Further barriers on the Fallowfield Loop

Just when you thought there were enough stupid barriers on the Fallowfield Loop, the situation gets worse...



The above photograph was taken by me on 26th June.



It now looks like this - photo from MCRcycling.

Hat-tip to MCRcycling

Just how much money was wasted on repositioning these barriers to make matters even worse for cycling? The people who did this are actively discriminating against people who through disability or choice ride non-standard cycles.

Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester are clearly failing local people who wish to use this route for cycling. Sustrans, however, should and does know better.

The Disability Discrimination Act was
enacted in 1995, but the duties on
service providers were introduced
in stages. On 1 October 2004, the
final stage came into force. The duty
on service providers reads as follows:
“Where a ‘physical feature’ makes it
impossible or unreasonably difficult for
disabled people to make use of any
service which is offered to the public,
a service provider must take reasonable
steps to:

• Remove the feature; or
• Alter it so that it no longer has that effect; or
• Provide a reasonable means of avoiding the feature; or
• Provide a reasonable alternative method of making the service available to disabled people.”

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One further thought - these barriers are not here to stop motorbikes or cars, they are trying to enforce the Cyclists Dismount signs at the tram crossing. Perhaps they have been moved because some people have been able to ride round the barriers...

Well there is a solution which does work and enables full acces for non standard cycles. It is in use on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path - spring loaded gates.



A tandem negotiates the gate (painted orange) on the Bristol to Bath Path.

Image from http://picasaweb.google.com/wetandem/WessexCotswolds