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Archive => Archived Boards => Local Issues => Topic started by: Miss Marple on March 07, 2010, 04:19:08 PM
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I can not think of a more ludicrous idea than to put a cycle track up Dan Bank. The flow of traffic has increased in speed since the introduction of the new traffic lights outside Seventeen Windows. I contacted SMBC on Thursday to conplain that it was taking me at least ten minutes to get a break in traffic to allow me to get off my drive. I explained that I live at the top of Dan Bank and for a couple of weeks I had noticed that the flow and speed of traffic coming in to Marple had increased. I was informed that that was due to the council having to alter the synchronisation of the traffic lights at Seventeen windows because they had received complaints about traffic having to que. The chap explained that my problem was now due to their success at altering the flow of traffic through Marple which had now resulted in the faster flowing traffic past my house. I raised the issue of two schools in the vicinity and how I now often see children from Marple Hall dodging the traffic to get across to the bus stop due to no break in traffic. My concerns re the safety of the children and the increased fast flow in traffic did not appear to concern the chap from the council. He was although eager to inform me that the council was now in negotiations with the farmer of Dan Bank Farm on acquiring a couple of meters of his land for a cycle track ???? Now call me a Luddite but WHO!!! in their right mind would encourage cyclists to cycle on what now like a mini motorway. Oh I forgot to mention that over the past twelve months I have notified the council of twelve serious incidents which were a direct result of traffic speeding up / down Dan Bank. They included to mention just a few, the Hill Top bus shelter being demolished by a speeding car that had lost control only 15 Min's before the incident children had been at the bus stop waiting for the school bus. Two other incidents included on both occasions, cars speeding up Dan Bank loosing control and ending up on the opposite side of the road one on its roof. a cyclist was knocked of his bike outside my house , a man walking his dog was nearly knocked down when a car mounted the pavement at the top of Dan Bank. And to add insult to injury last night after my conversation with the chap from SMBC on the Thursday warning him of the danger of the speeding traffic. Yet another car lost control, smashing down the pedestrian crossing (where the school children cross) and also knocking over a street light . The police told me that he must have been travelling at some speed to cause as much damage as he did. So SMBC you think a cycle track is needed? Think again! because what is really needed is the stopping of fast flowing traffic, the introduction of traffic calming and then! and only then start thinking about a cycle track .HELLO SMBC IS THERE ANYBODY THERE !!!!
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Sorry Miss Marple but I totally disagree, I regularly cycle up and down Dan Bank and a cycle lane would be very beneficial, not just to cyclists but also to motorists who are often held up by myself as I slowly cycle up Dan Bank. When I travel down Dan Bank in the mornings the traffic is always at a standstill causing me to have to weave in and out to get past.
The reason why I cycle to and from Marple is because it is quicker than by bus or car and also cheaper as well as keeping me a little trimmer. Well done SMBC at last we are seeing some improvements in cycling infrastructure East of the A6.
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You appear to miss the point ??? I am not opposed to a cycle track what I am opposed to is the speed of traffic up and down Dan Bank. As I stated in my post, calm the traffic, re synchronise the traffic lights for walkers,cyclists and school children and then embark on a safe cycle track. I do not believe for one min that as a regular experienced cyclist, that you would actively encourage school children to cycle with the current amount and speed of traffic up/down Dan Bank. As I have already said I live at the top of Dan Bank and see regular serious accidents which a cycle track will not stop. Cars mount the pavement on a regular basis and have taken chunks out of Dan Bank Farm walls not to mention the walls and fences of my neighbours homes. May I suggest to anyone in favour of the cycle track without traffic calming measures to reserve their judgement until they have researched the amount of damage to walls , pavements, gardens,fences and street lighting along Dan Bank. I am a regular walker but avoid Dan Bank at all costs due to the amount of accidents, a lot which go unreported. Maybe I have more insight into the danger of Dan Bank due to living so close but I feel that it is every residents responsibility to make an informed decision based on knowledge before supporting such a dangerous proposal
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Sorry, but there are far more dangerous sections of road in Marple than Dan Bank, there are roads in the district that have had fatalities on them which, in my opinion need addressing first. However if speeding traffic is an issue why don't you ask the traffic police to take action or campaign for a speed camera.
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WELL !!! this is what's so ironic. As a regular user of Dan Bank you must have noticed the speeding signs that I campained tirelessly for last year ? Well the council only allowed them to be in situ for two weeks because the cameras are on a rotating rota throughout the borough. When I questioned the council about the removal of the cameras which had calmed the traffic their explanation was that they will only have fixed signs when there has been a death. I would like to say watch this space but I truly hope not!! I have campained for 3 years about the traffic and went to court for a cyclist who was thrown off his bike by a speeding car. I have had traffic police at my home and have been offered a hand held speed camera to monitor the traffic for them. I have had several injured motorists and pedestrians in my home awaiting the police or ambulance. I have even been part of a rescue of a child from a car which had been sent spinning in the road due to a car speeding down Dan Bank. I have also sent a detailed list of accidents reported and none reported to the council, police and councillors. I remain mystified at the councils lack of responsibility to local people by continuing to allow traffic to speed through our village. I was informed on Thursday by the chap from the council that they do not have the money for slow down signs on Dan Bank? As part of their several million pound budjet for the renovation of Dan Bank you would have thought that some monies could be set aside for traffic calming, to ensure the safety of pedestrians, school children and cyclists ???????
