Author Topic: Southend Cycle Town  (Read 19253 times)

Southend Cycle Town
« on: 16 January, 2010, 09:34:17 pm »
Calling all Southenders, and any interested parties.

I know this is a long post., but please try to read through.  

As you know Southend was awarded funding to become a cycling town, we're now about to enter the final third financial year of this matched funding project.

At bid time when, as CTC rep for the area, I was approached for support I was in two minds.  On one hand it would be good for cycling, but historically I had been given the impression that Southend Council pursued their own agenda and just claimed to consult stakeholders – no actual action actually being taken on the stakeholder's responses.  

The majority of the focus of schemes in the past seems to have been on installing off carriageway paths where possible, and downright ignoring cyclists at all other times. Twice in meetings regarding the LTP (Local Transport Plan) I asked the council what their plans were for cycle route S1 (the length of the A13 from Hadleigh to centre Southend).  Their responses were unanimous and consistent, “we expect you to use the Prittle Brook Greenway and not the A13”.This greenway was a longer ride for most A13 users and in one two mile section had nineteen road crossings to negotiate!  Not a suitable alternative.

In the initial meetings of the cycle town I was encouraged at the promised level of communication and stakeholder involvement.  In front of John Grimshaw I asked Anna Waite for assurance that cycling would be considered in all road schemes and not just the cycle network.  I felt that we had turned a corner from the ways of the past.

To date though I'm feeling that they haven't changed their ways at all.  It seems to me that stakeholders are being ignored still, and road schemes aren't necessarily cycle friendly.

The groups that supposed to communicate together (listed in Appendix B of agenda item 591 here ) still haven't been set up.  Myself, Wowbagger and Fatbloke go along to the Cycle Group metings.  At the last one it was confirmed that there is no feed between the Programme Board and ourselves.  Our terms of reference are
Quote
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.

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.
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.

The first scheme I questioned the council over was the junction of London Road and West Road.  I presume that in order to slow down traffic forking left into West Road the kerbline was built out. And central islands realigned.

The whole of the snowy triangle that the pedestrian is standing on is the new construction, which is in the carriageway of the old road line.


The problem with that is that a car having approached in the left hand lane and turning left follows a natural convex curve, but that takes it well away from the kerbline since the road is concave in layout.




I witnessed a cyclist here who was stopped at the red light in primary position, and when the lights went green she cycled left through that junction.  Although she stayed in what appeared to be a primary position there was ample room for a van to overtake her.  Unfortunately the kerb and central island come together to form a pinch point, bringing these two road users into conflict.

Coming the other way, following the A13 from Southend to Hadleigh, at the approach to this junction there are two lanes (straight ahead and dedicated turn right).  After the junction is a tight pinch point as again the kerb and island come together.  It is impossible to protect your road space by holding primary since drivers use the right turn lane to overtake the cyclist. The black car here is just entering the funnel that squeezes cyclists and drivers together.


I raised this danger with the Council and they put up CCTV cameras, to monitor the path cyclists took through the junction.  I chased often for the results, none came.  Finally I managed to get a response!  It contained just the volumes of cyclists using the juntion in certain time slots, broken down by pavement/red light jumping/etc.  I chased again for the line the cyclists took, only to find out that the cameras didn't actually capture the Hadleigh Bound pinch point.  They would realign the camera and start again....  the cameras still haven't moved.





The traffic calming scheme for North Road was interesting.  It wasn't brought to the cycle group, but I did find out about the public consultation so went along.  Of the discussions I had and the comments I submitted, I recall two.  
1) When the cobbled gateway features were installed to ensure that there were not grooves running in the cyclist line of travel that would cause them to lose balance.
2) That when they narrowed the road to install a raised zebra crossing that they cater for cyclists needing to take primary instead of being pushed to the kerb, and that they were not to install a speed cushion in the cyclist's path.


