Issues

This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Guildford Bike User Group:

  • Highway Code changes

    sound+fury // 1 thread

    A bill is being put forward to sentence any cyclist convicted of dangerous cycling to a 14 year prison term.

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  • DfT Policy Paper - Inclusive Transport Strategy

    Created by Matthew // 1 thread

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-transport-strategy

    Lots of interesting stuff about inclusive transport regarding trains, buses, cars, public realm, streets and yes a bit about cycling too. Quotes:

    Shared Space:

    8.11 While we consider CIHT and DPTAC’s recommendations and how to take them
    forward, we are requesting that local authorities pause any shared space schemes
    incorporating a level surface they are considering, and which are at the design stage.
    We are also temporarily suspending Local Transport Note 1/11. This pause will allow
    us to carry out research and produce updated guidance.

    Objectives regarding Cycling:

    • Update Local Transport Note 2/08, which sets out the Department’s guidance to
    local authorities on designing safe and inclusive infrastructure for cyclists, to take
    account of developments in cycling infrastructure since its publication in 2008 and
    the responses to the draft AAP consultation and publish a revised version by early
    2019;
    • By 2020, explore the feasibility of amending legislation to recognise the use of
    cycles as a mobility aid71 in order to increase the number of disabled people
    cycling.

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  • Rumble strips instead of paint

    Created by Simon here // 2 threads

    Complete separation of cyclists and cars can't always be achieved. To make sharing of the road safer I would like to propose using rumble strips instead of flat paint to separate the bike lane from the rest of the road. It would act as a physical reminder for car-drivers that they are encroaching the bike lane. This happens particularly near pinch points like road bends or crossroads. So even just a selective application of rumble strips could have a very positive effect, I believe. What's the view of the cycling community? Has it been tested?

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  • Meadrow Improvements

    Created by Ian taylor // 1 thread

    With the resurfacing on Meadrow there is an opportunity change the cycle track markings. The cycle track from Peasmarsh to Farncombe Kings Road Junction is dangerous in a few places, including

    1) Double pedestrian refugees near the garage at the Farncombe end - currently the cycle track continues through this area making it look as though there is space for a cyclists and a vehicle which there is not (I personally have been through there and an overtaking car has hit the second refuge within there wheel dislodging there hub cap that then went dangerously in front of my path). Here the cycle track needs removing some distance before the first refuge and return after the second refuge with no markings in-between

    2) Catteshall Road Junction - here the cycle track keeps cyclists too close to the kerbside where they are not seen by vehicle coming out of Catteshall Road and makes the right turn into Kings Road harder for cyclists. Here the cycle path should finish some distance short of the junction and not restart till after the junction.

    Other improvements would include

    1) Making the whole stretch from the corner before the first refuge 30 MPH
    2) Remove the centre line.
    3) Continue new offroad road on on existing wide footway to Cattershall Road Junction.
    4) Further improvements to the Kings Road/Meadrow/Catteshall Road junctions

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  • Eastbound Flambards Way Cycle Path

    Anon // 1 thread

    The High Street only permits cycling in one direction (westbound), and it appears unlikely we will get permission to cycle against the flow traffic down the High Street. Instead an eastbound only cycle path along Flambards Way would alleviate the need for a High Street contraflow. This could easily be achieved if all the brickwork down the side of Flambard Way was removed, and it wouldn't restrict the amount of space for cars.

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  • Groningenisation of Farncombe

    Created by Jenny Barnes // 2 threads

    If the level crossings either side of farncombe station were cycle/ ped only, with bollards in nightingale rd at the farncombe street end, and on frith hill, farncombe would be divided into 3 areas for cars, each of which would need to come out onto distributor roads. Further, if the New pond rd end of summers Rd as far as Brioadwater school were made one way southwest bound, any traffic trying to bypass the a3100/ Meadrow would be unable to.

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  • Summers Road cycletrack

    Created by Jenny Barnes // 0 threads

    The route along Summers rd between Bourne Rd and the New pond Rd. could have a rather narrow two way cycle track on the southern pavement. If the parked cars were removed, it could be a good width. This would help provide a good route to Broadwater School and the Godalming Leisure Centre. If the road was made one way only (south east bound) for cars for the section from New Pond Rd to the school, where it's quite narrow, that would eliminate a dangerous turn out into the NPRd, and provide more space for a cycletrack in that section.

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  • Contra-flow cycling on Godalming High Street

    Created by Chris Peck // 1 thread

    A long, tortuous issue, where no progress has been made, despite large amounts of effort. Godalming High Street was recommended for adopting as a trial two-way working for cyclists in 2001, thanks to Alec McCalden's excellent presentation to the Planning Inspector at the time.

    However, the trial was never carried out. Cyclists continue to use the street in both directions, as there are plenty of ways to get out of the way of oncoming cars.

    The City of London has introduced dozens of contra-flow cycling schemes on narrow streets and lanes across the City. A third of all the cyclists are now using the contraflow. There has been 1 cycle crash three years post-introduction (there were 2 in the three years before). See here for more details: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/transport-institute/pdfs/Cheung_slides.pdf

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  • Woodside Park development

    Created by Chris Peck // 1 thread

    Woodside Park is a commercial area which the developers wish to turn into an 87 dwelling residential area, comprised of 61 flats and 26 houses, with up to 235 residents. An additional office space area could also be turned into a further 20 2-bed flats, resulting in a total of 107 dwellings.

    The developers' transport assessment suggest this:

    "Whilst there are no formal facilities for cyclists, the local roads are suitable for use
    by cyclists, and Catteshall Lane is identified as a recommended cycle route by SCC
    and Sustrans. This cycle route links with Godalming town centre and Godalming
    railway station, which is approximately five minutes from the site by bicycle."

    This is patently not true, as the route to Godalming station via the town centre is one-way!

    Car parking

    135 car parking spaces are planned, however, the assessment suggests that, comparing equivalent car ownership in the local area, only 86 spaces are actually required (because there are only 0.8 cars per flat in central Godalming, and 1.42 cars per house).

    While it is accepted that a few extra spaces are required for visitors, is 56% extra parking really needed?

    Cycle parking

    No numbers are provided, but houses are expected to accommodate cycles in sheds or garages, while there will be covered cycle storage for the flats.

    More detail is required on how secure this storage will be.

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  • Bridge Road

    Created by Chris Peck // 1 thread

    With the welcome completion of the cycle path linking Marshall Road to Bridge Road, the weaknesses of links on either side of the route become more apparent.

    Bridge Road is a busy, narrow main road. Traffic mostly has to wait behind cyclists, creating uncomfortable conditions for all but the brave. Both roundabouts (at the Chalk Road/Meadrow and the Bridge Street/Wharf Street junctions) are difficult for cyclists (and pedestrians).

    An alternative route, either running parallel to the road (a widened shared use footway?) or a raised boardwalk across the Lammas Lands, are alternatives, but both are expensive, challenging options, which require new or wider bridges over Hell Ditch and the River Wey.

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  • Marshall Road shared use path

    Created by Chris Peck // 1 thread

    Upgrading the narrow footpath into a wider route usable by cyclists has been a long term priority for the Godalming Cycle Campaign. This route is a key link for pedestrians and cyclists between Farncombe/Binscombe and Godalming.

    This year the Waverley Local Committee has dedicated funds to construct the path, which will run over land currently owned by Jewsons.

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This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:

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