Cycle path still not finished on 10th anniversary of cyclist’s death that secured council promise

The council's idea of a cycle facility I some paint on the pavement, and yet they can't complete that in 10 years?

This is a council that simply does not care whether people on bicycles live or die.

But in context, that's what most councils are.

“None of these promises were fulfilled and 11 people were killed throughout those 40 years.”

Hmm - Perhaps a local person might like to make a Freedom of Information request for ESCC Section 39 reports going back for 10 years, generally and also specifically for that road.

Section 39.3.a (RTA 1988) mandates ESCC to investigate road crashes, and then Section 39.3.b (which is one of its major flaws) mandates them to use the lessons learned to make the existing and future design and management of their roads safer. 11 deaths on just one stretch of road - should mean at least 11 investigations, and 11 sets of recommendations on the hazards to eliminate and risk to manage.

Even the most cursory glance at this example shouts that a fundamental hazard is the speed limit and actual speeds at which this road is used. Reduce the speed limit AND change the road geometry where possible to passively enforce lower speeds.

Most of the Section 39 FoI returns I've seen are abyssmally poor, and provide nothing in the way of objective review of crashes, from which causal factors can be extracted, and actions delivered.

Clearly here is a place to paraphrase a line from Oscar Wilde's famous play "To have one fatality on this stretch of road is unfortunate to have more than two seems culpably careless"

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East Sussex County Council clearly don't give a fuck about finishing this last stretch of path. If they did it would have been finished years ago.

The problem with these cycle paths is the designers drive cars and have been on a "training course" to learn all about cycle paths. They proudly hang their certificates on the office wall, and get stuck into designing lots of miles of cycle paths (on a minimum budget) so the council can meet their government sustainable transport targets!

Thing is, I doubt if any of them are regular cyclist commuters, in all weathers, fit enough to go faster than a gentle Sunday ride with the kids. I wonder if any of them have tried to ride their cycle routes in winter, after dark, in rain, and a gusty side wind?

Then they would understand the crazy road network, and ridiculous cycle paths they are so proud of. If they actually had a go, then they would understand why most cyclists stay on the road. They would also have first hand experience of the dangers we all face and deal with each day when we ride on British roads.

It also would explain why so many people who would like to use a bike more often do not feel confudent (or safe) to do so.

For what it's worth.... that's my opinion!

shared use cycle paths that have priority OVER side roads etc. are possible in the UK with existing signage and road markings.

See here where it's been done in Cheltenham on Princess Elizabeth Way:

http://goo.gl/maps/jCZ5d

it's very nice, but degenerates into the usual rubbish of give ways, Toucans and pig pens at the roundabouts at each end and the traffic lights part way up...

Thanks for the streetview links. I just followed them to the top of the road to check and it's all national speed limit. Bonkers, 60mph on a narrow road with blind corners.

So there's a solution that will make that road safer that the council can apply to change tomorrow.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.943537,0.745825,3a,75y,301.89h,76.86t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sU6EjIFbUK4kc1kL2y1kSuQ!2e0

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Harbour+Rd,+Rye,+East+Sussex+TN31/@50.946893,0.735029,3a,49y,305.45h,82.27t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1smgokeMLtC9tSXU0nosGIMw!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47dee1e6ab84f68d:0x869348f6e864d482

I am guessing the second is the section in question.

Looking at that it is the usual crap I am sorry to say, lots of blind junctions, expecting cyclists to stop at every turning, and appears to cross the road at least once. How hard would it be to design a path that gives cyclists and right of way of side turnings for instance.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.944261,0.744284,3a,75y,151.69h,73.31t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJcfC_3fzAtnnVn1rSf8-iw!2e0

the obligatory blockage.

Obviously the path is shared cyclists and pedestrians, what else would you expect. But the path surface is also fast, which just enhances the potential for user conflict, I refer to the DoT guidelines about sightlines, and speed.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.939432,0.756773,3a,75y,110.42h,73.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sWDHzhNbcrRnrJlAJGHVWyQ!2e0

and what now?

Quote:

The council’s leader, Keith Glazier, said: “These issues have now been resolved and we have funding in place to complete the final phase of the scheme."

Funny that. A cynic might suggest that such issues have been 'resolved' due to the council receiving adverse publicity...