This is how they constructed that zebra crossing.   The cyclist has to pass the cushion before swinging out more sharply to avoid the new build out.


This is how they constructed the gateway features.


On the 4th Jan (so before this latest round of snow) there was ice built up in these dangerous ruts.
 At the forum meetings we'd raised warnings of this, yet the design engineers failed to spot it.

Since day one I have had a major fear re the gateway feature pictured.  In order to pass it a cyclist needs to slow and pull into the gutter.  In doing so it encourages the motorist to overtake and left hook.  I have had several meetings with the council over this  At one of them at the roadside a passerby stopped to ask who in the council he could complain to regarding the dangerous features.

At the first cycling group following the installation of these gateway features, many of the members were up in arms at how dangerous these were.

I was assured that they were progressing three options and that I'd be kept up to date with costs and options.  Finally I received an email with attached PDF scan of a letter to me.


Now although they say that the cycle bypasses are fine, those white granite surrounds are the only thing my studded tyres have slipped on in the recent weather.  Slowing to use the bypass also increases the risk of a left hook, one of which I have now suffered.   With respect to the zebra crossing, that advisory lane hasn't appeared in the last two months.

To the south end of this scheme in Brighten Road is an amusing cycle lane.  It just stops at a dead end.  I have taken engineers to this site who agree it is wrong, yet nothing has happened to rectify it. I believe that wowbagger brought this one to the attention of the cycle forum.



The contraflow lane in the other direction is more amusing.  Note how they had to divert the lane dividers into the cycle lane, narrowing it, to cater for the bollard that has a no-entry sign on it...




In Bournemouth Park Road a similar issue is seen with regards speed cushions installed on the approach to a bollard.


Once again I saw this scheme at public consultation.  It seemed a great scheme.  Moving the parking to be “two wheel up on verge” to gain road space, and also burning off the central hatched area to replace it with a centre line.  This allowed space for the cyclists to be overtaken, and speed cushions were placed at each side road to slow traffic and reduce the risk of collision.

I had one feedback item on my form though, which I discussed at length with the scheme designer.   I was not happy with cushion on the approach to the existing bollards at Royston Avenue.  I felt that the cyclist was being forced to ride in the kerb and then get squeezed by the driver.  Once again the scheme was apparently constructed to the draft plans displayed at the consultation instead of the amended plans taking into account feedback.





Hamlet Court Road.  Oh Dear.
We were told at the last cycle group that following a meeting with Cycling England the council had decided to focus on painting ASLs.  I don't like these but we'll leave my prejudices out of here for now.

Approaching from the north.  No room for a feeder lane?  Doesn't matter.  Just paint the lane where the drivers will occupy it.


Approaching from the west.  No room for a feeder lane?  Doesn't matter.  Just paint the lane where the drivers will occupy it.   (I cut this junction out of my commute years ago because I got fed up with the obstruction.)


 
Approaching from the East.  Dedicated left turn lane.  All cyclists going straight ahead have ridden between these lanes for years.  So what do the council do?  Paint the lane to the left of the turn left lane!!!!


At the initial meetings it was explained that the schemes would be generally based on-road, now the interest I've noted around town seems to be for dedicated infrastructure.

The original cycling strategy is shown in section 3.2.1 of Appendix A  here

The summary as explained to us was “fast roads will be considered for dedicated paths, busy distributor roads will be considered for cycle lanes, but in general we'll try to manage all routes by soft measures and have cycling safe anywhere on the carriageway.  In areas such as Pall Mall in Leigh I have no objection to the speed cushions that have appeared, but I'm struggling to think of anywhere else that shared space for cyclists has appeared.  Homezones were to be created so that the traffic flowed slower and cycling was safer.  I have not seen any.


The new Victoria Gateway project, turning the Victoria Circus roundabout into “shared Space” still includes cycle lanes to keep us out of the traffic flow.  Fortunately this was a scheme that was brought to the cycle group, and we spotted lots of planned examples of

, which now seem to have been removed from the latest plans.  Although now unobstructed the cycle lanes remain though.

