Michael Hartmann confronted truly horrific levels of pavement parking in Munich by ‘car walking’ and then went on to challenge motorists sole right to the road by waking in the road to slow the traffic..
He started this in 1988 and it resulted in numerous arrests, time in jail, time in hospital and being sent for psychiatric testing twice. He responded by saying that he wouldn’t stop and that he was the one who was sane. He also got a lot of publicity and was sent many letters of support.
Pavement parking isn't quite that bad in Manchester at the moment. If anything things seem to be a bit better now on Sundays in the city centre with the new parking restrictions.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Blockage on Princes Bridge - NCN 6
Normally it looks like this
but today it had become a camp site full of caravans.
National Cycle Network Route 6 has become a camp site for what looks like a film unit.
I have emailed our local city centre councillor to find out who in the council gave permission to obstruct a busy cycling and walking route without any notice or public consultation being posted on the route.
This camp site could have been set up in the car park next to this bridge, but presumably it was cheaper to obstruct the cycle route.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
Later that evening there was also a car parked across the end of the row of caravans which must have been driven up the pavement to get there.
The following day it was clear that most people ended up cycling along the pavement rather than try and stick to the road up between the caravans.
It was also clear from the permits on the vehicles that they did not have permission to close the road.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
I have now received a response from the council's parking manager via my local councillor Kevin Peel
And by the Friday morning the place looked more or less back to its normal state, even including the regular dozing taxi driver who used to park blocking the path, but has now been persuaded by passing cyclists touse the other side of the road.
View Larger Map
but today it had become a camp site full of caravans.
National Cycle Network Route 6 has become a camp site for what looks like a film unit.
I have emailed our local city centre councillor to find out who in the council gave permission to obstruct a busy cycling and walking route without any notice or public consultation being posted on the route.
This camp site could have been set up in the car park next to this bridge, but presumably it was cheaper to obstruct the cycle route.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
Later that evening there was also a car parked across the end of the row of caravans which must have been driven up the pavement to get there.
The following day it was clear that most people ended up cycling along the pavement rather than try and stick to the road up between the caravans.
It was also clear from the permits on the vehicles that they did not have permission to close the road.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
I have now received a response from the council's parking manager via my local councillor Kevin Peel
We have spoken to the Film Unit Manager, who has apologised if they were obstructing any access, although they consider they were not parked in a manner which was blocking the cycle lane.
We did receive a request from the Filming Unit to park vehicles and they did apply for a dispensation. The Dispensation has strict criteria that vehicles must not be parked in a manner which could obstruct or incontinence other road users.
It is evident that the vehicles are parked on the bridge over the river Irwell which is the boundary between Manchester and Salford. As soon as you made us aware of this issue we contact the film crew advising them of the complaint received, requesting they park in a manner that does not obstruct others, including the cycle lane, and issued them with a warning that the Dispensation to park could be withdrawn.
Filming at this location has now finished, however, should we receive any further requests we will highlight the need to park correctly at this location.
And by the Friday morning the place looked more or less back to its normal state, even including the regular dozing taxi driver who used to park blocking the path, but has now been persuaded by passing cyclists touse the other side of the road.
View Larger Map
Irwell River Park: Part 2 - Extended opening hours
Irwell River Park: Part 2 - River Park Central was due to be locked after 3pm from 1st November.
However, it was still unlocked at 7:30 pm today and has not been locked every evening this month.
My guess is that they are sticking to the summer opening hours of 8am to 8pm to allow people to cycle home from Salford Docks now that MediaCity is fully open.
My only word of caution is that the lighting is pretty poor, and has failed completely along one section, so a good front light is advisable to spot other people and the dog shit...
However, it was still unlocked at 7:30 pm today and has not been locked every evening this month.
My guess is that they are sticking to the summer opening hours of 8am to 8pm to allow people to cycle home from Salford Docks now that MediaCity is fully open.
My only word of caution is that the lighting is pretty poor, and has failed completely along one section, so a good front light is advisable to spot other people and the dog shit...
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Ashton Canal - Chips to the ISIS offices
The south west most part of the Ashton Canal cycle route has reopened. It's only a short section between the Chips development and the ISIS offices, but it makes the route more pleasant and means you no longer have to use the a difficult ramp.
At this point the path has been moved slightly and the new bridge added where the canal is now joined to the marina development.
