tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250878467957664872024-03-05T11:17:56.997+00:00Green Bristol BlogChris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-92129403308098982082010-05-11T10:36:00.001+01:002010-05-11T10:46:01.391+01:00Chris's Customized Cycle CavalcadeChris Hutt passed away late February / early March 2010, aged 59 years.<br />
His funeral was held at Canford Crematorium on the 30th April 2010.<br />
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I adapted and decorated a large bicycle to carry my dad's coffin with a cavalcade of cyclists following behind the cycle hearse to the crematorium.<br />
Around 80 people turned up to say fair well. Thank you all, I was very touched and pleased that so many people made it.<br />
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Special thanks to:-<br />
Kevin & Sylvie, Dorothy, Rosalind & Peter, and Rob & Mary <br />
for all their help with the funeral arrangements, also the guest speakers at the service.<br />
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Below some sample images from the cycle cavalcade. <br />
Thank you everyone who has contributed to the success of this bolg.<br />
Chris Hutt Jnr. (Son).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc0HRRLt3rXiBrXYp8NPZOo8NXGvHgpuZQY14Uy7k6-grqNxxN2tu-fTnHIkT5zY3bJ6ii85zGaYv6I0-6LB-0rsLgPZMWhROza0h4XzVDfebWkgGBmAILfE-f6E2rLUCa8Q51qLU3-E/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc0HRRLt3rXiBrXYp8NPZOo8NXGvHgpuZQY14Uy7k6-grqNxxN2tu-fTnHIkT5zY3bJ6ii85zGaYv6I0-6LB-0rsLgPZMWhROza0h4XzVDfebWkgGBmAILfE-f6E2rLUCa8Q51qLU3-E/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-18577271507724317292010-02-25T11:06:00.002+00:002010-02-25T14:57:23.981+00:00Railway Path Still Targeted for Bus RouteSince the Liberal Democrats came to power in Bristol just a year ago we all assumed that the plans to run Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, more popularly known as bendy-bus) down the Railway Path to link Emerson's Green to Temple Meads would be finally laid to rest. Noises were made about giving the Path greater protection and removing the BRT proposal from the development plans for the city. More recently the West of England Partnership published their proposals for their Hengrove to North Fringe BRT route (BRT3) which included a link to Emerson's Green via the Ring Road. So I for one thought that with Emerson's Green to Bristol city centre served by BRT via the M32 and Ring Road we could finally lower our guard on the original proposals for the Railway Path route.<br />
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But last night I got a shock. I was in the audience at a Civic Society meeting where Jon Rogers and Peter Mann, Bristol's new Service Director for Transport, were giving a presentation on the council's transport plans when the new plan above (click to enlarge) was briefly displayed. The plan shows diagrammatically the network of what Bristol City Council and the West of England Partnership (WoEP) consider the important transport links (i.e. ignoring walking and cycling) to be secured and improved.<br />
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The planned BRT routes are shown in <span style="color: magenta;">cerise</span> and comprise the Bath route (BRT1), the Long Ashton P&R to Centre route (BRT2), the Hengrove to North Fringe route (BRT3) and the South Bristol 'Link' (Ring Road) route (Hengrove to Long Ashton P&R). All depressingly familiar stuff to those of us that follow these things, but there is one more BRT route shown that comes as something of a shock - Emerson's Green to Temple Meads. There are only two viable BRT routes from Emerson's Green to Temple Meads - the M32/Ring Road corridor followed by BRT3 and the Railway Path (as shown on the map below). So the line shown can only mean the Railway Path is still targeted.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00048069536da948adb96&ll=51.479886,-2.532005&spn=0.074836,0.145912&z=12&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00048069536da948adb96&ll=51.479886,-2.532005&spn=0.074836,0.145912&z=12&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">BRT to Emerson's Green</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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No doubt the WoEP will insist that the Emerson's Green to Temple Meads line is only notional and potential routes have yet to be assessed. But what potential routes are there other than the Railway Path? For comparison I've identified the best available road route (yellow above), mainly via Stapleton Road, Fishponds Road, Downend Road and Westerleigh Road. The road route is slightly shorter than either BRT3 (blue above) or the Railway Path (red above), but narrow, congested, subject to low speed limits and with many traffic signals, totally unsuitable for BRT. Journey times could not begin to compete with the Railway Path or BRT3. A road route for BRT to Emerson's Green is simply not viable.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.westofengland.org/media/175292/2%20transport%20map%20v3.pdf">WoEP plan</a> document properties show that this version has only just been published this month. It represents the latest thinking of the West of England Partnership and Bristol City Council (the two being effectively the same thing in Bristol transport planning terms). So all the recent talk of finally burying the BRT-on-Railway Path plan seems to have been a smokescreen to distract us from the real strategy of lining the Railway Path route up for implementation on the back of the hoped for success of BRT routes 1, 2 and 3.<br />
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Two years ago there was a massive campaign to stop the BRT-on-Railway Path plan, a campaign that succeeded in getting the plan "shelved". Now we know what some of us long suspected, that "shelved" merely means delayed until a more expedient time arrives. So will the campaigners of 2008 rise to the challenge in 2010? With an election on the way now is the moment to finally put the BRT-on-Railway Path plan to death. If we wait for the WoEP to choose a time more favourable to themselves then we might live to deeply regret it.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-35110718855721368902010-02-22T07:59:00.002+00:002010-02-22T08:01:40.081+00:00Residents' Parking - A Way Forward?Bristol City Council's proposals to introduce Residents Parking Schemes in Kingsdown and Cliftonwood have suffered a setback with a largely negative public response, based on an admittedly poor response rate, to the latest round of <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2010/feb/residents-parking-scheme---survey-results-in.en">consultations</a>. In Cliftonwood 57% of those responding were opposed and in Kingsdown 47% were opposed compared to 45% in favour. Only the area of Kingsdown south of Cotham Road showed a tiny majority (46.1% to 45.5%) in favour of the RPS.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWib7DzV3tTQdQxDu1YnzXcIpJOt7new4wKeGlMt23uDUwwC0dLGGyu6UmdOj6UKjrNnRiiIRAVShkUP4TDe22uaLQXSYgj_89rlcrGnt9wcn6M5bOy67pV8jL8bh_F_6kgyypwtFtvE/s1600-h/310110+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWib7DzV3tTQdQxDu1YnzXcIpJOt7new4wKeGlMt23uDUwwC0dLGGyu6UmdOj6UKjrNnRiiIRAVShkUP4TDe22uaLQXSYgj_89rlcrGnt9wcn6M5bOy67pV8jL8bh_F_6kgyypwtFtvE/s400/310110+021.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Typical footway blocking in the area south of Queen's Road, Clifton - P120NRL.</span><br />
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It's hard to see how the Council can continue with the schemes in the face of such a response. Even the majority in the smaller Kingsdown Zone is wafer thin and hardly a solid base for proceeding. The council will decide how to proceed at its Cabinet meeting on March 25th, but is expected to delegate the decision on the Kingsdown scheme to David Bishop, the Strategic Director of City Development, which sounds to me like an attempt by the politicians to distance themselves from what will inevitably be a controversial decision whichever way it goes.<br />
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It seems clear that the Cliftonwood and north-of-Cotham Road areas will not now proceed which will leave the very obvious problems (pictured) largely unresolved. So is there perhaps a way forward that somehow reconciles the opposing factions? Back in January of last year I floated an <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/residents-parking-democratic-option.html">idea</a> which could do that, so it is perhaps time to resurrect it. The essence of my approach is to let people decide whether to be part of a Residents' Parking Scheme (RPS) on an individual basis. What could be more democratic than that?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU5_38IJ8-Nn1s1oZSNtg3Z3g6euZXmP_ePEaKiN_fcccZDVYLHRxbcF-tFnDkKbnVtInmnsBY5cGaPqLCC4IoGyY7kuDHwF9KSVuA1BnghigRbOYSr2y1Jq3bE-rvMl6KgWUC8FjQRo/s1600-h/101009+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU5_38IJ8-Nn1s1oZSNtg3Z3g6euZXmP_ePEaKiN_fcccZDVYLHRxbcF-tFnDkKbnVtInmnsBY5cGaPqLCC4IoGyY7kuDHwF9KSVuA1BnghigRbOYSr2y1Jq3bE-rvMl6KgWUC8FjQRo/s400/101009+008.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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To give a practical example supposing in a particular street there were 50% of households who wanted to opt in to an RPS, why not allocate 50% of the available parking spaces to the scheme and allow the remainder to remain uncontrolled? Nobody need be forced in to an RPS they don't agree with. Those households who choose to remain out of the RPS will continue to compete for the remaining uncontrolled spaces as at present. The costs of setting up and managing the schemes would be borne solely by those opting in.<br />
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Such an approach could develop incrementally with people opting in or out whenever they like, subject to changes to the street markings. It need not be limited to narrowly defined areas either. In theory anyone, anywhere in Bristol could apply for an RPS in their street, even if they were the only one interested. One space could be allocated to the one member of the scheme who would pay the costs. Simple enough? Well not quite so simple in practice of course but no more complicated than the present scheme.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-68641127909417396392010-02-17T10:13:00.003+00:002010-02-17T10:18:07.434+00:00And Quiet Flows the AvonThe River Avon tow path from Netham up to Hanham and Keynsham, subject of my<a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/hope-for-avon-path.html"> previous post</a>, is one of our local gems and deserves to be made more accessible to all. Comments on the last post drew attention to one of the worst discontinuities, the 300 metre length of Conham Road (shown red in map at end of post) that cannot currently be avoided when connecting the Netham - Crew's hole section with the Conham - Hanham section. There is a narrow footway but perversely it runs on the opposite side of the road to the tow path connections at either end. <br />
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Here we see a family attempting to cross from tow path to footway at the Conham end. They've moved as far as they can down the road to keep away from the blind corner to the right behind the photographer. Visibility in the other direction is better but still not very good, so the crossing manoeuvre remains risky despite all their precautions. Sadly their concern for their safety is not shared by the highway authority, Bristol City Council, who appear to have done nothing to resolve this problem.<br />
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Eventually a brief gap in the traffic gives our family a chance to cross, but they will be confronted by a similar problem just 300 metres further on to regain the tow path at Crew's Hole, hardly an incentive to enjoy the Avon Valley as a walker. So what's is to be done? Well, probably nothing unless Bristol City Council have a big change in attitude and 'priorities', putting safety before the right of motorists to treat our streets like motorways. But let's suppose that such a day arrives, what are the options?<br />
