READING CYCLE Reading CAMPAIGN WORKING FOR A CYCLE FRIENDLY READING uk Cyclewww.readingcyclecampaign.org.Reading Winter 2014 No 123 Oxford Road Improvements So it is with Oxford Road; West Reading residents may remember the previous Contents set of improvements undertaken to Oxford Road at the beginning of the Reading Borough Council century (including the tasteful 1 Oxford Road Improvements turquoise lampposts that quietly (RBC) disappeared a few years later). 2 Campaign News Towards the end of last year Reading The work undertaken then involved 4 Other Cycling News Borough Council unveiled plans for locally widening the footpath to improvements to the Oxford Road area creating parking bays and consequently 5 RCC Funding Bid (http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents narrowing the carriageway. Oxford Road /parking-road-and-travel/oxford-road- is now peppered with pinch points 6 Chairman’s Letter area-study). that lead to a conflict of space between cyclists and motor vehicles. 8 Point of View On looking through the plans I was put in mind of a line from the poem ‘My Road narrowings are one of the 10 CTC Bike Rides Listings Fancy’ by Lewis Carroll (author of regular highway features that put Alice in Wonderland): people off cycling on the road. My 12 Contact Us And if you were to ask me how personal ‘bête noir’ is the narrowing Campaign Diary Her charms might be improved shown above just townside of Reading I would not have them added to, West Station. Here cyclists are forced But just a few removed. continued on page 2... CycleReading Winter 2014 1 Campaign News Continued from page 1... Consideration of cyclists has moved Bedford Road junction (where cyclists into the path of overtaking vehicles on over the last decade, and maybe have to cross two lanes of traffic to just as those vehicles are constrained some of this is due to the lobbying of continue into town) has at last seen by the island. The preceding stretch organisations like RCC. Of the ten the light of day. Keep the faith - but of cycle path ensnares the unwary drawings that describe the Council’s take a long term view! Campaign News cyclist by guiding them into being in plans for the Oxford Road area, eight For reasons unknown the Council has the wrong part of the road - the only of them include the words ‘Cycle taken a different approach to cycle safe way to negotiate this hazard is to Improvement’ in the drawing title; so improvements in West Reading position yourself in the centre of the it cannot be said that the Council has compared to other parts of Reading. carriageway as you approach the not considered cycling in drawing up All other parts of the town were narrowing. these plans. Which brings us to the subject to cycle improvement work- final of the three options mentioned: shops held by RBC with cycle stake- We can’t blame our Victorian forebears do the highway engineers fully for this particular piece of highway holder groups in 2011 and 2012, but understand the needs and concerns of plans for Oxford Road were drawn up engineering; it has all been done cyclists? recently. This begs the question: did and presented without any engage- ment with cyclists; despite the fact the highway engineers The Council’s proposals for Oxford that the scheme drawn up by the Road do nothing to ameliorate the 1) not care about cyclists, Council’s consultants underwent five mistakes of the past in terms of the 2) not fully consider cyclists, or rounds of internal revisions during 2013. pinch points, and the proposals to 3) not understand the needs of cyclists? increase the capacity of the Norcot Whilst the Council may believe that they Being an engineer myself I do not roundabout will make conditions and their consultants are adequately believe it to be the first of these worse for cyclists. But it is not all trained, qualified and able to fully options, but being a cyclist I can well negative; the suggestion made by RCC consider the needs of cyclists, the believe that it was a combination of in 2008 to extend the bus/cycle lane evidence of the past is that this is not the second and third. on the eastern approach to the so. Since Reading has a well established 2 CycleReading Winter 2014 Campaign News Cycle Liaison Group and a track record as cycle improvements, would it not consortium (www.arborfieldvision.com) of engagement with the RCC, it would make more sense to engage with haven’t given much detail of the seem sensible to listen to cyclists who cyclists before drawing up the plans? changes they are considering, but I use these roads before drawing up Keith Elliott have written to them offering to detailed plans. It is not as if we are RCC Secretary discuss cycle facilities. Campaign News not familiar with this route; personally Wokingham Borough