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Plans for 'mini-Holland' cycling infrastructure scheme met with... positivity from locals

We normally fear the worst when the local paper hears from residents about plans for new cycle lanes...

Usually us hearing a council's plan to invest in new cycling infrastructure via the local press' vox-popping rounds with the town's opinionated locals would mean two things — outrage and complaints...

The road.cc archives are sadly full of resident fury at pro-cycling schemes, including just about every imaginable objection, from parking concerns to worries about ruining the tranquillity of an area and, of course, the ever so topical 'cycle hangars are ugly'.

So, when we read that the Nottingham Post had been keenly seeking the views of the good people of Stapleford about the council's plan to implement a 'mini-Holland' scheme of cycling and walking infrastructure, we feared the worst.

However, as it turns out, we shouldn't have...

Because, as the local paper points out, the residents have "largely welcomed" the proposed new active travel scheme. The proof will be in the results of the feasibility study — starting next month — which Nottinghamshire County Council secured funding from the Department for Transport to undertake, and will hear the opinions of residents and workers.

One resident, Paul Hather said it was "brilliant" for the town. "Any investment has got to be brilliant for the community, is it not? I've got to say, regarding the cycle path, it's like when no one wanted the trams, but they're good aren't they?"

Another, who works locally and moved to Stapleford three years ago said: "It's a good thing, the roads are just very narrow. I don't think it's wide enough, I honestly don't know how they would do it. It's always a good idea because as a pedestrian the path isn't wide enough.

> Locals approve permanent closure of "vitally important" road... to make way for cycling route

"I'm all for cycle paths, it encourages people's fitness. They've got to incorporate the cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. I'm always for cycle paths, they're always a good idea."

A 62-year-old woman from a nearby village added: "I don't think it's a bad idea, I definitely think it will be a good thing. It's such a busy road and a lot more people are cycling to work these days."

Councillor Neil Clarke welcomed the feasibility study, saying the council is "excited by this opportunity".

He said: "The feasibility study will look at traffic flows, current walking and cycling infrastructure and people's travel patterns to see what type of schemes could work in the area.

"These could include improvements to the look and feel of local streets; new and improved facilities for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, walkers and cyclists; and improvements to roads, such as new crossing facilities.

“It's important that residents and local businesses are involved in discussions from the start, and we welcome everyone's feedback."

Among the ideas suggested for the town are segregated cycle lanes on main roads, low-traffic neighbourhoods and high streets, and more road space for people to walk.

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

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17 comments

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Dnnnnnn | 1 year ago
2 likes

Bill Gates' vax at work. They'll be giving up their guns next. All part of The Plan.

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brooksby replied to Dnnnnnn | 1 year ago
0 likes

???

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chrisonabike replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
3 likes

Ah - they're a very old techie - an anti-VAXen... (and please can we all [including self] avoid falling into the heffalump traps of culture warriors and get back to cycling?)

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Dnnnnnn replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

???

It was an attempt at parody.

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pmurden | 1 year ago
3 likes

As someone who lives in Nottinghamshire. More of this please.

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xcleigh1247 | 1 year ago
12 likes

The more like Holland the U.K. becomes in respect of travel choice the better. Nice to see some positive reactions to improved cycle infrastructure. 

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chrisonabike replied to xcleigh1247 | 1 year ago
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Last time I was in Holland there were a lot of people driving, fast also...? Oh, you mean The Netherlands (sorry couldn't help me).

Well if they've got it right about the climate our coastal and river infra will be much more like theirs at least...

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xcleigh1247 replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
2 likes

I know but old habits die hard 😃 And who knew there was a Holland in the U.K. (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ) (not me!)) 

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chrisonabike replied to xcleigh1247 | 1 year ago
1 like
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Awavey replied to xcleigh1247 | 1 year ago
1 like

if it was more like Holland, that would be great, sadly imo what we end up calling mini hollands are nothing like what the Dutch would build. Like apparently (because they havent shared the plans publically yet) Suffolk county council are planning to Mini Holland Market Hill in Woodbridge https://goo.gl/maps/7GBey7eMyc5jNsJo9

now theyll have to keep some permitted road access I suspect for deliveries at least to the businesses there at the top and bottom parts, so chances are it just means pedestrianising the middle bit with a bit of LTN planting, maybe an access gate for emergency services and taking away car parking space. But on the whole in terms of modal shifts, thats not really the issue that stops people cycling in Woodbridge or that area, you arent going to adopt cycling if the only bit that works for you is the last 10metres.

 

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xcleigh1247 replied to Awavey | 1 year ago
5 likes

Yup absolutely agree. Most new infrastructure in the U.K. is just not extensive enough and of a high quality to truly change travel habits. It's all too timid, just blooming build it then tweak it later. Watching the various Dutch YouTube channels it's clear they don't just build it and leave it as is. Its constantly being upgraded, adapted or tweaked. 

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chrisonabike replied to xcleigh1247 | 1 year ago
6 likes

Another point is that cycling and walking don't trash their infra like motor vehicles do.

In the UK to break into a virtuous circle the amount of driving will have to decrease substantially.  (The hard part as this requires a deliberate reduction in convenience or increase in cost and people hate "losing" stuff even if it wasn't "theirs" anyway).

Motor vehicles are space inefficient - private cars especially - so moving or stationary they and their infrastructure take up a LOT of space.  BUT if a small part of this on the main routes can be reclaimed that is a big win for cycling and walking.  Then maintenance requirements will also fall on those sections.  Bonus!

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mattw replied to Awavey | 1 year ago
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I'm quite convinced (unfortunately) that the natural path may be Compenhagnize then Netherlandize, as Copenhagen looks recognisably like carland, and can be slightly understood.

What did the Netherlands look like in 1980?

 

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chrisonabike replied to mattw | 1 year ago
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What did NL look like in the 80s?  Some of it (and the infra) looked very similar (and even long before that).

Video here (and other articles on the same blog) show how the country changed from the 60s and 70s on.  Different parts went at different paces, it wasn't all peaceful and non-violent, some changes were thrown out as totally unpopular (but are now utterly uncontroversial).

As someone on here pointed out there may have been some unexpected contributions from to odd local factors e.g. from rural motor-scooterists.

You can find odd bits of similar looking infra apparently of similar vintage dotted about the UK too (though Carton Reid has also dug up 1930s stuff).  Around Peterborough, the well-known Stevenage and Milton Keynes etc.

Key UK difference was that most of the UK examples (although some were products of thoughtful folks) essentially "moved the cyclists off the roads".  Most was being built when cycling was in decline *.  So even when good it was better by car.  The cycle infra compromised on "social safety", navigation (often you can't see where you're going), directness and having a coherent network which reached the main destinations.  That part - with limited space - was monopolised by motor vehicles.

* True of NL too but they already had some tradition of cycle infra and I believe still had a high cycling modal share at the point when the car and access for it was starting to be heavily promoted by authorities.

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Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
8 likes

It's alright lads.  They'll be along in a minute.

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I love my bike replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
4 likes

Except they've now got very important 'work' to do! Hopefully well into next year.

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Car Delenda Est replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
3 likes

Inb4 "this is all very suspicious for reasons I will never specify"

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