Watford cycle tour August 2019 SPOKES South West Cycling Group cycle tour August 2019

• SPOKES organised a short cycle tour around central Watford on 30th August to view locations of interest for cyclists and potential cyclists • Councillors • Mark Watkins, Peter Jeffree, Steven Kloss • Hertfordshire Highways • Odette Carter • SPOKES • Roger Bangs & Peter Jackson

Slide 2 Route followed on 6 cycle tour 4 7

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16 12 9 10

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Slide 3 Upper High Street

Shared use underpass provides a very useful link between High Street and Cultural Hub

Slide 4 When leaving the pond area the natural route left is obstructed

Correct route should be made more clear

Slide 5 Station Road/ Westland Road junction

Designated cycle crossing needed from proposed quiet route across Station Road to the Junction Station

Slide 6 Watford Junction to Water Lane & Ring Road

• Woodford Road needs a contra-flow cycle lane • Waterfields Recreation Ground could be useful route between Central Watford, East Bushey and Colne Valley cycle route • Attractive area on NCR6 could be further improved

Slide 7 Water Lane/Ring Road junction

Shared use path sign is wrong way round! Shared use path is not clearly identified

Slide 8 Thomas Sawyer Way junction

Dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists as difficult to see vehicles approaching from right

Slide 9 NCR6 crossing Wiggenhall Road

Street clutter on narrow pavement makes crossing area difficult Redesign when area is developed

Slide 10 Wiggenhall Road to Ebury Way (NCR6)

Example of poor surface shows general need for better maintenance

Slide 11 Thomas Sawyer Way by hospital

Cycling not allowed contrary to original design intention No link to Ebury Way

Slide 12 Tolpits Lane crossing

No sign to indicate cycle route through to Ascot Road and Park etc.

Slide 13 New flats adjacent to Tolpits Lane

Convoluted route Pedestrians & cyclists should have priority over motorists accessing carpark (HCC Transport Hierarchy LTP4)

Slide 14 Shared path linking the Ebury Way to Ascot Road

Overgrown vegetation again shows need for better maintenance

Slide 15 Ascot Road junction near Morrisons

Confusing and dangerous crossing needs improvement

Slide 16 Top of Ascot Road. Width restraint barriers are too close

Slide 17 Cassio Common

Footpath to Gade Avenue often used by cyclists and should be a shared use path

Slide 18 Ramp from Rousebarn Lane to the canal path

Ramp was provided about fifteen years ago Now in a neglected & dangerous condition

Slide 19 integrated cycle network

• Link the existing shared use paths to the canal via the bridges

• Propose new shared use path from car park to Cha Café via the bowling greens • Ease traffic in the busy paddling pools area • Assist those using the bowling, tennis and croquet facilities • Assist cyclists needing a route through the park • Provide additional options for the proposed bike hire scheme

Slide 20 Suggested Watford Green Ring

• St Albans recently created a Green Ring shared use pedestrian/cycle route • The route we followed in August could be basis for a Watford Green Ring • Implementing proposals in this report would create a Watford Green Ring • Continuous 6 mile safe cycling route linking employment, shopping and recreational centres • Used by commuters, shoppers, recreational cyclists, adults and children • Raise profile of cycling in Watford

Slide 21 Suggested route for Watford Green Ring

Slide 22 Thank you