The Cycling Group is open to organisations, groups and individuals that wish to become involved in the Cycling Southend Programme to promote Southend as a Cycling Town. The Group will appoint two representatives to the Cycling Southend Stakeholder Group to represent the views of the cycle user particularly in matters of design and cycling promotion.The proposals aren't really being shown to us, and our feedback does not seem to have been heard. The only reason we seem to go there is to listen to an update form the council as to what they've been up to, and then to vent our spleens at deaf ears.
Primarily the Group will offer sound practical advice to the Project Board and harness the experience and enthusiasm of Southend cyclists, particularly in relation to:-
Receiving reports and updates from the Borough Council on the progress of schemes and future plans;
Commenting on proposals and offering constructive advice working with the Project Board;
Bringing ideas and proposals forward that support the aims and objectives of the Cycling Southend Programme via their representation on the Stakeholder Group
Helping with awareness raising promotions and events;
Participating in road safety events to raise the profile of safer cycling;
Working with the Council`s “Bike Squad” to promote cycling to employers, schools, public etc.
I think we've been wasting our time.
After the last meeting where it became obvious that nothing raised at the forum was ever acted upon I was seriously contemplating resigning.
I shall wait until after the local elections in May. If the Conservatives lose control of the council I shall give the forum another chance. If they remain in majority I cannot see that it's worth wasting any more time on this and will resign.
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However, just as a general observation on your comments, for the marked cycle lane along Brighten Road, it seems as though the lane carries on again after the zebra crossing. I'd think for the bit before then, possibly due to the effect of the cut-out on the other side for the cycle lane, the cycle path doesn't come out further on the left, due to it then restricting the road width excessively.
In addition, I shouldn't think legally they can carry the cycle path marking across the zig zags for the zebra crossing.
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The difference this time is that the people who run the forum are actually quite nice, being mostly cyclists, but what they say carries no weight with the People with the Power.
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Are Southend in any consultation with anyone or body that represents the interest of local cyclists? If not, surely they are in breach of any conditions surrounding the award of their bid and I would be tempted to get in touch with the funding body.
Nutty, if it helps I can find out who might be able to give you some ideas/help from PCF. Let me know if you are interested.
> I would however like to point out that whilst it is true that most of
> the cycle network was not gritted, neither were most of the residential
> streets or footways and footpaths gritted. During such heavy snowfall
> the primary concern must be to get the primary road network up a running
> to ensure that essential emergency services, doctors, essential carers
> of elderly
> etc are able to reach destinations safely, most bulletins during this
> time would have advised against all travel except essential trips. As
> required of other road users cyclists would be required to take the
> safest course of action during this time, which would mean staying on
> the primary road network for essential trips.
Exclusive glimpse of the way forward
Engineering - building the communications gap
How you can help
Any other business
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However, just as a general observation on your comments, for the marked cycle lane along Brighten Road, it seems as though the lane carries on again after the zebra crossing. I'd think for the bit before then, possibly due to the effect of the cut-out on the other side for the cycle lane, the cycle path doesn't come out further on the left, due to it then restricting the road width excessively.
In addition, I shouldn't think legally they can carry the cycle path marking across the zig zags for the zebra crossing.
The lane in Brighten Road after the zebra crossing is in contravention of the strategy posted above. It is a wide, one way road with low traffic volumes. It does not require a cycle lane. (The one coming through the no-entry sign with the bollard intruding into it :facepalm: is required as it is a contraflow.)
The fault there is that the short lane pictured used to exist. They widened the footway into it.
.... All you can really do is continue to press to get on road facilities designed from a cyclists point of view, rather than what someone sat on a chair in a planning department thinks is appropriate.
Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.Is that how the locals say it? ;D
Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.Is that how the locals say it? ;D
Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.Is that how the locals say it? ;D
Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.Is that how the locals say it? ;D
They certainly don't consult us. We meet, make recommendations and suggestions in the hope that they are passed on to the relevant departments, and sit back and wait.Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.Is that how the locals say it? ;D
I may have been in this town for too long.
