OCTOBER 2005 – TRANSPORT INITIATIVES UPDATE

 

Transport Initiatives helps Northamptonshire County Council

 

Transport Initiatives was contacted by Northamptonshire County Council.  The Council has reorganised its delivery of cycling and set up a new sustainable transport team which has taken responsibility for all things cycling including cyclist training. The new Cycling Officer comes from a fitness and health background so needed some help getting to grips with his new transport role. Transport Initiatives have been giving advice on cyclist training and other aspects of the cycling officer's role.

 

Recreation routes in Northumberland

 

Transport Initiatives has been looking at the condition and riding experience on four long cycle routes in Northumberland.  The quality of the product is essential in giving cyclists a good experience, and as much utility cycling starts by people using bikes for recreational purposes good experiences are essential.  The routes are:-

 

The Reivers Route between Ponteland and Keilder Forest (60 miles)

The Coast and Castles Route between Hartley, Berwick and Norham (85 miles)

The Pennine Cycleway between Alston and Norham (104 miles) and

The Hadrian Cycleway between Once Brewed and Wylam and Newburn (33 miles) 

 

Radical measures to improve conditions for non-motorised users

 

There are more ways to slow traffic and improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians than traffic calming.  Transport Initiatives was invited by Rochdale Council to outline the alternative solutions to their highways staff.  These include removing centre lines and other techniques to reduce certainty for motorists and thus lower speeds.

 

Here Rob Marshall is seen explaining the possibilities to Rochdale staff on Shawclough Road.  

 

 

 

 

 

A6 in Stockport

 

The A6 in south east of Stockport has been detrunked.  Stockport Council would like to take the chance to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians between the current limit of their cycle network in Hazel Grove and a major recreational route, the Middlewood Way, at High Lane. 

 

Transport Initiatives surveyed the road, both a physical survey and a user survey, and developed a set of options for the Council to consider.  The A6 here is a single carriageway two lane road with central hatching, pedestrian refuges, narrow footways and scattered frontage development.  The options included cycle lanes, widening and converting the footways to joint pedestrian and cycle use and merely removing the central hatching.  The limited space meant that innovative solutions had to be found for accommodating right turning vehicles and cycle and pedestrian crossings.

 

Cycle monitoring in Essex

 

Transport Initiatives has been carrying out a review of cycle monitoring for Essex County Council. The final report is still to be published, but one of the recommendations is that when installing induction loops on traffic free paths they should cover the full width, including the pedestrian side! Here is a photo of a loop where only cyclists on the “right” side will be counted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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