More restrictions on cycling at Mediacity?

TfGM have put up new maps of the diversions around the tram works in Trafford. At first glance they might be seen as useful information, but a closer look reveals that they have included a cyclists dismount restriction on BOTH bridges across the ship canal.



Detailed map - Wider area map


Anti-cycling notices were posted on the swing bridge in August 2016, exactly 5 years after the place opened - probably to do with the time a developer has to wait before they can ask for their section 106 commitments to be removed.



However, no notices have appeared on the lifting bridge... YET!



TfGM and Peel are in the process of creating a bicycle user group - controlled by the two organisations and these maps are perhaps the first evidence that they may be trying to further restrict cycling on the site?

Village Circle Roundabout & Sir Alex Fergusion Way - Trafford

I've been seeing reports from people who cycle through the tram works at Village Circle Roundabout and Sir Alex Fergusion Way in Trafford that the area is now very dangerous for people walking and cycling.



People have reported that the traffic lights have not been working for several weeks and there has been at least one pedestrian has been knocked over and injured and driver behavior is pretty dreadful. The issue is going to be raised at Trafford Cycle Forum and complaints have been sent to TfGM and Trafford council.



I have also seen dreadful behavior by contractors in the area, parking and driving on cycle tracks and pavements is a daily occurrence.

Parking on Cycle Facilities

It's an everyday occurrence...



They really don't give a shit do they...



Even if the road markings say "KEEP CLEAR"!



And when there is plenty of space on the road...



Even better when the cycle track has just been fenced off!



But that doesn't matter to most drivers...



Even when it's dark.



Just imagine what would happen if you blocked the roadway with a bicycle.

Well, you don't need to imagine - just watch this!



More here.

Bridgewater Way Ice Danger

This morning clearly illustrated that if you don't maintain a cycle route you are creating danger.

The Bridgewater Way coming out of Castlefield was covered in sheet ice. Anyone hitting this ice on a bicycle could easilly have ended up in the canal, in water that was freezing over, a lethal combination.









Let's just hope that TfGM take this seriously and sort this out. The are promoting cycling in winter but their routes are clearly not fit for purpose. I won't be using this route until temperatures rise above freezing.

Irwell Towpath Closed in Ordsall

The floods over the holidays has done considerable damage to the Irwell Towpath in Ordsall. Opposite Pomona tram stop, next to Soapworks the path has been undermined, and much of this section was washed away. Further along the path also seems to be falling towards the river. The gate underneath the tram bridge has been locked shut, so this section is completely unusable and is unlikely to be repaired for many months, and possibly years.



This is in addition to the considerable amount of sand and silt that has been washed onto the lower parts of the path upstream.



So this leaves the many commuters who use this path looking for traffic free alternatives between Salford Quays and Manchester City Centre. You can cycle along Orsall Road, but I wouldn't recommend it.

There are two alternative traffic free routes, though both are unlit, so you need a good set of lights to negociate them at night. The route across Pomona is somewhat disconcerting in the dark, especially with the off-road motorbikes being ridden around, whilst the Bridgewater Canal Towpath is busier, making it feel safer, but you have to concentrate on the path surface to avoid ending up in the canal.

The nearest alternative is across Pomona. Go over the Green Bridge from Woden Street and then go through the gap in the fence on your right before the viaduct and along the muddy path. After a sharp drop the path turns into a wide gravel track.



Here you will be greeted by birdsong and the noise of the trams. Though the birds were quiet on Friday morning because of the presence of a kestrel hovering above the verge.



The track turns to tarmac in places, but watch out for some very deep potholes.



From the bridge over the lock between the Bridgewater Canal and the Irwell the route is then downhill to Pomona Tram Stop.



You then have to get onto the pavement to get through the gate.



From here you get a view of the damage to the towpath and see how it was undermined in the floods.



Then follow the road up to the roundabout by Throstle Nest bridge.



The other alternative route is through Castlefield Basin and along the Bridgewater Canal Towpath. This route has reopened as the remains of the collapsed building have now been removed from the path and the building has finally been demolished.

This is supposed to be an official Velocity Cycle route, but it is pretty poor. The cobbles are quite large and no attempt has been made to fill in the gaps, and on a small wheeled bike you could easilly catch your wheel in one of the gaps and find yourself being thrown into the canal.



There are also several steep bridges over the wharves, which will mean many people will have to get off & push.



