Deansgate: don't believe the hype.

There has been a lot of bullshit in the past few days about new popup cycle facilities in the media. However the reality on the ground in central Manchester is looking grim. The much vaunted closure of Deansgate is only a short section at the northern end of the street. Here is a video of the full length of Deansgate, shot last Sunday 17th May.



The rest of Deansgate is still being used as a racetrack by motorists now there are few other drivers to block their way. Speeds of 50-60mph are not uncommon.

Not only that but the details of the closure are unclear. The council web site states that "This will provide a shared space for both pedestrians and cyclists." see https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/500352/roadworks_and_closures/7959/deansgate_temporary_closure/2 However the signage at the closure is for "No Vehicles"



This indicates that the closure excludes cycling, the Highway Code states the sign means "No vehicles except pedal cycles being pushed by hand"

see page 17 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519129/know-your-traffic-signs.pdf

So either the signage is wrong and needs to be changed or the council web site and press releases are incorrect in saying that this section of the road is open for cycling.

Secondly the signage further south down Deansgate where the road is still open is significantly narrowing the pavement




causing people to have to walk in the road to keep 2m distancing. This is very dangerous, with the dangerous driving along this streatch.

In other parts of central Manchester, like Oxford Road the new writing on the road strongly suggests that cycle lanes are going to be closed in order to widen the pavements.


I may have to resort to FoI requests to find out what the traffic orders actually say.

Cycling - Penalty £500

Yes, there is one location in Manchester City Centre where you are threatened with a £500 fine for cycling.



It is this big open space in St Peter's Square.



Not that the signs say anything about driving, so you still have to watch out for the construction traffic, even on a Saturday.



The sickening thing is that this used to be a cycle route, it crossed into the square here



and ran across the front of the library here, but there is no sign of it now.



Ironically TfGM are still making use of this photo, taken on the cycle track where cycling is now banned. It is the background image on all their cycling web pages!



Update: It has been pointed out to me that this route is still marked on the Manchester cycling map. Another non-existent cycle route on the TfGM maps!




This is not the case in other squares in Manchester. If you go and take a look at the signs in Piccadilly Gardens




and in Albert Square they just say "No skateboarding or rollerskating."



So why the by-law against cycling in St Peter's Square?

I haven't been able to find out any more. Details of the council's by-laws aren't available on the council's web site, so I can only assume this getting caught in the crossfire in some knee-jerk reaction after the skateboarding on the war memorial.



If anyone does find out what is going on I'd really like to know. I've asked for this to go on the next Manchester Cycle Forum agenda and I'll keep asking around. It is simply dreadful that whilst one part of the City Council is trying to promote cycling other departments are doing their best to ban it.

P.S. Many thanks to Cllr Chris Paul for putting me on the trail of this one...

.@helenclifton @MadCycleLaneMCR @ManCityCouncil St Peter's Square - £500 fine pedalling through atm. A poor idea. CC is impermeable.
— Chris Paul (@ChrispLOL) October 23, 2014

The Sign That Says - we couldn't be bothered...

This post was inspired by Cranky Acid's ‏@CrankyAcid tweet

"cyclists dismount" sign is just another way for councils to say "Can't be arsed sorting this"


Labour Party Conference 2010



Roadworks Nov 2010



June 2011 - Matt Busby Way



Trafford, all over the place.







Victoria Street May 2012



Labour Party Conference 2012

 


And if you are after an alternative wording,
there is always "BEICWYR MAN DISGYN"...



But the final insult has to go to the organisers of the Sky Ride who couldn't resist having their own version.

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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Irwell River Park: Part 2 - River Park Central

Well that put paid to that route at 3pm on a sunny Sunday afternoon in March!


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Another Bad Sign - Princess Street Roadworks

What utter crap!

If anything there should be a sign saying Cycle Lane suspended, but that's if someone bothered to get out the traffic order suspending the mandatory cycle lane...

Update 27/11/2010

The roadworks have cleared and this junction is back to three lanes + mandatory cycle lane.

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CYCLISTS DISMOUNT - never a good sign

Labour party conference preparations began with the worst of all road signs...

This one is in St Peter's Square, where the ring of steel is being built.



I long for the day when I see a sign saying "DRIVERS GET OUT AND WALK"

...............

Update - one day later...

The dismount sign has been replaced with something more appropriate :)

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