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?

Castlefield Utilities/Cycle Bridge Scheme

Now as far as I understand it, this bridge is supposed to be the temporary replacement for Princes Bridge, part of NCN route 6, when Network Rail demolish it to build the Ordsall Chord rail link.

It is also a replacement bridge to carry the utilities across the River Irwell.

However, since the whole Ordsall Chord Scheme is still awaiting the results of a public inquiry, this bridge may or may not have been necessary...



From the Salford side of the river, it is clear that a lot of money has been spent on this Bridge and the path on this side has been extensively reworked to change the level of the towpath.



In fact the towpath has been split in two to accommodate the ramps, and the new bridge has been finished off to match the road bridge.



The surface itself includes bollards at both ends, presumably to stop some idiot trying to drive a car over the bridge.



The bridge links back to the road bridge on the Manchester side,



and then crosses the pavement and dumps you in the eastbound cycle lane...



Yes, you've got it, there is no legal way of getting onto the bridge from the Manchester direction!



From Water Street you have no chance of getting across.



The only option seems to be the pedestrian crossing,



or crossing Water Street onto the pavement at the entrance to the car park



and cycling along here illegally.



It seems that Network Rail have failed to put in the rest of the two way cycle track needed to get the route round to Water Street, which should have gone across this patch of mud.



This bridge is an expensive failure. It will result in many people being forced to cycle illegally along the pavement. I don't know who got to see these plans before they were signed off, but I do remember them being mentioned in a GMCC meeting, so I am pretty sure I know where some of the blame lies.

Meantime preparations have started to demolish Princes Bridge and Network Rail have chosen to block the cycle route...

The Meccano Bridge

I came across the Meccano Bridge whilst exploring cycle routes between Manchester and Bury.

Approaching from the west it sits astride the remains of a spectacular flight of locks.



The detail on the structure is wonderful. A real homage to a childhood favourite.



It is just wide enough to cycle across on both directions.



On the other side there are two lovely picnic benches in the same style.



It is part of the restoration of the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal.



The canal tow path at this point is nominally a cycle path, but it is only suitable for rough terrain machines...


View Larger Map

Princes Bridge & the Ordsall Chord

Princes Bridge, the traffic free route which links Salford and Manchester, is soon to become the site of a massive building project.The new rail line to link Manchester Picadilly with Salford Central and Manchester Victoria stations, called the "Ordsal Chord" will involve building a new railway viaduct which will pass close to or right through Princes Bridge.




Plans are at an early stage, and it is not clear yet whether the existing bridge will remain or be demolished and replaced by a new cycle/pedestrian bridge, and where that new route will go, but the latest maps show the viaduct cutting straight through Princes Bridge.



Also what is quite certain is that this massive building project will have a severe impact on the people who cycle and walk across the bridge. It is possibly the busiest bridge in Manchester for cycle traffic. Construction traffic is planned to run along Regent Road and onto the inner ring road, bringing increased lorry traffic into the junction with the cycle route.



The main construction base is probably going to be on this car park, to the north of the bridge.

 

Surveying work is already taking place, and I saw a cycle count being carried out on the 9th October, but as far as I know they only sampled the bike traffic on that one day.




Network Rail will be undertaking a programme of public consultation to provide residents and interested stakeholders with an opportunity to view the plans and submit feedback.

Visit one of the exhibitions at the following times and venues:

Tuesday 20 November, 4pm – 8pm, Museum of Science & Industry
Wednesday 21 November,12pm-8pm, Museum of Science & Industry
Friday 23 November, 12pm – 8pm, Creative Media Centre, Salford
Saturday 24 November, 1pm – 5pm, Museum of Science & Industry
Monday 26 November, 4pm – 8pm, Salford Central Station
Tuesday 27 November, 10am – 5pm, Manchester Town Hall
Wednesday 28 November, 4pm – 8pm, Manchester Piccadilly Station


For more information or to register your views, e-mail ordsallchord@networkrail.co.uk.

This is important as we don't want a replacement bridge as bad as these examples further along NCN6!


         

 

And, there is also the prospect of construction traffic and changes affecting routes in this area with the proposed Middlewood Locks development, just to the west.

Fallowfield Loop - the Lattice Bridge

Back in March the repairs began on the the Lattice Bridge at the Loop entrance to Highfield country park.





Now the repairs are complete it's open and much smarter.






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Fallowfield Loop - Broom Lane Bridge Puddle...

If you ever find yourself faced with this puddle under the Broom Lane Bridge on the Fallowfield Loop, then think twice before cycling through.

I discovered that this is a lot deeper than it looks. The tide marks on my bike showed that this was around 50cm deep, once I'd cycled through it.



From the other side it looked a lot less inviting.



The shoes took a whole day to dry out...


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Salford's Bridge Barrier Design

Local councils seem to be free to dream up all kinds of idiotic barrier designs to try and put people off cycling. Salford council seems to have a unique brand of bridge barrier which I came across on Sunday.

These two bridges are both part of National Cycle Network Route 6, but both of them are marked on the Salford Cycling Map as footbridges where you should get off and walk.





You would be hard pressed to get a tandem though this barrier, let alone a handcycle or trike!



The National Cycle Network is a bad joke, particulally for people who cannot ride a conventional bicycle. It's time that this country stopped pissing about with discriminatory token gestures and started taking cycling as transport seriously.


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Princes Bridge - another film crew...

Princes Bridge is playing camp site for yet another film crew.



In the past the crews have gone to great lengths to close the road, blocking it for cyclists and other road users. Following several complaints, accompanied by evidence of the road closure and vehicles being driven on whatever remained of the pavement, the latest crew have behaved somewhat more responsibly, leaving the road (mostly) open and only parking the caravans and catering on one side of the road.



However, one van driver still seems to be quite happy to drive over the cycle tracks onto the pavement on the Salford side.



This van only turns up when the film crews are around.



View Larger Map

Fallowfield Loop - closures and openings.

Don't know how long it's been like this but today I found the bike/pedestrian crossing on the Fallowfield Loop at Sainsbury's is currently closed.



I could find no explanation for the closure,



And no alternative route was signposted. Not good.



Also a little further to the east, work has started on repairing the Lattice Bridge at the Loop entrance to Highfield country park.





Unfortunately this means that, even on a Sunday afternoon with no work taking place, the path is being used for vehicle parking.



However, the good news is that this means that two of the dreadful barriers have been opened.





Diversion notice and map from photos by Cos Harnasz.






Friends of the Fallowfield Loop