The Progress Road junction has plans for being improved.  (link
Note how the cycle path now has three signalised crossings instead of one.  Again at the cycle forum the first we knew about this and complained was after the plans were published in the local press.

It's interesting to look at the massive planned schemes for “Congestion Busting” in the area.   Transport and Roads :: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council The FAQ comments that thanks to the Southend Cycle Town funding cycle routes can be incorporated into these schemes.  The cynic in me wonders how much of the cycle funding is being diverted towards getting the traffic flowing again?  I have also heard a rumour that the reason no cycle routes have been created on the quiet roads is that the council intend that rat running traffic will reduce the congestion during these works.

Finally, I have heard rumour that the path alongside the Royal Artillery Way was constructed at 2m wide.  I fully support a path here, but have now heard that the council are widening it to 3m.  The rumour goes that they are simply spending the funding in order to not lose it.



So, why am I posting?  What's the way forward?  

I need your help and thoughts.  What have you seen on the ground that I have missed?  What are we going to do here, and how are we going to improve cycling in Southend?


Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #1 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:38:34 am »
For general information the next meeting of the Cycle Group is this Monday evening, 18th Jan.

Adam

  • It'll soon be summer
    • Charity ride Durness to Dover 18-25th June 2011
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #2 on: 17 January, 2010, 08:14:36 am »
You seem to be trying to do all the right things Nutty.  All you can hope is that if enough local people complain, something might be done.  :-\

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.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #3 on: 17 January, 2010, 08:43:05 am »
What a detailed post, as always!
I will reserve judgement on the ASL's until the road markings/lanes are repainted, assuming that is going to happen. But I am not very optimistic.
I am shocked about the A13 not being used for cycling.
Also, immediately after the West Road - London Road junction, heading towards the town, there is another very dangerous feature. The 'No Right Turn' except cyclists into Valkyrie Road.
You have a pm

Wowbagger

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Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #4 on: 17 January, 2010, 08:50:45 am »
The problem with this forum is that it's merely a talking shop.

Even though we had a senior councillor turn up to one a few months ago, promising me in front of a room full of people that he would deal with an email I'd sent to the Council Leader last June asking about the lack of progress on the Cycling Town front (I'm nominally a member of the Stakeholder Committee, which has not yet met) not a thing has happened.

We had a similar experience when we started attending the Transport forum 9 years ago at the start of our Priory Crescent campaign. We would attend, make suggestions, were ignored and finally stopped going.

The Council is this year, after a huge waste of time and money, intending to implement a scheme which I suggested in one of these meetings in 2002, for which our group drew up detailed plans at the Public Enquiry in 2004, and which received full council rebuttal. It's actually a silly scheme, but is nothing like so silly as the Council's preferred option.

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.
Quote from: Dez
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FatBloke

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Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #5 on: 17 January, 2010, 09:21:22 am »
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.
This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional blood sport. It can happen to you. And it can happen again.

FatBloke

  • I come from a land up over!
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #6 on: 17 January, 2010, 09:24:51 am »
Incidentally, there is a new cycle lane that is going to get someone killed fairly soon. I recommend you take a look at the new lane through the bus station travel centre at the back of M&S.  I very nearly was the filling in a bus sandwich a few days ago.   >:(

This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional blood sport. It can happen to you. And it can happen again.

Gandalf

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Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #7 on: 17 January, 2010, 10:08:03 am »
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.

If you have local elections in May, why not approach the leading opposition party?

For sure it's a bit of a Faustian pact and they will inevitably promise to do wonders and shit miracles, but it just might be worth a go, will certainly generate loads of publicity IME.

Hummers

  • It is all about the taste.
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #8 on: 17 January, 2010, 10:29:40 am »
Forums are a talking shop but the situation you are in makes  Portsmoith City Council look positively enlightened.

