Councils spend more on compensation claims over potholes than on repairing them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7658956.stm

Councils claim they are spending more on compensation claims over potholes than on repairing them.

Tescos Bedale Rd

The application for a Tescos store at this location has been granted provisionally. Provisions include:

2 The retail unit shall not be used unless the car parking accommodation for 16 cars to the front of the site and 11 cars to the rear of the site as shown on the approved plans has been provided in accordance with those plans and thereafter such car parking accommodation shall be retained for the sole purpose intended unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

3 Before the development is commenced, full details of suitable and sufficient cycle parking accommodation within the site shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the retail unit shall not be used unless such cycle parking accommodation has been provided in accordance with the approved plans and thereafter such cycle parking accommodation shall be retained for the sole use of the development hereby permitted.


11 The development shall not be begun until the improvements (which expression shall include traffic control, pedestrian and cycle safety measures) to the highways listed below have either;

a) been carried out; or

b) details have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority of arrangements which have been entered into which will secure that such improvement works will be carried out before the retail use is commenced

Highway Improvements: Bedale Road - footway/carriageway alterations

Which leads me to wonder whether the opportunity will be taken to improve the ridiculous arrangements between bedal & empire rds?

(See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9csKA9iAps )

Simon

Recent TROs

Changes to the TRO on Hurlfield Rd to allow cyclists to use the road legitimately:
Sharrow Vale - change loading bay to Pay & display: Introduce Car Club parking
Traffic calming in Greystones Rd near the primary school

Prohibition of parking near junctions in numerous parts of the city.

The CTC SUPPORTS these proposals.

Our Cycling Champion waits in the queue

(Steve Marsden, First point reception, Howden House)












Steve: "I'd like to talk to someone about cycling please"
First Point Receptionist: "Sorry mate, there's 26 motorists in the queue before you!"

How Sheffield Turned it's Back on the Sheffield Stand

As the Sheffield City Council website proudly proclaims, "The first Sheffield Stands were designed and installed in Sheffield in 1986. This simple design has since been widely adopted across the globe. "














As it is symmetrical, the Sheffield stand makes it easy to lock your bike at both ends. It supports your bike as you load it with heavy shopping

However, the city that invented the Sheffield Stand has turned it's back on it. Instead, the Town Planners have insisted on installing a more stylish but less functional alternative:





(These examples are at Howden House, the council admin building in Sheffield)














The curved shape makes it more difficult to lock your bike securely, whilst there is no support for a laden bike at one end.

The council certainly didn't get Best Value out of these ones:


They are a bit too close to the wall to get two bikes on!

Cyclist Give Way Signs in Sheffield

Welcome to CTC Right to Ride Reps Nationally.

In Sheffield we seem to have cornered the market in "Cyclists Give Way to Pedestrians" signs. These are definitely preferable to "Cyclists Dismount" (we have plenty of those as well though).
Sheffield cyclists may not be aware that these are not in common use elsewhere.

Here are some examples:
















This is at Castle Square (Formerly the infamous Hole in the Road.) The cycle route
allows cyclists from the north to access the High Street. As you can see it's a busy and narrow section of street with high footfall, but nevertheless the arrangement works well.

A continuation on the other side of the road would create a new North-South route across the city:















However, the council haven't agreed to this. A toucan crossing would be needed for Arundel Gate.

This one is at Pond St:
















This is part of the emerging Inner Ring Cycle Route and allows cyclists to cross the severed part of Pond St, avoiding Flat St (Flat St isn't flat and Pond St has no ponds).
These signs were much admired by Sustrans staff when they were in town.

A contra-flow and ramp are needed to allow cyclists to continue North:-















This links into the National Cycle Network to the North and East of the city.

A few other sights around town:-
















Bike stands in use at the Interchange, for travellers continuing their journey by bus.

This lot turned up whilst I was taking pictures:-
































...& headed off up the High St















Bikes are increasingly being used by the emergency services in Sheffield as well as the City Ambassadors and our Cycling Paramedic service should get off the ground shortly.

Murder in Dewsbury

I wasn't very surprised to read about a murder in Dewsbury. Having passed through a few times I think its a dreadful place - the destruction in public places was appalling. I think its the town that New Labour forgot. Can't really recommend it for a bike ride.