From September 2021 we worked with North Yorkshire Council’s Senior Transport Planner on Quick Wins – small improvements that could make a difference to Harrogate’s cycle network.
This was part of our Harrogate cycle network zone plan work.
The list of Quick Wins was finalised and agreed in October 2022, but it has taken until October 2023 for North Yorkshire Council’s Area Highways team to look at them. This challenges the definition of ‘quick win’.
Definition of a Quick Win
Our suggested definition of a Quick Win is an item that:
- can be implemented in less than 6 months and
- costs less than £75,000
The Quick Wins
This is the final list of Quick Wins identified and agreed between HDCA and NYC.
They are organised by zones of our Cycle Infrastructure Plan. A zone-by-zone summary follows.
Zone 1
| Street | Action Needed |
| Park Avenue | Restrict parking to west side Sign as Quietway to town Modal filter close to junction with Philippa’s Drive 20mph |
| Arthur’s Avenue | School Street Modal filter at junction with Rossett Drive 20mph |
Zone 2
| Street | Action Needed |
| Leadhall Drive | Widen Leadhall Drive to Norfolk Road alley and open to cycling |
| Daleside Avenue | Open Daleside Avenue to Leeds Road alley to cycling |
| Firs Crescent | Modal filter south of junction with Mallinson Oval 20mph |
| Rossett Drive | Remove Parsons Intake barrier (complete 2022) |
| Green Lane | Parallel crossing where Rossett bridleway meets Green Lane Prohibit parking along whole length |
| Leadhall Lane | Sign route from Leadhall Lane to Green Lane via Leadhall Road and Green Way Modal filter on the Leadhall Road/Green Way route |
Zone 3
| Street | Action Needed |
| Thirkill Drive | Modal filter near Dunlopillo building |
| Church Lane | Cyclist passing distance signs |
| A61 West Park | Secure cycle parking in town centre |
| A 61 St George’s Road roundabout | Cycle parking outside shops Bollards to prevent car parking on pavement |
Zone 4
| Street | Action Needed |
| Rayleigh Road/Hamilton Avenue/Warwick Crescent | 20mph as per North Yorkshire’s LCWIP |
| Hookstone Road | Cromwell Road School Street |
| Stray Rein | Modal filter near Slingsby Walk as per N Yorkshire’s LCWIP |
| South Drive | 20mph |
| St James’s Drive | 20mph |
| Slingsby Walk | Correct misaligned dropped kerbs at Oatlands Drive |
Zone 5
| Street | Action Needed |
| Otley Road near Cold Bath Road junction | Remove inappropriate END OF ROUTE sign |
Zone 6
| Street | Action Needed |
| Dragon Road | Better signage of Dragon cycle track to the footbridge over the railway/Nidderdale Greenway |
| Regent Parade | Permit contraflow cycling so that there is a coherent cycle route from Dragon Road via Mornington Crescent > Regent Parade > Park Parade to York Place |
| Park Parade | Permit contraflow cycling on the south section of Park Parade. Remodel the Park Parade/N Park Road junction so cyclists can continue south on Park Parade |
| The Grove/Park Chase | Replace CYCLISTS DISMOUNT signs with CYCLISTS GIVE WAY TO PEDESTRIANS |
Zone 7
| Street | Action Needed |
| Fulwith Mill Lane | Sealed surface on bridleway from Fulwith Mill Lane to Hornbeam Park, and past Oatlands Junior School |
| Hookstone Wood Road | Cycle street branding, 20mph, traffic calming and resurface |
| Crimple Lane | Resurface |
| Almsford Avenue/Beech Road/Beech Avenue/Hookstone Avenue | Modal filters to prevent use as a through route |
| Old Leeds & Thirsk Railway Spofforth to Wetherby | Sealed surface |
Zone 8
Zone 9
Zone 10
| Street | Action Needed |
| Prospect Road/Plumpton Park | Cycle signs from Hookstone Chase through Morrisons car park via Prospect Road to Knaresborough Road |
| Greenfields Road | Cycle signs from Hookstone Chase via Greenfields Road to Knaresborough Road |
| Woodlands Walk/Woodlands Crescent | Improve 20mph signage |
