Otley Road Cycleway Phase 1 Review: Relevant Guidance
These are the main points in Cycle Infrastructure Design LTN 1/20 that are referred to in the Review.
Cycle Routes Should be Direct (Core Design Principle)
Shared Use is not Appropriate on Urban Streets
The Minimum Width of a Shared Use Facility is 3m
The Absolute Minimum Width of a Cycle Lane or Track is 1m50
Space for Cycling Should be Taken from the Carriageway, not by Reducing the Level of Service for Pedestrians
Segregate Pedestrians and Cyclists with a Level Difference
CYCLISTS DISMOUNT and END OF ROUTE Signs Should not be Used
Design for Thousands of Cyclists a Day
Otley Road Cycleway Phase 1 Review
Agree with the analysis – what a mess and waste of money
Hi Imran,
Thanks for the comment. It’s just disappointing that the design is so poor and car-focused.
If the other sections can be built to a better design, including a cycle track out to new housing beyond Harlow Carr, it could still end up as a useful route.
Totally agree, well done for the analysis.
Fundamentally it seems to me that NYCC do not see cyclists as commuters on a valid form of transport, simply as leisure riders prepared to dawdle over journeys on a sunny weekend. Their refusal to even cycle the route says it all
On a purely practical level, surely they should see their mish-mash of styles and inconveniences to cyclists and pedestrians as unsatisfactory ?
No doubt NYCC will be hailing their ‘progess’ as proof of green ambitions, when it could have been so much more. We all need to keep pushing.
I agree. Let’s hope the next phase can be built to a better design.
Have taken a ride round on my trike this morning – starting from Harlow Moor Road shared cycle path. Generally agree with the comprehensive analysis. Pointing out though that the Cyclists Dismount sign before Harlow Chase has been taken down – perhaps because I pointed out the equality implications for inclusive cycling. Will be tweeting this and other points with photos as seems to be no way of including here.
The traffic lights for the left and right turning lanes on Otley Road, at the Harlow Moor Road junction, could surely have been used to allow traffic going straight-on to continue and for cyclist to cross Harlow Moor Road at the same time? It was practically impossible for me to reach the Toucan crossing button when waiting to cross northwards there given that I cannot stand and manipulate my trike. Again an equality failure.
I walked along Otley Road several times during November, December and January as construction was taking place. I started off feeling optimistic that at last we were going to get the long awaited Cycleway, but then optimism turned to pessimism as the construction progressed and I saw more and more improvements taking place to the road, with little evidence of new cycle paths on either side. Your excellent analysis of the end result confirms my feelings. I doubt if I will be using the new Cycleway, as cycling on Otley Road will be much quicker especially when the shared pavements in the vicinity of Harrogate Grammar School are overcrowded with pupils at the start and end of the school day.
When I attended public meetings in Harrogate Grammar School 4 years ago, and discussed the plans with councillors, I was aware the Cycleway was going to be a mixture of cycle lanes and shared usage pavements, but I was under the impression we were going to have something much better than what has been delivered: something that would look like a cycle path! I feel that the funding has been used primarily to improve Otley Road for motor vehicles by widening various junctions, and improving road surfaces, and by getting cyclists out of the way. What has been delivered for cyclists is completely substandard and inadequate as your analysis shows. Have NYCC used the funding exactly as planned, or have their plans been modified once the funding was obtained? Dare I ask: has funding been misappropriated?
I know this is just Phase 1, and we are being urged to reserve judgement until the full Cycleway route is completed, but sadly I have no confidence NYCC will deliver anything better in later phases unless they are called to account over the delivery of Phase 1, which seems to break all of the Cycle Infrastucture Design Guidelines.
Hi Eric, Thanks for your comment. I agree the key thing now is to learn lessons so as to build to a better design in future phases.