CYCLING
IN BERKHAMSTED
Other Information
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CYCLING
IN BERKHAMSTED
Other
Information
Return
to Cycling Campaign Current News Page
Discussion
Document – Version Two
It is clear that the traffic
management strategies which were put into place in Berkhamsted in the 1990’s
have caused greater problems for cyclists, making cycling more dangerous and
less appealing, thereby increasing the use of cars in an already crowded town.
When the traffic calming measures were put in the argument for not making
provisions for cyclists was that the traffic would be moving at the same speed
as cyclists and therefore be safe for cycles.
This is not the case, the traffic calming measures have proved to be
unsatisfactory and unsafe for cyclists. Any
further changes should consider cycling and be made in consultation with local
cycling groups. We would like to
encourage the use of safe cycle paths where possible, but we do not accept the
premise that cyclists should be forced off the road to allow car drivers to
continue to drive at excessive speeds. We
believe that all future transport strategies for Berkhamsted should also work to
improve other sustainable transport such as integrated bus and train timetables.
Berkhamsted suffers from an number of problems with regard to cycling, including:
We believe that while these
limit some of our choices they are not insurmountable, and that other towns both
in the UK and elsewhere in Europe have managed to deal with them.
We consider that cycling is a
healthy activity, which should be encouraged as it improves well-being, and
reduces stress as well as being a sustainable method of transport for the future
which does not damage the environment. We
are also drivers and do not condemn cars, but only seek to co-exist in a safe
environment.
The Berkhamsted Cycling
Campaign believes that there are a number of issues to be addressed in
Berkhamsted with regard to cycling. We
consider that there are four categories of problems to be addressed:
1.
Cross town and into town cycle routes:
These should be set up to encourage those who wish to cycle into town for their
shopping, as well as making cycling safer for older children who should be
encouraged to cycle to school.
2.
Through town routes:
Routes in an East/West direction would encourage those wishing to cycle from the
Hall Park and Northchurch areas into town as well as part of a wider strategy to
encourage cycling to work from Tring and Berkhamsted into Hemel Hempstead, and
thereby reduce car use both on the bypass and in the High Street.
3.
Improved cycle parking in town:
If we are to increase the number of people cycling into town to do their
shopping we need better cycle parking. This
should be in a number of areas, not just near the supermarkets, it should be in
well-frequented, well-lit areas, preferably in view of security cameras, and it
should not cause an obstruction to pedestrians.
We do not accept the view that there is no call for more cycle parking, if it is not provided people are deterred from cycling and those that do are often reduced to leaving their cycles in inadequate and unsafe places.
All
cycle parking in town should be of the hooped Sheffield type racks, not the
‘butterfly’ racks, which are more likely to damage the cycle, and are much
easier for thieves to steal cycles from, as only a single wheel can be locked.
4.
Safety improvements for cyclists at the Kings Road traffic lights:
It is dangerous and
difficult for cyclists to cross in either direction from Lower Kings Road to
Kings Road, so we would like to be in consultation about any future changes to
these lights.
We present some proposals, with some marked out as our key priorities for the future.
|
PRIORITY |
PROPOSAL |
COMMENTS |
|
1 |
Proposal 1 - Early removal of the chicanes at the ‘gates’ to Berkhamsted before there is a fatality. There are three of these: near Dudswell when coming from the Tring direction; after Hall Park and before Swing Gate Lane when approaching from Hemel; and on Kingshill Way outside the cemetery. The first of these has a 40 mph limit, the second and third a 30 mph limit. At all of these places cyclists are forced out into the main flow of the traffic, however car drivers will often try to get past in the narrow gap. In addition there is a dangerous island on the A4251 on the approach to Berkhamsted from Hemel, just before Hall Park, where there is a 40 mph limit. There is not adequate room for a car and a cyclist and members of the Berkhamsted group have had near misses with cars going into full skids as the driver tries to brake at the last moment. The Dudswell chicane has a sort of ‘chicane bypass’ on either side – in general cyclists do not use these, they are often impassable because of hedge clippings and other rubbish. In addition it is then necessary to rejoin the flow of traffic at 40 miles per hour, more dangerous than using the main narrowed carriageway. |
Through town routes |
|
PRIORITY |
PROPOSAL |
COMMENTS |
|
2 |
Proposal 2 - Provision of a shared use pedestrian and cyclepath on the south side of Bridgewater Road. The footpath here is wide enough to accommodate it, the north side to remain as a footpath only. This could act as a safe route into town and to the railway station for those living in the Chiltern Park and Bridgewater Road areas, as well as providing part of a safe route for children to and from Bridgewater school. |
Cross town and into
town cycle routes |
|
3 |
Proposal 3 - We would like to see a cyclists ‘buffer zone’ at the front of the traffic queue in both directions. We have been told that doing this would cause car drivers to try to ‘nip past’ cyclists at the front of the queue and thereby make the junction more dangerous. We do not accept this view. We consider that by making a buffer zone, drivers would be made more aware of the cyclists than the current situation where cyclists have to wait to the left of the leading car in the queue and hope that the driver is aware of them when the lights change. |