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The most obvious option is to switch the footway from the inland side of the road (below, looking towards Conham) to the riverside. At the same time the footway could be widened to say 3 metres to be suitable for shared use with cyclists on the same basis as the rest of the route from Netham to Hanham. However this would effectively reduce the carriageway (road) to a single track road so motor traffic would have to be managed differently.<br />
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Apart form a limited amount of local access Conham Road is mainly used as a rat run to avoid the A431 above the valley and as such there is little justification for maintaining the existing traffic volumes and speeds. Since the section of Conham Road in question is just 300 metres one option would be to introduce traffic signals to allow shuttle operation one way at a time. Alternatively this section of could be made one-way to give sufficient space for a cycle/walkway on the riverside. Such measures need not be prohibitively expensive and could be implemented quite quickly on an experimental basis to establish their practicality. <br />
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So why have Bristol City Council, and Avon County Council before it, done nothing for more than 30 years? And more importantly, why will Bristol City Council continue to do nothing for at least the next 5 years, despite its pretensions to be a cycling city and to promote walking? May I suggest <i>Institutional Motorism</i> - a deep rooted prejudice in favour of motorised traffic at the expense even of the safety, let alone the convenience, of those that dare to travel on foot or bicycle?<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000473b291abbcc620664&ll=51.448444,-2.538099&spn=0.018722,0.036564&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000473b291abbcc620664&ll=51.448444,-2.538099&spn=0.018722,0.036564&z=14" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">River Avon - Netham to Keynsham and Bitton</a> in a larger map</small>Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-16353424371212560562010-02-08T10:31:00.001+00:002010-02-08T10:34:41.468+00:00Hope for the Avon Path?A piece in today's <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Potholes-make-path-dangerous-Bristol/article-1812601-detail/article.html">Evening Post</a> reports that some progress may be being made behind the scenes towards upgrading the old tow-path along the River Avon between Conham and Hanham. You may recall that I <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-solve-it-when-you-can-sign-it.html">blogged</a> about the current appalling state of the tow-path last year, which resulted in some much neglected maintenance being carried out within a few days. It seems that the publicity might have had a more far reaching effect because the two local councils with riparian responsibilities, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, are actually talking to each other about dealing with the problems. Those familiar with local politics will know that this is no small achievement in itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3d_4WwUQrVQ2g0dwIShIjvdXBzPn3TJchauLJuwyGAC3VwyBZwgoWQsvZNGtCKfCqfV5sR46wuLHWagNwHi85qCLRbyRrLVshugkVaHNJbpRFk46DvSOEoNmAJoars4ucCQksBgm6pk/s1600-h/311009+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3d_4WwUQrVQ2g0dwIShIjvdXBzPn3TJchauLJuwyGAC3VwyBZwgoWQsvZNGtCKfCqfV5sR46wuLHWagNwHi85qCLRbyRrLVshugkVaHNJbpRFk46DvSOEoNmAJoars4ucCQksBgm6pk/s400/311009+025.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The upgrading of the River Avon tow-path was proposed by local campaign group Cyclebag (the precursor to Sustrans) back in 1978 as part of its proposals for the creation of a Bristol to Bath Cycle/Walkway. It was originally envisaged that the route should follow the Avon to a point south of Bitton where the former Midland Railway branch line would be joined to continue to Bath. The former railway section was built the following year, 1979, as a result of a remarkable volunteer effort powered through by John Grimshaw in particular. But the River Avon section remained largely untouched except for some upgrading between Netham and Conham about 10 years ago. So perhaps 32 years later it is at last timely to progress this scheme, not least in the context of Bristol's Cycling City aspirations?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEZ36UfZKsYPwo_HI221-Uz1GtOdZ0yY7Fv5hrWZHzCKtMRqSPFejTaV-SRG9tPkZlpkJXHdZrzx8YkwnIkEHB6UInDFQAqbjPhhSiuZWsCZTKNaitkGkOQvnjggIkm9TLBP4Cg8_kdg/s1600-h/311009+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEZ36UfZKsYPwo_HI221-Uz1GtOdZ0yY7Fv5hrWZHzCKtMRqSPFejTaV-SRG9tPkZlpkJXHdZrzx8YkwnIkEHB6UInDFQAqbjPhhSiuZWsCZTKNaitkGkOQvnjggIkm9TLBP4Cg8_kdg/s400/311009+024.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Although the Bristol to Bath cycle route ended up following the former Midland railway all the way back to Bristol via Mangotsfield, a rather circuitous route, the River Avon tow-path route still has great potential to make an outstanding contribution to the range of recreational routes available to cyclists and walkers around Bristol. As indicated in the map below it could also provide a practical commuting and utility route linking Keynsham to Bristol, far more agreeable than slogging down the A4, and an attractive alternative to the established Bristol & Bath Railway Path.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000473b291abbcc620664&ll=51.440741,-2.529945&spn=0.03745,0.072956&z=13&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000473b291abbcc620664&ll=51.440741,-2.529945&spn=0.03745,0.072956&z=13&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">River Avon - Netham to Keynsham and Bitton</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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As always emails and letters to the local authorities and relevant councillors will help spur them towards finding practical solutions. It seems from the Evening Post <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Potholes-make-path-dangerous-Bristol/article-1812601-detail/article.html">story</a> that South Glos councillor <a href="mailto:andy.perkins@southglos.gov.uk">Andy Perkins</a> is taking a particular interest so messages of support and appreciation in that direction might be timely, as well as our old friend <a href="mailto:jon.rogers@bristol.gov.uk">Jon Rogers</a>, Bristol's transport supremo.This path really could be a jewel in the crown of cycling around Bristol so think of the warm glow to be experienced in future years when you can take some small credit for having helped rescue this path from dereliction and decay.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-35504579723031789882010-01-21T11:08:00.001+00:002010-01-21T11:10:19.976+00:00The Railway Path - Before and AfterFollowing on from yesterday's post about the excessive tree felling on the Railway Path north of Ridgeway Road I've dug out a few pics to try to give a 'before and after' effect. The before pics, taken without permission from Martyn's <a href="http://railwaypath.blogspot.com/">railwaypath</a> blog, were taken in the spring of 2008 and so include foliage which would not be present in mid winter, but it gives some idea of the impact on the visual environment of the Path, even allowing for some greening of the denuded embankments over the next few months. One can at least see why the impact is a bit shocking to regular Path users who have grown used to feeling as though they are travelling through dense woodland.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OnSlITJk1-ciY_CrjicVYdEwDdjJYe3zYIt2NRzS4q7CJ0rBv01ocjqIBXKcq_FwrL90Xb5jVuKVawejnKpB76Z3q9L55MRMmdeaK3A9z7SX65QEJ2owUoWQh_p97QgMDs4B-Cc3KK4/s1600-h/2008treesurvey33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OnSlITJk1-ciY_CrjicVYdEwDdjJYe3zYIt2NRzS4q7CJ0rBv01ocjqIBXKcq_FwrL90Xb5jVuKVawejnKpB76Z3q9L55MRMmdeaK3A9z7SX65QEJ2owUoWQh_p97QgMDs4B-Cc3KK4/s400/2008treesurvey33.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Above and berlow - looking northeast towards Lodge Causeway Bridge from a position north of Drummond Road footbridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9cf-aRa1EIyGOWBr1KOWoQuTCEJ8HOav-kPxv9HSc3t_66qFrQCSfTNawqlcafwmkd5KEQh-SPoMEbdVA8noCCmcrK2qubumdYsvPDEZw5dvq56rwfLy95qukM5dWIZTZZKN86QO1N0/s1600-h/190110+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9cf-aRa1EIyGOWBr1KOWoQuTCEJ8HOav-kPxv9HSc3t_66qFrQCSfTNawqlcafwmkd5KEQh-SPoMEbdVA8noCCmcrK2qubumdYsvPDEZw5dvq56rwfLy95qukM5dWIZTZZKN86QO1N0/s400/190110+046.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteYabjJFqIXsHj2itahU_jQcnNP6uRYRCW3ky6AeeF46oaA84eI3GKmgiFVzOKoHtlPbfZaSKQFlrT4mSxBafoX712nxflty7WVvG0E-j-LCAp6lnMQ3KDVEwjkt5oEOfysN_sxaUz0s/s1600-h/2008treesurvey35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteYabjJFqIXsHj2itahU_jQcnNP6uRYRCW3ky6AeeF46oaA84eI3GKmgiFVzOKoHtlPbfZaSKQFlrT4mSxBafoX712nxflty7WVvG0E-j-LCAp6lnMQ3KDVEwjkt5oEOfysN_sxaUz0s/s400/2008treesurvey35.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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All the tree felling depicted here is on the south side of the Path. The lighting trench is being installed on the north side so the damage to tree roots will be confined to the that side. Likewise the need to clear around the lighting columns to avoid foliage obscuring them will be confined to the north side. Virtually all the south side felling is unnecessary in the context of the installation of lighting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18uEwg3cJHta5Y8P4IKueGi-VAQ1wZD552cQdufceGsanL168yJdszFvDHR5tclO9s0dkN8Y07U9_voODCUMCZiMOblv5QVJ_pxOiAVdsr3l5TvIfOBGHDSVJoqutYiCBNZGaaKObQck/s1600-h/190110+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18uEwg3cJHta5Y8P4IKueGi-VAQ1wZD552cQdufceGsanL168yJdszFvDHR5tclO9s0dkN8Y07U9_voODCUMCZiMOblv5QVJ_pxOiAVdsr3l5TvIfOBGHDSVJoqutYiCBNZGaaKObQck/s400/190110+045.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Above and below - looking southwest towards Drummond Road footbridge. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS3yFxq6RDlpHT6UchvCBgpfpX2HjPDRl1XZLCHsSWXykFCdkUOfl-9u8rw8fBhs69MCSWVeO47TR0F1LLxoQy7KRYOJxPj5K4V6ZVvwTG2DX4tcF062zEBCYWnSnORe2sufosPo7Sb8/s1600-h/2008treesurvey32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS3yFxq6RDlpHT6UchvCBgpfpX2HjPDRl1XZLCHsSWXykFCdkUOfl-9u8rw8fBhs69MCSWVeO47TR0F1LLxoQy7KRYOJxPj5K4V6ZVvwTG2DX4tcF062zEBCYWnSnORe2sufosPo7Sb8/s400/2008treesurvey32.JPG" width="300" /></a>Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-10953908286515035902010-01-20T09:30:00.001+00:002010-01-20T09:32:49.853+00:00Overkill on the Railway Path?Over at Fishponds work has just started on extending the street lighting of the Bristol & Bath Railway Path from Ridgeway Road to Staple Hill Tunnel. The work involves digging a trench alongside the Path for the electricity cables and a certain amount of disruption and visual impact is inevitable, but some Path users have expressed <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bristolcyclingcampaign/message/3694">concern</a> at the extent of the impact on the once green corridor.<br />
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One can understand that a certain amount of cutting back of existing vegetation is required, including the removal f trees that have grown too close to the Path. As a general principle about a metre or so of grass verge should be maintained either side of the tarmac path itself to ensure that the full width can be used and to ensure reasonable sight lines. Lighting also needs to be clear of envelopment by adjacent foliage. But the contractors seem to be taking things too far.<br />
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It seems pretty clear that many mature trees well over a metre from the Path have been felled. Is this really necessary? The effect is devastating, reminding me of how the old railway looked back in the early 1980s before the Path was built. Of course the vegetation will grow back but the trees will take decades to recover. The importance of the 'greenness' of the Railway Path corridor cannot be overstated. It was the loss of the 'green' quality that above all prompted thousands to protest against Bristol City Council's recent plans to build a BRT bendy bus track along the Path.<br />
