Manchester's Biggest Bike Route Barrier

There are bike route barriers and bike route barriers....

Here the gates have been left locked along the Irwell.



There are Salford's anti-tandem barriers...



and the path-width ironwork along the Fallowfield Loop.



However they are all tiny compared to the latest cycle route obstruction in Victoria Street. This road was closed to motor vehicles several months ago, but was supposed to remain open for cycles. Since when it has been mostly obstructed by gardens, but this last month Manchester has built what is possibly this country' biggest cycle barrier - a temporary cathedral!



This structure blocks the entire roadway, forcing cycles onto the narrow pavement on either side. There is no provision for bikes at all, so people are simply riding along the pavement.

Manchester City Council have clearly not thought this one through...

And yes it may be April Fools Day, but we get this kind of thing all year round.

Victoria Street - now completely blocked...

...this time by gardeners!

Access from the bottom end of the road is now clear,



but you soon hit barriers. Lots of barriers.



The only available route for cycles is now is along the pavement.



And the cause? Apparently the Manchester Cathedral Flower Festival. Part of Dig the City.



This cycle route is likely to be blocked well into August.



As far as I could see, no diversions have been signposted.

Victoria Street - CYCLISTS DISMOUNT AND USE FOOTWAY

Yes, that dreadful sign has returned to Victoria Street. 

Travelling south along Victoria Street anyone on a bike is basically being told to get off and walk by Manchester City Council. So much for making cycling easier in the city centre! 

An utterly bonkers short piece of advisory cycle lane (much used by taxis for dropping off passengers) has been painted in the run up to the road closure.

The lane ends in a solid line, which is very odd since there are no traffic lights.

The truth seems to be that the cycle route has been deliberately blocked by road signs with no thought for how anyone on a bike should get through.

Manchester Council clearly don't want too many people cycling in the city centre.

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Victoria Street Update

There have been some improvements in Victoria street.

The Cyclists Dismount signs have gone, along with the temporary lights behind the ASL box.



There is now a bollarded cut through into the area by the Cathedral.



However at the bottom end, whilst the sign has gone, there is no gap in the barriers, so bikes still end up on the pavement.

Victoria Street Closure

I am pretty sure the traffic orders for Victoria Street only close it off for motor vehicles. However, the City Council web site doesn't seem to have the documentation on-line so I can't double check.

Anyway, the situation going north is far from satisfactory. Here the traffic straddles the red traffic light which has been thoughtfully placed in the cycle lane.



Even worse the traffic light has been placed behind the advanced stop line so anyone on a bike cannot see the traffic light! This is very dangerous as you need to get into the ASL as almost all the traffic will swing left without indicating.

Then there is the dreadful "Cyclists Dismount and Use Footway" sign which immediately tells you that things are about to get a lot worse.




If you do head down Victoria Street you will now find that the road now diverts left into the car park,



and you have to get onto the pavement to keep going.



For a brief while there is wide open traffic free road,



before another obstruction forces you back on the pavement.



Finally you have to cross the road with no assistance whatsoever.



Coming back the other way is just as bad.



And again, some thoughtful person has placed the traffic lights where cyclists can't see them!



This scheme could do so much to persuade drivers out of their cars and onto a bicycle. However, the council has made it quite clear that they don't want cyclists round here either.


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Yet another bad sign!

The Victoria Street closure is supposed to be open for cycling. Instead we get this crap!



This sign sums up Manchester Council's attitude to cycling.


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