Wheels for All, September 2019

The day before I was going into hospital for a spine operation, I got an email within the local cycle campaign group to let us know about this event at the end of the month.

I could not believe my luck, I have been hinting & asking for this sort of event for some years & heard nothing about it & when I did, it's during the time I could be in hospital recovering from a spine operation.

Well thankfully the operation went well & was done by keyhole surgery, so was out just after 3 days & meant I was likely to go along. And on the first day I was able to, tho I could not ride any of the cycles whilst recovering from the operation. I wanted to go & give my support to the event & see who was there, as well as see all the wonderful cycles that would be used.

The first day was a bit drizzly but people went & was more about talking to those who went along & discuss what it was all about, promoting that the disabled can also enjoy cycling whether cycling themselves or doubled up with another rider to enjoy the ride. I got to speak to various people who were running the event & discovered the plans for the cycle track at the Northern Gateway Leisure Centre & I can tell ya it's gonna be better than I thought it would be & look forward to seeing it open & write up about it next year once I see it open & get to visit. I also had a good look round the cycles too as there were some interesting designs for all sort of abilities to cycle or to enjoy cycling.

 

 

 

 

But as the day came near to the end, I just had to ride something, so I rode what is basically an all terrain mobility scooter called BOMA which is designed to be ridden by anyone. Even those who have limited movement or strength, I have ridden it before a few years back as it is based at Highwoods Country Park for hire & was kindly loaned for the 2 day event.

 

Even tho it was a tiring day, I did enjoy it & hoped the next day be even better if my body was up for the job of doing this all again.

Thankfully my body was, tho slightly achy from the day before but I knew I can take it easy there & enjoy the day. When I arrived, it had already started & a group of children were already enjoying the cycles & as the day went on other joined & tried out the cycles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also got to have a better look at the cycles...

 

One of which is one I have known about for some years & here it was that day & I could not cycle it, the Van Raam Easy Rider. 😞 A very versatile looking tricycle which has quite a few options of adaptations to suit all sort of rider.

 

And tho I could not cycle this lovely machine, I could at least sit on it to see what it feels like to be on the cycle. And stayed on it for over 15 mins as it was so bloody comfortable I did not want to get off. And thanks to Rick for taking the photos of me on the Easy Rider. The only thing I thought the cycle needed to make it even better would be apehanger handlebars. 😉

And as the day started to wind down & got quieter I asked if someone could take me on this lovely tricycle designed to carry wheelchair users in their wheelchairs, Van Raam VeloPlus. Was pleased that they said yes & got to ride this cycle as a wheelchair user would & went around the track twice.

Best way to describe it is that it was very smooth to ride on, nippier than I expected & the pedal assistance was barely noticeable & the person cycling found it wasn't to much of a strain. It felt like as if I was flying along on a flying carpet (if I ever get the chance too of course) 😉.

But alas the day eventually came to an end, all who ran it gathered to discuss the feedback they got from those who came & it was clear everyone running the event & who came to the event all had a great time & smiling. And was great to meet those who ran the event & even more pleased to hear they plan another in December which likely be an indoor event due to the time of year. And hopefully I be allowed to cycle then so I can try out these cycles & help cycle others around too.

I like to say thanks to Colchester Borough Council, Sustrans East, Cycling Project, Leonard Cheshire, Ashfield Special Needs & anyone else involved in the running of the event I didn't get to know who you work for or forgotten. I has a great time being there (even if I could not cycle) & sure look forward to the next one.

My views of the work to be carried out on the A12 between Witham & Marks Tey

Beginning of this year I got an email out of the blue in regards to work being carried out to 'improve cycling' along the A12 between Witham & Marks Tey, it was to start in 10 days at the time of the email & now should be started.

I asked for drawings to see what they're doing & eventually I got them despite claims they had sent them to me last year in November. So here's my views of what I have seen by looking over drawings, I will observe it in the stages they have drawn them but some comments are the same throughout the whole plan of works. There was no consultation with those who use or like to use it.

East Witham

The shared path on the slip road onto the A12 already exists, the work is to carry out small bit of widening of this path & a few signs. But due to existing lamposts this path will vary in width as no plans to move the posts.

 

Now to get on or off this path you have to navigate a busy junction & nothing has been done to improve this. Especially for those heading into Witham where you have to join a side road & then use the junction to rejoin the busy road heading into Witham, mixing with HGV's is a major concern.

 

A12 between Witham & Kelvedon

Not much being done here to improve the narrow shared path other than a bit of resurfacing & signs. Hardly an improvement to make it quality walking/cycling infra & below recommended width.

Main concerns are the junctions off the A12, there are no signs to warn drivers people cross here whether its walking or cycling & the speed the drivers be leaving the A12 on these junctions, there be no time to stop. This is the same for all junctions I've seen along A12 on these drawings too.

 

 

West Kelvedon

Again lack of widening, resurfacing of narrow shared path with a few more signs. And like East Witham, the shared paths stop as you head into Kelvedon & want you to join the busy heavy traffic going at speed as they're coming off the A12. Then we start to see paint cycle logos on the road & continues having them on the road into town, unfortunately as any cyclist can tell you they make no difference in the safety to those cycling. What makes them worse is they're going to paint them by the curb, so enforcing the false belief of drivers that cyclists meant to cycle in the gutter.