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At least one complainant has taken the initiative of emailing Bristol's 'Transport Supremo' <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy/Elected-Representatives/councillor-finder.en?Task=name&CouncillorId=69">Jon Rogers</a> about this and I urge others to do the same. We know from bitter experience over many years, indeed decades, that we cannot entrust the care of the Railway Path to the local authorities. They lack the awareness of the sensitivities that rightly attach to the Railway Path which still represents a rare example of the popular will overcoming bureaucratic intransigence.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-11968623516709197602010-01-14T10:18:00.001+00:002010-01-14T10:18:36.849+00:00Slow and NiceNow that the snow and ice is disappearing it is perhaps time to become a little nostalgic about it. Of course there were problems with ungritted pavements (as I may have mentioned) and neglected cycle paths, but every cloud has a silver lining and so with the snow and ice - it radically reduced the speed and volume of traffic which is the holy grail for many environmentally minded campaigners. At a stroke Mother Nature achieved what we mere humans can only dream of - a city where cars were rarely used, where everyone drove slowly and cautiously, where walking became the default mode of transport and where people suddenly found that they had time to stop and talk to each other.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/lifestyle/Suzanne-Savill-snow-woven-white-magic-Bristol/article-1702561-detail/article.html">Others</a> have waxed lyrical on the same theme. Even hard case Evening Post columnist Mike Ford (the Bedminster Bigmouth) seems almost human in his latest <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/lifestyle/Mike-Ford-Freezing-weather-started-melt-hearts/article-1702506-detail/article.html">column</a>. Those commentators attribute the change in the public mood to the snow and ice but I suggest that it was as much the secondary effect of dramatically suppressing vehicular traffic which transformed out streets from hazardous race tracks to places to enjoy at a gentle walking pace. So many people have remarked on how much more sociable our local streets became over the last few weeks with neighbours stopping to talk to each other for perhaps the first time ever.<br />
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In part I think this renaissance in sociability was down to the fact that the street itself (and not just the narrow footways at the side) became a relatively safe place to walk, or just to stand and chat. The presumption that the street was the exclusive domain of vehicles was called into question by the impassable nature of the snow and ice covered footways. Everyone seemed to recognise this and even the 4x4 brigade seemed a little less arrogant. On almost every street except those that had been cleared most people took to walking down the middle of the road out of sheer necessity.<br />
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So can we reclaim something of that pedestrian friendliness and sociability by slowing and restraining traffic as a matter of course? That is certainly what many hope and the widespread support for the 20's Plenty (20 mph) campaign is I believe based largely on such aspirations. I'm tempted to ask whether we should perhaps abandon pavements in some streets and encourage people to walk down the middle of the road instead. This approach is known as 'shared space' but remains very controversial with many feeling that pedestrians would then be at the mercy of bullying motorists. At least let's all think about the lessons that we can learn from the Slow and Nice experience of the last few weeks.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-75595848521569544582010-01-11T10:19:00.003+00:002010-01-11T11:03:20.688+00:00Why Cycling City is Off TrackTonight (but see PS below) I get my 15 seconds or so of fame in a TV programme, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pyl8d">Inside Out</a>, going out at 7.30 pm on BBC 1. My brief appearance will be part of a 10 minute slot on Cycling City, also featuring Cllr Jon Rogers and a few other local cycling savants. Basically Jon will be seen shivering out on the St Werburgh's path being upbeat and positive while I will be seen shivering on Hartcliffe Way being critical and negative. We were both interviewed (separately) for about an hour or so, but little of what was said will find its way into the programme, perhaps just a few sound bites to fit the narrative.<br />
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One sound bite that I'm sure will be used is when I am asked if Cycling City is succeeding or failing and I reply....well, you guess. So why is it failing? Well in the first place it set itself hopelessly unrealistic targets, especially doubling the number of cyclists within the three years, and so by its own criteria it's bound to fail. If it was merely a question of setting over ambitious targets Cycling City might be forgiven - we've all been there. But the problems are more fundamental than that.<br />
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I blogged about these fundamental problems on many <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/search/label/cycling%20city">occasions</a> but in essence in comes down to a lack of honesty and openness which we can trace back a very long way, through the previous Labour administration of Bristol City Council to Cycling England and Sustrans. All subscribe to the idea that you can and should spin a story even if it has little substance to back it up. The Sustrans National Cycle Network was an outstanding example of this and it was a remarkably successful sleight-of-hand since no one was really in a position to go and comprehensively check on what really existed, before and after NCN, on the ground. <br />
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But in Bristol it's different. It is possible for one person to explore all the existing and proposed cycle network and see exactly how existing routes are being presented as new ones (e.g. Hartcliffe Way above). But having based the Cycling City strategy on this deceit it's very difficult for the Council to back out of it - what would be left to give credibility to Cycling City? As it happens the more intangible aspects of Cycling City, like the publicity generated, may well prove to be the more significant in terms of encouraging cycling, but people expect to see physical changes on the ground and they are difficult to deliver, especially within such a short time scale.<br />
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PS. Having just posted this, I now hear that this <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pyl8d">Inside Out</a> feature may be postponed and replaced with a 'snow' special. I'll update if I hear anything more definite.<br />
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PPS. Yep, it's confirmed that the Cycling City feature will now go out next Monday instead.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-14661649189399810422010-01-10T14:06:00.001+00:002010-01-10T14:08:48.736+00:00Slippery SustransBristol is home to "the UK's leading sustainable transport charity", <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/">Sustrans</a>, who have their national head quarters down in Trinity Street, next door to the Cathedral and conveniently within spitting distance of the Council House. Sustainable transport of course means above all cycling and walking, so it is perhaps instructive to note their own efforts to clear the well used walking route outside their offices (the white facade below).<br />
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That's strange, even by 4 p.m. on Wednesday 6th Jan (above) no one in "the UK's leading leading sustainable transport charity" seems to have bothered to clear the pavement outside. Perhaps they were short staffed that day, what with the snow problems. Surely by Friday 8th (below) someone will have noticed that the pavement outside is in need of clearing, or are they all too busy designing glossy brochures and flashy websites to notice what is going on outside in the real world?<br />
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</div>Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-36243433675715843322010-01-08T08:45:00.002+00:002010-01-08T08:55:35.860+00:00The Ice Man ComethAfter my <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/get-grit_07.html">petulant</a> <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-many-more-before-bristol-council.html">outbursts</a> yesterday about Bristol City Council's failure to deal with hazardous pavement icing, even when specifically reported to them, there was the usual exchange of jibes on Twitter which resulted in Cllr Jon Rogers (Executive Member for Transport & Sustainability no less - below) challenging me to go out with him there and then and spread some grit. <br />
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I could hardly refuse and so for 40 minutes or so after 9 p.m. passers-by on Queen's Road, Clifton, were entertained by the sight of two scruffy middle-aged men scrabbling around grit bins like tramps scavenging dog ends. We quickly emptied one of the two local grit bins but the grit in the other was rock solid and unusable. Still we managed to deal with the worst sections of the footway and it was gratifying to see that people immediately started to follow our line of grit over the ice (visible to my right below). One even said thank you!<br />
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So that's what can be achieved with a bit of gumption. Jon Rogers' has a lot of that, it has to be said. He even lectured me on how to walk on the roads against the oncoming traffic to avoid having to use slippery pavements, explaining that you don't give way until you see the whites of their eyes! And I thought I was the militant one. To Jon even the snow and ice is an opportunity to assert a new paradigm for the concept of sharing the roads. I'm all for that.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-11923612527159325122010-01-07T19:10:00.000+00:002010-01-07T19:10:20.048+00:00How Many More before Bristol Council Act?As warned on this blog on Monday and again this morning, the junction of Richmond Hill and Queen's Road is proving lethal with walkers falling like nine pins. In about 20 minutes this evening I witnessed dozens of slips, half a dozen falls and one suspected broken bone requiring an ambulance. In addition almost every car emerging from Richmond Hill was sliding on the ice into Queen's Road, unable to stop.<br />
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It was all pretty sickening, watching and knowing some were going to fall, knowing that each car was going to slide out of control on the ice. And all avoidable, if only we had a Council able to listen to a simple bit of advice and act on it. But instead we have a Council suffering bureaucratic rigor mortis, unable to respond even at this most elementary level of human decency. You take pictures, you explain the problem, you put it on a public blog, representatives of the Council see it and - nothing. <br />
