This is Cheltenham Cycle Campaign's Wish List for changes to improve conditions for cycling in Cheltenham. It guides the Campaign's strategy in discussions with Cheltenham and Gloucestershire councils.
The Wish List is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the major barriers to cycling which impact on the strategic network for cycling. The second section includes relatively minor issues that if attended to would improve the cycling environment locally, but would not have a major impact on the general road network of the town. The third section comprises additional items that the Campaign is considering but which have not yet been included in the Wish List.
Cyclists in Cheltenham are invited to contribute to the Wish List, by commenting on items that are included and by suggesting new items for possible inclusion. Please feed back your views here.
The Town Centre one way systems
The town inner ring has two negative impacts on cycling. On the one hand it prevents legal journeys by bike which would seem entirely logical on paper, and therefore causes confusion and extra journey times as well as extra vehicle conflicts. On the other hand it also increases overall vehicle speeds.
Examples of barriers are the following:
The solution lies in looking at the whole of the road network to see where two way traffic could be reinstated with sufficient traffic management measures to prevent through traffic being drawn back into the town
Westal Green to Tivoli and St Stephens Road
Westal Green cycle track was one of the earliest cycle schemes in Cheltenham, and was welcomed by the campaign at the time. It also carries some of the heaviest flows of cycle traffic in Cheltenham. However it does have some weaknesses. The main problem is the access at the end of the shared use footway into St Stephens Road and on to the Tivoli area. The other problem is the phasing of the lights which can mean long crossing times for any cyclist or pedestrian using the lights legally.
The crossing of St Stephens Road is difficult as it is very often blocked by queuing vehicles, the volume of vehicles is high, and visibility is not good for the various vehicle movements. At present it is not possible to get to the network of quiet streets around Tivoli and Bath Road from the west without crossing the A40 twice, making use of the Westal Green facility pointless.
There are no obvious solutions, but this is an area where a detailed study might be worthwhile. With sufficient resources there could be benefits in encouraging more trips where people are put off by the existing awkward situation.
The missing link between Honeybourne Line and Sherbourne Road
The Honeybourne route is well used and gives fast access for some areas of the town. The new link to the station is popular and extending the track to St Stephens would open up some journey opportunities to people in Hatherley giving faster journey times to the a number of destinations such as the station, town centre and leisure centre.
Surface crossing of A40
This scheme was promised some time ago, and would give improved access across A40 between the housing areas on the eastern side with the quiet streets on the western side. The existing underpass near GCHQ is not satisfactory
Millbrook Street to New Street
Honeybourne Way had a major impact on severing a quiet route for pedestrians and cyclists from the western half of Cheltenham to the centre. The present arrangements are very unsatisfactory and further efforts need to be made to make the route of higher quality and more direct. Perhaps the use of the space needs to be carefully considered, reallocating space away from motor vehicles. The road layout at present is built for high speeds with the use of two medium sized roundabouts which is inappropriate in this location.
Charlton Kings Cycle Route junction with Moorend Road
The exit/entry point onto Moorend Road is very tricky, with poor visibility.
Solution: Improve the entrance, measures to slow the traffic and improve visibility.
Back Montpelier Terrace
This is a very useful route for access to the hospital from the western side of Cheltenham. The route is now is two way. However there some details which need addressing. There are areas of contraflow where the signing needs improving and the junction with Bath Road is very unsatisfactory from the point of view of accessing the hospital.
Solution:
Improve crossing of Suffolk Square, improve signing. Signal alterations at Bath Road
Village Road - Princess Elizabeth Way
Next to the pelican crossing there is a lane which is heavily used by the pupils of Hesters Way Junior School and Kingsmead Comprehensive. Kingsmead is actively encouraging cycling and the number of pupils using bikes is rising. However the surface is very uneven and there is no lighting.
Solution:
Surface lane and install lighting
Progress:
Some tarmac now laid , access at PE way end to be improved
Queens Hotel
Originally the road layout here was such that cyclists could proceed straight across from Fauconberg /Queens Circus to Imperial Sq. The road was altered to enable the former road train to turn but entailed a new layout which meant cyclists had to perform a right turn without any protection in a central refuge. This was a layout we had objected to. This is an important route for cyclists.
Solution:
Re-design layout.
Post Office Lane
This was originally designated as the alternative route to the Promenade. It was accepted as a compromise despite the recommendations of the working party which agreed that the Promenade should used for cycling.
