adjust their speed in anticipation, inexperienced cyclists do not. Also if there are parking bays next to the cycle path any large vehicle, a 4x4 or van etc.' will obscure the cycle path from road crossing pedestrians and pedestrians from cyclists. Again, experienced cyclists know this, in summertime the great majority of cyclists will be inexperienced, with young families and completely unaware of the dangers. Also the great majority of pedestrians will be visitors to the town unaware of the seafront layout.
6.
"The approach that we have adopted in the design of this cycle route is similar in many ways to two-way and contra-flow cycle lanes in towns and cities across Europe (e.g. Copenhagen and Stockholm), where the only delineation between motorists and cyclists is a standard kerb. Some of these schemes are considered best practice and as a Cycling Demonstration Town this is what we also aspire to."The cycle paths on the European mainland are much, much wider than the new Western Esplanade cycle path which is only as wide as a one-way European cycle path.
7.
"Having said this, I would like to assure you we have taken your concerns seriously and I would like to reassure you that and that as part of our design processes we monitoring this scheme after its implementation, to ensure that it is successful. At the same time as the scheme is formally opened we will be offering training and advice to cyclists by our trained team of cycling officers."So if the Council does find the scheme to be dangerously flawed will it be redesigned to properly safe specifications? And will cyclist groups be properly consulted and included in the design stage, instead of being shown the plans just two days before works are completed as has happened with the Western Esplanade project?
Will you also be offering education to drivers that they have a responsibility to be aware of and drive carefully around vulnerable road users?
I believe it would have been much, much safer to simply resurface the existing road and paint a single direction cycle lane on each side of Western Esplanade, outside of any kerbside parking bays, possibly with different coloured tarmac in a similar style to the green advanced stop zones which have been added to various junctions in Southend. The coloured tarmac would have been a VERY clear indication of a cycle path. This would have maintained the carriageway width, leaving it safe to use for both experienced and inexperienced cyclists, and motorists would have been much more aware of the cycle path. It would also have been a lot cheaper.
As it is now both cycle lane and carriageway are either at or below the bare minimum recommended width causing congestion and hazards for both cyclists and motorists. If cyclists are forced out of the cycle lane they cannot get back into it because of the kerb, and while in the carriageway there is not enough width for cars, coaches, vans, trucks etc. to safely pass cyclists.
I have to reiterate, I believe this new cycle path is a very ill-thought out design, and collisions ARE going to happen, possibly with very serious consequences for those involved
Again, thank you both for responding to my concerns, but as you can see, I remain unconvinced that some signs and paint on the cycle lane will have very much effect on improving cyclist/pedestrian/motorist safety.
Kind regards,