Had a useful meeting and ride along Ecclesall Rd with David Whitley, the council officer in charge of the Ecclesall Rd 'Smartroutes; project. We went through the list of Cyclesheffield proposals for the route and some of them look as though they could be progressed.
With the ones that caused us most concern, the proposal to create a right-turning lane at Greystones Rd is likely to be dropped. The outbound bus lane between Hunters Bar and Rustlings Rd is likely to go, but we expect to see at least a cycle lane here instead. This could be linked with a toucan crossing to get cyclists across to Rustlings Rd and a route through Endcliffe Park using the wider paths at the Hunters Bar end and the access road leading to Rustlings Rd. The inbound bus lanes will probably stay. Suggested that Gisborne Rd be closed to right-turning traffic, and to right turns onto Ecclesall Rd - drivers wanting to access the Greystones area would then have to use Tullibardine or Ringinglow Rds.
We looked at a crossing between Psalter Lane and Glenalmond Rd as well as the junction with Collegiate Crescent, which is more tricky.
Overall I felt we were being listened to and that cycling was being taken seriously as a form of transport, but don't hold your breath for improvements as in the current financial environment they might be a long time coming!
With the ones that caused us most concern, the proposal to create a right-turning lane at Greystones Rd is likely to be dropped. The outbound bus lane between Hunters Bar and Rustlings Rd is likely to go, but we expect to see at least a cycle lane here instead. This could be linked with a toucan crossing to get cyclists across to Rustlings Rd and a route through Endcliffe Park using the wider paths at the Hunters Bar end and the access road leading to Rustlings Rd. The inbound bus lanes will probably stay. Suggested that Gisborne Rd be closed to right-turning traffic, and to right turns onto Ecclesall Rd - drivers wanting to access the Greystones area would then have to use Tullibardine or Ringinglow Rds.
We looked at a crossing between Psalter Lane and Glenalmond Rd as well as the junction with Collegiate Crescent, which is more tricky.
Overall I felt we were being listened to and that cycling was being taken seriously as a form of transport, but don't hold your breath for improvements as in the current financial environment they might be a long time coming!