 

As the road head into Kelvedon, it narrows so cyclists will be given no room to cycle if they do so in the gutter as drivers will not give space when passing & definitely will not move over with traffic coming the other way. Cyclists are allowed to use the whole lane for safer cycling & the logos should reflect this as they are done in other places i.e. Colchester St John's St & Priory St.

There is a new section of path being added, this is to help those leaving Kelvedon to get onto shared path & head to Witham. Problem is you have to turn right onto this path as drivers behind are trying to get past especially if cyclists are made to cycle in the gutter & also the drivers would be picking up speed to match the speed of the A12 thus poorly designed & dangerous. Would've been better to put in an access point to the left to get off the road & prepare to cross it if traffic is bad, not ideal design but better than what been given here.

Kelvedon Town Centre

Unfortunately it looks like Highway England still wants all those using the path along the A12 have to get off at every town & rejoin on the other side of town, again this is poor forward thinking or should I say none at all.

So what are they going to do to make it safer to cycle through these narrow historical streets that were the original route of the A12 & as I know is still used like it was. Well it is yet more gutter cycle logos, that's it & I've already explained this dangerous design.

 

 

 

 And just to prove the cycle logos be even more useless, how would you see them under all the parked cars? Is Highway England really expecting cyclists to cycle along the curb & go around parked cars? This was taken this week on a normal week day on the bus I was on & the bus drivers has problems with drivers giving way to them, so what hope drivers will be safe around cyclists?

This video just proves the mentality of drivers when going through these towns & their narrow historical streets.

East Kelvedon / Feering

Same as through Kelvedon, more painted cycle logos by the curb. Even in Feering on a pinch point they expect you to cycle in the gutter, sorry but this is where you need to take the whole lane if you're brave enough.

 

East Kelvedon

Again we see more painted logos by the curb & where you rejoin the narrow shared path the only improvements are resurfacing & a few signs. Nothing to make it safe to use the infra & have you mix with the heavy fast flowing traffic like it does on West Kelvedon & East Witham.

 

A12 Kelvedon - Marks Tey

This section is getting next to nothing to improve it, a few signs & barely any surface work. Sure haven't made it safer to use as I'll explain, starting with the lay-by for drivers to stop. You have a narrow path right by it, as I'll show in the next pictures its often blocked by those drivers parking on it so others can get onto the lay-by.

 

 

 

Then as you approach Marks Tey, you've got to get onto the Old London Road & again you see those painted logos by the curb. But this road is a single lane so why not paint them in the middle of the road as cars will be parked on the logos & unsafe on this road to cycle in the gutter, often seen HGV's on this road. Even better if we saw actual cycling infra on the grass verge on the right to take you to end of the road & over the bridge to Marks Tey on other side of A12.

 

 

I mean would you like to cycle on this part of the road where even motorcyclists have to mount the path to avoid HGV's?

 

Marks Tey

Finally at the end & you're thrown onto the very busy fast moving traffic filled with HGV's, buses, vans & cars all fighting for space to get where they are going on the A120. Getting out of this junction is practically impossible by bike.

 

Just love the insult of the 'End of route' sign that's meant to be for cycle & shared paths. Obviously proves there is no space for cycling on the adjoining road & good luck in surviving it when you try cycle from here.

Would you honestly like to cycle on the A120 & towards Colchester in this traffic?

 

Conclusion

Well I sure am not impressed, I see nothing here that says Highway England are building forward thinking 21st Century 'Dutch quality' cycling AND walking infrastructure. Again Highway England are proving they prioritise motor traffic against walking & cycling, again they prove it's about funding minimum as possible when it comes to cycling & walking & not bother with functionality.

I've not seen anything to make cycling easy & convenient along the A12, forcing cyclists & walkers to get off at every town & use the narrow historical roads that aren't suitable than have infrastructure along the A12 to go around these historical towns as they add the 3rd lane for motor vehicles. Definitely not suitable for all ages & abilities to cycle on that is for sure! Definitely not suitable for inclusive access & cycling for the disabled! Definitely NOT 'Dutch quality' infrastructure! Would you allow an 8yr old cycle/walk this route? If not then it's not fit for purpose. Again Highway England is showing that they see cycling as a hobby, a leisure time event & not a form of transport.


They sure did not listen or pay attention to my blog I handed to them last year. "Widening of the A12 & the knock on effects to non-drivers" & the whole plan doesn't meet the so called proposed Essex Cycling Strategy. I see the 2 million allocated for this & the other side from Witham to Chelmsford is going to be completely wasted, I sure am not looking forward to seeing how Hatfield Perevel road to Boreham going to be as it's bloody terrible as it is. A narrow road with National speed limit in places & drivers passing far too close, especially the HGV & Bus ones.

One phrase comes to mind in this job & I feel many others Highway England are botching up in the UK & I feel is appropriate, "no matter how much you polish a turd, it is still a turd".