Agenda item

Traffic outside Fernwood School

M.R. asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport:

The traffic on Arleston Drive outside Fernwood Schools at school drop off and pick up times is massively problematic. There are too many cars and too many children and no enforcement of yellow lines. How do the council propose to keep our children safe if the school increases in size, as is proposed?

Councillor Nick McDonald provided the following response:

Thank you Lord Mayor, the response is as follows Fernwood Primary and Nursery School is a large primary situated on Arleston Drive with approximately 870 pupils. Their secondary counterpart is in close proximity off Arleston Drive on Goodwood Road with approximately 1000 pupils. With the proposed increased size of these educational establishments we will have a capacity for 2050 plus pupils; inevitably there will be a large increase in vehicle usage at peak times, drop off times.

There are currently School Entrance Clearways, which to the untrained eye are school zig zags, on Arleston Drive and these are designated by Traffic Regulation Orders which means that they can be enforced at present. The impacts of changes will be monitored to ensure these remain appropriate for this location. In addition the Council works with Fernwood Primary and Nursery School and offers a full road safety education package and programmes to encourage alterative travel modes along with enforcement outside schools.

The dispersal time for school traffic is around 9 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoons. Although congestion can cause frustrations for motorists, and we do know this, it actually provides a natural traffic calming effect on the area. Slow moving traffic will not prevent accidents but the severity is significantly less, consequently there has not been any history of reported injury or accidents on this section of Arleston Drive.

Cycling Safety

S.B. asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport:

I am aware that Nottingham City Council has had a long term commitment to dissuading people from using their cars unnecessarily, through the raising of parking fees and improving our NCT service (which I feel is excellent), and other measures such as the tram/park and ride systems. Part of this commitment, alongside, no doubt a push to improve the health of citizens, is the more recent support in cycling and cyclist. May I say, I totally support these approaches and ideologies (though I did wonder about the tram system), but as a pedestrian and someone who chooses to exercise by walking, ideally in country parks and the embankment where I can enjoy the beauty of nature, I have  a problem with some cyclists.

Largely speaking, the offenders are those who, I would guess, may compete and use cycling as a hard form of exercise (almost like the most extreme forms of gym use), who see pedestrians as an obstacle to aggressively get round or move out of the way. These individuals never use a bell to warn pedestrians that they are approaching, and have no problem with startling people or even brushing by them, to ensure that their route and speed is not affected. Any response of protest is treated with disdain and an equally aggressive response.

May I say, you may think I am making too much of this. However, when you know that I know someone who was killed by one of these fanatical cyclists, perhaps you will take this more seriously. They frighten me and others I walk with, and they are also an embarrassment to more considerate cyclist-one who used his bell, slowed down as he approached us, and said “I’m not one of those who would mow you down”. Like myself and the people I walk with, the cyclist’s attitude was that there is room for all to enjoy their pastime safely with a bit of acceptance that paths shared by pedestrians as well as cyclists are for all. I have even heard parents, out cycling with their young children and teaching their children to be considerate and a safe cyclist around pedestrians express the view that these fanatics undermine what they are trying to instil in their children, particularly as they get older.

May I say, for people like myself, this is a serious issue. Our enjoyment of the footpaths is being ruined by a constant nervousness about the prospect of encountering cyclists, and if a cyclist approaches, whether they will share the path and accept we have a right to be there too, or scowl at our presence (and us), and make it clear that we get out of the way (often with no forewarning) or they will cycle through us. These fanatics are dangerous. If they wish to test out their speed and skills, there are facilities where they can do this without endangering or ruining the enjoyment of others.

Increasingly, people are cycling on pavements in and out of towns - even in indoor shopping malls. When is something going to be done? It is getting to the point where being a pedestrian cannot walk with ease anywhere; and, as a driver, I know how much they pose a danger to themselves (though any decent driver fears hitting someone without the protection of a car around them) by not sticking to rules of the road. At the most extreme, I have seen cyclist riding down the wrong side of Parliament Street in the rush hour.

I am sure there is a code of practice for safe cycling, as with any other form of transport. However, these people know that such a code is difficult to police, and I am sure the Council promotion of cycling as an activity and mode of transport in the Nottingham area increases the more irresponsible cyclist to feel on top of the world and get away with anything.

I am sure, as a Council, this is not the spirit in which you are supporting cycling-any more than it is “admired” by the responsible and considerate cyclist I and my friends encounter as we, quietly, attempt to continue to enjoy our healthy pastime. I am sure it is only a matter of time before another fatality/serious injury (if it has not already occurred) happens again. I am sure that, as a Council, this is not what you intended to support. However, I would like to know what you as a Council who has shown support to cycling, is prepared to do about the rest of us, who want to safely and considerately enjoy walking/shopping and generally go about our business in Nottingham safely?

The fact that some of the crazy cyclist (as opposed to the fanatical keep fit lot) put themselves in danger on roads is a matter from them; however, when they decide to ride on pavements, that becomes a matter for others. With consideration and respect for the rights of all to share space, there is no problem. However, this is not the view shared by all, and as a Council who has, and increasingly is, supporting cycling, I would like to know what you are prepared to do for the rest of us?

Councillor Nick McDonald provided the following response:

Thank you again Lord Mayor. So in response to the question, which is a long question, I don’t know whether you all have a copy of it in front of you. If you do, it says a number of different things, and the response is as follows. Firstly, thank you for your email and I am deeply sorry to hear about a pedestrian you knew being killed by a cyclist. Fortunately this is a rare occurrence, with pedestrians and cyclists being at far greater risk from motor vehicles than the other way round.

At Nottingham City Council we recognise that all modes of transport have a part to play and we want to ensure that we enable people to make choices about sustainable transport so far as possible we want them to feel safe when travelling around the City.

We want to enable people to cycle as part of the day to day business of the city and for it to be seen by everyone as more than just a pastime. We recognise in order to do this, we need to provide high quality cycle facilities, which give cyclists and pedestrians sufficient space and allow cyclists to feel safe around motor traffic. There is also a need for mutual respect between all types of transport user including pedestrians. We are currently talking to partners from a range of groups with various transport interests in order to develop a road user protocol supported by a campaign around respect for all users of all forms of transport.

We are also currently embarking on a major investment programme to update, upgrade and construct new cycle facilities. In doing so we are looking to provide cycle facilities which also encourage less confident cyclists, not just those who cycle all the time, we want all people in the city to be able to cycle and feel safe. We are also very keen that these facilities allow cyclists and pedestrians to have their own space in areas where cyclists are looking to travel at speed. Although there will always be locations where we authorise cyclists to share the footway with pedestrians to provide a safe and convenient route, we do want to see segregated cycle ways in addition.  In doing so, we want to ensure both cyclists and pedestrians feel safe and are safe. The key here is to make the paths wide enough for the volume of pedestrians and cyclists. In relation to this we have worked up and are consulting on a Nottingham Cycle Design Guide, this includes sections on wide paths, shared use and segregation. My team developing the Guide would welcome any comments you have on these elements in the draft.

If there is a particular location where you feel there is a problem with dangerous cycling, we always want to hear that, we always want to know. In the short term one of my officers will speak to the Police and arrange for a PCSO to monitor the area and speak to cyclists who are cycling illegally and dangerously, and deal with those issues where they're spotted. I am aware that the Police gave out fixed penalty notices recently to cyclists on London Road. We have undertaken this in other areas of the City as well, and whilst we recognise that some cyclists are intimidated by road conditions, it does help to emphasise that they also have the same effect on pedestrians.  We will also consider the locations of unauthorised pavement cycling for future investment to see what measures we can implement to create a better environment for both cyclists and pedestrians.