I don't think for one minute that the Executive on Portsmouth Cycling Forum found it easy to get the communication two-way; hoewever there was definitely an impression of the local authority and the Forum working together.

I am still not 100% sure of what the makeup of the Executive is but they do seem to be able to influence what happens on the ground.

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.

H


Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #9 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:31:22 pm »
...
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.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #10 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:34:00 pm »
...
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.

Agreed.  But this does not excuse the farce that we seem to be getting on the ground. 

Just because the people are nice does not make it excusable for the powers that be to progress their own agenda.




Wowbagger, have you got a link to your post & photo re the Prittlewell Chase lane?  Somebody commented that it needed to be submitted to Warrington's Farcility of the Month site.  I couldn't find it with a quick search.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #11 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:37:52 pm »
...
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'm the CTC rep and sit on the cycling group.  I'm almost at the point of walking out.
The local CTC group is represented  - also complaining re lack of action
Southend and Surrounds Cycling Campaign is there - also complaining re lack of action
Sustrans / Bikeability person is there - at the last meeting he called for a quick win, "let's just paint cycle lanes on every pavement wide enough, oh and as my road is now one way only please can we trial bicycles being allowed to go two ways along it".


Hummers, I'm very interested in any help I can get.  PM/Email if more suitable.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #12 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:44:20 pm »
Something else I missed from last night's post.

Southend is a cycling town.  They do not appear to be making the roads safer but focussing on creating lanes and paths if possible.  As usual these were not gritted last December, or this month.

I complained in December, because I had had assurances last winter that these would be added to the maintenance schedule.

The pertinent paragraph in the holding reply that came back, prior to the full reply which I hope to receive tomorrow night at the cycling forum, was as follows.

Quote
> 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.

Now I am not in objection to that.  I am not a Daily Wail reader that expects all traces of snow to be removed the instant that it falls.  HOWEVER - if the roads are safe enough for cyclists in bad weather, then they must also be safe enough during good weather which negates the requirement for any cycle path or cycle lane.  Or, put another way, if the roads are too dangerous to cycle on and a primary cycle network is created then it must be gritted in accordance with the primary road network.

It really doesn't seem to me that Southend understand anything to do with cyclist's needs.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #13 on: 17 January, 2010, 12:47:20 pm »
This is the agenda for tomorrow night's forum (presenter names removed).

Quote
Exclusive glimpse of the way forward

Engineering - building the communications gap

How you can help

Any other business

Sounds riveting doesn't it  ::-)

Just starting the third and final year, and we get an exclusive glimpse of the way forward - errrrr shouldn't that be to complete anything thus far planned?

Does this read to you too as though it's just "let's give the little cyclists a presentation and hope they go away"?

Adam

  • It'll soon be summer
    • Charity ride Durness to Dover 18-25th June 2011
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #14 on: 17 January, 2010, 02:23:52 pm »
...
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.

Ah - that makes sense then and also explains the confusing road sign in the second photo of that road.

Looking at your other pictures and your other comments, it does seem the case that what they do build isn't actually done with reference to how a real world cyclist would actually cycle. 

As I see the Conservatives already have a majority of seats on the council, realistically, courting the opposition isn't going to have much of an impact.  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.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #15 on: 17 January, 2010, 03:43:11 pm »
Nutty,
If Southend is to be a cycling town and provided with funding are they not obliged to obtain expert guidance in order to comply with the rules?

The mistakes you have outlined so far suggest there is no expertise in the decision making process.

Perhaps you could obtain Council Membership to guide them ;)
"100% PURE FREAKING AWESOME"

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #16 on: 17 January, 2010, 03:48:44 pm »
....  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.

And therein lies the frustration.  Who do they claim to consult and refer to in order to gain that expertise?  The Cycling Group.  Where do we sit and get ignored?  The cycling group.


