CTC has published data showing which locations in the country have the highest concentration of drivers with penalty points.
The new ramp between the Concourse and Durham Road is now open, with a lot more room for pedestrians and cyclists.
Meeting the South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner (SYPCC)
Report from Mick Nott
I, with my CycleSheffield Chair hat on, went to a surgery appt with the SYPCC (http://www.southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/Home.aspx) on Friday 14 September.
I met with the PCC, Shaun Wright and his PA, Tracy Webster.
We had already flagged our concerns in an earlier email, which is towards the end of this post.
Outcomes of the meeting
I think the PCC has agreed to take our concerns to discuss with a senior officer or officers and he is to suggest that SYP meet with us to discuss cycling matters in general.
CycleSheffield’s hope is that we can become engaged with SYP in a positive and progressive manner on matters to do with cycling in Sheffield.
We feel at present there is no coherence if we try to deal with general matters through particular incidents with separate officers.
CycleSheffield is concerned about
police advice wrt reporting of harassment of cyclists that has dismissive responses from some police officers
police abuse of cycle facilities (which I know has been addressed but the example we provide does stick out a mile)
police advice on road developments which we think show out of date attitudes towards how users should share roads and lack of specific training
police responses (as reported in the press) to hit and runs which stresses what the victims should do and not concentrating on what the perpetrators of these crimes should do
and we made a plea for SYP to take a systematic interest in the Council’s CycleForum so they can attend if needs be and certainly keep abreast of what issues are current. And SYP could even add their own issues & concerns.
The meeting was cordial; both Shaun and Tracy were attentive to our points and sympathetic with our concerns.
I am confident that CycleSheffield will be able to develop this initiative.
Mick
Chair, CycleSheffield
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Mick Nott
Date: 23 May 2013 15:20
Subject: Re: Issues to do with cycling – Request for Surgery Appointment (1094)
To: Dinah Tindall
Dear Ms Tindall
Thanks for getting back to me and apologies for the delay in my response.
I was taking some time to consult members of CycleSheffield
The reason for the appointment is to discuss SYP and its policies and attitudes to cycling and cyclists.
Here are some examples:
Police attitudes to harassment of cyclists: We have talked with officers from Safer Neighbourhood teams and their advice is to to report incidents where cyclists are harassed on the road including near misses using the 101 number. However our experience is that the consequent responses from PCs who pick up these reports are dismissive. We understand that 101 data is aggregated and used by SNT to identify issues to target so we are confused by encouraging advice and discouraging responses.
Police attitudes to cycle facilities: We have reported to local police obstruction of a segregated cycle path on Asline Rd and police officers have promised to get back to the cyclists making the reports on consequent actions or follow-up. This has not happened. In addition police officers direct football coaches to park on this segregated cycle path when SUFC are at home. We think this just encourages others to use the cycle path as a car park. We have asked SUFC about this and they say they have forwarded our emails to the police who, in turn, have told SUFC they are following this issue up with the Council. Nobody in the Council seems to know about this police initiative. Nobody has got back to us even though our emails contain our contact details.
Another example where we had more success was our reports via 101 about police vans parking in the contraflow cycle lane on Castle St opposite the Snig Hill police station. A police sergeant did get back to us about this and she did instruct officers not to do it. However officers carried on doing it and our photos of these incidents, reported on a blog, made the Star. Since their publication the obstructive parking by police on this cycle lane has stopped.
Police advice on road design: The junction of Minna Rd (side road) with Burngreave Rd (main road) has recently been redesigned. The police comments were: We believe that the inclusion of a short section of cycle lane across the mouth of the junction which ends at the rear of the bus stop, could result in cyclists coming into conflict with vehicles as they pull out to re-join traffic. I believe the thinking behind this short section which does not join any existing facility was to make it safer for cyclist to cross the junction, but as you are closing the junction down and taking out the slip road, I believe this already reduces any existing risk there was to pedal cyclists, and there does not appear to have been any incidents in this area to justify this.