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So now we have real injuries, fractures, confirmed by photographic evidence. Will this be enough to inject some life into this moribund council? Probably not, so alienated are they to feeling anything resembling empathy with the public they are supposed to serve. I despair, this is just a simple matter of spreading some grit. Is that so difficult? Do I have to go and do it myself? Oh for a spade and wheelbarrow (which I haven't got). Can I bear to go back again, knowing that it is just a matter of minutes before I see another fall?Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-36051633144152691012010-01-07T08:19:00.003+00:002010-01-07T12:20:19.862+00:00Get A Grit!As we wake up today to find that all the slush and water from yesterday's slight thaw has frozen solid to ice, thanks to overnight temperatures that reached -7° C, many of us might have cause to wonder why nothing seems to be done about making at least some of our pavements safe to walk on. Even yesterday late afternoon some predictably lethal patches were claiming victims, like the Richmond Hill/Queen's Road junction highlighted <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/priorities-made-plain.html">here</a> on Monday. <br />
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As also discussed here on Monday, Bristol City Council's <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/roads--highways-and-pavements/roads---gritting/">policy</a> is to grit the main roads but not the footways (pavements), leaving pedestrians to fend for themselves. The Council's justification for this seems to be that if they did anything for pedestrians at all they would then be held responsible for all pavements, although the same logic does not seem to apply to motorists. There are of course one or two exceptions, like the carefully cleared ramps up to the entrance to the Council House (below). At least they are keeping their own house in order.<br />
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All the Council appear to do as far as us lowly pedestrians are concerned is to refer us to their extensive collection of <a href="http://maps.bristol.gov.uk/default.aspx?action=Explore&group=Transport+and+Streets&layer=Grit+bins">grit bins</a>, although Cotham Councillor Neil Harrison does say on his <a href="http://cotham.blogspot.com/2010/01/dealing-with-winter-weather.html">blog</a> that "Pavements on the main roads get gritted by the manual road cleaners on their normal rota". Well there was precious little evidence of that yesterday. The only pavements that had been cleared appeared to have been done on a piecemeal basis by adjacent shop keepers, as we see below in Park Street, which apart from being a major pedestrian thoroughfare is also rather steep and you might think something of a priority for gritting.<br />
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So what about these grit bins. I can confirm that all the ones I inspected (yes, I am that sad) are full of grit, but the grit isn't getting where it's needed because the Council seem to have overlooked a rather vital link in the chain. Just how do they suppose the grit is going to get spread on our pavements? Cheery teams of volunteers working selflessly to improve their communities? A nice idea but unfortunately that's not the nature of our society. So the grit remains untouched in hundreds of grit bins spread around the city.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bYOjIuYKYEtk8VkDe2ksZEAQ5vTELUv171AQK_Auw0YSmUGjQb8vb4y5kJwOI2WLqV3q25_DEyWJpziD9CmrMlnDJBAwQ_Z-1CXc_wXRXKcrZaK_UDDslRLluzYNcHw9v0TfW8IzHfg/s1600-h/060110+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bYOjIuYKYEtk8VkDe2ksZEAQ5vTELUv171AQK_Auw0YSmUGjQb8vb4y5kJwOI2WLqV3q25_DEyWJpziD9CmrMlnDJBAwQ_Z-1CXc_wXRXKcrZaK_UDDslRLluzYNcHw9v0TfW8IzHfg/s400/060110+007.jpg" /></a><br />
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But what about Cllr Harrison's claim that "Pavements on the main roads get gritted by the manual road cleaners on their normal rota"? It seems we spend <a href="http://pavements%20on%20the%20main%20roads%20get%20gritted%20by%20the%20manual%20road%20cleaners%20on%20their%20normal%20rota/">£5.5 million</a> of street cleansing, which averages out at about £10,000 a day, enough to employ a hundred or so Street Cleaning Operatives you might think. So what were our small army of Street Cleansing Operatives up to yesterday? I happened across one and followed discreetly for a while (that's about as good as it gets for me these days). Totally ignoring the snow and slush, he busied himself trudging around in a forlorn attempt to find items of litter to pick up. When our streets are crying out for gritting this is just totally stupid (not that I blame the Operative <i>per se</i> - I presume he was just doing as instructed).<br />
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By chance I came across some info about York's response to snow and ice. <a href="http://www.york.gov.uk/transport/Roads__highways_and_pavements/Gritting/">We see</a> that despite being a relatively flat city they appear to have a comprehensive plan which includes treating the pavements on many strategic pedestrian routes with no less than eight downloadable maps showing exactly which pavements will be kept clear. So York's a bit further north and gets more snow, but is that really any excuse for Bristol City Council's comparatively pisspoor response?<br />
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Later edit: this post got 'retweeted' on Twitter a fair bit and there is now a <a href="http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23GritForBristol">#GritforBristol</a> topic.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-53534897804221072202010-01-04T08:57:00.003+00:002010-01-04T13:57:37.269+00:00Priorities Made PlainHowever much Bristol City Council might talk up how important they think<a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2008/sc/sc026/1217_16.pdf"> walking</a> and cycling, their true priorities are laid bare for all to see when the snow falls. Here we have a view of Queen's Road, Clifton, from 1 p.m. on 21st December, a little more than 12 hours after the snowfall. The main roads are of course clear and operating normally but the pavement in the foreground at the junction with Richmond Hill, the main walking route from Clifton, remains untreated and walkers are already sliding around as the snow is compacted to ice.<br />
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This location is notorious for becoming treacherous for walkers after snow falls since it is heavily used, slopes markedly and is shaded from the winter sun by the adjacent block of flats. Yet there isn't even a <a href="http://maps.bristol.gov.uk/default.aspx?action=Explore&group=Transport+and+Streets&layer=Grit+bins">grit bin</a> at this location. One of the nearest grit bins is located on a traffic island by the Victoria Rooms (visible as a yellow lump in the distance below), convenient for use on the road but hopelessly inconvenient for the footways. Even four days later no attempt had been made to deal with the ice, other than to wait for a thaw, and the pavement remained treacherous. <br />
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Down at the Docks it's a similar story. The south side quays are largely shaded by adjacent buildings from the low winter sun and by 25th December the snow had turned to an almost continuous sheet of ice and remained so for days afterwards. And this at a time of year when a walk, jog or bike ride around the Docks would be a very popular and necessary recreation. But the ice has clearly put so many people off, not to mention those who've ended up in hospital with sprains or fractures. Should it not be part of the duties of the Harbour Master to ensure that quay sides are kept safe for walking, jogging and cycling, the main ways in which most people interact with the Docks?<br />
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The Council's <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=32700479">policy</a> appears to be to grit and clear the main road network, but not including footways or cycleways, however important they may be. That is simply inconsistent with their new rhetoric about encouraging cycling and walking. This coming week, with sub-zero temperatures forecast for every night and some sleet and snowfalls, will see many more 'accidents' as people follow the Council's exhortations to walk or cycle to work. We have the right to expect strategic walking and cycling routes to be identified and treated in the same methodical way as the strategic routes for motor vehicles.<br />
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PS - It seems the <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Comment-Council-s-frosty-attitude-awful/article-1668286-detail/article.html">Evening Post</a> take a similar view. Oh dear.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-14990366756989753752010-01-02T11:01:00.001+00:002010-01-02T11:42:19.379+00:00The Centre - Alternative RoutesThe <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-change-at-centre.html">proposals</a> to restrain general traffic passing through the Centre will inevitably have knock-on effects for other parts of the road network and it will be the capacity of the wider network to absorb displaced traffic that will limit what can be achieved in the Centre. That is not to say that all the displaced traffic will have to be accommodated elsewhere. Some displaced car trips will be made by other modes instead and some will not be made at all, but a proportion of displaced trips, particularly those made by vans and lorries, will still need to be accommodated somewhere.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00047bed9272dad99002f&ll=51.453151,-2.599297&spn=0.01872,0.036478&t=p&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00047bed9272dad99002f&ll=51.453151,-2.599297&spn=0.01872,0.036478&t=p&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">City Centre changes - Dec 2009</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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The map above attempts to identify the alternative routes that will bear the brunt of the displaced traffic. As well as taking out the option of linking from Baldwin Street to the Centre the map shows Prince Street Bridge as closed to motor traffic as is already planned to accommodate the Ashton Vale BRT. The net effect is that journeys by car, van or lorry between the Clifton area and the south of the city become very constrained compared to what is currently possible. There will be almost no practical means of passing between those areas between the Cumberland Basin to the west and Newfoundland Circus (Cabot Circus) to the east.<br />
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In the south to north-west direction it appears that a couple of other routes will remain open (shown light blue on the map) along sections of one-way street, via Union Street in Broadmead and via Small Street and Nelson Street (although this latter is very circuitous). Union Street is frequently congested anyway and is an important bus route so it's unlikely that extra traffic can be accommodated there. In the other southbound direction one or two routes are possible but so circuitous as to be impractical, except perhaps the Bridewell St - Pithay route shown yellow which I suspect will need to be closed off to prevent it developing into a major rat run.<br />
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Elsewhere we can see that Park Street will become less attractive as a through route since it will lead only to St Jame's Barton, which can be reached more directly via Park Row - Marlborough Street. Indeed this might pave the way towards closing Park Street itself to motor traffic and diverting traffic via Jacob's Wells Road, but that's another story. Clearly Park Row - Marlborough Street will take displaced traffic and given how congested that corridor already is that must present problems.<br />
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From St James Barton round to Newfoundland Circus, Old Market (above) and Temple Circus will also take displaced traffic. In addition this is the planned route of the BRT going anti-clockwise around the city centre so there are more capacity issues there. Something has to give if these changes are to be pushed through. That something should not be the economic vitality of the city and we have to recognise that motor traffic, particularly commercial van and lorry traffic, has an important role there.<br />