Back on topic, one thing I am not clear about with Saaarfend is whether the Council are not consulting the Cycling Group, not taking on board your objections to their plans, or both.
H
They certainly don't consult us. We meet, make recommendations and suggestions in the hope that they are passed on to the relevant departments, and sit back and wait.
There is no feedback, and it appears that our comments either are not reaching those for whom they are intended or that we are just being ignored. :-\
Engineering - building the communications gap
Tim Totten
They certainly don't consult us. We meet, make recommendations and suggestions in the hope that they are passed on to the relevant departments, and sit back and wait.
There is no feedback, and it appears that our comments either are not reaching those for whom they are intended or that we are just being ignored. :-\
Do you know who 'those for whom they are intended ' actualy are and have you or any one else from the Cycling Group challenged them directly?
H
JOLLY ROGER
FOLLOWING the last Eye's account of the sophisticated debating skills displayed by local Tories in Romford, there is more news of the enthusiasm of IDS's Essex boys.
Just after 1am on polling day, 1 May, Southend's Tory deputy mayor-elect Roger Weaver found himself in a tussle in a suburban garden with a local environmental campaigner, Chris Ford, a leading light in protests against a road scheme which will involve the felling of 120 trees in and near the town's Priory Park, was checking on posters displayed on the properties of fellow campaigners after reports that some had been removed and others defaced with "Vote Conservative" stickers.
The originals read: "Don't Vote Conservative. Save Priory Park. Don't vote Weaver", in reference to Weaver's former council role as cabinet member for planning and transport. Ford tells the Eye he saw Weaver, who was acompanied by his wife, fellow Tory councillor Verina Wilson, enter the garden of a house displaying a "Save Priory Park" board and fix a "Vote Conservative" sticker to it. Whereupon Ford walked up, took a photo of the couple with his digital camera and declared: "I've got you now!"
After a full and frank exchange of views, says Ford, the pair engaged in a struggle for possession of the board, during which it struck him in the face, splitting his lip, cutting his nose and grazing his hand. Ford has complained to the police. Weaver tells the Eye: "Mr Ford's accusations are not true. Other than that I have nothing to say."
So if you are being stonewalled by the local authority, what is the next step?
H
Out of interest, are you able to say what Cycling England's opinion is as to the progress made so far by Southend? From my limited view here I am getting disappointed at a seeming lack of progress, coupled with some bizarre infrastructure changes - such as the new cycle lane I discovered last month which is painted to the left of a turn left traffic lane!
(btw, does anybody know the rules as to FOI? If the information isn't publically available can I set about requesting it? And how?)
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*You don't even need to mention the FoI - they should automatically consider any request for information as an FoI request.
> > Please can you respond to this email with the full details of how
much
> > money has been spent to date on this farcility. Consider this a
> > Freedom of Information request. If you can break the total
> > expenditure down by consultancy, design, construction and materials
I
> > would appreciate it.
> > In terms of cost and a breakdown this can of course be provided
> When can I expect to see the costs?
£229k cycle boost
More cycle lanes will be created in Southend as part of a £2million plan by the council to improve transport in the town.
At a cabinet meeting, members approved £2.2million oto be spent on transport in 2010/11.
Among the improvements will be £370,000 spent on the South Essex Rapid Transit bus system and £229,000 on creating more cycle lanes and routes as part of the Southend cycle town project.
The spending includes creating a route between Leigh and Thorpe Bay running along the seafront.
This is the new cycle lane & ASL I have serious issues with.
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(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4282157164_7b7d1c362d_o.jpg)
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Cyclists are tempted by the green paint to cycle between the stopped buses and the buses queueing for the lights to get to the ASL. While they are doing that the buses stopped at the side of the road will invariably pull out in an attempt to get their bus within an inch of their colleagues to force their way out into the traffic. They don't look for cyclists only other buses or on occasion cars. This was where I nearly got squished.
ok I DESPAIR.