The problem is that the route is still poorly lit, it is frequently blocked by delivery vehicles,
the surface is poor, it is not direct, security is an issue at night time, and there are cycle/motor vehicle conflicts such as with reversing lorries.
Solution:
Reinstate cycling in Promenade along designated route.
Progress: Under consideration by Gloucestershire County Council.
Coronation Square
Gyratory systems are always a problem for cyclists and Coronation Square is no exception. What makes matters worse is that the largest housing estate is on one side of the square and the shops are on the other.
Solution:
Remove the gyratory system and make the main through route two way along on side of the square. Any cycle route would only have to make one crossing of the route. A solution which is solely based on the pavement route would not work because of the conflict with pedestrians on the south side.
Lansdown Road cycle track
Although there is still some debate within the cycling community about how useful this route really is, it is used by a large number of cyclists. However there are still some serious problems along the route particularly at the junctions.
Solution:
Improve junction with Lansdown Parade, and close road with Lansdown Walk.
Cambray Place
Link required between Rodney Road and Cambray Place
This would give useful links with the Charlton Kings cycle route in the opposite direction of the Inner Ring.
Solution:
Widen footway to provide for shared use.
Tewkesbury Road
The Tewkesbury Road is a very fast road with heavy traffic, but also provides a route for a number of cyclists, and there is no real alternative for some journeys.
Solution:
A pavement route is not likely to provide a satisfactory solution. Removal of road space for cars and a reduction of the speed limit is likely to be more effective in positively promoting the bike. Making the near-side lane wider would make it a lot more acceptable to cyclists
North Street / St Margarets Road
Traffic backs up at these traffic lights
Solution:
An advanced stop line
Charlton Kings Cycle Route
An additional access to the Charlton Kings route would be useful, in that it would extend the number of destinations which could reached by it.
Solution:
Open a route from Chancel Way to the existing cycle route.
Park Place to Gordons Lamp
This area can be very congested with parking blocking access to the crossing.
The advisory lane peters out in Park Place.
Solution:
Widen existing advisory lane and extend to culdesac.
Protect entrance to Gordons Lamp crossing
Prestbury Road roundabout and Albert Road
Traffic speeds too high in Albert Rd, traffic uses Albert Rd as rat run and the roundabout is tricky to negotiate and intimidating.
Solution:
Investigate ways of closing Albert Road at some point for through traffic. Traffic calming in Albert Road.
Progress:
Traffic calming project implemented but not very successful.
Wymans Brook to Evesham Road and Pittville school
There is a muddy track across open space. Important school route.
Solution:
The existing access across the old railway line and open space from Wymans brook to Albemarle Gate needs formalising. Crossing of Evesham Road is needed.
Kingsmead Road to Arle Road
The approaches to the toucan crossing are at ninety degrees on both sides of the road.
Solution:
Widen access paths to cut corners off, and improve access onto Arle Road.
Junction of Swindon Road, Kingsditch Lane and Runnings Road
Very tricky complex of mini-roundabouts with multiple lane entries
Solution: Redesign entire area
Junction of Telstar Road and Gloucester Road
Cyclists using Miserden Road have to make two right turns, with no obvious route to the crossing.
Solution: Create new cut through from Miserden Road to the crossing.
End of Millbrook Street
The end of Millbrook Street is very awkward for cyclists with a narrow footway and dropped kerb which is very often blocked by parking.
Solution: Very short length of new track from end of turning area protected with parking restrictions leading to small bridge. A small triangle of surfacing needs installing at bottom of existing ramp
Arle Avenue/Colletts Drive
This is an important route for cyclists gaining access to the retail park and Tesco. The level of the bridge has been raised considerably as part of the flood prevention scheme. Generally the quality of the scheme is high. However the new bridge has barriers in dangerous locations for cyclists. The dropped kerb leading into Colletts Drive is missing
Solution: Relocate barriers, install dropped kerb
The Park
The traffic speeds are still too high here and the cycle lane is too narrow with pinch points occurring where there are islands
Solution: Installation of activated speed signs. Removal of centre line, widen cycle lane, remove traffic islands
Access to Honeybourne Line at Folly Lane
Barriers a problem
Albion St/ Portland St junction
Traffic signal sensors need adjustment.
Queens Road
Island bus stop in wrong place
Lansdown Road
Entrance to cycle track next to bridge near lights: dropped kerbs hazardous
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