Even more frustratingly in November 2008 they started inviting us out to ride proposed routes and see what we would suggest to the planners.  i.e. we would ride the route with the council in order to set the scope for the designers.

These rides went well, although I have seen no output from them.  We put forwards three options for the seafront, and two for Hamstel Road.  

Hamstel Road was a good example of the value of these.  One rider said it was too dangerous and so wanted a pavement based route, but couldn't work out how to achieve a pavement based route at the south end of that road where it is narrow.  The other rider identified the "danger" as being caused by the parked cars so suggested moving the parking in order to make the road safer to share; much as is now being constructed in Bournemouth Park Road.

The council however stated that these rides had to stop until all involved had passed their bikeability level three.  I agreed with this, since it meant that suggestions put forward really would be put forward by cyclists and not by "pedestrians on wheels".  I duly passed my bikeability level three.  These rides have never been continued as apparently it is too staff intensive at the council.


The irony of this?  I went through the Hamlet Court Road junction on my test.  Neither myself nor the examiner rode where they have now painted the lane.  We filtered to the front of the queue along the lane divider, ensuring we did not use the left turn lane to go straight ahead.


FatBloke

  • I come from a land up over!
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #17 on: 17 January, 2010, 04:02:41 pm »
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
This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional blood sport. It can happen to you. And it can happen again.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #18 on: 17 January, 2010, 04:12:44 pm »
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

<Monty Python>

It may be spelt "Portsmouth", but it's pronounced "a wretched hive of scum and villainy"

</Monty Python>

 :demon: ;) :demon:
"He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." ~ Freidrich Neitzsche

Speshact

  • Charlie
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #19 on: 17 January, 2010, 04:27:21 pm »
The examples of 'improvements' to date you have illustrated don't look good.

For the remainder of the cycling town initiative I think you should demand an immediate change of council policy that all council employees, plus councillors, (or at the very least those involved with tranportation issues) are required to make ALL work trips under 5 miles on foot or by bicycle.

If carrying equipment too substantial to fit safely on a cycle trailer then a van may be used. Those who have a letter from a doctor saying they can't walk or cycle (and why not) should be allowed to use the bus, taxi or exceptionally car. Free cycle training etc. to be provided quickly on request.

The same should be demanded of the local NHS as we all know that prevention is better than cure (diabetes, obesity, heart disease etc. etc.).*

Since many more people will then be cycling, benefits such as provision of road space etc. for cyclists will immediately result.

If this isn't agreed to, call a press conference and resign en mass in front of it.

*The only hazard with this scheme I can think of, if the NHS are forced on board, is a great number of sick notes prohibiting cycling may be issued! However, independent auditing of such sick notes by members of Spokes, the NHS Bicycle User groups, should alleviate this concern.

FatBloke

  • I come from a land up over!
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #20 on: 17 January, 2010, 04:45:16 pm »
This is the new cycle lane & ASL I have serious issues with.



It's in Southend's bus station. Usually (this photo was taken on a Sunday) there are 4 or 5 buses at the stops on the left.



Buses destined for other stops drive past here and when they get stopped by the lights it leaves the cycle lane between two queues of buses.




The buses will only ever go straight on at these lights. Other traffic should only turn left. Cyclists can turn left or go straight on to the right of the bus station.



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.
This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional blood sport. It can happen to you. And it can happen again.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #21 on: 17 January, 2010, 04:58:04 pm »
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

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Hummers

  • It is all about the taste.
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #22 on: 17 January, 2010, 06:36:43 pm »
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

FatBloke

  • I come from a land up over!
Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #23 on: 17 January, 2010, 08:02:20 pm »
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.   :-\
This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional blood sport. It can happen to you. And it can happen again.

Re: Southend Cycle Town
« Reply #24 on: 17 January, 2010, 08:19:16 pm »
Fatbloke, thanks for the photos of the bus station.    I'm glad I haven't had a lunch break in the last two months, if I had then I think I'd have blown a fuse when I spotted that.