Council has I estimate that I have cycled up and withdrawn its plans for redeveloping down Oxford Road over 9,000 times. Wokingham Town Centre. The main Despite there being no formal (or part of interest to cyclists is the informal) consultation on these plans, development of Elms Field. It is unclear we duly submitted our comments on whether cyclists will be allowed to use the proposals to RBC Transport in the walkways on Elms Field, but the January. Through appealing to the Wokingham Borough plans suggest they are wide enough Leader of the Council, who is also a for shared-use or segregated paths West Reading Councillor, we managed Council (WoBC) and, if cycling were permitted, it to arrange a meeting with an RBC Following on from the last newsletter, would provide traffic-free access to Transport Officer to discuss the plans the new cycle rack at Wokingham the planned shops and supermarkets. in February (thanks to Jo Lovelock for station is now open for use, so if The development also includes a road interceding on our behalf). you’ve any comments about it, please from Wellington Road to Shute End RBC’s draft Cycling Strategy commits let me know. I’ve made no progress which would provide a useful route for to inviting cycle stakeholder groups to with getting racks put on the Oxford cyclists from the south-west to get to comment on plans produced by the Road side of the station. The work to the town centre without using the Council. For whatever reason it didn't put cycle lanes on Wokingham Road new Station Link Road. WoBC realise happen on this occasion without us between Winnersh Triangle and The that this new road could become a rat making it happen. Our experience is Three Tuns has been delayed until at run, so are suggesting traffic calming. that the further the design of a least April 2014 owing to other work Any RCC members who have sugges- scheme is progressed, the less likely it being done near there. tions about this road should get in is to be changed when shortcomings Two major planning applications in touch with me. are pointed out. When it comes to Wokingham have now been withdrawn. Peter Howe schemes which are specifically flagged The Arborfield Garrison development WoBC Campaigner The TRADITIONAL RESTORATION COMPANY Ltd Need your bike repaired? Specialists in Restoration Don’t have time or the of Fine Antique Furniture tools to do it yourself? Wheel building and truing a speciality. Audrey Thompson The Coach House Contact Bob Bristow on Dorney Court Dorney Windsor 0118 958 2056 Berkshire SL4 6QP for cycle repairs at a very Tel: 01628 660708 (office) reasonable price. 0118 986 2444 (home) www.readingcyclecampaign.org.uk 3 Other Cycling News large vehicles from London’s roads if Two Council Employees they fail to meet high standards for Apology Regarding Killed While Cycling cycle safety equipment. CTC Renewals From The welcomes this step forward, but says Tributes have been left for two there are better longer-term solutions Membership Secretary fathers who died during a collision on for cycle safety that should be Purley Rise. Apologies if investigated too. you have Council workers John Morland, 30, All lorries will be forced to have recently from Tilehurst and Kris Jarvis, 39, Other Cycling News sideguards and extra mirrors. received a from West Reading, died after their renewal letter cycles were involved in the collision The move was announced by the from me. I used with a car on the A329 Purley Rise. Mayor of London and London Councils, the representative body for the 32 the wrong list Last night the leader of RBC Jo London Boroughs and the City of and I have Lovelock called for a two minutes’ London. written to silence to mark the deaths of the two people who Council workers. This could come into effect as early as September. have paid for the current year. If Councillor Lovelock described the you do pay I will extend your deaths of the environmental service The proposed ban will require every membership. employees as “tragic” at the policy vehicle in London over 3.5 tonnes - a Can I please ask as many people as committee at Reading Civic Centre. disproportionate cause of cyclist and pedestrian deaths - to be fitted with possible to get the newsletter A man appeared in court yesterday in sideguards to protect cyclists from electronically or read it online at connection with the collision. being dragged under the wheels. It www.readingcyclecampaign.org.uk/ http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/l will also require them to be fitted newsletters.aspx, as this saves a lot ocal-news/tributes-left-two-cyclists- with mirrors giving the driver a better of work by our very efficient but who-6720608 (18/2/14) view of cyclists and pedestrians busy distributors and postage is around their vehicles.