I’m really pleased – Busway news! I just got home from work and an email from my contact in Luton Borough Council was telling me some welcome news. Without further ado here it is:
Following site audits and survey, the recommendation is that a number
of A-Frame gates should be removed or changed to provide easier access
to the shared use path. If funding allows, works will begin in the
financial year 2014/15. Happy to provide further updates as and when
works begin.
I am sure this is welcome news for the many cyclists who use the cycle track and struggle with the barriers; I certainly hope the funding will be there to allow this work to take place. Local Authorities have had eye-watering reductions in their funding over recent years and here’s hoping this can be done.
The important thing is this development will allow everyone to use the cycle track in a pleasant manner: its great for cyclists, runners, dog walkers, power walkers and anyone taking a stroll. My guess is that if this is abused, people will understandably complain and the A frame barriers could be refitted – let’s hope this isn’t necessary.
RSS – Posts
It is good news …. But would love to hear they will be considering cycle path surface and looking at other options too !
Thanks for the comment LJ and yes it would be nice to have the surface looked at sometime. Overall I think it has improved considerably for cyclists. I guess for bikes with fat tyres it’s not a problem (he says with his skinny tyres!).
Could you say a little more about ‘other options’? I’m intrigued!
i was hoping to go on this path to luton town on my mobility scooter but becouse of the frame barriers i can not do this,sarah
Sarah, thanks for leaving your comment. I must admit I hadn’t thought of mobility scooters but you are exactly right – I can see now it would be a problem. I wonder how many other people, like yourself, this may apply to?
Although I have no formal connection with Luton Borough Council and I’m not very familiar with how they may react to these things, I imagine they would be interested in this, just as I am.
Sarah
What class of mobility scooter do you have.
The gates are wide enough for standard Class 1 wheelchairs, I say standard because some class 1 wheelchairs are not a standard width. They are also capable of allowing a class 2 mobility scooter. A class 3 scooter will not fit through.
An associated problem is that there are no requirements or obligation for manufacturers of steel access gates to provide DDA compliant structures.
dave i have the class 3 scooter
Good news about the barriers as I struggle with them especially when I have backpack on. Trouble is I’ve seen idiots on motor bikes riding on the path even with the barriers. I don’t know what the best solution is.
Hi
This is good news!
I work at the Travel Choices Hub and am a member of the Luton and Dunstable Cycling Forum. We at the Hub have received a lot of complaints about restricted access — mostly from cyclists, it’s true, but from a fair number of mobility scooter users, too — and have forwarded those to Central Beds Council. Likewise, the Cycling Forum has been actively campaigning for improvements with people at both CBC and Luton Borough Council who are responsible for these issues.
Sarah – have you complained to Luton Borough Council? We understand that the fact that not ALL mobility scooters can access the path may be in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act. We brought this up with Trevor Brennan at LBC and he said they would have to receive actual complaints before this could be investigated further.
All in all, slowly but surely, things do seem to be improving!
Rebecca
ok thanks i will complain to the council about this matter ,thanks sarah
Good luck Sarah, if you get the opportunity please let me know how it goes.
hi doug do you know who i have to complain to in the council about this thanks sarah
Sarah, I’d try:
Trevor Brennan
Strategy & Sustainability Manager
Planning & Transportation
01582 546004
07775026107
trevor.brennan@luton.gov.uk
thanks doug ,sarah
Rebecca,
Many thanks for leaving your comment, interesting things going on. As you can see below, Sarah is following your suggestion so thank you for that as well.
I’ve just taken a look at your blog – really good! I’ll add it to my reading list!
Hi Doug
Thanks for the kind comments. Pleased to have ‘re-discovered your blog as well – this time I’ve bookmarked it and will Follow once I’m back to my PC. (WordPress tricky on Kindle!)
Will keep an eye out for you out and about on the bike too! 🙂
Rebecca
Sarah
You could use this general link on the LBC website for logging a complaint as an alternative:
http://www.luton.gov.uk/Council_government_and_democracy/Councils/Compliments_and_complaints_council_/Pages/Comments-compliment-and-complaint-form.aspx