 |
 |
Make routing and road treatment decisions based on indigenous (ie habitual road user) knowledge, then tweak that knowledge to get it through planning controls, engineering, and restrictions and make it safe. Concentrating on regulations and safety first, or design on paper, and you lose the whole point of cycle infrastructure- it ends up being unused and pretty useless sometimes. That's my two sentences on how to do good cycle infrastructure planning. At a meeting at my university recently, an infrastructure engineer said 'don't trust the public' on road design, which got me thinking about why we may have un-used or badly designed cycle facilities. (Money would be the other reason) From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Perry Sent: Friday, 19 October 2012 4:00 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Sustrans Hi Joe, I think that Sustrans needs to improve the way it communicates the role it plays in road infrastructure developments in the UK. Mention "Sustrans" to cycling campaigners and the expressions on their faces tells most of the story. It appears that people working on behalf of Sustrans (and in the honest belief that they are doing the best for people) do not know local issues that they are commenting on, nor do they know enough about cycling infrastructure or safe road infrastructure for all users. I'm going to contact Ryland and find ask to see a document on cycling that Sustrans apparently submitted to my council, which went into their LDP and rather than provide any safe links to schools or colleges, provided cycle lanes on busy, major roads to a half empty retail park and the airport - ignoring much more pleasant parallel routes to these destinations through quiet villages. Clearly, with Richard's response, I'm not alone on this list in thinking that Sustrans are a problem. So the question remains as to how people on this list, and within Sustrans, can change Sustrans so that it consistently makes the right decisions for local people, based on facts, not opinions. Ian On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 5:22 PM, Joe Williams <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: Ian, It's Joe here from Sustrans. We're obviously concerned by your comments and would appreciate if we could find out a bit more about the issues you're describing. Could you perhaps email my colleague Ryland Jones, our Deputy Director - Cymru, on [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, outlining your experiences? Many thanks, Joe Joe Williams Policy and Media Advisor [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 077 9971 7454 020 7780 7208 @earsopen Sustrans, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ ________________________________ From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Ian Perry Sent: 18 October 2012 16:04 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Sustrans I'm sat, looking at data... evidence of what makes a safe junction and what does not. I've found out that major works are about to occur on a junction near to where I live, a junction that although very unpleasant to negotiate, has a better safety record than many junctions. My local politicians have no say in the junction changes that are about to occur because the funding comes from the Welsh Government - which is the Welsh civil service, not the elected Assembly. I'm looking at a design of a junction that will kill people, maybe me, maybe my Mum... I've questioned the highways department and received the following reply: There has been no consultation with individual cycling clubs in respect of the proposed highway safety improvements however Sustrans has been consulted during the development of the scheme. Recently I also challanged the council as to why there is no footpath along a busy stretch of road linking a large village and the major town a short distance away. I've been told that after consultation with Sustrans, cycle lanes on the road between the major town and Cardiff Airport are the priority! This despite a number of serious accidents on the stretch of road where there is no footpath, including fatalities - on one occasion a child's a pony and on a second occasion a young mother who was walking in the gutter... I do not want any more fatalities, but with Sustrans active in Wales, I'm looking at an increase in death on local roads. I am seeking (almost to the point of harassing) information from the council using Freedom of Information Act and continue to uncover evidence that roads being made more dangerous. However, all my efforts are being undermined by Sustrans!!!!!!!!!!! How do we as individuals, a community, and academics use our better thinking and knowledge to counter Sustrans - or to change Sustrans? Ian Sustrans believes every child deserves to be free range, with freedom from their front door to explore, play outdoors, and make their own way to school and beyond. Join in and add your voice at www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids<http://www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids> Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable. We`re a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. It`s time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk<http://www.sustrans.org.uk> Sustrans Limited. Registered Office - Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5DD. Registered Charity 326550 (England & Wales), SC039263 (Scotland). Company Limited by Guarantee No: 1797726 Company Registered in England.