| Woodlands Drive | Cycle contraflow signage needed Wider improvements needed to the traffic lights (out of scope of Quick Wins) |
| Stonefall Avenue | 20mph No overtaking cyclists signs Modal filter Cycle parking at Fairfax shops |
| Willaston Road | Parallel crossings of Knaresborough Road and Wetherby Road |
Zone 11
| Street | Action Needed |
| Forest Avenue | Modal filter 20mph Parking restrictions |
| A59 near Empress roundabout | Parallel crossing of A59 at Granby Road/Willaston Road junction (as per Zone 10 above) |
Zone 12
| Street | Action Needed |
| Kingsley Road | Restrict parking to one side 20mph Traffic calming Close bridge over railway to motor vehicles |
| Bogs Lane | Re-work the chicane to provide a safe cycle bypass |
| The Avenue | 20mph and cycle street branding Sign the old railway route from the High Street |
| Starbeck railway path | Repair needed between Starbeck and Bilton where tree roots damaging surface |
Zone 13
| Street | Action Needed |
| Kingsley Drive | One way and contra-flow cycling Double yellow lines on N side |
| Rydal Road | Possible modal filter 20mph and traffic calming |
| Birstwith Road/Lynton Gardens/Leyland Road | Possible modal filters 20mph and traffic calming |
| Silverfields Road | Modal filter |
| Claro Road | 20mph and traffic calming |
Zone 14
| Street | Action Needed |
| Skipton Road, Harewood Road to Crowberry Drive | Parallel crossings of side roads |
| Electric Avenue/Stonebeck Avenue | Cycle street branding |
| Crowberry Drive | 20mph and traffic calming as per WSP design |
| Jennyfield Drive | Parallel crossings of side roads |
Zone 15
| Street | Action Needed |
| Woodfield Road | 20mph Cycle parking at the shops |
Zone 16
| Street | Action Needed |
| Bilton Lane | Raised platform crossing for Nidderdale Greenway Advanced Stop Zone for cyclists with early release |
| King Edward’s Drive | LTN to restrict through traffic around shops Cycle parking at the shops |
| Crab Lane | Cycle parking next to One Stop shop |
| Woodfield Park cycle path | Cycle priority crossing at Poplar Grove Cycle parking at the park |
Zone 17
| Street | Action Needed |
| Skipton Road, Bilton Lane to Roberts Crescent | Replace pelican from King Edward’s Drive to Roberts Crescent with a Toucan |
| Skipton Road, Roberts Crescent to Quarry Lane | Cycle parking at the shops at the W end of Roberts Crescent Light-controlled or parallel crossing at Quarry Lane |
| Roberts Crescent | Modal filter to remove through traffic |
| Quarry Lane | Possible designation as cycle route between Ripon Road & Skipton Road |
Zone 18
| Street | Action Needed |
| Cold Bath Road | Relocation of cycle stands so they don’t block footway (completed) |
| Queen’s Road | Enlarge pedestrian island at junction with Lancaster Road |
| Beech Grove | Reinstate planters/modal filter 20mph One way plug at Victoria Road/Otley Road junction |
Zone 19
| Street | Action Needed |
| Valley Gardens | Cycle parking |
| Swan Road | Modal filter immediately S of York Road junction |
| Clarence Drive | School Street upgrade crossing outside school to a zebra |
| Oakdale/Oakdale Glen | Improve signage of cycle route Sign alternative route avoiding steep gradient |
| Duchy Road | 20mph Replace refuge outside Brackenfield School with a zebra |
Zone 20
| Street | Action Needed |
| Harlow Moor Road (Otley Road to Harlow Moor Drive) | Parallel crossing across side roads and where cycle path changes sides |
| Harlow Moor Road (Harlow Moor Drive to Cornwall Road | Remove END OF ROUTE signs at Cornwall Road and replace with correct CYCLISTS REJOIN CARRIAGEWAY signs Upgrade path through Valley Gardens to a sealed surface |
| Sussex Avenue | Improve build-outs with cycle bypasses – flimsy plastic bollards need replacing, and prevent cycle bypasses being blocked by parked cars Add parking restrictions on N side of Sussex Avenue |