To all those who might be attending tonight's cycle group meeting, can I draw your attention to page 15 of today's Echo.Quote£229k cycle boost
More cycle lanes will be created in Southend as part of a £2million plan by the council to improve transport in the town.
At a cabinet meeting, members approved £2.2million oto be spent on transport in 2010/11.
Among the improvements will be £370,000 spent on the South Essex Rapid Transit bus system and £229,000 on creating more cycle lanes and routes as part of the Southend cycle town project.
The spending includes creating a route between Leigh and Thorpe Bay running along the seafront.
ok I DESPAIR.
To all those who might be attending tonight's cycle group meeting, can I draw your attention to page 15 of today's Echo.Quote£229k cycle boost
More cycle lanes will be created in Southend as part of a £2million plan by the council to improve transport in the town.
At a cabinet meeting, members approved £2.2million oto be spent on transport in 2010/11.
Among the improvements will be £370,000 spent on the South Essex Rapid Transit bus system and £229,000 on creating more cycle lanes and routes as part of the Southend cycle town project.
The spending includes creating a route between Leigh and Thorpe Bay running along the seafront.
Maybe you and Wowbagger should go to the local rag and tell them what you've told us?
How about organising a big (charity?) cycling event in Southend, which after all, is a cycling town. Get lots of people on bikes. But don't use the cycle facilities that aren't any good.
They tried closing the seafront last summer for a ride during bike week.
They forgot to advertise it, very few people turned up, the traders complained at loss of business, they caved in and re-opened the seafront.
Being a cycling town, the council shouldn't object to people cycling. :thumbsup:You'd like to think that, but I have been threatened with arrest for cycling around Southend with 25 other like-minded souls. :-\
3. That it be noted that there are two other major cycling infrastructure projects (NCN Route 16 link (Cinder Path) and Prittle Brook Greenway) which are not part of the Cycling Demonstration Town project and are being pursued in parallel to this initiative.
3.1 A report was presented to Cabinet on 4th November 2008, setting out the Cycling Strategy for Southend. The implementation of cycle routes is now proceeding apace and there is a need to consider adjustments to traffic regulations including footpath conversion orders (including Prittle Brook Greenway, Cinder Path, FP111 Hospital path link and FP46 Station Road to Elmsleigh Drive link) in order to meet the construction and funding deadlines up to March 2011.
I've just been out for a lunch break. Fatters was understating the danger here!!!!!!This is the new cycle lane & ASL I have serious issues with.
<snip>
<snip>
(http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/nuttycyclist/cycling/Southend%20Cycle%20Town/BournemthPk.jpg)I train my trainees to take the lane and go over the bumps. Yes they are annoying to cycle over but I would rather have that than a bus/car/van/etc squeezing by.
(http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/nuttycyclist/cycling/Southend%20Cycle%20Town/BournemthPk.jpg)I train my trainees to take the lane and go over the bumps. Yes they are annoying to cycle over but I would rather have that than a bus/car/van/etc squeezing by.
Is there an anti cycling culture brewing in Southend, Tbh tonight has shocked me a bit.Yes there is. It starts in the Civic Centre!
Is there an anti cycling culture brewing in Southend, Tbh tonight has shocked me a bit.Yes there is. It starts in the Civic Centre!
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Is there an anti cycling culture brewing in Southend, Tbh tonight has shocked me a bit.
Actually I got bumped tonight, I forgot about that. Side road on the right, car turning right out of it (so going in my direction) ignored my two front lights and hi-viz and pulled out into my path. I didn't unclip but there was quite a loud BANG as the back passenger door contacted my foot. It's a shame that I was on fixed as it meant a few pedal revolutions of scuffs followed the impact. But never mind, the muppet driver decided not to stop and exchange details, so if there was any damage he's definitely got to pay for it, instead of chasing my insurers who'll put him back in his box ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I have just been out for a ride along the seafront Westcliff-Shoebury direction with my other half to test out his new IQ cyo light. We stayed off the cycle path and rode on the road.
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