Cycle Shropshire

Background

CTC’s Right To Ride representatives are fully accredited and many councils and other bodies throughout the country find it useful to consult with them when implementing schemes for cyclists, or contemplating measures that may affect them. Additionally, all Right to Ride representatives have agreed to carry out their role in accordance with minimum standards set by the CTC. Each representative is in possession of a CTC Policy Handbook for reference. In addition, they have access to the latest Department of Transport guide entitled “Cycle Infrastructure Design" published in October 2008 and the support of HQ staff.

Peter volunteered for this role in July and has already built up some useful County Council contacts. He attends the tri-monthly Cycle Forum Meetings and has given several presentations during the last two years. These Meetings are open to any cyclist. He is also a member of the Connect 2 and Cycle Shrewsbury Group together with Martin Beardwell, representing the CTC. This is a consultative group of Council Officers and representatives from Sustrans, the CTC and one or two other organizations for the team advancing the cycling projects for which Shrewsbury has received funding.

Report

I would like to report on projects on which I am involved and items followed up for Club members:

1. Safety Aspects Along the Old By Pass (Otley Road)
   There are several safety issues along this road for cyclists and following my illustrated presentation at the Cycle Forum, some minor changes are to be incorporated in the network development plan.
2. New Barriers on the Inner Ring Road (Hazeldine Way and Pritchard Way)
   I have given a presentation at the Cycle Forum on the dangers of the barriers to cyclists with their sharp edges and corners on the narrowed paths. This has been followed up with a letter to the Head of the Council Environmental Department in which the team responsible works. As a result the capping of the sharp corners has been increased in size. There is a little more of this work still to be done. The solution is not satisfactory but is probably all that the Council will undertake to do.
3. Route 81
   There is a dangerous situation for cyclist using Route 81 at its junction with Telford Way due to vehicles using the path to access the business at Dorset Pools. I gave a presentation about these hazards at the last Forum meeting. Following a discussion by those attending, Council Officers are checking on the rights of the site owner to use this path, safety signage and possibly a marked cycle lane on the path, although this is a last option to follow.
4. Maintenance of the Network
   This is to be the major Agenda item for the next Forum Meeting following my complaint about the state of the path by the old canal. This has been reduced from a 6ft wide path to less than 2 feet in places by encroaching grass and shrubs, creating problems for all users.
5. Cycle/Rail Interchange
   Anyone who heard or read the speech given by new Minister of Transport, Lord Adonis, will be favourably impressed with attention now to be given to cycling by his Department. He paid particular attention to integration of cycling with the train network and has already provided a large sum of money to provide facilities for bike parking at stations.
   I gave a presentation on facilities at and access to Shrewsbury Station and gave a projection of up to 300 bike places being potentially available on the platforms as compared with the 56 currently provided. Alison Kennedy and members of the Cycle Shropshire team have recently had a very positive meeting with representatives from Arriva Trains and Network Rail. As a result, a new set of cycle stands is to be provided at the front of the station as a start.
6. Hospital Links
   The Hospital South Site development is now to go ahead and I have made representations on the new links planned from the hospital through this site to the network.
7. Rail Bridge Cobbles
   This has been a repeated raised item at the Cycle Forum. The problem is being followed up by Council Officers but there is doubt as to who actually owns this section of path. Until it is resolved nothing will be done.
8. Shelton Traffic Lights
   There have been numerous complaints by members about the non operation of these lights by riders approaching at right angle from the cycle path. I have consulted with the Cycle Shrewsbury Project Engineer and he has inspected the site. He agrees that there is a problem and will be reporting back regarding solutions.

I will keep everyone up to date on our web site with any developments on the above items although anyone is very welcome to contact me direct. If there are any other issues which concern you regarding the network, again please phone or email.