All entries for November 2005

Campus Development

Writing about web page http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/campus_life/campusdevelopment/movementplan/

There is now information on the above webpage on the future of cycling in the development of the campus.

: 25 Nov 2005 11:31 |  Tags: Campus Development |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Enforcement of Road Traffic Law

A comment from Professor Peter Burnell

"If the University is serious about encouraging more folk to travel to campus by bike, then it should try to persuade the police to put cameras on the Gibbet Hill crossroads.
On an average day I note 3 vehicles speeding across on red or amber, just in the few minutes that I am passing through. Given that cyclists trying to turn right – across the traffic – have little enough time to complete the manoeuvre when the lights do change, the red/amber light speeding makes the situation that much more dangerous. If there is increased cycle traffic, it is only a matter of time before…
The practice is also against the highway code, and it brings the university into public disrepute (since much of the traffic committing the offence will be associated with the university. I recognise colleagues and students among the offenders!). For sure the police will say there have not been enough fatalities at these cross roads to warrant investing in a camera. But they do know that collisions between vehicles are a regular occurrence there. And the authorities would get their money back on day one, if installed boxes contained live cameras and not dummies."

: 25 Nov 2005 10:53 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Kenilworth Road Cycle Track – more information

Follow-up to Kenilworth Road Cycle Track – Coventry Council Consultation from Cycling to and around Warwick University

I've discovered the following:

1. New 2m wide cycle track from Cannon Hill Road junction to Warwickshire boundary.

2. Widening of existing 1.8m wide footway to create 3m shared use on north side of Gibbet Hill Rd. from junction with Kenilworth Rd. to Gibbet Hill Campus entrance.

3. Raised priority crossings at Cryfield Grange Rd. and Abberton Way.

4. At Cannon Hill Rd. a raised priority crossing was rejected as traffic calming is not deemed appropriate for this road as used by hearses etc.

5. Gibbet Hill Rd. a signalised crossing is not included as part of scheme but is under investigation

Issues I'm awaiting clarification on:

1. Will there be a raised priority crossing at Moreall Meadows (for shared ped/cyclist use on north side of Gibbet Hill Rd.)?

2. Although not raised, will the crossing at Cannon Hill Rd. clearly indicate that traffic turning into and out of Cannon Hill Rd. should give way to (cycle & pedestrian) traffic on Kenilworth Road?

: 22 Nov 2005 09:54 |  Comments (4) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Kenilworth Road Cycle Track – Coventry Council Consultation

Writing about web page http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/newsandevents/intnews2/NE1000000131145/

Coventry City Council is proposing an extension to the existing cycle track on Kenilworth Road, including a link on Gibbet Hill Road to the Gibbet Hill Campus.

Further details are provided here.

Please email any comments by 24 November to michael.groll@jacobs.com or print out the form and return it by post.

One issue for me is how/where are cyclists to cross Gibbet Hill Road?

: 15 Nov 2005 10:05 |  Comments (7) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Cycle facilities at stations

Writing about web page http://www.centro.org.uk/source/Consultation/usrCnsltHomePageb.asp

Centro are consulting users of cycle facilities at stations in their area. There is a short questionnaire which can be completed online on their web site.

If you ever use cycle parking or cycle to a station in the West Midlands county, I think it's worth letting them know how cyclists feel about facilities provided at them. Many believe that there is considerable room for improvement! More cycling to stations = more cycling. Bike & rail can also be the antidote to increasing journey distances.

I think you can include bus stations as well as railway stations.

Deadline 18 November

Please pass on to any others who you think may be interested. All entries go into the draw for a £100 prize too.

: 10 Nov 2005 12:17 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

BUG emailing list not working

In case you are wondering why you aren't getting any emails from the Bicycle Users Group. Problems with the mailing list service may be the reason.

I first reported that my messages to bug@listserv.warwick.ac.uk weren't getting though on Sat, 29 Oct 2005. So far I've had no indication from ITS that they, at least, think the problem has been solved.

: 09 Nov 2005 10:24 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Cycle facility improvements on Campus?

I note with interest that one of the first cycle-related pieces of work carried out shortly after requesting suggestions from BUG for ideas for improvement, is the addition of 'No Cycles' signs on the railings opposite the front of the IMC building….

These railings are next to a wide footpath, which is little used because it's quicker to walk straight across the courtyard. So it's not even as if parked cycles here are in the way. There are often plenty of them, which indicates a need for some cycle parking.

Were I feeling excessively cynical I might speculate that the reason these signs have appeared is more aesthetic than practical….

: 03 Nov 2005 10:36 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

A429 improvement

Writing about web page http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/web/corporate/pages.nsf/(DisplayLinks)/D9A0A97A36C9E0D380257037005487CA

Warwickshire County council seems to be going ahead with widening the footway on the west side of the A429 and re-designating it as a shared pedestrian/cyclist track.

Coventry Council is about to begin a public consultation about constructing an off-carriageway cycle track on west side of A429 between the Warwickshire border and Gibbet Hill Road, separate from the footway.

A study of A&E admissions in Southampton revealed that a third of cyclists presenting at A&E had crashed going onto or off from the footway or an off-road path, at official and unofficial access points.

Anyone who might use such a facility willing to check the designs?

: 02 Nov 2005 21:39 |  Tags: Routes From Kenilworth |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Men's Trek Bike for Sale

Hi everyone,

Have decided it's too much hassle having an expensive bike so am selling mine on Ebay at a low price and going to buy a cheap one.

Just thought I'd let you know in case you're interested.

Also included in the sale are 3 Kryptonite New Yourk Fagettaboudit locks. Could be sold on for a profit.

The bike is for sale at link

Thanks

: 01 Nov 2005 09:32 |  Comments (6) |  Close comments |  Report a problem