The cycle way then leaves the canal tow path at the ISIS offices.
About a mile up the canal, past MERCi to where the canal curves round the river, we saw a kingfisher this morning. This really is a lovely route.
View Chips to ISIS in a larger map
At this point the path has been moved slightly and the new bridge added where the canal is now joined to the marina development.
The cycle way then leaves the canal tow path at the ISIS offices.
About a mile up the canal, past MERCi to where the canal curves round the river, we saw a kingfisher this morning. This really is a lovely route.
View Chips to ISIS in a larger map
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Irwell River Park: Part 3 - River Park City
Parts 1 & 2 of the Irwell River Park are quite rideable for the most part, but travelling north into part 3 it all gets a bit difficult...
(Since these photos were taken there has been a cociderable amont of work on the route, including a new bridge - update to follow....)
The best that can be said is bits of it are being built, but most, if not all of it is unsuitable for anyone on wheels.
I tried to follow the route on foot back in August. The first section as you take the right fork just before Prince's Bridge looks good.
However, the path soon degrades as you go under the railway bridges.
Once under Prince's bridge you go up over the entrance to the Manchester, Bolton & Bury canal
and down onto a mud path
which narrows and becomes engulfed in bracken.
Then under the Irwell Street Bridge the path is narrow and uneven
and whilst it then improves, the path goes up a set of steps to get round the Mark Addy
where the pavement doubles up as a car park.
Across the road there was building work going on and the way was blocked.
Further up by Trinity Bridge the path is wide and well surfaced,
but ends in steps up to Blackfriars Bridge.
From trying to interpret a presentation on the park web site there are plans for another bridge at this point crossing over onto a path on the east side of the river flying above this section.
Then just north of Victoria Street Bridge, a new pedestrian bridge will cross back over to the west bank
and into the new Greengate development where work is underway.
The result should look something like this...
Finally there will be a crossing over Chapel Street and the long Greengate bridge under the railway will have a wide segregated path.
The River Park City section finishes somewhere before Greengate hits the ring road.
View Irwell River Path Part 3 in a larger map
(Since these photos were taken there has been a cociderable amont of work on the route, including a new bridge - update to follow....)
The best that can be said is bits of it are being built, but most, if not all of it is unsuitable for anyone on wheels.
I tried to follow the route on foot back in August. The first section as you take the right fork just before Prince's Bridge looks good.
However, the path soon degrades as you go under the railway bridges.
Once under Prince's bridge you go up over the entrance to the Manchester, Bolton & Bury canal
and down onto a mud path
which narrows and becomes engulfed in bracken.
Then under the Irwell Street Bridge the path is narrow and uneven
and whilst it then improves, the path goes up a set of steps to get round the Mark Addy
where the pavement doubles up as a car park.
Across the road there was building work going on and the way was blocked.
Further up by Trinity Bridge the path is wide and well surfaced,
but ends in steps up to Blackfriars Bridge.
From trying to interpret a presentation on the park web site there are plans for another bridge at this point crossing over onto a path on the east side of the river flying above this section.
Then just north of Victoria Street Bridge, a new pedestrian bridge will cross back over to the west bank
and into the new Greengate development where work is underway.
The result should look something like this...
Finally there will be a crossing over Chapel Street and the long Greengate bridge under the railway will have a wide segregated path.
The River Park City section finishes somewhere before Greengate hits the ring road.
View Irwell River Path Part 3 in a larger map
Saturday, 15 October 2011
The Mancunian Way
There is something about cycling on closed roads, more so motorways. Today the Mancunian Way was closed again.
Last time Northwest is Best and Jim both went for a ride - this time I went for a nose around.
This time Manchester City FC used the photo from Northwest is Best for their travel warning without asking the owner...
...
Update, MCFC have removed the image from their page, but it can still be found on their server here.
One moment the traffic and the noise,
next the road is all yours.
I wasn't the only one on a bike taking a look, though this one went off at the slip road.
Time for a short ride...
---
Last time Northwest is Best and Jim both went for a ride - this time I went for a nose around.
This time Manchester City FC used the photo from Northwest is Best for their travel warning without asking the owner...
...
Update, MCFC have removed the image from their page, but it can still be found on their server here.
One moment the traffic and the noise,
next the road is all yours.
I wasn't the only one on a bike taking a look, though this one went off at the slip road.
Time for a short ride...
---
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)