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So that just leaves the private car, the elephant in the room that we all know is the root of the problem but few will dare criticise directly. Yet the relative ease with which cars pass around the city must change quite dramatically if any real improvements in the quality of the urban environment are to be achieved. Politicians like Jon Rogers have the unenviable job of trying to persuade a population, wedded to a myth of personal freedom through car ownership, of this simple reality.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-73324009242189769242010-01-01T12:10:00.005+00:002010-01-01T19:24:10.938+00:00All Change at the Centre?We've been hearing rumours for a while of plans for some radical changes to traffic patterns around the Centre and Bristol City Council decided to slip the controversial <a href="http://askbristol.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/city-centre-re-modelling-lets-open-the-debate/">announcement</a> out in the doldrums between Christmas and the New Year. Both the <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/time-drive-cars-Bristol-City-Centre-Bristol-s-traffic-supremo-believes/article-1655894-detail/article.html?cacheBust=pgN82M6avR72&authid=MSgScN8ryY1HWw6rZqZki7IKXZekzW7frydIiEKpnWSpHNC1262161755861&success=true#StartComments">Evening Post</a> and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8434694.stm">BBC</a> picked it up, followed by a story on bike news site <a href="http://road.cc/node/12344">Road CC</a>. The Post story attracted over 200 comments which is pretty good for the middle of a national holiday so they've run it for <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-city-centre-car-ban-reaction/article-1661541-detail/article.html">two</a> <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Ban-cars-centre-damage-Bristol-s-economy/article-1665391-detail/article.html">more</a> days. The proposals are shown in some detail on the map below (click to enlarge).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCfA3RxX0pIf0JYw9ezEr2pko0AEI0G2anTSyQEF3hFkF1UjCSUyiBnJsn0QTT8g59jyum9pmDgtLYteS4SrU9UsyyeaMQbBrAY44zYvsr2ETWq_CFqWmwg8LzsLpzUUwsqwaEt5CCpA/s1600-h/Centre+remodeling+DEC09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCfA3RxX0pIf0JYw9ezEr2pko0AEI0G2anTSyQEF3hFkF1UjCSUyiBnJsn0QTT8g59jyum9pmDgtLYteS4SrU9UsyyeaMQbBrAY44zYvsr2ETWq_CFqWmwg8LzsLpzUUwsqwaEt5CCpA/s400/Centre+remodeling+DEC09.jpeg" /></a><br />
</div> The essential elements of the proposal are that Colston Street and Baldwin Street will be closed to general traffic (except buses and cyclists) at their junctions with the Centre (St Augustine's Parade, Broadquay and Colston Avenue) and the only route through the Centre for general traffic will be north-south (shown east-west on the maps) from below College Green through to Lewin's Mead. Movements via Baldwin Street will not be possible except by circuitous local links. In addition the ends of Denmark Street and St Stephen's Street will be closed off to all traffic to eliminate potential rat runs and further improve the pedestrian realm. The effect of the proposals is more clearly shown on this map.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fGgtX7BwixjorYc5Ese84Jao-TKFT0omDzmaSeQ9m6OOtxmSrqBf58Ybrq1YY5D1mIsGf9OA-kVCZVNYTqmZGG1hQP6GUm6EKGTwB7dd6odECiVS2QmlYx4EthJWWeyBP2-3JtQHoQ/s1600-h/dcx-city-centre-remodelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fGgtX7BwixjorYc5Ese84Jao-TKFT0omDzmaSeQ9m6OOtxmSrqBf58Ybrq1YY5D1mIsGf9OA-kVCZVNYTqmZGG1hQP6GUm6EKGTwB7dd6odECiVS2QmlYx4EthJWWeyBP2-3JtQHoQ/s640/dcx-city-centre-remodelling.jpg" /></a><br />
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The Council are consulting on the proposals and to their credit have adapted their 'Ask Bristol' site to become what is in effect a <a href="http://askbristol.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/city-centre-re-modelling-lets-open-the-debate/">Wordpress blog</a> enabling comments to be posted, viewed and even commented on in turn, in the familiar manner. So far the response to the blog style approach seems to be positive and it's certainly far more engaging that Ask Bristol's previous highly controlled nods towards public engagement.<br />
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Comments on the proposed Centre remodelling are predictably mixed and often polarised. Some think the Centre should revert to a glorified traffic roundabout as it was in the 1980s while others think the current proposals far too tame and unambitious. My view is that these are basically sound proposals that strike the right sort of balance between the need to reclaim more of the public realm from the car and the need to accommodate a reasonable level of vehicular access.<br />
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Of course there is much more that can and should be done but in reality these things need to be carried through incrementally so that they can bed in and we can all adjust. Too much change in one go will provoke a backlash (and we get a taste of that from the BEP comments) and undermine the longer term objectives. We want to make as much progress as possible but there are limits to how much change people will accept before things get nasty and I suspect these proposals are pushing at that limit already.<br />
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The closure of Colston Street in front of the Colston Hall (above foreground) will allow for the creation of a kind of Piazza and complement the work to upgrade the Colston Hall itself. The closure of the end of Baldwin St will remove much of the existing traffic in Baldwin St and even in Park St since Park Row will generally provide the most direct route towards the south and east of the city. Pedestrian movements from the Centre towards the Old City (Corn St) and Broadmead will be much less interrupted by traffic flows into Baldwin St.<br />
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The Closure of other streets that currently connect to the Centre, like Denmark St and St Stephen’s St will improve pedestrian permeability and safety and bring those streets into the Centre 'ambience' and perhaps improve trade for businesses in those streets. Restricting the main north-south St Augustine’s Parade traffic to two lanes will allow for reasonable access but discourage through traffic and so minimise the impact of the remaining traffic. This could be complemented by making the whole Centre area subject to 20 mph limits to reduce potential conflict with pedestrians.<br />
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There is clearly much detailed work to be done to refine the proposals, for example in terms of accommodating cycle movements and providing priority crossings for pedestrians, but the big battle is to get the main thrust of the proposals accepted. As with the 20 mph proposals, we can play an important role in bringing that about. The Ask Bristol site gives us a suitable platform so let's all give Jon Rogers the support he deserves in trying to bring these much needed changes forward.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-21342729971339394822009-11-29T15:13:00.005+00:002009-11-29T15:48:53.725+00:00Global Warming - The Solution (Part 1).Firstly apologies for the long gap since my least blog. Unfortunately the real world occasionally intervenes and drags me away. There have been so many things to blog about too, what with Bristol City Council's capitulation to 'business-as-usual-only-more-so-and-stuff-the-environment' with their decision to pursue the football <a href="http://charlie-boltons-southville-blog.blogspot.com/2009/11/world-cup-bid-meeting.html">World Cup</a> bid. That I will hopefully come back to anon, but with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Change#2009_-_COP_15.2FMOP_5.2C_Copenhagen.2C_Denmark">Copenhagen</a> fast approaching it seems timely to launch my own modestly titled 'Solution to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming">Global Warming</a>'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI62wCLlnJGlx8GkxWhtCx4idNavbgExgrspnSut0fKGkj8LfZZL5g_LnETJvzVnBT4iCu35xpxsWOTCovvqELhqYOGKhemYQ5pIxUrEmzMEBkNDfFTRwyHJv-1Q2JI6B5TH7eGTDJ3E/s1600/global-warming.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI62wCLlnJGlx8GkxWhtCx4idNavbgExgrspnSut0fKGkj8LfZZL5g_LnETJvzVnBT4iCu35xpxsWOTCovvqELhqYOGKhemYQ5pIxUrEmzMEBkNDfFTRwyHJv-1Q2JI6B5TH7eGTDJ3E/s640/global-warming.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Obligatory smoking chimney pic</span><br />
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Let me say at the outset that I'm not the only person proposing this kind of approach and I'm not claiming it as some great leap in thinking. It is merely the simple application of free market principles (no, that's not an oxymoron) to the problem, an application of the '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principle">polluter pays' principle</a> and an example of an<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotax"> ecotax</a>. It's simple in essence so easily understood by the consumer but would allow for the evolution of sophistication, entreprise and diversity in it's implementation (which I'll describe in Part 2). What's most important, in contrast to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading">Cap-and-Trade</a>, it would actually work.<br />
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The essence of the system is that the consumer of goods or services should pay for the environmental costs arising from the supply of those goods or services, including of course the cost of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide">carbon dioxide</a> and other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas">greenhouse gases</a>. In the case of carbon dioxide the cost would be what it actually costs to neutralise or fully mitigate the environmental impact. So far so familiar. But then the final element is where it gets interesting. The environmental costs paid by the consumer must be used to pay for (and will be determined by) the environmental neutralisation or mitigation so that the impact really is neutralised/mitigated.<br />
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I'll describe the mechanism for doing this in some detail in Part 2 in due course but let's first consider how such a system would work in principle. Say Mr Consumer wants to travel to exotic climes. He looks at air fares, but finds that the incorporation of the environmental costs makes air travel much more expensive. He then has three choices.<br />
<ol><li>Pay the higher air fare and fly (in which case his environmental impact will be neutralised/mitigated so no problem). </li>
<li>Travel by some other means and/or a shorter distance with a lower environmental impact and pay the lower environmental costs (in which case no problem) </li>
<li>Not travel (in which case no problem). </li>
</ol>Freedom of choice but with responsibility. The same would apply to every single item of consumption because every good or service would incorporate its environmental costs. Even a cup of coffee or a hamburger would be more expensive precisely in proportion to its total environmental impact. So we would all inevitably adjust our spending to favour options with low environmental impacts and eschew options with high environmental impacts. We would find all energy costs much higher so we would need to travel less and invest in much better home insulation, meat and dairy products would be more expensive and vegetarian options less so and so on through the whole gamut of modern consumption.<br />
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Nobody would be denied the theoretical choice of flying, or driving an inefficient car, or whatever, but since such options would become so much more expensive only the relatively wealthy will have the practical means to choose (which is already true for most of the world's population anyway). The consequence would be a big shift in consumption patterns and the demise of many contemporary business models, notably those predicated on cheap air travel like, er, the World Cup (good choice Bristol City Council). Businesses would have to adapt and quickly to survive and prosper.<br />