The final bridge has a particularly poor surface.



Further along there is a very narrow bridge under a road, though thankfully there is now a handrail which makes it less scary.



And the open sections are covered in thick loose chippings, making it difficult to keep control of the bike, especially when passing cycles coming the other way as you end up on the thicker layers of gravel.



This route again brings you out at Throstle Nest Bridge.

From here there is another section of damage on the Trafford side of the towpath, though it hasn't been closed off yet.



Neither route is ideal, but both offer the chance to avoid the unpleasant experience of cycling on the roads and suffering the threats and abuse from passing motorists...

Bridgewater Canal 2 - Throstle Nest Bridge to Waters Meeting

This is the recently resurfaced section from Old Trafford to the canal junction.

From here it is a short distance to Irwell River Park: Part 1 - River Park Quays and Irwell River Park: Part 2 - River Park Central and this links to this post - Bridgewater Way resurfacing preview - Pomona Strand to Castlefield.



There is a cobbled slope down to the towpath on the north bank of the canal.



The canal heads under the road junction and close to Old Trafford.



These barriers mark the location of the Old Trafford Supporters' Club.



On match days I suspect this area is crowded with inebriated fans, but on this occasion it was fairly quiet.



The path is then quite wide and uninterrupted for a while.



However, there are places where it narrows.



I had a boat for company on this ride.



Another narrowing looked like the remains of a tree stump.



There are rises in the path under some of the bridges.



This is the exit onto Europa Gate, the end point of Bridgewater Way, Mosley Rd to Europa Gate via Watersmeet.



Under the disused railway bridge.



Just past there is a new exit to Fraser Place



and new signs....



The last section of path



leads to the bridge at Water's Meet.



From here the options are south or west.

Trafford Cycle Forum - 19th May 2015

19th May 2015 – Thomas De Trafford Conference Room A & B - Trafford Town Hall - 1st Floor

6:00-8:00pm

Agenda

1. Welcome and introductions

2. Outstanding Actions and Minutes from last meeting

3. Sale Public Realm – Stephen James (Trafford Council)

4. Stretford Public Strategy - Mike Reed (Trafford Council)

5. S106 funding – Melanie Craven/Rob Haslam (Trafford Council)

6. 20mph Speed Limits - Vincent Walsh (20’s Plenty group)

7. Major Scheme Update

8. Dates of next meetings and items for discussion at future meetings

Wednesday 16th September

Wednesday 18th November

9. Any other business by prior notification to the Chair or Secretary

Bridgewater Way resurfacing preview - Pomona Strand to Castlefield

This route is one of the Velocity 2025 cycle routes. It's a nice new footpath along the Bridgewater canal, but it is a very poor quality cycle route, and in places quite dangerous.

I joined the path at Pomona Strand, near Old Trafford Football Ground, here the towpath crosses the canal on an iron bridge.



The path seemed to be open, so I assumed that the work had been finished.



The path has been cut back to make it as wide as possible, and finished with a gravel surface.



However, it was soon apparent that this surface was not fit for cycling. It is a deep loose gravel surface that is not bonded together, and my bike squirmed around quite alarmingly.



The path continues under the tram line, it is wide enough at this point, but it is quite uneven and feels like it is pushing the bike towards the water.



and then reaches this bridge under Pomona Strand.



Here the path turns to cobbles and narrows alarmingly under the bridge.



Under the bridge the path is extremely narrow and cobbled with no railings to stop you falling in the water. This is so narrow that no tricycle, cycle trailer or hand cycle would be able to get safely through.

This route is simply unfit for purpose as a cycle track.



The canal then passes under the railway and tramlines.



Here the towpath goes over several cobbled bridges that rise over the entry to the many wharfs. At this point the barriers at various alarming angles made me think the path isn't quite finished yet.



There are more narrow passages under bridges with cobbled surfaces.



These cobbled bridges are quiet steep and narrow, and the path becomes very busy here.



Finally the path passes under a closed pedestrian bridge where the paving stones are dangerous



and out into Castlefield Basin via another set of cobbles, or mud if you prefer.



The cycle route is then due to go round Caslefield Basin, past the Wharf Pub and emerge at the bottom of Deansgate.



This is a useful upgrade to the footpath along the Bridgewater canal, but it is a crap cycle route, and really quite dangerous. I hate to think how much cycling money has been wasted on this route when it could have been spent on upgrading one of the many parallel routes.