August 2015 – Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Newcastle council road plan kicks cycling out

30th August 2015 NewCycling Press

Newcycling.org voices their concerns about council road plans. They call the plans a complete throw-back to the 1960’s of highway horrors. Cycling and walking is simply forgotten at the Haddricks Mill redesign by the council and their consultant WSP. The plan can be seen below. Katja Leyendecker, newcycling.org chair, says “It appears that Newcastle City Council have received go-ahead from Department of Transport to tear up an innercity roundabout and widen it to push more traffic through – all this is done in theoretical calculations and mathematical modelling terms, which do not account for transport transitions or mode shift. In[…]

Let’s talk about the Haddricks Mill mincer

25th August 2015 Infra Team Uncategorised

In the next few months we expect the council to begin consulting on changes to Haddricks Mill junction. This is done as part of the creation of the Northern Access Corridor, falling under the umbrella of wider city development plans. And what we’ve seen so far doesn’t look good for sustainability, urban liveability or transport fairness – the car “wins” again – in theory (traffic modelling) and so in practice (road space) too, and the city loses. Council is in general tatters over transport plans and to succeed needs much clearer direction and focus. In general, we worry about the[…]

Our Reply – Elswick Road

14th August 2015 Infra Team Consultation replies

Re: TS/ML/E91 – Elswick Road Strategic Cycle Route As a constituted community group with 1,600 local members we respond on their behalf to the plans for Elswick Road SCR. In general we support the plans presented for Elswick Road. Though we do have some points and questions on the design: There is one a bus stop on the plan (North side of the road, near Park Close) where the cycling bypass shown uses shared space (cyclists and pedestrians), rather than the more preferable cycle bypass with clearly separated space. The positioning of the bus stop also seems as though it[…]

Crushed cycle contraflow for Newcastle city centre

9th August 2015 NewCycling Press

One year on from the original request, and Newcastle now does have its first cycle contraflow. But when it was first built it was left in a rather precarious position for weeks. How come? Katja Leyendecker, chair of newcycling.org, says “Newcastle city centre is absolutely littered with one-way streets. Yes, it’s good to restrict access for private cars, but not so good for supporting cycling. For a few years, and then again a year ago (1), we made a strong plea to the council to rectify that. Now Newcastle has its first real cycle contraflow. You’d think: marvellous! Inexpensive and[…]

Contraflow bike lane in Newcastle appears to pit cyclists against oncoming buses

9th August 2015 Peter Press

road.cc (9 August 2015) – http://road.cc/content/news/160507-contraflow-bike-lane-newcastle-appears-pit-cyclists-against-oncoming-buses

Our Reply – Hyde Terrace TRO

5th August 2015 Infra Team Consultation replies

Regarding: H&LS/TM/SG/H268 – Hyde Terrace TRO We do not feel that the planned changes for Hyde Terrace we achieve the intended result. There are no physical measure that will prevent drivers taking a right turn on Christon Road or that will stop drivers using Hyde Terrace as a rat run. Even with physical measures or permanent enforcement, drivers would just turn left before turning their vehicle around to achieve the same end result. We have been made aware of previous requests including a petition to close this junction to through motor traffic. We feel that closing this junction to motor[…]

Our Reply – Christon Road Area TRO

5th August 2015 Infra Team Consultation replies

Regarding: H&LS/TM/SG/C378 – Christon Road Area We cautiously welcome the changes that will make it clearer that cycling between Christon Road and Alwinton Terrace is possible. However we do not want this local route to detract from the need to provide a continuous, safe and high quality cycle route along the Great North Road (including the Gosforth High Street). Also the distance between obstructions to allow for safe cycling for all types of cycles and trailers (not just bicycles) should be at least 1.5m, on the drawing the distance between the kerb and the bollard seems to be less than[…]

Newcastle disconnected on transport matters

3rd August 2015 NewCycling Press

The campaign groups newcycling.org is unsatisfied with the state of transport affairs at Newcastle City Council. Whilst some matters are slowly getting better, important gaps still persist to exist, and aren’t necessarily narrowing. The various council departments involved in transport must get much more organised, start working together closely and effectively – including sharing with expert groups – to demonstrate a concerted united citywide effort. Katja Leyendecker, chair at newcycling.org, says “Newcastle City Council now has millions to spend on walking and cycling infrastructure but still there is no programme. I wonder how the expenditure is going for the CCAF1[…]