We ask you to note that the officer writing this believes that cyclists (on the main road) will come into conflict with vehicles (coming out of the main side road). We think the premiss of the situation is that cyclists on the main road have right of way and drivers of vehicles coming out of the side road are obliged to give way to all traffic on the main road, i.e. vehicles come into conflict with cyclists. Our advice was contrary to the officer’s as we believe that a cycle lane would provide some infrastructural support for cyclists cycling up hill whilst having to negotiate a route with traffic both overtaking and waiting to come across the give way lines.
Police not participating in democratic meetings: Sheffield City Council has a Cycle Forum, which is seen by the Council as the place where substantive issues of policy and practice, to do with cycling in Sheffield, can be openly discussed and progressed. The police have a standing invitation to this Forum but generally do not attend. Their advice and participation would be welcome.
Police response to hit and run: We are concerned at the reports of police officers’ advice to pedestrians (and we presume cyclists) to wear bright, reflective (eg hi-viz) clothing to avoid collisions with vehicles. Our concern is that the stress is all on what the victim of a hit and run collision needs to do to avoid being hit by unsafe and negligent drivers. See http://www.greatgasbeetle.com/south-yorkshire-police-a-new-low-in-keeping-pedestrians-safe/
When we have spoken to the police we get responses from individual officers, but promised follow-up does not materialise and we think some of the advice issued or offered by police officers doesn’t acknowledge best practice or training in what cycling experts say. We think SYP lacks of any coherent, coordinated view on cycling and maybe has not given this point any attention.
We would value discussing this point with SYP – but it is not a specific incident and no officer will take it further, unless it has an incident number.
(Although we have incident numbers and dates to support much of what we have written above)
Therefore we would like to meet with the Police Commissioner to discuss our concerns and whether he is able to help us make progress with engaging with SYP.
Yours sincerely etc
At this year’s AGM we appointed a Campaigns Manager.
Having given it some thought as to how to approach this, he’s tried to apply Project Manager techniques to the task and created some templates in Google Docs.
So we now have a Campaigns Initiation Document for any new Projects. These have been looked at by the exec group and approved for use at last night’s meeting.
This is is an example of how this will work, based on the Ecclesall Rd campaign.
We also have also written a Campaigning Policy to which we would expect anyone running a campaign on our behalf to abide by.
Anyone running a campaign will be expected to provide a brief monthly update to meetings.
Something else we propose is be an online form so members can suggest prospective campaigns to us.
We now intend to inform the council that this is how we intend to work in future.
Time to sell and buy bike stuff
You can book a table/space to sell here http://sheffieldcyclejumble.wordpress.com/
Agenda & notes for CycleSheffield meeting
Monday 2 September 2013
at the Heeley Development Trust, Ash Tree Yard, 62-68 Thirlwell Rd, S8 9TF.
Start 7.30 pm Close 9.00 pm
(Follow the Sheaf Valley Cycle Route to Saxon Rd/Chesterfield Rd, Turn L then turn R into Thirlwell Rd by the Red Lion map)
Cycle stands in the yard
Tea and coffee available
All welcome
Apologies
Minutes of last meeting
Financial Report and Budgeting HH (do we need this?)
Feedback from Cycle Forum and next Cycle Forum: AR/MN
Campaigns and Campaign Policy SG
City Centre Master Plan MT
Taxi driver behaviour MN
Making one way streets contraflow – likely candidates. MT
Twenty’s Plenty/Active Travel RA
Streets Ahead – update on progress, MN
Bikes & Trams
On-going campaign PB
Tram-Train PB
Track relaying MT
Future extensions SG
City Issues
Asline Rd MN
Any other correspondence
Membership progress and numbers, and Membership benefits & communications MN/TC
TdF 2014 update – MN
Chair’s business – Scrutiny Committee, Sheaf Valley Cycle Route, Claywheels Lane etc
Programme of CycleSheffield meetings and socials
AoB
Date of next meeting
https://docs.google.com/
Costa have set up shop in Heeley Retail Park and blocked the cycle route. Where the ramp used to be there are some steps and to cycle through you have negotiate your way through the tables and then do a dog-leg to get the to the dropped kerb. There has certainly been no consultation about this!