| Pennypot Lane to King Edwin Park | Add cycle phase/early release to traffic lights over the bridge |
| Killinghall Moor cycle routes | The cycle routes from Queen Ethelburga’s Park & Youngs Drive to Barberry Close/Saltergate Drive should be upgraded to sealed surface with adequate width When built, the cycle path fro King Edwin Park to Jennyfield should have a sealed surface and adequate width |
Zone 21
| Street | Action Needed |
| Kings Road | Cycle parking at the shops |
| Coppice Avenue | Trim back trees from cycle route signage |
| Hampsthwaite Road | 20mph |
| Coppice Gate | 20mph |
| Luchon Way | Relocate cycle signage to make it more visible |
| Studley Road to the railway bridge | 20mph |
Zone 22
Zone 23
| Street | Action Needed |
| York Place/Park Parade | Allow contraflow cycling on Park Parade |
| South Park Road | Modal filter at junction with York Place 20mph |
Zone 24
| Street | Action Needed |
| Station Parade | Quality covered secure cycle parking |
| East Parade | Cycle parking by station entrance – suggest inside Victoria car park |
Response from Area Highways Team
The Area Highways team would be responsible for achieving these Quick Wins. They commented on the list on 31st October 2023.
Their responses can be categorised as follows:
- things they are doing anyway, notably as part of a proposed 20mph zone using West Harrogate Sustainable Transport money
- improvements could be part of West Harrogate Urban Expansion, i.e. delayed indefinitely
- point-blank refusal, e.g, one School Street pilot ongoing, ‘no further School Streets will be introduced at this time’
- point-blank refusal, e.g. ‘we are not considering modal filters at this time’
- putting off to an unspecified future date
Putting off to an unspecified future date is the most common response to any request to the Area Highways team. This is an example of how it is done.
‘Can be reviewed when resources allow, implementation subject to sourcing funding’.
Example of an area highways team response to quick win list
Zone 2. Open the cricket club gates on Norfolk Road to pedestrians – this will stop the kids impaling themselves when climbing over them.
Zone 3. Footbridge across Crimple Beck to Crimple Hall and / or Pannal Sports football ground.
Or footpath through to the Pannal Sports ground from the end of either Hillside Road or Milton Road.
Zone 4. This applies to many pelican crossings, but the one at the end of the driveway to Wedderburn House seems to be the most commented on – Adjust the timing so that the lights change immediately the button is pressed. There is no advantage to anyone for the current long delay.
Zone 7. Open footpath along the old railway, as proposed by Rudding Estate to create circular walk under the railway viaduct from bottom of Fullwith Mill lane. Extend across the currently disused viaduct towards Fodder (although that may not count as quick!)
From Mary Murata: Quick win idea: Lighting on the Greenway between the Iron Bridge and Dene Park. When I am cycling home to Bilton from the station along the path that follows the railway, once I cross the iron bridge onto the Greenway, at night it is PITCH BLACK at the back of Dene Park. There is no lighting so I am forced to use Skipton Road as an alternative route. A small amount of lighting would join the well lit side of the railway (Park Grove area) and Dene Park which is also lit and make a safe cycling/ walking route to Bilton/ Woodfield area from town after dark.
From Mary Murata: Quick win: resurface Woodfield Road – especially the section between Skipton Rd and Woodfield School – too many pot holes to make for safe cycling, especially after dark when the trees obscure the street lights.