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So problem solved? All the world's nations have to do in Copenhagen is agree to adopt such a system in good time and we can all forget about the worst of the Global Warming scenarios (unless it's already too late, in which case we can worry about our future survival instead on how to avoid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">Climate Change</a>)? But of course they won't for the very simple reason that it would actually work. That is the last thing that powerful business interests want. Better for them to carry on with failing policies like Cap-and-Trade than adopt a policy that will actually work.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-565387910308586412009-11-12T17:18:00.003+00:002009-11-12T19:13:45.788+00:00It's Total Twenty (well almost).Bristol City Council have just issued a Press Release on their 20 mph proposals for south and east Bristol. The number of roads excluded from the 20 mph coverage has been pared right down. The south Bristol is now 'Total Twenty' with no exclusions except the fragments on Clarence Road and York Road along the Cut which are effectively outside the scheme area. The whole of the A38 (West St - Malago Road - Bedminster Parade) is now included as 20 mph.<br />
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In east Bristol the exclusions (shown red below) are the M32 - Newfoundland Way - Newfoundland St, Easton Way -Lawrence Hill Roundabout - Barrow Road, Lawrence Hill - Church Road,<br />
Old Market - West Street - Lawford Street/Lamb Street/Lawfords Gate/Trinity Road - Clarence Road (the A420). No one ever expected the M32 and Easton Way to be included so effectively it's just the A420 that has been excluded. That will still disappoint some but the gains compared to the officers' original proposals are enormous.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.0004782fd66d64fa8f260&ll=51.463259,-2.572689&spn=0.018716,0.036478&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
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The proposals will have to be the subject of Traffic Regulation Orders before they can be implemented and it is possible that there might be objections, but it looks as though the overwhelming degree of public support for 20 mph proposals has carried the day. Credit to all those who have contributed to the consultations and debate, especially to <a href="http://www.20splentyforbristol.btik.com/">20splenty4Bristol</a>, <a href="http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/index.php?cID=205">Bristol Living Streets</a>, <a href="http://www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk/">Bristol Cycling Campaign</a> and above all to <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy/Elected-Representatives/councillor-finder.en?Task=name&CouncillorId=69">Jon Rogers</a> for pushing so hard for the minimum of exclusions. We must also recognise the willingness of the officers themselves to listen to the public and to reconsider their initial positionChris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-75603314712525629402009-11-12T10:26:00.006+00:002009-11-12T10:50:52.828+00:00The Arena - Disconnected Thinking?It <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-arena-Ashton-Vale-backed-party-leaders/article-1508297-detail/article.html">seems</a> that there is now a serious push on to site an Arena (circle below) at Ashton Vale near the site now allocated for a new football stadium (rectangle below), with the Bristol Evening Post once again acting as <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/New-Bristol-City-stadium-lead-new-arena/article-1383264-detail/article.html">cheerleader</a>. Bristol's current political leaders all seem to be in favour of an Ashton Vale Arena, partly on the grounds that there is a 'synergy' between the Football Stadium and an Arena in terms of their transport infrastructure requirements, which is true up to a point.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=h&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00047829081acf3ee68b7&ll=51.435792,-2.628565&spn=0.009364,0.018239&z=15&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=h&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.00047829081acf3ee68b7&ll=51.435792,-2.628565&spn=0.009364,0.018239&z=15" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Arenas and Stadiums</a> in a larger map</small> <br />
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But an Arena isn't quite the same as a football stadium, mainly because it is likely to be staging events far more frequently and so having a much more significant impact in transport terms. The inescapable reality is that an Ashton Vale Arena will be accessed overwhelmingly by car even if the Ashton Vale BRT is developed, whereas the site <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7141884.stm">previously</a> envisaged for an Arena near Temple Meads could really make good use of our rail infrastructure and would be much more accessible by walking, cycling and bus due to its central location.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg734OiPu3cja4WNTse00Rcrt0rBrx4d7L-G28_ePyXAq4L6zjap1-0gJbYMwYnnEV8PZvSLuodnQMTKUXePtrOoyg-tX-V0kZ37hbWinoYXZQnvGe9IsMyL6-dIbbXFiOVrJ8QfCyunj4/s1600-h/23May09-Totaldownload+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg734OiPu3cja4WNTse00Rcrt0rBrx4d7L-G28_ePyXAq4L6zjap1-0gJbYMwYnnEV8PZvSLuodnQMTKUXePtrOoyg-tX-V0kZ37hbWinoYXZQnvGe9IsMyL6-dIbbXFiOVrJ8QfCyunj4/s320/23May09-Totaldownload+216.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Land at Ashton Vale as it is now, following wanton destruction of trees earlier this year.</span><br />
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George Ferguson has been<a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/George-Ferguson-Let-s-rally-new-Bristol-City-stadium/article-1500234-detail/article.html"> quick</a> to <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/George-Ferguson-wants-Bristol-arena-Temple-Meads/article-1508308-detail/article.html">speak</a> out against the Ashton Vale proposal for this reason. This blog has had its differences with George in the past but once again he is saying clearly and loudly what desperately needs to be said. If we are even half serious about becoming a Green Capital or even just a Sustainable City then we need to think seriously about the transport implications of such iconic new developments as the Arena. Quite apart from the number of trips generated the character of the accessibiltiy of the Arena will send out signals about the future character of Bristol as a whole.<br />
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One only has to visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Stadium">Cardiff Millenium Stadium</a> to see the extent to which its proximity to Cardiff Central Station and its generally central location in the city is the key to its accessibility. Think of the 'synergy' between an Arena at Temple Meads and our rail services, which would receive a big boost during otherwise off-peak periods. The infrastructure and the capacity is there already and has the potential to be increased. Admittedly there is the posibility of some limited rail access being developed near Ashton Vale but this would be out on a limb rather than at the heart of the region's rail network and simply wouldn't have the capacity to replace more than a token amount of car journeys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjMCAI0ShdkYC_Vv_sEOQR110Dq_4vCJyh4KDefxxWwZlfFhzxmC_63YpJZ0ALbHCiuBdLkh_nJL0yeQLNSdpUYcIs53giXZovomr3qK-VaFt5oiiFdOT3wnt0srceZg1mj_JXateSVc/s1600-h/arena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjMCAI0ShdkYC_Vv_sEOQR110Dq_4vCJyh4KDefxxWwZlfFhzxmC_63YpJZ0ALbHCiuBdLkh_nJL0yeQLNSdpUYcIs53giXZovomr3qK-VaFt5oiiFdOT3wnt0srceZg1mj_JXateSVc/s320/arena.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
So once again those of us who care about the future direction must add our voices to that of George Ferguson and try to point out the contradictions between an Arena at Ashton Vale and a sustainable future for Bristol. Having the Football Stadium at Ashton Vale, just 750 metres further out than the existing football stadium, is one thing but an Arena that will draw crowds from the whole of Greater Bristol and well beyond is something else.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-63658816758995762272009-11-11T08:39:00.001+00:002009-11-11T10:50:04.379+00:00Time Running Out for Hourbikes?A <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/hourbike-launched-with-whimper.html?showComment=1257851865403#c7947527042992352809">comment</a> by Tim on the previous <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/hourbike-launched-with-whimper.html">post</a> dealing with <a href="https://www.hourbike.com/hourbike/locations.uk.england.bristol.do">Hourbikes</a> drew attention to the declining number of bikes listed as available from the 4 'hubs' in central Bristol, according to Hourbike's own <a href="https://www.hourbike.com/hourbike/locations.uk.england.bristol.chart.do">map</a>. At the time of writing only 10 bikes are shown compared to 18 at the launch of Hourbikes in July. Numbers also appeared low at the 4 UWE/Parkway hubs with just 13 shown as available. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXQZwTo3dnn93FT2uocbVDDwsWYeTlrma7bI20LbB_UScPyS7Ypt1zBSCSrHhszRrOaUHwCIoN3QlUK2q_u7DAM_AyfHeGSRH1wf14vcPsUSnIbOZVlAiwYoccMjB-hukbKWvZRrQlUc/s1600-h/181009+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXQZwTo3dnn93FT2uocbVDDwsWYeTlrma7bI20LbB_UScPyS7Ypt1zBSCSrHhszRrOaUHwCIoN3QlUK2q_u7DAM_AyfHeGSRH1wf14vcPsUSnIbOZVlAiwYoccMjB-hukbKWvZRrQlUc/s320/181009+012.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I've been keeping an eye on some of the Hourbike stands (yes CCTV people, that shifty looking character hanging around the hubs is me) and there's little evidence of any use. From time to time there's one more bike at one and one less bike at another, but I've never actually seen anybody using the system. Has anyone? Back in the summer we were told use would pick up when the students returned, which may or may not be true out at UWE but hasn't happened in central Bristol.<br />
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On the plus side I've been surprised at how little vandalism there's been. A couple of the wire baskets have been crushed but otherwise the bikes seem to have remained unscathed. Theft might explain the diminishing numbers of bikes, but I suspect they are being quietly withdrawn for use elsewhere. Ten bikes is still more than enough to cope with the minimal demand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEdjEDStdkr9mV_ot6SizPb0D63b19etqD9uHGTo8TL8PGMFSTN4pRcbTX_RGJy9kHwyvEi76ipJJGq59Q5X82fBfEgVwI05h48nKLHKabktTh1vV7_kaTNMMaL4Kp37tmXDTdhGR-SA/s1600-h/190909+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEdjEDStdkr9mV_ot6SizPb0D63b19etqD9uHGTo8TL8PGMFSTN4pRcbTX_RGJy9kHwyvEi76ipJJGq59Q5X82fBfEgVwI05h48nKLHKabktTh1vV7_kaTNMMaL4Kp37tmXDTdhGR-SA/s320/190909+064.jpg" /></a> <br />
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So is there any future for Hourbikes in Bristol? Certainly not on the basis of the current minimal coverage, as many people said at the outset. There doesn't seem to be any effort to secure more hubs either, even at Temple Meads station which is the most obvious location. And I can't see Cycling City throwing any more money at Hourbikes on the basis of current performance. <br />
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The failure of the Hourbike venture should be an object lesson for us all in the need for these things to be based on sound market economics and not just wishful thinking. The waste of resources on the Hourbike scheme has been as modest as the network coverage but there was, as possibly still is, pressure for a massive public subsidy which would have been at the expense of potentially much more productive infrastructure investment.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-16317457737669134852009-11-07T10:15:00.006+00:002009-11-07T11:15:52.763+00:0020 mph - Jon Rogers says No to OfficersCouncillor <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy/Elected-Representatives/councillor-finder.en?Task=name&CouncillorId=69">Jon Rogers</a>, Executive Member for Transport and Sustainability, has sent in a comment (below) on his council's 20 mph proposals which we've been <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/total-twenty-for-bristol.html">covering</a> <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/twentys-plenty-needs-you_19.html">extensively </a>on this blog.<br />
