Dear Councillors
On 09/10/01, South Gloucestershire Council contractors installed 6 bollards on the Bath-Bristol Cyclepath at Meadow Court Drive. It is my opinion as an experienced cyclist and a daily user of the cyclepath that these bollards pose a significant hazard to cyclists without bringing any safety benefits for pedestrians.
Pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren, frequently cross the cyclepath at Meadow Court Drive. It is clearly necessary to slow cyclists at this crossing, previously achieved by 2 speed bumps. These have now been replaced by black bollards whose lateral spacing is less than the track of many tricycles and trailers. The work was evidently carried out without the consultation with cyclists required by the council's cycling strategy.
According to John Richfield, the council's Cycling Officer, the speed bumps were dangerous to cyclists who came upon them unexpectedly in the dark. He believes that narrowing the cyclepath (eliminating the room for manoeuvre so essential when avoiding such obstacles as broken glass and loose dogs) using unlit black bollards is somehow safer.
I do not believe that the council considered cyclists at all when installing these bollards. I believe the only concern was pedestrian safety, a laudable concern but one which I do not believe has been met. Previously, cyclists were generally alert to the possibility of pedestrians crossing in front of them. Now, time spent watching cyclists at Meadow Court Drive will reveal many being forced to concentrate on negotiating the bollards, rather than looking ahead to the crossing.
Bollards would be a sensible option for controlling cycle speed at the Meadow Court Drive crossing if the cyclepath was wider and the bollards could be spaced further apart. As it is, they are a danger which I believe should be removed. As a South Gloucestershire Council Tax payer, I am also annoyed that my taxes were spent in this way. I should therefore be grateful if you would discuss my concerns with John Richfield and raise them at the next council meeting.
For your further information, pictures of the bollards and full details of my concerns are available at www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/cycling/commute/bollards.html
--
Danny Colyer
Danny
CV
Cycling
Recumbents
Unicycling
Juggling
Other Links