This sign popped up on Clarkehouse Rd yesterday. It immediately elicited a storm of derision from CycleSheffield members. What on earth were they thinking – that cyclists would just pop off their bikes in the middle of a stream of traffic? A more appropriate sign would be “motorists give way to cyclists”.
These are the works that are being funded in the joint bid that Sheffield put in with the Peak District.
Some surface improvements in Wharncliffe Woods
A new cycle route from Wharncliffe Woods through Deepcar, Stocksbridge and Langsett connecting to the TPT at Thurlstone Moor (and crossing the 2014TdF route)
Surface improvements on the approach to Dunford Bridge
The estimated cost is £1.7Million, of which the grant awarded today will contribute £1.1million
Creation of a number of other new routes including
connecting the Monsal Trail into Buxton and Matlock and connecting to existing trails
A route from Staffordshire
A route through the Hope valley (though at partner discussions it wasn’t expected that this could be delivered within the timescales –so watch this space)
A grant fund for organisations to develop hubs
Funded from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) :
– Extending the Upper Don Valley route alongside Penistone Road from – Hillsborough Leisure Centre to Leppings lane (due for completion March 15)–as part of the Sainsburys development this will be further extended to Claywheels Lane
– Extending the Blackburn Valley route from Ecclesfield to Chapeltown
– Resurfacing the canal towpath between Tinsley and Rotherham (in partnership with Rotherham Council) – will be complete Sept 13
– Making improvements along the Five Weirs Walk – creating new links, filling in gaps and resurfacing (Due for completion Dec 14)
– Making improvements to cycle parking around the city – on and off highway including http://www.parkthatbike.info/
– Developing a secure cycle storage facility at Halfway park and ride (this may well (if successful) be rolled out to other tram and train based Park and ride across the county
Funded from the Local Transport Plan
– Creating a cycle link from Handsworth into the Adanced Manufacturing park at Waverley (due to be completed Dec 13)
– Improving the crossing points at Hangingwater Road and Whiteley Wood Road (programmed to be delivered summer 14)
– Opportunities for small scale cycle improvements as part of the Streets Ahead project PFI opportunities
– Improved access across the railway line from Oughtibridge into Wharncliffe Woods
Behaviour change/ Smarter choices
Funded from LSTF
– Sheffield CycleBoost (covering residents and employees in NE Sheffield, Don Valley and City Centre this scheme includes
Free bike loans and the option to buy the bike at significant discount at the end of the loan period subject to certain conditions
Free Maintenance courses and bike doctor surgeries
Free Training from beginner to advanced
Some of this programme is available to all but only runs in certain locations, I have attached the 2013 programme (this is on top of similar work with employers)
Publications
Sheffield cycle map published 2012, update due winter 2013
LSTF area bikeability map – map grading roads by the level of ability required to cycle on them – out now
As part of the LSTF project, a pop up bike kitchen in Attercliffe – this will host maintenance courses and will also be a place you can take your bike and fix it yourself by hiring tools on site. To be developed into a cycle hub.
Plans for the future
Developing a Green Routes network strategy to link much of Sheffield’s green space with cycle routes
Investigating solar powered low level way marking as many of our current ‘green’ routes are not cyclable in the dark.
Working with partners on a Tour de France legacy
On top of this parks and countryside are working on mountain biking, creating trails, improving bridleways, creating a significant social network of cyclists, plus work in schools.
So plenty going on, but lots more needs to be done. Sheffield City Council needs to have a “Shovel Ready” programme available so when funds come up they are fit to bid – bearing in mind that there is more to developing cycling than putting in cycle routes. In future bids the focus needs to be on utility cycling, since much of the work above will mostly benefit leisure cyclists.
A Sustrans volunteer writes:
You know how we discussed the closure of the above track to motor vehicles on Saturday! Barbara and I went out for a hike on Sunday, and we walked over the moor from the Roundhouse via Redmires. Jesus Wept!! Someone has used a large vehicle to pull the entire locked barrier out of the ground, post an all. So this expensive piece of kit is now lying twisted on the ground. To add insult to injury we had to get of the track to allow 6 off-road motor-cycles to pass. What next – landmines!
