Latest
| BEHIND THE NEWS |  | | | NEWS | | | | SPORT | | | CARTOONS | | |
|
|
|
Cyclists face chicane peril, warns Burley-in-Wharfedale resident
Cyclists using a new chicane in Burley-in-Wharfedale could be putting their lives at risk, according to one local resident.
Father-of-three Riaz Meer says the new traffic system due to be built under the Railway Bridge along Moor Lane, should have included a provision for cyclists who could find themselves careering down the hill straight into oncoming traffic.
But despite his repeated concerns the chicane is to go ahead - without a cycle path in place.
Mr Meer said: "I have appealed for the council to include a provision for cyclists but was told it would not be happening.
"My fear is that it will be difficult for cyclists coming down the hill into Burley. They will either have to screech to a halt or will be thrown into the direction of traffic coming up the hill.
"I think this will be endangering the lives of cyclist using that stretch of road and they are using tax payers money to do it.
"I would have thought in the current climate we would be trying to encourage cycling with so much concern over the environment but obviously not.
"I cycle down there a lot and know how steep it is and you build up quite a high speed coming down it."
Mr Meer, 40, who lives at the Scalebor development in the village says he also fears for children and young people who opt to cycle there.
He said: "There are a lot of children living at Scalebor which is near where the chicane will be. At the moment they are all of primary age but what happens when they get older and want to cycle to school or up to the moors? The chicane is meant to be an anxiety reduction scheme' but what about the anxiety to cyclists? It actually increases their anxiety."
The chicane is being put in place to improve safety for schoolchildren using the narrow paths down into the village.
Concerns have long been raised about the speed of traffic coming down into the Burley from Moor Road.
Speed bumps put in a number of years ago have so far failed to deter drivers from racing down the hill and parents with pushchairs found it impossible to negotiate the narrow paths along that stretch without straying on to the road.
Ward Councillor Matt Palmer (con. Wharfedale) said: "I personally am delighted that at last the chicane is being put in place.
"I have spoken to several people on the issue of cycling and it has been very carefully considered.
"I have even cycled up and down that road to see for myself what it is like and I have to say I think it will be safe.
"I'm just not convinced that it will make it more difficult for cyclists and the reason there is no special provision made is because it wasn't technically possible to do it. There is very limited space as it is.
"Over the past three years we have looked at every scheme under the sun from doing nothing at all to this.
"I am overjoyed that it has got to where it is now, it's not perfect for everyone but few road schemes actually are.
"I'd say this is pretty good and I am very pleased it is happening - it will slow traffic down and make the area safer.
"There will be very prominent signage for cyclists and they will be given plenty of time to brake. If they are cycling responsibly, which they should be, the safety implications are minimal."
Principal Engineer for Traffic and Highways at Bradford Council Simon D'Vali agreed.
He said: "We have looked at the possibility of providing a cycle lane as part of the proposed chicane on Moor Lane.
"However, the bridge where the chicane will be is not wide enough for a cycle lane as well as providing a safe route for pedestrians and passage for vehicular traffic.
"We do not wish to imply that cyclists should not use Moor Lane. It is just unfortunate in this situation that we cannot accommodate a cycle lane in this scheme."
11:09am Friday 2nd May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Sal, Otley on 1:09pm Fri 2 May 08
I hate to say it, but this is not the main danger for cyclists as i am sure many people encounter the cyclists in and around these parts that insist upon swerving in and out of the road and even riding two abreast through town centres without a care for anybody`s safety, even their own. I am all for cycling and keeping fit, but really wish cyclists would have some consideration for other road users and for everyone`s safety cycle with care.
I hate to say it, but this is not the main danger for cyclists as i am sure many people encounter the cyclists in and around these parts that insist upon swerving in and out of the road and even riding two abreast through town centres without a care for anybody`s safety, even their own. I am all for cycling and keeping fit, but really wish cyclists would have some consideration for other road users and for everyone`s safety cycle with care.
Posted by: CHRIS, Otley on 5:21pm Fri 2 May 08
I totally agree with sal, there have been times when i,as a motorist have been virtually left with no where to go , apart from hitting a cyclist, as they seem to be related very strongly,in general to a family of lemmings.The sheer madness that lycra clad bodies seem to adopt when they straddle their two wheeled, (tax and insurance free)obstacles,(sorr
y, bikes) astounds me, They obviously think that in a collision, the cars come off worse, well my shiny friends, i hate to be the one that breaks it to you, but in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle, your hard , fit, athletic bodies turn into a complete and utter gel like mess. Please for all our sakes, the next time you think about swerving out in front of a vehicle,(to slow him down) or riding three and sometimes four abreast,( to stop the traffic flowing)YOUR NOT BIG ENOUGH.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I totally agree with sal, there have been times when i,as a motorist have been virtually left with no where to go , apart from hitting a cyclist, as they seem to be related very strongly,in general to a family of lemmings.The sheer madness that lycra clad bodies seem to adopt when they straddle their two wheeled, (tax and insurance free)obstacles,(sorr
y, bikes) astounds me, They obviously think that in a collision, the cars come off worse, well my shiny friends, i hate to be the one that breaks it to you, but in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle, your hard , fit, athletic bodies turn into a complete and utter gel like mess. Please for all our sakes, the next time you think about swerving out in front of a vehicle,(to slow him down) or riding three and sometimes four abreast,( to stop the traffic flowing)YOUR NOT BIG ENOUGH.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
