Tadcaster Road resurfacing work completed

Local councillors have thanked City of York Council and contractors for the smooth running of the resurfacing works along Tadcaster Road.

The works are now complete and reinstatement of road markings are nearing completion. Cycle lanes have been widened to the standard 1.5 metre width along some sections of the road and the previous very narrow ‘filter box’ for vehicles and cycles turning right onto Nelsons Lane has been removed.

The presence of pedestrian refuges acted as a constraint in enabling more sections of cycle lane to be widened, which has led to calls for their replacement with zebra crossings to provide better facilities for pedestrians, slow traffic down and remove pinch points along the road for cycling.

The whole corridor from the Askham Bar Park & Ride site to Micklegate Bar is in need of a review to identify and tackle issues and obstacles that make people less likely to cycle along this route.

36 cyclists fall foul of police lights checks

A clampdown on people cycling without lights in York has been hailed a success.
Incident - Cycle

Police officers and PCSOs, supported by volunteer Special Constables, took part in an operation at Bootham, Micklegate and Walmgate bars last night, aimed at keeping cyclists and other road users safe.

The vast majority of cyclists seen by officers were correctly and safely using lights. However, 36 Traffic Offence Reports were issued to cyclists who didn’t have lights on their bikes

A number of sets of emergency cycle lights and high-visibility rucksack covers were issued to some people who didn’t have lights, to enable them to carry on their journey safely – for example, to young people who would otherwise have had to walk a long distance home.

The lights and rucksack covers have been funded by City of York Council – part of a cycle safety campaign that ran for the first time last year.

Inspector Lee Pointon, of York Police, said: “The operation was really well received, with many pedestrians stopping to make positive comments about the proactive campaign.

“We will undertake further operations over the next few weeks, ensuring that we continue to have a direct and positive effect on the safety of people in the city.”

Cyclists are urged to visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/cyclesafety for police videos and advice on cycling safely.

York Police to clamp down on cyclists without lights

Bike lights

City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police have joined forces to relaunch a successful scheme aimed at keeping cyclists safe this winter.

 As the nights draw in, officers will be targeting cyclists in York who cause a danger to themselves and others by cycling without lights during hours of darkness in the morning and evening.

City of York Council has funded high-visibility rucksack covers and small sets of emergency cycle lights, which will be offered to cyclists who are stopped by North Yorkshire Police.

Not everyone stopped by officers will be entitled to the lights – they will be handed to young people and other vulnerable people who would otherwise have to walk home if they were forced to continue their journey without lights. Officers will continue to issue tickets for cycling offences if necessary.

 

The campaign ran for the first time last year, and was well-received by cyclists and parents of young people who received the lights and reflective covers.

 

York Park and Ride site let down

Still work to do at Poppleton Bar

Weeds2 Park adn Ride site

The York Council issued a statement on Friday claiming that work at the Poppleton Bar Park and Ride site had finally been finished – 5 months behind schedule.

But as our photos reveal, this is far from the truth with both landscaping and white lining work still outstanding. The site compound is also still in place.

Sadly the City has become all too familiar with weed growth in gutters, public spaces and even bridges around the City over the last 6 months.

However claiming a site is finished while it is still covered in 3 foot high weeds is surely a bit too disingenuous for even the Councils Labour Leadership.

It is after all the first point of call for some tourists and their impression of the City is likely to be coloured by their early experiences.

Low flying cyclists?

Low flying cyclists?

More seriously, from a safety perspective, is the Councils decision to encourage shared cycle/pedestrian use of the path from the A1237 underpass to the Park and Ride site.

unsegregated cycle/pedestrian path

unsegregated cycle/pedestrian path

Apart from one sign – which we suspect most pedestrians will not recognise – there is no reminder of the need to take extra care because of possible conflicts.

At the very least there needs to be repeater signs and warnings painted on the surface of the path.

At the moment, there not even a white line separation.

Organisations represented partially sighted people have been very critical about this kind of arrangement in the past.

No doubt they will be knocking on Cllr Levene’s door before very long!