Bristol A38 "Cycle route 17"

[pwh91]

Part of the problem with this area of the A38 is that it seems to be different almost each time I'm going through there recently, and it now seems very busy, with a lot of information to take in.

There is an equivalent meeting on the alternate months every two months in Bristol I gather ... (I've not been - its at an awkward time of day when you have children), but I do know others who have been.

Whilst on the subject of consultations and the A38 ... bit further in there is a redevelopment of Ashley Down Road - including resurfacing it (possibly the road most needing resurfacing in Bristol). The major driving force behind this change seems to be pedestrians so the pavements are going to become wider by removing some of the on-street parking. Most of it looks reasonable but I'm not convinced by the narrowing of Ashley Road - it doesn't seem to benefit pedestrians, whereas maybe a build-out on the other side might?

http://www.opinionsu...on/consult_view

Hi Summerdays,

Thanks, now I'm in the swing I might check out the Bristol version - there's a mad junction marking change southbound on the A38 between the Horfield sports centre and Wessex Road which again forces the cyclist into the right-hand lane for 50 yards just to go straight on. Could be interesting to check out the safety audit for this also.

I've not cycled off down to Ashley Down junction for a while since I head over to Golden Hill on my commute, but I can be pretty sure that the level of thought put into cycle usage will be very low if the same people planned this as have messed up the Wessex junction...

 

[summerdays]

Hi Summerdays,

Thanks, now I'm in the swing I might check out the Bristol version - there's a mad junction marking change southbound on the A38 between the Horfield sports centre and Wessex Road which again forces the cyclist into the right-hand lane for 50 yards just to go straight on. Could be interesting to check out the safety audit for this also.

I've not cycled off down to Ashley Down junction for a while since I head over to Golden Hill on my commute, but I can be pretty sure that the level of thought put into cycle usage will be very low if the same people planned this as have messed up the Wessex junction...

Oh I know that junction well - and even posted a thread on here back in July when I found out it was about to happen - though I didn't go into the specifics:

https://www.cyclechat.net/

I did get an email back from the Council regarding my comments where they said they wouldn't squeeze in a cycle lane - which I think is better than trying to fit that in with two lanes. I don't think its really solved the problem it was meant to solve - I've seen cars trailing back into Dorian Road (and therefore holding up the all important construction lorries) because too many cars are wanting to go straight on down the Gloucester Road they get caught between the two sets of lights.

I have had some problems with the new design having had a car try and undertake me - I assume they either started in the turning left lane or got annoyed at me being in the ASL in front of them and then moved left to undertake me as it is fairly wide there - but as I said on Bristol Streets they were foiled by the parked cars up ahead meaning they had to wait behind until I moved to a more secondary position.


And the ASL box going Northbound on that section must surely be a contender for the shallowest box...

If you go towards Golden Hill do you have trouble triggering the first set of traffic lights at the crossroads - normally I'm fine I'm with plenty of traffic but at quiet times I can't trigger it with my bike.

And I have just come back via the A38 up by RR and did look at the lanes but didn't have a working camera - it died earlier in the rain...

 

[pwh91]

Hi Summerdays

Agree on everything you say.

Dorian Road / Wessex - just got beeped at and undertaken while in primary at 20mph+ this evening - must admit I was not very polite back - this was quite timely since I've just emailed the Bristol mob for their audit info, we'll see what we get back. I'm getting some help from an expert in this stuff (probably best not to name names at this point) so I feel fairly motivated to push all the way on this one with a bit of quiet advice on how to get things done.

Kellaway lights - definite cycle RLJ zone, reluctantly

The main depressing picture is that with the risks currently on the commute and in other parts of Bristol, the attempt to get more cyclists on the road will fail badly. I wouldn't honestly recommend my route to anyone at the moment unless they were a) fit and b) combative

Incidentally, I have some pictures of the original A38 "junction of doom" - if anyone's interested I can publish (but i'd have to work out how since I'm a bit of a luddite!)

 

[summerdays]

Not sure exactly what you mean by the audit trail ... do you mean who decided what when? Presumably you have seen the consultation papers that were released at the time with very short notice? I even went and watched the junction and how cyclists were using it before the changes occurred and did take some photos of it. Must admit I've not taken photos of it since.

 

[the_mikey]

Perhaps the audit mentioned is referring to a road user audit, often carried out by people in hi vis jackets sitting on the side of the road with flasks of tea/coffee and clipboards.

 

[pwh91]

Perhaps the audit mentioned is referring to a road user audit, often carried out by people in hi vis jackets sitting on the side of the road with flasks of tea/coffee and clipboards.

I'm working to advice I have, as follows:

"When it comes to dealing with the Highway Authority, first ask to see a copy of the safety audits for
the junctions. Audits should be carried out at planning stage (Level 1), pre-implementation (Level 2) and post-
implementation (Level 3) and you have a right to see them. You should be able to judge how much attention
they have given to the safety of cyclists."

So this is the tack I'm taking for now. I have an open mind on what will turn up.

 

[the_mikey]

I went down that road tonight (in a car) and it has changed a lot. Last time there were large aircraft parked where there's now a road. I'm surprised I've not been down there for so long, I was visiting cycle surgery only last week...