I wrote to my council about the cycle paths and...
Discussion
The result is really quite good! My commute is 99% cycle paths. Many of them are very good, and as much of a pain as it can be I find it quite relaxing at 7.30 in the morning being on the paths rather than the road. Though there's negatives of cycle paths, of course, but I'm just setting the picture.
A couple of locations on my route have got very badly rutted paths, caused by tree roots. So I wrote to them to let them know because they're both downhill bits (one quite fast) and the bumps are, genuienly, quite dangerous. Expected nothing of it, but thought I'd write anyway.
I got a reply back that day asking if I could take some pictures, so I did the following day. A few weeks later I get an e-mail saying they're going to resurface those bits.
All a rather nice experience, really. Talking to the guy he said people assume they know, when in fact they don't. They need someone to ACTUALLY tell them - so thanked me and job done!
It's not a great story, I admit, but thought you'd like to know a little e-mail can have a good effect.
A couple of locations on my route have got very badly rutted paths, caused by tree roots. So I wrote to them to let them know because they're both downhill bits (one quite fast) and the bumps are, genuienly, quite dangerous. Expected nothing of it, but thought I'd write anyway.
I got a reply back that day asking if I could take some pictures, so I did the following day. A few weeks later I get an e-mail saying they're going to resurface those bits.
All a rather nice experience, really. Talking to the guy he said people assume they know, when in fact they don't. They need someone to ACTUALLY tell them - so thanked me and job done!
It's not a great story, I admit, but thought you'd like to know a little e-mail can have a good effect.
I totally agree with the principle Tony. I advised the highways agency when the painted-on lanes around a well-used roundabout had worn off, leading to people falling back on the old habits (not sticking to lanes). I exchanged a few emails and then about a month later they repainted them.
Our local cycle paths are a bit scruffy these days. I might see if they know about them, have any plans to resurface them. Good idea..!!
Our local cycle paths are a bit scruffy these days. I might see if they know about them, have any plans to resurface them. Good idea..!!
TonyHetherington said:
It's not a great story, I admit, .
It's a great story. Well done for a good result. There is a good debate to be had vis-a-vis using/not using cycle paths due to their unsuitabillity, but getting existing paths brought up to an acceptable standard, is well worthwhile.BOR said:
It's a great story. Well done for a good result. There is a good debate to be had vis-a-vis using/not using cycle paths due to their unsuitabillity,
Indeed - they can be quite frustrating and especially as the ones I use are actually on a path (as opposed to a cycle lane in the road) it means I have to stop and check for cars at junctions whereas I'd have right of way on the road. Also, it does appear that the rule of thumb for teenagers is "ooo, a cycle path, let's smash a bottle". Which is frustrating. But otherwise, I really can't complain
I use http://www.fixmystreet.com/ for this sort of thing. Always gets a response out of the council. I've seen railings and street lights repaired, lines painted and potholes filled using it. It's an excellent resource.
TonyHetherington said:
Indeed - they can be quite frustrating and especially as the ones I use are actually on a path (as opposed to a cycle lane in the road) it means I have to stop and check for cars at junctions whereas I'd have right of way on the road.
The only irritation with our local dual use cycle/footpath is that it runs by a dual carriageway and all of the junctions are traffic light controlled with toucan crossings and refuge islands, deliberately arranged so that when crossing you can't see the traffic lights. The signals for peds/cyclists don't come on unless the button has been pressed - so if you mean to use the crossing as intended, you have to come to a stop, press the button and wait, and you have to do this three times at each junction - one crossing for traffic leaving the minor road, one for traffic turning right into it, another for traffic turning left into it. Completely useless. I don't understand why the green light for peds/cyclists can't always come on automatically when the red light for traffic on the road shows for that bit of the crossing.
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