Bus Punctuality Improvement Plan

Responded to this today.

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.

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.

Broomhall Parking Review

Responded to this today. In summary:

The 4-hour restrictions should apply to specific parts of the Scheme rather than the whole Scheme: People parking within the whole area should be restricted to 4 hours rather than being able to move within the area - this leads to people swapping places at lunchtime, for instance.

We would not like to see any extra 4-hour or unrestricted parking in the area. The Scheme has made a big difference to the traffic in the area and increased cycling and walking, not just in Broomhall but on the corridors that people use to access the area. We would not like any of the benefits to be taken away. We welcome the extensions to the permit holders only areas.

At the junction of Havelock Street (where I live) and Holberry Gardens the extension of the bays and reduction in the double yellow lines is a bad idea. This area is used a lot by local children playing in the streets and anything which potentially restricts visibility around here is likely to impinge on safety.

4) We welcome the future cycle access at the junction of Holberry Gardens and Brunswick Street. This was omitted from the original scheme for no apparent reason.

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!