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18
Aug
Safety concerns about new Harrogate Station Gateway cycle lane
A resident has raised safety concerns about creating a cycle lane outside the entrances to Harrogate’s train and bus stations.
The short cycle lane is due to be constructed as part of the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.
North Yorkshire Council published images and concept drawings last month showing the cycle lane along Station Parade.
Work is due to commence on the scheme in autumn, even though the final plans have not yet been revealed and won’t go out to public consultation.
A south facing visual of how Station Parade will look.
Ms Dunsby said:
The latest proposition has a cycle track on the same side of the road as the bus and rail stations, which looks to be only wide enough for a single cyclist, yet in other parts of the town one sees ‘speedy’ cyclists desperate to overtake others, and sometimes parents wishing to ride outside an inexperienced junior one to guide and protect them.
Currently our buses have to skilfully negotiate through the complexity of electric vehicle charging points, followed by the normal pedestrian and vehicle flow from a car park and then the station. Now, it seems, they will be obliged to look out for — and probably give way to — cyclists of varying ability and experience, who in turn have to share a track that is dangerously narrow for them.
I would seriously support any motion that recommends the withdrawal of such plans to install this exceedingly dangerous cycle-way in Station Parade. Otherwise it could become the cause of serious bus timetable delays as well as accidents to people and vehicles. It is not only inappropriate now, but also excessively expensive.
'A lot of money for little benefit'
The council declined to comment on Ms Dunsby’s concerns.
The campaign group Harrogate District Cycle Action, however, has said in an online article it is “bitterly disappointed” that the gateway scheme has transformed from “an ambitious sustainable transport project” to being “primarily focused on getting more motor vehicles along Station Parade faster”.
Spokesperson John Rowe told the Stray Ferret the gateway had become “a great deal of money for a very small benefit to cyclists”.
He said:
The original potential was wonderful, but it has now been watered down so much there is little left for cyclists of any value. Links are needed to make it a route that cyclists can use to get to and from the station and they just aren’t there.
We have heard the council’s promises of jam tomorrow many times over the last decade and they just don't materialise so it is hard to be positive about this scheme. Once complete, we just know that the loud objectors are going to comment on the fact that it isn’t being used by cyclists and it won’t be a surprise since it doesn’t join up with anything useful.
Use the comments section below to let us know what you think of the cycle lane.
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