Surrey County Council to allow debate on banning cyclists from A24

[User33236]

Does that mean you think madness like this doesn't happen, or what?

(pic by andypreece, cc-by-SA)

Edinburgh City Bypass is designated at a 'special road' according to this article and therefore subject to many of the same regulations as motorways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_City_Bypass

Pretty sure the A24 is an 'all-purpose road'.

 

[hatler]

I use the A24 from the intersection with the A232 to Ashtead.

I hope this nonsense doesn't ruin my route.

Apparently not. The section in question is from just South of Leatherhead to just North of Dorking.

 

[Tin Pot]

Maybe the council will go completely crazy and rule that motorists should drive more responsibly?

 

[Tin Pot]

Actually, are these things open hearings? Anyone know if I can pop over and listen to it, see what happens?

 

[DaveReading]

Full text of petition:

"Please make it illegal for cyclists to use the A24 Dual Carriageway between Givons Grove roundabout, Leatherhead and Ashcombe Road, Dorking. It is very dangerous for all road users, especially the cyclists. There is a very good cycle lane off to both side of this road that many cyclists already use therefore it is clearly fit for purpose. I use this section of road many times each week, including the weekends, and have witnessed many close shaves and dangerous situations and feel it is only a matter of time before there are some serious accidents involving cyclists. One particularly dangerous section is when cyclists don't use the underpass and cross two lanes of 50mph traffic to turn right at the Burford Bridge roundabout to go up Box Hill. It will need 'No Cycling' signposts that will need to be actively enforced and a commitment to ensure the cycle lanes are kept in good repair and fit for purpose."

To be debated at next week's Highways, Transport and Flooding committee decision meeting (2pm Wednesday 9th November at County Hall, Kingston). The meeting, at which a response will be tabled, is open to the public.

http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/A24Cyclingban/

 

[raleighnut]

Full text of petition:

"Please make it illegal for cyclists to use the A24 Dual Carriageway between Givons Grove roundabout, Leatherhead and Ashcombe Road, Dorking. It is very dangerous for all road users, especially the cyclists. There is a very good cycle lane off to both side of this road that many cyclists already use therefore it is clearly fit for purpose. I use this section of road many times each week, including the weekends, and have witnessed many close shaves and dangerous situations and feel it is only a matter of time before there are some serious accidents involving cyclists. One particularly dangerous section is when cyclists don't use the underpass and cross two lanes of 50mph traffic to turn right at the Burford Bridge roundabout to go up Box Hill. It will need 'No Cycling' signposts that will need to be actively enforced and a commitment to ensure the cycle lanes are kept in good repair and fit for purpose."

To be debated at next week's Highways, Transport and Flooding committee decision meeting (2pm Wednesday 9th November at County Hall, Kingston). The meeting, at which a response will be tabled, is open to the public.

http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/A24Cyclingban/

There are some 'joke' names in there, "Lukina Mirramate" being an obvious one.

 

[Tin Pot]

Full text of petition:

"Please make it illegal for cyclists to use the A24 Dual Carriageway between Givons Grove roundabout, Leatherhead and Ashcombe Road, Dorking. It is very dangerous for all road users, especially the cyclists. There is a very good cycle lane off to both side of this road that many cyclists already use therefore it is clearly fit for purpose. I use this section of road many times each week, including the weekends, and have witnessed many close shaves and dangerous situations and feel it is only a matter of time before there are some serious accidents involving cyclists. One particularly dangerous section is when cyclists don't use the underpass and cross two lanes of 50mph traffic to turn right at the Burford Bridge roundabout to go up Box Hill. It will need 'No Cycling' signposts that will need to be actively enforced and a commitment to ensure the cycle lanes are kept in good repair and fit for purpose."

To be debated at next week's Highways, Transport and Flooding committee decision meeting (2pm Wednesday 9th November at County Hall, Kingston). The meeting, at which a response will be tabled, is open to the public.

http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/A24Cyclingban/

Some respectable signatories there:

"Sue" and dozens of others without a surname
"Completely agree"
Jane Balch8n
lmoxham
"From the dark ages"
"Giving us instructors a bad name"

 

[ianrauk]

Another contemporary example from the not far away @Rosehill. Morden View attachment 149993

St Helier Avenue, looking south.
I lived on that estate for a few years in the 70's.

 

[mjr]

Edinburgh City Bypass is designated at a 'special road' according to this article and therefore subject to many of the same regulations as motorways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_City_Bypass

Pretty sure the A24 is an 'all-purpose road'.

It turns out that's correct, but there are plenty of other cycling bans without being designated a "special road" AFAICT. I looked for special road regulations for the A1203 (Limehouse Link tunnels - CS3 is the cycling alternative), the A45 (Nene Valley Way - NCR539 alternative) and A14 (west of Welford Road - no signed alternative) and didn't find them, for three other examples. I realise all of those have arguable reasons for banning cycling which don't apply to the A24, but I still think it is legally possible without special road status.

 

[Mr Celine]

It turns out that's correct, but there are plenty of other cycling bans without being designated a "special road" AFAICT. I looked for special road regulations for the A1203 (Limehouse Link tunnels - CS3 is the cycling alternative), the A45 (Nene Valley Way - NCR539 alternative) and A14 (west of Welford Road - no signed alternative) and didn't find them, for three other examples. I realise all of those have arguable reasons for banning cycling which don't apply to the A24, but I still think it is legally possible without special road status.

Another Scottish example here which was rather controversial when introduced, mainly due to the lack of a suitable alternative, though I wouldn't want to cycle on the A90 anyway. This part of the A90 is not a special road.

All classes of traffic are permitted to use all-purpose roads unless specifically banned by a traffic regulation order, which is what happened on the A90.
No classes of traffic are permitted to use a special road unless specifically authorised, in the case of the A720 by the statutory instrument used to allow its construction. So technically it's not a case of cyclists being banned from the A720 but one of motor vehicles being allowed.

Non-motorway special roads are quite rare. Other examples are the A55 in north Wales and the cycle tracks across the original Severn Bridge.

 

[Pete Owens]

Perhaps his facebook entry should be drawn to the attention of the committee to show his genuine level of concern for cyclists:
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153509508180778&id=200926809928921

 

[iwantanewbike]

I cycled down here a few times in the summer south of the A25... After several close passes despite an empty road I decided to take the lane. Afterwards I got nothing but really wide berths except one BMW driver who thought he would drive alongside me for thirty seconds for some reason. I smiled and waved

 

[mjr]

Afterwards I got nothing but really wide berths except one BMW driver who thought he would drive alongside me for thirty seconds for some reason. I smiled and waved

 

[Flying Dodo]

If cycling gets banned, I'll make sure I route a few night rides down the A24 next year.

 

[raleighnut]

Perhaps his facebook entry should be drawn to the attention of the committee to show his genuine level of concern for cyclists:
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153509508180778&id=200926809928921

So he isn't keen on cyclists being on the public highways at all, maybe this should be drawn to their attention