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The most contentious issue is the number of streets to be excluded from the 20 mph coverage within the pilot areas, with the officers taking a predictably cautious approach with the exclusion of all streets which already have an average speed above 24 mph (so excluding the ones that most need calming).<br />
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Jon Roger's rejection of his officers' report and insistence on fewer exclusions represents a major showdown on a matter that Jon Rogers clearly feels very strongly about. Jon's comment -<br />
<blockquote>Morning all<br />
<br />
I would appreciate some help.<br />
<br />
I have this week rejected the officer report on 20mph areas.<br />
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To be fair, they had added the following previously excluded roads to the list of 20mph roads...<br />
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<b>Inner East Bristol: </b><br />
Mina Road<br />
Ashley Rd <br />
Stapleton Rd (part) – between its junctions with Easton Way & Robertson Rd.<br />
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<b>Inner South Bristol: </b><br />
North St (part) – between its junctions with Dean Lane/Cannon St & Luckwell Rd<br />
Dean Lane<br />
Cannon Street<br />
West Street<br />
East St/Bedminster Parade. <br />
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I hope we all would agree to those.<br />
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However, officers had recommended that I reject residents calls for the following streets to be included as 20mph.<br />
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<b>Inner East Bristol:</b> <br />
Whitehall Road<br />
Easton Road<br />
Church Road (western end)<br />
Ashley Hill<br />
Sussex Place<br />
Sevier Street<br />
James Street<br />
York Street<br />
Fishponds Rd (between junctions with Robertson Rd & Muller Rd)<br />
Old Market<br />
Pennywell Rd<br />
Lamb Street/Lawfords Gate<br />
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<b>Inner South Bristol:</b> <br />
St Luke’s Road<br />
Greenway Bush Lane<br />
North Street (between junctions with Luckwell Rd & Ashton Rd)<br />
Ashton Road<br />
Duckmoor Road<br />
Luckwell Road<br />
Smyth Road<br />
Malago Road<br />
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I know very well and use regularly only the five in Ashley Ward...<br />
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Ashley Hill<br />
Sussex Place<br />
Sevier Street<br />
James Street<br />
York Street<br />
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I had previously emphasised (as Ashley ward councillor) to officers, that in my opinion, they should include all these 5 roads in the pilot (as well as Mina Road and Ashley Road, which they have supported). <br />
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This would mean that on entering Ashley ward, there would be a 20mph speed on ALL our residential roads. This could reduce the need for 20mph signs, limiting them to the entry roads, and perhaps reminders along the main routes.<br />
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I therefore, on the basis of what I know about Ashley ward, rejected the report.<br />
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However I can see that some of these roads should be kept at 30 mph, for example major bus routes or where the police have major concerns over enforcement. <br />
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What I need help on is the other roads. Does the same apply to them, or are officers right to recommend exclusion.<br />
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Comments?<br />
<br />
Jon <br />
</blockquote><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=p&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000472cfaebd7573cc65b&ll=51.455184,-2.590199&spn=0.037438,0.077248&z=13&output=embed" width="450"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=p&msa=0&msid=107123778399462250430.000472cfaebd7573cc65b&ll=51.455184,-2.590199&spn=0.037438,0.077248&z=13" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">20 mph in Bristol</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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I've marked up the roads listed on my 20 mph map which you can get a better view of by clicking on it. The streets now accepted for inclusion are marked boldly in green (of course). Those remaining excluded (at 30 mph) are in red. The 20 mph pilot area boundaries are marked in blue.<br />
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So let's have your comments and freedback, particlularly for those areas in south Bristol and east Bristol that you know best.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-49958439501294817152009-11-04T14:51:00.005+00:002009-11-06T09:54:15.913+00:00Yet Another Cyclist Killed on the Streets of Cycling City.The Evening Post have just<a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Cyclist-dies-Bristol-road-crash-injuries/article-1481503-detail/article.html"> reported </a>the death of the<a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/another-ghost-bike-for-bristol.html"> third </a><a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/another-cyclist-killed_08.html">cyclist</a> to be killed on the streets of Bristol this year. A collision occurred on October 24th near the junction of Batten Road and Hillside Road in St George which resulted in critical injuries to the cyclist who subsequently died as a result of the injuries. This represents another blow for Cycling City which aims to encourage more people to cycle while doing little to make our streets safer.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hillside+road,+bristol&sll=51.468031,-2.509797&sspn=0.00655,0.013797&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=h&ll=51.45871,-2.525289&spn=0.001003,0.00228&z=18&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=hillside+road,+bristol&sll=51.468031,-2.509797&sspn=0.00655,0.013797&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hillside+Rd,+Bristol,+Avon+BS5,+United+Kingdom&t=h&ll=51.45871,-2.525289&spn=0.001003,0.00228&z=18" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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As yet little is publically known about the circumstances other than that the cyclist had emerged from the side road before being hit by a car, although the Police are already using prejudicial language like "the cyclist emerged without warning..." which rather begs the question of what 'warning' should be given. Nothing that I know of in the Highway Code that says you should give a warning before emerging from a side road. We look forward to an explanation for this bizarre language from the Police.<br />
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As always it is tempting but dangerous to speculate about the exact circumstances, but we do know that in the vast majority of instances of cyclists being killed a motor vehicle driving at excessive speed is involved. We also know that Hillside Road is one of those radial rat runs where speeding is endemic and where cyclists have been killed before. So it would be surprising if speed was not the crucial factor. <br />
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Quite simply it is the speed and weight (mass) of motor vehicles that creates the danger on our roads. A one tonne motor vehicle being driven at 32 mph has 100,000 Joules of kinetic energy compared to just 1,000 Joules of kinetic energy for a 100 kg cyclist riding at 10 mph. In most cases it is the massive force brought to bear by the motor vehicle that causes such life threatening injuries. Which is why it is so important that speed limits are bought down and effectively enforced, not just on side roads but on main roads like Hillside Road.<br />
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Later edit (6/11/09) - Police website report <a href="http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=18388&t=1&lid=1">here</a>.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-85276872542026709102009-10-31T22:17:00.012+00:002009-10-31T23:11:21.619+00:00Cycling City - Critical MessHere's an amusing little quandary for Cllr Jon Rogers and Bristol's Cycling City leadership. They've just launched a new web site, called <a href="http://www.betterbybike.info/">Better by Bike</a>, as reported on <a href="http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/cycling-city-another-failed-website_29.html">on this blog</a> back in September. Unlike previous Cycling City web sites this one is intended to allow a certain degree of public participation, at least in terms of posting details of forthcoming events and rides. No doubt this is in response to Jon Rogers' wish for the project to be more open and to embrace the wider cycling public. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnL38yObPmQBduxffLi4gi1uXCLOIoLECcZk5xKLo_Eqin_fJZh3X0niFEZ-3QwIq6Wn9bnpxaYxTdquf524t7Jn2UXhLN3NeYDWQChm20LZYzJqre3pQtnGbocQ6nu9vH45FL-ONd0o/s1600-h/DSCF2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnL38yObPmQBduxffLi4gi1uXCLOIoLECcZk5xKLo_Eqin_fJZh3X0niFEZ-3QwIq6Wn9bnpxaYxTdquf524t7Jn2UXhLN3NeYDWQChm20LZYzJqre3pQtnGbocQ6nu9vH45FL-ONd0o/s320/DSCF2206.JPG" /></a><br />
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But straightaway the principle of openness is put to the test. Someone has posted details of all the forthcoming <a href="http://www.betterbybike.info/critical-mass-ride">Critical Mass</a> bike rides on the <i>Better by Bike</i> events list. Now for those of you that don't know Critical Mass is pretty <a href="http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-11931693_ITM">controversial</a> since it involves a large group of cyclists completely taking over the section of roadway they are using, typically spreading out to occupy two or three traffic lanes to block any overtaking by motorists. To some extent this is a necessary tactic to keep the ride as one coherent body and not allow it to become fragmented.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRjTAQGLJe9RpOFCqQLnx6iEqgy5344sKYve-dCN8Lweg8G5jgnRCOX2gGCMwxCOQunzS9a2dP75KjV9WOc8xGfbpmqzaTdGE40AR5VWdy_WIwdcAAGfaL_AIsgxszFwfspjzKT-Gmnk/s1600-h/DSCF2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRjTAQGLJe9RpOFCqQLnx6iEqgy5344sKYve-dCN8Lweg8G5jgnRCOX2gGCMwxCOQunzS9a2dP75KjV9WOc8xGfbpmqzaTdGE40AR5VWdy_WIwdcAAGfaL_AIsgxszFwfspjzKT-Gmnk/s320/DSCF2213.JPG" /></a> <br />
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Needless to say some of the motorists stuck behind a Critical Mass ride and reduced to a snail's pace for anything up to, what, a few minutes (shock, horror) don't appreciate this tactic and tend to express their frustration by illegal horn sounding and, given half a chance, aggressive overtaking. On occasion things can get nasty and violent confrontations have ensued, although that is certainly not the objective of Critical Mass.<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2246736445&v=wall"> This</a> facebook site gives more background to Bristol Critical Mass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcLLCsUM0hpZBmqQQRfWhHmEH8Y2GM-8vYfUtLqSvFB2j37tJx2jJ-cfB8dwkwtOmofChbUYqwgGKWL747DnJhkvmED_R5c_LXea0i044DPN2eNPJQx0SmHLK_Z2aSPHByKcyitowGnw/s1600-h/DSCF2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcLLCsUM0hpZBmqQQRfWhHmEH8Y2GM-8vYfUtLqSvFB2j37tJx2jJ-cfB8dwkwtOmofChbUYqwgGKWL747DnJhkvmED_R5c_LXea0i044DPN2eNPJQx0SmHLK_Z2aSPHByKcyitowGnw/s320/DSCF2614.JPG" /></a><br />
