There are a number of alleyways in Harrogate District where cycling is prohibited, including on signed cycle routes.
Often, alleyways provide useful routes that enable people to avoid busy main roads and motor vehicles. In York, instead of banning bikes from alleyways, they put up ‘Cyclists Give Way to Pedestrians’ signs. That’s a good solution in many cases.
Making this change in Harrogate could make a small but significant difference to the cycle network.
The advantage of these signs is that they emphasise that cyclists should be considerate and give way to pedestrians. If they can’t be used, then simple shared use signs would do instead.
The alleyways we suggest would be suitable for considerate cycling are:
- Leadhall Drive to Norfolk Road
- Daleside Drive to A61/Fulwith Mill Lane
- Arthur’s Avenue to the Rossett path
- Wetherby Road to Wayside Walk
- Wetherby Road to St Clement’s Road (Charlwood)
- Dragon Road, over the railway towards Franklin Road
- Almsford Drive to the Oatlands Bridleway
- Birchwood Mews to the Oatlands Bridleway (cycling not prohibited here, but a step needs to be replaced with a ramp)
- Margaret Road to Harlow Terrace
If North Yorkshire aren’t prepared to allow cycling on these alleyways, then they need to provide proper alternatives – protected cycle infrastructure in accordance with LTN 1/20, rather than just expecting people to ride on busy and hostile roads.
Another alleyway where considerate cycling would be helpful, with cyclists giving way to pedestrians, is off Margaret Road through to Harlow Terrace. This would give a safer way to cross Cold Bath Road onto Queens Road for access to Beech Grove LTN – avoiding the need to ride all the way down Harlow Moor Drive (which has cars parked both sides) to Valley Drive.
Hmmm. Just seen in Gear Change – a bold vision for cycling and walking
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf
Paragraph 16 of Appendix 1 includes a photo with the comment that the yellow sign saying Cyclists Give Way To Pedestrians is not permitted in TSRGD.
Viewing Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs at https://tsrgd.co.uk, specifically paragraph 11.11.3 at https://trafficsignsmanual.co.uk/pdf/chapter-3.pdf only the familiar blue circle signs are shown.
So it seems that, from the regulatory standpoint, the proposal above based on a sign in York, is a non-starter.
Thinking some more about this though, the proposed revisions to the Highway Code
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-highway-code-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists-pedestrians-and-horse-riders/summary-of-the-consultation-proposals-on-a-review-of-the-highway-code
include in Rule H2
Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks.Only pedestrians may use the pavement. This includes people using wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Pedestrians may use any part of the road and use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians.