Dear all,

I don't live in Hitchin so would be very grateful if someone could
check this out for me.

For my letter on the Cadwell Lane Industrial area I wanted to give a
brief overview of the existing cycle infrastructure. I have never
used the path across Ransoms Rec. Could somebody do a quick survey
and confirm the following:

1. Is the width adequate ? The cycle portion should be at least
1.5m, preferably 2.0m, with a combined width no less than 3.0m.

2. Is visibility adequate ? You should be able to see a minimum
of 20m ahead (30m preferred).
from memory yes - except for one blind bend where the path bends round the pavilion. This bend feels very dangerous because dogs and young children could be anywhere! Any responsible cyclist goes dead slow here. Also the cycle track is adjacent to the field - so in the event of a surprise, the cyclist can detour onto the grass. Better than trying to take avoiding action into a hedge. (Except right by the pavilion, the council put railings in between cycle track and field, to stop kids kicking footballs at the pavilion roof - so no easy bike detour avaiable there).

3. Are the corners too tight ? Minimum radius should be no less
than 4m (that is for a 6mph bend).

4. Is there sufficient visibility at path junctions (eg to the
end of Alexandra Rd – when I surveyed this many years ago I noted
that the existing path was blind here, by the pavilion). From a point
2.5m back from the junction you should be able to see at least 20m
down the main path.
Can you clarify this question please? Do you mean 2.5m back inside the pavilion a pedestrian should be able to see 20m down the main path?

Or does this apply to cyclists visibility? I don't think cycles are supposed to be on anything except the main path, but I'll check.

 

The junctions I am aware of are pedestrian routes from i) Alexandra Road via the Pavilion to the main path in Ransoms Rec. ii) footpath from other end of Alexandra Road to children's play area which joins main path just before the bridge over the stream. And then the junctions at each end of the park with the main roads.

5. How is the exit to Nightingale Road ? Last I remember you
come out through a narrow gate into a rank of parked cars with poor
visibility and no obvious place to join the road.

Yep - still the same - and the narrow gate nearest the cycle lane has a huge puddle in it and a stone lip just for added fun. I always use the narrow entrance intended for pedestrians, nearest the crossing, unless there are people around. The pedestrian crossing has definitely helped. No parked cars here anymore. So visibility *much* better, but no clear indication what a cyclist is supposed to do next once leaving the park. Dacre Road is the safest route to station, but now 1 way and no contraflow coming the other way. The crossing was originally going to be a cycle crossing as well but HCC bottled out on this one inthe end. The cycle lane officially ends inside the park. No cyclist dismount signs inside park. On pavement, there are the long straight ridge type tactile paving (to indicate cyclists?).  In practice in a kind of organised chaos kind of way the path works - I've never had or witnessed an accident on it, though I did have a neighbour whose dog didn't understand the sudden appearance of bikes from round the blind bend.

 

I can probably do some measuring in the next 2 or 3 days. Our digital camera has to be at work tomorrow through to Weds and we've both got eve meetings M,T,W but we might be able to get something Thurs.

 

Mike are you able to beat us to this assignment?

Susan

Any photos would be welcome. Please put them on the discussion group
file space.





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