Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Queen Victoria Road – Permanent Scheme Engagement Response

13th April 2021 Scott Consultation replies

The Council have recently engaged on making permanent changes to Queen Victoria Road following the existing temporary changes made due to Covid-19 (previous articles here and here). Details on the planned changes can be found here (last accessed 11th April 2021). During the engagement period the council provided us with the opportunity to discuss our thoughts on the scheme and below are some of the key points that we have raised: Summary Overall the planned scheme and its intentions are a positive change for the area, one which we strongly support. The removal of car parking spaces along Queen Victoria[…]

Emergency Active Travel schemes – updated September 2022

13th April 2021 NewCycling Consultation replies, News

Last summer the Council implemented a number of experimental and temporary Government-funded Emergency Active Travel schemes intended to improve space for walking and cycling in response to the pandemic. The Government also published new guidance for walking and cycling schemes. We think these are very important and welcome changes which will make walking and cycling easier and more attractive and, very importantly, will help the Council to meet its net zero plans. We will update this page when we have further news on these schemes over the coming months so please check back for news on progress. Queen Victoria Road[…]

Our 2021 New Year message to city leaders

22nd March 2021 NewCycling Politics

In January we wrote to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members for Transport & Air Quality and Climage Change & Communities. We commended them on their work to develop better walking and cycling infrastructure in the city in response to the pandemic and called for a new collaborative approach to working with walking and cycling advocacy groups. You can read the full letter here: Dear Cllr Forbes, Cllr Ainsley and Cllr Penny-Evans A belated Happy New Year from the Newcastle Cycling Campaign committee! 2020 was a very challenging year and we want to thank you for your efforts[…]

North East Transport Plan consultation: Action for members!

12th January 2021 NewCycling Consultation replies

The North East Transport Plan consultation is open until Thursday 14 January 2020. This is the first region-wide transport plan and sets priorities up to 2035. We welcome the development of the plan and we are commending political leaders on the vision statement and objectives (see page 6 of the plan). However the content of the plan does not support this vision and fails to set out the transformative interventions and the “standard” to deliver a green, healthy, dynamic and thriving North East. It is important that you respond to the consultation and make your voice heard in support of active travel. Please[…]

Local organisations back Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

27th September 2020 NewCycling News, Politics, Press

The Newcastle Cycling Campaign is one of 10 community groups in Newcastle and North Tyneside who, along with around 120 other organisations from across the UK, have signed a national statement calling on leaders of councils to take action to roll out more low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). The statement says: “Now more than ever we need safe and spacious routes for walking and cycling to stop the air and noise pollution, and danger that traffic inflicts on our neighbourhoods… That’s why we welcome the leadership of councils who are working tirelessly to make sure changes to streetspace aren’t lost as[…]

A ‘gear change’ for walking and cycling: UK government announces ambitious plans

22nd August 2020 NewCycling News, Politics

On 28th July, the government published its plans to get Britain cycling Gear change: A bold vision for cycling and walking. Successive governments have made such announcements, but this time it looks like they really mean it. This article summarises the main points of the report. Accompanying the report is long-awaited updated guidance for designing cycling infrastructure (LTN 1/20). These two documents are ground-breaking in their ambition and a must-read for anyone who is interested in making better towns and cities. Here in Newcastle we have experienced first-hand the problems of short-term funding, lack of design guidance and difficulties in[…]

Grey Street – #SpaceForDistancing

22nd August 2020 Infra Team Uncategorized

Newcastle City Council has now put in place the temporary measures on Grey Street. The changes are a huge improvement, befitting of its reputation as one of Britain’s finest streets. We congratulate the Council on the work they are doing to improve the city centre by including vital provision for cycling. We would like to see how this scheme is intended to fit into a wider network plan and hope that the Council will soon outline how it will connect this scheme to the John Dobson Street cycleway, the Tyne Bridge, the Central Station and links out to the east[…]

‘It no longer looks like a car park’ – praise for huge Grey Street changes to cut down on traffic

22nd August 2020 NewCycling Press

Chronicle – 7 August 2020 (Daniel Holland) Parking bays and a lane of traffic have been removed from Newcastle’s most beautiful street to make way for cyclists, pedestrians, and more pavement cafes A major redesign of Newcastle’s most iconic street to cut down on city centre traffic has been applauded by local businesses and cyclists. Huge changes on Grey Street were introduced last week – removing most of its parking bays and restricting traffic to southbound only to create extra social distancing space for pedestrians, pavements cafes, and a new cycle lane. The Georgian street, once named the best in[…]

‘Ludicrous’ or ‘wonderful’? Reaction from day one of Newcastle rat run bridge closures

22nd August 2020 NewCycling Press

Chronicle – 13 August 2020 (Daniel Holland) Newcastle City Council closed five bridges in residential neighbourhoods to traffic on Thursday morning, in an experimental move that has sparked fierce debate in recent weeks. Controversial traffic bans on five Newcastle bridges have come into force – and were met with a mixture of anger, joy, and calls for constructive talks after weeks of fierce debate. Traffic cones and closure signs appeared on Thursday morning in the first stage of Newcastle City Council’s plans to cut rat-running by shutting five crossings to traffic – Salters Bridge in Gosforth, Castle Farm Road next[…]

New images reveal how five rat run Newcastle bridges could look after vehicles are banned next week

9th August 2020 NewCycling Press

Chronicle – 7 August 2020 (Daniel Holland) Newcastle City Council is set to close five crossings in residential neighbourhoods to vehicles from next Thursday, August 13, in an effort to cut pollution and create safer space for walking and cycling. The affected sites will be Salters Bridge in Gosforth, Castle Farm Road next to Jesmond Dene, Haldane Bridge in Jesmond, the Argyle Street Bridge near Manors Metro station, and Stoneyhurst Bridge in South Gosforth. The Stoneyhurst closure in particular has sparked a fierce debate among locals, some of whom fear that cutting off access will lead to heavy congestion on surrounding roads.[…]