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A19 near Wolviston (taken from Google Streetview)Cyclists banned from stretch of A19 – but is there a viable alternative route?
Cyclists have been banned from a stretch of the A19 near Middlesbrough after several serious incidents in the last few years. Highways England says the ban has been put in place 'for the safety of cyclists' and both Stockton and Middlesbrough councils support it. However, the widow of a man killed while riding that stretch of road claims there are no viable alternative routes for cyclists.
The Gazette Live reports how a ban on bikes has been enforced on the dual carriageway between the A689 at Wolviston and the A174 Parkway turn-off from July 13.
A spokesman for Highways England explained: “The ban is in place for the safety of cyclists as there are safer alternative routes for cyclists between these junctions which are away from this busy stretch of the A19.”
Inspector Wendy Tinkler said Cleveland Police have “actively supported” a ban on cyclists using the stretch of road.
In January 2012, Christopher Griffiths was killed while cycling along the southbound carriageway of the A19 between the A689 and A1027 junction, near Billingham. He was struck from behind while riding along a one-metre wide strip of asphalt to the left of a rumble-strip on the left-hand side of the dual carriageway road. The lorry driver involved was acquitted of causing the death of a cyclist through careless driving after a jury failed to reach a verdict.
Griffiths’ widow, Suzi, believes there are no viable alternative cycle routes from Wynyard to Middlesbrough.
“The cycle paths stop before Wynyard so you have to go on the A689 which is a busy dual carriageway as well. The only route then is to go from the Castle Eden Walkway and you come out at Thorpe Thewles, then there is nothing.
“You would then have to go on the old Durham road into Stockton, then down Portrack Lane and along the riverside road into Middlesbrough. And how long would that take?
“There are great cycle paths from Billingham Bottoms but once you get past that there is nothing. No safe routes. There is more chance of me flying to the moon than us getting cycle paths from here.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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47 comments
For example. Picture dated October 2014!
I take it that the council's first action, then, will be to remove the signs designating the hard shoulder as cycle lane!
See here.
This page is a few years out of date and shows the A19 slightly south of where this death occurred but the same trick has been pulled in that location.
I quote "In January 2012, Christopher Griffiths was killed while cycling along the southbound carriageway of the A19 between the A689 and A1027 junction, near Billingham. He was struck from behind while riding along a one-metre wide strip of asphalt to the left of a rumble-strip on the left-hand side of the dual carriageway road."
Now correct me if I'm wrong...
1) The white line rumble strip marks the edge of the carriageway.
2) Mr Griffiths is to the left of this line.
Therefore Mr Griffiths is not in or on the carriageway; therefore the driver has to leave the carriageway in order to hit him.
The driver either...
a) Deliberately left the carriageway (Dangerous), or
b) Accidentally left the carriageway (Careless).
How, for the love of all things holy, can the driver be acquitted? How is this different from a driver leaving the road, mounting a pavement and killing someone at a bus stop?
Please tell me I've missed something!
A jury of drivers that's how. Thinking, that could have been me. Pesky cyclists. Therefore not guilty of anything.
Aka SMIDSY or the driver's defence.
If there's no alternative for cyclists on this road, it would make more sense to keep the route open for cyclists only - make motor vehicles take the detour - why should they expect entitlement to direct routes when they are the ones endangering others (from pollution, deterrence contributing to obesity etc etc etc and all the economic impacts - NHS etc).
Too much too ask?
Well get some decent Netherlands style bike roads put in then.
There is an alternative and it'd probably only take 10mins extra.
I was under the impression that when they want to ban any class of user from a public highway (bearing in mind that a highway is open to all users, whatever vehicle, on horseback or on foot) they first had to provide an alternative route. This is why the Highways Agency surfaced a cycle track across Hindhead Common when the A3 was put in a tunnel which was not open to unmotorised vehicles and mopeds under 50cc.
ah but that will annoy motorists
If it's a dangerous road, reduce the speed limit to a sensible level and police it with average speed cameras. Simple.
Is it legal they can ban cyclists from other than motorways ?
Spot on.
There is however something that Highway England haven't quite got about the term public road. Everyone has a right to use it and it, only motorways are exclusively reserved for cars.
I banning of cyclists from the road is a failure of Highway England to make the road safe for cyclists. I'm sure their decision can be contested in court, and should if there's no reasonable alternative.
spot on mate ...
Of course this is bikes colliding with cars ....
I just rode the A45 from the City centre of Brum to the airport, will they want to ban me from that then ?
Why not just ban (dangerous) drivers from this road. They’re the ones causing the accidents. Easier for them to take alternative routes from the article.
The lanes are wide, so with a tiny bit of imagination a 2m wide cycle lane could be put at the side of this road.
Of course if there is a multiple car accident on this road killing a few nothing is banned then ...
Car is king don't you know and people can do what they like in a car with few consequences.
I suspect this is the new true-blue form of 'cycle-proofing' that we were promised.
It's a hideous road to drive let alone cycle, especially at peak times. 4 and 5 lanes wide in places on the stretch of the ban.
There may be alternative routes, but they ones I know of go miles out of the way. A lot of the time the A19 IS the only North-south road for miles
Bazzer you've just summed up the problem, crashes/incidents DAILY on the A19 because its a drag strip with too many junctions and lane changes at times.
I don't live there or know the area, but HOW can you BAN cyclists from a road? It's not a motorway! How about encouraging drivers to drive SAFELY?
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