A Design Review by Active Travel England has identified a Policy Conflict and numerous Critical Safety Issues with the scheme proposed by North Yorkshire Council (NYC).
Policy Conflict
The Policy Conflict is that NYC’s proposed scheme misses the opportunity to join up cycle routes which are part of the council’s Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
The Design Review notes:
‘Routes miss opporunities to join together with other facilities as a network.
Junction is on LCWIP route but does not connect appropriate cycle facilities; consider whether cycle movements can be catered for during iteration of junction design’.
Critical Issues
The Design Review raises a significant number of Critical Safety Issues, all related to the council’s total failure to consider cycling when revamping the Sainsbury’s junction of the A661 Wetherby Road.
They are:
- conflict at signalised junctions: >2,500 vehicles per day cut across main…cycling stream. Cyclists unprotected in large volumes of traffic
- cyclists unprotected in high-volume (>1,000 vehicles an hour at peak time) motor traffic
- cyclists unprotected in critical width traffic lanes (3.25 to 3.9m) that encourage close passes
- cyclists unprotected in high-speed (>30mph) motor traffic
Junction Assessment Tool
Overall, the Junction Assessment Tool shows that the council’s scheme would increase the junction’s score from 0% to 17%.
This is as a result of the small increase in pedestrian safety. Cycle safety would not increase.
NYC’s Response
NYC’s response is pitiful and does not address the safety concerns raised.