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Like many cyclists I've always had mixed feelings about the event. It's good to get together with other cyclists once a month to enjoy that fabled 'safety in numbers' and to create a different kind of street culture for a couple of hours. But I've never been comfortable with the inevitable (?) confrontation with motorists. I know they bring the whole city to a standstill twice a day for 250 days of every year but even so I can't help wondering if aggravating them serves any useful purpose.<br />
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Anyway back to Jon Rogers and Cycling City. How are they going to react to discovering that they are using council resources to host details of such a <a href="http://www.sennir.co.uk/Journal/Bristol_Critical_Mass_goes_Awry">controversial</a> event as Critical Mass? Openness is all very well in theory but when it means advertising Critical Mass on a council web site even a liberal democrat like Jon Rogers might have second thoughts. My guess is that Critical Mass will be scrubbed from <i>Better by Bike</i> by noon on Monday.<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlS7wl3PrN5mxdm3pouG7AGP1a6F01pe5N2eEoI64180NtJ7fkd92IoiZZvqgvi2EXvbX9u-F5wZgt4onTywnguAeaVUeNppKsTzi4cfjeAARq98-HtAJrgeoFdQdhhEPDoS5beCYOxE/s1600-h/DSCF2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlS7wl3PrN5mxdm3pouG7AGP1a6F01pe5N2eEoI64180NtJ7fkd92IoiZZvqgvi2EXvbX9u-F5wZgt4onTywnguAeaVUeNppKsTzi4cfjeAARq98-HtAJrgeoFdQdhhEPDoS5beCYOxE/s320/DSCF2621.JPG" /></a><br />
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Pics from Bristol Critical Mass summer 2009Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-13649633347751294652009-10-27T10:39:00.005+00:002009-10-27T12:54:50.677+00:00Cycling City - Those Unofficial Conference Minutes.I wasn't able to attend yesterday's Cycling City conference - "Gaining Momentum" - due to a throat infection that I haven't shaken off yet. Uncontrolled violent coughing doesn't go down too well at such events. A pity really, judging from the rather critical <a href="http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-wasting-cycling-millions/article-1456558-detail/article.html">Evening Post report</a>. Normally one would expect any problems to be glossed over for such a public event but it seems that enough may have been said to substantiate a fairly negative article, even if the headline itself drifted off into speculation.<br />
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However a copy of the unofficial minutes have come my way (one of the few perks of being a blogger is the occasional and mysterious appearance of such things in one's inbox), apparently having been left behind on a table. Having read them I now suspect I got off likely. Whoever wrote these notes (and I genuinely have no idea who it was) is (a) brilliant (so all BCC's employees are in the clear) and (b) obviously had the conference scenario down to a tee so I suspect it wasn't his first, although it may be his last.<br />
<blockquote><i><b>Cycling City conference Gaining Momentum</b></i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>Cllr Dr Jon Rogers </b>(Executive Member,Transport): (Welcome): You're all lovely! 3 cheers for Cycling City! I love you all, even the bloggers (shows slide of Green Bristol blog)...I love your friendly criticism! Traffic lights are green - lets go! Evening Post loves me now too! 3 cheers for Cycling City!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>Jan Ormondroyd</b> (Chief Executive Officer): (Opening remarks): I've got a bike! I'm all wobbly! 3 cheers for Cycling City! I want it!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>Philip Darnton</b>, Chairman, Cycling England: (Keynote address): 3 cheers for Cycling City! Why is Bristol so important to Cycling England? Because there are only four of us and our jobs depend on it! Now's the time to pull together! Its easy! Just spend all the money, and then tell us how much cycling has improved! You can do it! Oh yes you can! Oh YES you can! Pleaeeeese! I'm such as nice chap!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>David Bishop</b> (Strategic Director): 3 cheers for Cycling City! Yes we really want it. Oh yes we all do. We want a sustainable Bristol a congestion free Bristol and cycling so important - we mean to succeed, errm (looks at notes and sits down)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>Hugh Annett </b>(Director of Public Health): Cycling is healthy! 3 cheers for cycling!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><b>Ed Plowden</b> (Programme Manager): (breathlessly rushes on. we're doing this and this and this and this and this and this and we're going to do this and this and this and this and this (images flash by on screen). phew ! (mops brow); time for a cuppa!</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i><b>Convenor</b>: Now we'll have a pretend workshop. Talk to the people on your table about the things on the postcard for 45 minutes.</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>(45 mins later) - <b>Convenor:</b> Now wasn’t that fun. Next we have Silly Question Time. If you listened very carefully at the start you'll have heard me whisper that you should write your question on the card which is in your recyclable delegate bag with the free squeezy water bottle. I have 5 questions for the panel. First question is (reads card) ... ?????</i><br />
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<i>Panel:<b>David Bishop:</b> 3 cheers for cycling city!</i><br />
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<i><b>Convenor</b>: Next question "Are you sure you've got the balance between hard and soft measures right???" Now that's a hard one.</i><br />
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<i>Panel - <b>Ed Plowden</b>: Absolutely yes. My balance is fine. They've taken my stabilisers off! Watch me go down Gloucester Road! Wheeeee….!</i><br />
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<i><b>Convenor</b>: Next question is "Are you listening to the voices of experience???."</i><br />
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<i><b>Philip</b>: It's SO important that people with experience think they're being listened to.And everyone one else too. Listening is so important.</i><br />
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<i><b>Convenor</b>: Question: "Will you maintain the cycle paths???</i><br />
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<i>Panel (<b>Ed</b>): That’s a good one - will we or won't we? The answer is we'll make them so they can be maintained. 3 cheers for cycling city!</i><br />
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<i><b>Convenor</b>: No more questions!</i><br />
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<i><b>Philip Darnton</b>: (winding up): This is such a great day! Now's the time to pull together! No more silly squabbling! Just do it! You'll be able to say to your grandchildren: Oh yes, I was there…...I was there when it all started at Gloucester County Cricket Club on Monday 26 October 2009...I heard the Chief Executive say "I want it!" 3 cheers for…………</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>(Here the notes end with mark of a broken pencil lead..)</i><br />
</blockquote>Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225087846795766487.post-74107098648064306492009-10-26T08:24:00.003+00:002009-10-26T20:05:21.039+00:00It's Blame the Victims TimeWhen the clocks go back in late October and we all find ourselves setting off home in the dark it's traditional to mark the change with a flurry of press releases trying to place the blame for road collisions and casualties firmly on the shoulders of the victims.<br />
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<a href="http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/641.html">Here</a> is one example of this autumn's crop from an organisation calling itself Road Safety GB, which was formerly unknown as the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association, a bunch of career bureaucrats who have taken the concept of ineffectuality to new depths. <br />
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<img align="left" alt="" height="281" hspace="6" src="http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/misc/fckeditorFiles/image/CHILDREN/be-seen1%281%29.jpg" vspace="2" width="198" /><i>"Road Safety GB has launched a campaign to highlight the extent of the danger presented to children by the darker evenings that follow October’s clock change."</i><br />
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And that danger is? We're not exactly told, except that -<br />
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<i>"The national campaign encourages children to wear bright, reflective clothing, especially for walks to and from school" </i><br />
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So the danger, it seems, arises from children behaving irresponsibly by wearing school uniforms or, even worse, fashionable and practical clothes on their way to and from school. Do Road Safety GB tell us why this should be so dangerous? Er no, it appears to be assumed that everyone 'knows' why wearing normal clothes is irresponsible and dangerous. All we get is a reiteration of the blame mantra -<br />
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<i>"Be Bright, Be Seen’ places the responsibility on people of all ages to ensure children wear bright, reflective clothing.." </i><br />
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<i>"...twice the number of child pedestrians were killed on the nation’s roads in November compared with October and December, while there is a 10% increase in the overall number of pedestrian fatalities...During the week, nearly 40% of all pedestrian casualties occur between 3pm and 6pm."</i><br />
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No mention of how our children are getting killed. Do they spontaneously combust perhaps? Or get struck by lightning? Or might it possibly have something to do with all those cars hurtling around, routinely breaking speed limits, jumping red lights, failing to stop at Zebras, driving on footways, chatting on mobiles, texting and generally fiddling with electronic devices rather than bothering to do anything as boring as actually looking where they're going? <br />
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No mention of cars or motor vehicles whatsoever in the Road Safety GB press release. No mention of speeding, no mention of the need to stop on red or at Zebra crossings, no mention of the dangers of driving on footways, chatting on mobiles, texting and all the rest. All we get is the subtlest hint, no more, of the possible involvement of motorists -<br />
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<i>"...but Road Safety GB is also calling for adults and drivers to be more aware at this time of year....also on rush hour drivers to be especially watchful during their journeys, ensuring headlights are working correctly."</i><br />
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So what is it that 'adults and drivers' are supposed to be more aware of? Oh yes, that their headlights are working correctly. So it seems we 'adults and drivers' can carry on speeding, texting and chatting on mobiles to our hearts' content providing our headlights are working correctly. According to Road Safety GB these things are so insignificant as to be unworthy of even the slightest mention in a road safety press release and who are we to argue with these supine, self-serving pathetic parasites. <br />
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So motorists, when you're multi-tasking in your car, speeding along residential streets while chatting on your mobile, and some child gets in YOUR way and ends up a mangled, lifeless heap in the gutter, remember the Road Safety GB advice and be sure to check whether the child was wearing 'bright reflective clothing'. Unless your very unlucky the child won't be so you can rest assured that the blame is entirely theirs. As long as your headlights were working correctly of course.Chris Hutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01532451004057748734noreply@blogger.com79