Safety improvements
for cyclists at the Kings Road traffic lights |
|
4 |
Proposal 4 - Upgrading of the footpath into a shared use cycle/pedestrian path along the A4251 from Berkhamsted to Hemel Hempstead from the Hall Park area of the town out as far as Bourne End. This would avoid cyclists being forced to cycle with heavy traffic travelling at 60 mph. |
Through town routes We see this as preparatory to the proposal for ‘quiet lanes’ from Bourne End to Hemel. |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 5 - Provision of a route of ‘quiet lanes’ from Bourne End into the Chaulden area of Hemel Hempstead. This would link with the upgraded footpath along the A4251 and provide a safe route from Berkhamsted to Hemel, avoiding the notoriously dangerous bends at Bourne End. The route should be designed to discourage car drivers from using it as a ‘rat run’ and priority should be given to cyclists. It would turn left along Little Heath Lane, right into Pix Farm Lane, left at Pouchen End Lane and then immediately right into Chaulden Lane. It would end at the junction of Chaulden Lane and Northridge Way. |
Through town routes We appreciate that ‘quiet lanes’ is not likely to occur until 2005 when other pilot schemes have been completed. |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 6 - Improvements to safety of cycle traffic in the High Street, in some cases by reclaiming some of the now unnecessarily wide pavement. |
Cross town routes This needs to be considered in the local transport plan planned for 2005. |
|
PRIORITY |
PROPOSAL |
COMMENTS |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 7 - Marked out cycle routes to encourage cycling across town from the Shrublands and Shootersway areas up to Bridgewater School. These routes could also be used for cycling to Egerton-Rothesay School in Durrants Lane and for children at Westfield, Greenway and St Thomas Moore Schools if they were under parental supervision. |
Cross town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 8 - Provision of a cycle path in the Charles Street/ Shrublands Avenue area, to provide a safe route into or across town on the south side of the High Street, perhaps in conjunction with other traffic reduction measures. |
Cross town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 9 - We would also like to set up safe cycle routes to Thomas Coram and Ashlyns Schools and would welcome suggestions for these from those who regularly use these routes. |
Cross town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 10 - Consideration of a through town route to be provided from the Billet Lane area into Canal Fields, where there are already existing cycle paths. This would be provided between the canal and the railway and entail the provision of a cycle route along River Park – where there is an industrial estate - and on the north side of the canal locks. This road is lower down the hill than Bridgewater Road and could be used as a safe through route which would not require cycling the steep climb up Billet Lane to Bridgewater Road. We acknowledge that River Park is a private road, and that there are considerations of security on the industrial estate, however, we are aware of cycle paths along private roads in other parts of the UK, and we consider that a steady stream of cyclists or pedestrians could increase security on the estate, not compromise it. |
Through town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 11 - Provision of cycle paths where there are wide verges or footpaths in the town. For instance: along Gossoms End between Durrants Lane and Billet Lane and near Swing Gate School, opposite the Esso Garage. |
Through town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 12 - Upgrading of the limited footpaths, and provision of a cyclepath where possible on the wide verges along the A4251 from Berkhamsted to Tring. This would link with established cycle routes in Tring as well as the suggested routes from Berkhamsted to Hemel and provide part of a safe link between the three towns. This should be done in consultation with the Tring Cycling Campaign. |
Through town routes |
|
PRIORITY |
PROPOSAL |
COMMENTS |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 13 - In addition to the previous mentioned routes in the Bridgewater Road and Charles Street/ Shrublands Avenue areas which could be part of a network of through town routes avoiding the dangerous High Street we want to encourage more through town cycling. We consider that the provision of a safe route from Tring through Berkhamsted to Hemel Hempstead should be a major cycling target of local councils, possibly working in conjunction with Sustrans. |
Through town routes |
|
None assigned |
Proposal 14 - We acknowledge that the canal towpath is a shared resource for many interest groups, walkers, cyclists, fishermen, etc. We do however feel that in consultation with representatives of these groups there could be an upgrading of the towpath along any remaining poor areas between Hemel and Tring. We do not feel that with courtesy and understanding that there should be a conflict of interests between any of the users of the towpath. |
Through town routes |
This is a discussion
document. We welcome any comments and suggestions, which can be
addressed to the Berkhamsted Cycling Campaign at the Civic Centre.
We encourage cyclists to join in the work of the Berkhamsted Cycling
Campaign and welcome any help. Details
of dates and times of meetings can be obtained from the Civic Centre.
