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Cyclists
Touring Club
Right to Ride Network
www.ctc.org.uk
www.northhertsctc.org.uk
Dear
all,
Hitchin Transport
Plan Consultation
You will seen from our “Revolution”
newsletter that public consultation will shortly be taking place on the Hitchin
Transport Plan. Please take a few moments to contact your MP and councillor and
let them know your views. If you don’t, they will be steered by the views
of other people who may have very different goals. Most of all, make it clear
that you want to see the 1998 plan implemented before they start looking at
anything else. It was a good plan but has been allowed to gather dust on a
shelf. More tips in the Newsletter.
Some other points that
you might like to raise:
b
Building a cycle
network was the second most popular in the 1998 plan but has not even been
started and HCC engineers continue to design hostile schemes without consulting
CTC and local groups. 69% of the public support measures to give cycling
greater priority even where it may result in loss of priority for drivers
(Office for National Statistics 2002 Omnibus).
b
Build a high
quality, true traffic free link between Hitchin and Letchworth using the
Ickneild Way and then extend it to link all of the North Herts towns and
villages from Pirton to Royston.
b
Ensure cycle
access through all road closures (existing and future).
b
There was little
interest in a “bypass” in 1998 and we are still not interested. The
cycle network proposals scored TWICE as many votes as did suggestions for a
bypass. A Stevenage to Milton Keynes superhighway (built as Hitchin and Luton
bypasses) will just fan the flames of traffic growth and would be VERY
unwelcome. We do not want another A14 through the middle of North Herts.
b
Extend the
pedestrian area into Brand St and Bancroft (maintaining cycle access).
b
20 mph limits in
all residential streets (30mph retained on arterial roads only).
b
Personal travel
planning for all. This is the cheapest and most effective way of addressing
traffic growth and it does it entirely constructively, without restrictions or
penalties. Individual solutions for individual needs. Darlington saw a 69%
increase in cycling from this alone.
b
If we want to
build a road, let’s make it one that brings local benefit – a dedicated
access to the Cadwell Lane Industrial area to take HGV traffic away from
residential streets.
b
Restore all of
the one way gyratories to 2 way flow. Where 2 way is not possible for motor
vehicles (eg around the Market Square) 2 way cycling should be permitted. If
necessary additional speed restraint measures should be installed.
b
Improve
pedestrian and cycle access under the Railway bridge by the station.
b
Sort out road and
path maintenance so that it does not discriminate against cyclists. Paths and minor
roads need to be treated in winter, vegetation needs to be cut in summer.
Potholes need to be filled all year.
If you are not sure who
your councillors are, visit:
Herts CC http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/postcode/postcode.cfm
Alasdair DV Massie CEng MIStructE
CTC
Right to Ride Representative, North Herts
CTC is
Britain’s largest cycling organisation with 70,000 members. Formed in 1878
we have actively campaigned for better, safer roads, locally and nationally
since our inception.
We
have a large and active section for Stevenage and North Herts.
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