CycleSheffield along with the CTC and Sustrans are engaged in a dialogue with Sheffield City Council and Streets Ahead to maximise the benefits for cyclists of the Streets Ahead programme.
Although the PFI contract is based on ‘like-for-like’ replacement of the existing road and path network, there are some opportunities for improvements that are low or no-cost. For example, Amey have offered to add dropped kerbs to the refurbishment programme at the “bargain” rate of £30. (These normally cost £200)
There is even the possibility that individuals or community groups could pay for improvements they particularly want to see.
Community Assemblies will act as a focus for improvement opportunities in their areas. As the scheme develops we will organise rides around areas that are scheduled for refurbishment to identify low-cost improvements that could be made. We will need suggestions from local people for this.
To this end we have started to collect opportunities from local cyclists, and if you have a Google account you can view this at.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnVyw94hXAR4dGhjWE9PLVYwcFBjdGFBaElWR1lHUFE
Amey will also be removing unwanted street clutter as they go along and suggestions for removal, such as unwanted “Cyclists Dismount” signs can be entered on our spreadsheet.
If you know of anything local to your area you can either add this to the spreadsheet yourself, or let us know about it via a comment and we’ll add it.
The Schedule for Street refurbishment in 2012-13 is here.
Also it will be helpful if local people get along to their local Community assemblies to press for improvements for walkers and cyclists such as default 20mph limits in residential areas. There is info about the CA’s at the following locations:-
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/community-assemblies.html
http://www.cyclesheffield.org.uk/inyourarea/
For an in-depth analysis of a Streets Ahead Street click here
I’ve been cycling regularly in Sheffied for fifteen years and have never been too concerned about cycling infrastructure.
However, I have for the eighteen months I’ve been introducing my (now) 10 year old son to utility cycling. I have to say cycling in Sheffield with a child is nerve racking, and I’ve taken to only visiting the city centre for shopping on a sunday when there is less traffic.
The infrastructure for those who are not confident to mix it up with cars, buses and lorries is terrible.
I’d like to see some good, segregated cycle infrastructure in Sheffield. As I keep reading elsewhere, if its not safe for an 8 year old or an 80 year old to cycle on – its not good enough.
I know that there’s very vocal opposition to segregation – the argument being that we are entitled to use the road and should be protected when doing so, but the fact is that we aren’t adequately protected, and I don’t want to wait for driver attitudes and culture to change before I feel safe on the roads – I haven’t got that long left to live!
Countries with the most segregation have the highest proprtion of cyclists. I wnt a bit of that!
Thanks for your comment. Cyclesheffield is not amongst those organisations that is “anti-segregation” – our Manifesto says that we want
“Properly designed, properly maintained continental-style cycle tracks alongside major road corridors” and we stand by that
Sheffield does have some good quality off-road routes, but they are in the East and North of the city, not the west and the south where there are more cyclists.
We do recommend that new cyclists take up the offer of training from Pedal Ready as Cycle Training can massively enhance the safety and confidence of on-road cyclists from an early age, and actually even when the day comes that we get these high-quality routes built cyclists will still benefit from training.