The old Sheffield District CTC website

My Bike Lane

The idea behind this global website is that cyclists can log instances of motorists blocking bike lanes and advanced stop lines and that it creates a record so that the site can be used to illustrate the scale of the problem to the enforcement authorities. Currently there is only one active poster in Sheffield, but they have assembled about a dozen photos. The Sheffield site is here

If you decide to join in please be aware that some motorists may not take kindly to you taking photographs of them breaking the law, so be careful and think of your personal safety at all times.

Hillsborough Corner Experiment

Simon has had notification of the Experimental Traffic Order that amends the hours of operation of the bus and tram gates on Middlewood Rd from 0700 to 1900 daily to 0700-1100 and 1500-1900 on Monday to Saturday inclusive. As it is experimental it will be in force for six months and the City Council will be considering whether the provisions of the Experimental Order should be continued in force indefinitely.

Simon’s view is that the hours that the bus gate will operate for cover a large part of the working day and it might not be as bad as we feared. There is an opportunity to make representations during the six month experimental period. He has previously made representations to the Council about the difficulties faced by cyclists negotiating the tram tracks at this busy and complicated junction and remedial work had been promised for this year. We are still waiting to see action on this.

Update Sheffield CTC have been in touch with Andy Wild, Principal Transport Planner at Sheffield City Council to raise concerns about the risk that this difficult to negotiate junction for cyclists will become more difficult if the added complexity of the opening hours leads to more motorists using the junction in the hours when it should be open to cyclists and public transport only. Apparently this concern was also raised by the bus companies and so is likely to be factored into the decision on the opening hours.

Simon has also been consulted on two other proposals

Lydgate Lane and Monteney Crescent – Basically traffic calming around Lydgate Infant & Middle School

Meadow Street Revised Permit Parking Scheme – Adjustments to the existing parking permit scheme.

Simon is happy to pass on plans to anyone who wants to have a look, email rtr@synnda.org

Recent representations

September

Planning Applications

The council has submitted 2 new planning apps: one is for an extension to the Chapeltown Greenway – this will take it as far as the Yalta industrial Estate which is in Chapeltown: A future extension will link it to the TPT at NCN/TPT at Cart Road early next year, subject to a funding bid recently submitted. The route will be bituminized as well. This is great news for Chapeltown residents who will have a route free of motor traffic all the way to Meadowhall. In particular it will avoid the nasty hill between Chapeltown and Ecclesfield.

The other one is for an “iconic” bridge over the Parkway near Tinsley Golf Course. This will remedy the shameful current situation where pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders are supposed to cross the 70 mph Sheffield Parkway at surface level.

Simon Geller is writing to support both proposals, should you wish to comment you can do so at SCC’s planning portal, by searching for following refs:

Chapeltown Ref: 09/02522/FUL

Parkway Ref: 09/02783/FUL

August

Traffic Regulation Orders

Glossop Rd: Extend tram gate as far as Cavendish St. Operating 4-6:30 p.m.
We support this, although there are concerns about the impact on cyclists using the Portobello cycle route, as traffic will be diverted across it.

Parson Cross Child Safety Zone

We Support this, however we would like to see the implementation of CSZ’s accelerated by bringing in 20mph zones without waiting for infrastructure improvements.

Campaigns

Simon Geller is the CTC’s local Right to Ride representative.

Recent activity:

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Traffic Restriction Orders

Wincobank School, Newman Rd & Lydgate Lane
Traffic calming & Waiting restrictions.

CTC supports these proposals.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Traffic Restriction Orders

Bunch of TRO’s relating to the Tudor Square refurbishment, tightening up parking and loading restrictions.

CTC wrote to support these.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Bus Punctuality Improvement Plan

The proposal covers a raft of measure to extend bus lanes on Bolsover St, Exchange Place, introduce a bus gate at Station Rd Woodhouse, and revoke an existing bus gate at Southey Hill (which was unpopular with residents apparently) replacing it with traffic calming.

It is also proposed to exclude motorcycles from bus gates on Furnival Rd at Derek Dooley Way, Holme Lane to Langsett Rd at Hillsboro Corner, Infirmary Rd to Penistone Rd at Shalesmoor, London Rd at Asline Rd, & Shalesmoor. This is because DfT rules do not allow the council to lawfully sign bus gates for motorcycles.Shucks.

CTC Response:-

Thank you for your letter dated the 18th of March.

We SUPPORT the measures at Bolsover St, Exchange Place/Park Square and Woodhouse terminus.

We OBJECT to the removal of the Bus Gate at Southey Hill. This will increase motor traffic in the area and make it more dangerous for cyclists.

Exclusion of motorcyclists. We are pleased to see that the Department for Transport has taken a more logical view on this issue than Sheffield City Council. However, as the council has previously made it known that motorcycles are allowed to use bus lanes even when there are no signs permitting them to do so, signs should now be erected specifically excluding them from these facilities.