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Whilst I have every sympathy for Miss Marple's case for making Dan Bank safer, for all road users, I do not think that any form of traffic calming should be installed. I have travelled up and down Dan Bank for the past thirty five years and seen very few accidents. The VAST majority of drivers using Dan Bank do so responsibly. It is the irresponsible ones who drive without due care that are involved in accidents. The rest of us just get frustrated at the queues into and out of Marple and would hate to see things made worse.
To improve the safety of children crossing the road a crossing with lights could be installed. The children can then press the button just for fun, and wander across the road some yards (or metres) away from the proper crossing to 'look cool'.
Victor M's admission that he weaves in and out of the traffic only confirms my opinion of cyclists. The provision of cycle track, which would probably be part of an widened pavement would put the pedestrians at risk from inconsiderate cyclists.
In any case, the pot holes have a traffic calming effect !
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Hi Tony I take it you travel to and from work at congested times I am speaking about the other 22 hours of the day and night !!! Hey by the way the pot holes have been filled in !! Now you know why I am Miss Marple ;D
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Sorry, but there are far more dangerous sections of road in Marple than Dan Bank, there are roads in the district that have had fatalities on them which, in my opinion need addressing first. However if speeding traffic is an issue why don't you ask the traffic police to take action or campaign for a speed camera.
Where in Marple is worst than Dan Bank ??? and for what reason :-\
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Strines Road, 3 deaths in 10 years.
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Whilst I have every sympathy for Miss Marple's case for making Dan Bank safer, for all road users, I do not think that any form of traffic calming should be installed. I have travelled up and down Dan Bank for the past thirty five years and seen very few accidents. The VAST majority of drivers using Dan Bank do so responsibly. It is the irresponsible ones who drive without due care that are involved in accidents. The rest of us just get frustrated at the queues into and out of Marple and would hate to see things made worse.
To improve the safety of children crossing the road a crossing with lights could be installed. The children can then press the button just for fun, and wander across the road some yards (or metres) away from the proper crossing to 'look cool'.
Victor M's admission that he weaves in and out of the traffic only confirms my opinion of cyclists. The provision of cycle track, which would probably be part of an widened pavement would put the pedestrians at risk from inconsiderate cyclists.
In any case, the pot holes have a traffic calming effect !
If fewer people drove, then the traffic would flow more freely. Unfortunately, all the driver think they shold be allowed to drive and everyone else should stop driving so that they can have traffic free roads. As for cyclists weaving in and out of traffic, well if I wanted to sit in traffic I'd be in the car: when on the bike I will be moving faster than queuing traffic so I will make progress in the safest way possible, which is usually down the outside of the traffic. You do sometimes get motorists who don't consider other road users and stick to the white line, though thankfully not often. That's heading down Dan Bank of course, coming into Marple I frankly don;t trust drivers to pass safely, so I use the old Marple Hall road round the back of the school, technically it's a footpath nowadays but it's fine for bikes if you heave your bike over the fence at the bottom
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Strines Road, 3 deaths in 10 years.
Well Victor maybe SMBC can become proactive with preventative measures so that Dan Bank does not have to acquire its slow down signs because of several deaths. Strangely enough I had noticed the fixed speed signs on Strines Road which are only placed when there has been a sufficient number of deaths to justify the cost of fixed speed signs. My hope is that Dan Bank can acquire its traffic signs by preventative measures rather than after a crisis >:( I hope you and other readers would agree ???
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I must say I'm struggling to make sense of this, but as far as I can work out, the point being put forward is that as the traffic on Dan Bank goes too fast, it is therefore a bad idea to build a separate cycle track alongside it. Is that right? In which case, it makes the legendary Seventeen Windows thread seem positively rational. ;)
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Strines Road, 3 deaths in 10 years.
Well Victor maybe SMBC can become proactive with preventative measures so that Dan Bank does not have to acquire its slow down signs because of several deaths.
perhaps a cycle track would be proactive ?
May I ask you Miss Marple, as I'm not too clear on your initial post, are you saying that you think the traffic is driving along Stockport Road at a greater speed than it used to? - and that this is because of the new lights at Seventeen Windows?
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What I am trying to put across is !!!! No matter how wide the cycle path is it will not stop cars mounting the pavement as they already do on a regular basis. I am just pointing out, rather lulling potential users in to sense of security, that the road is dangerous. I am not opposed to a cycle track far from it, all I want to ensure is that walkers and cyclists visiting Marple are safe. The flow and speed of the current traffic does not lend itself to a cycle lane. Lets not forget that cycle lanes on major roads are usually on flat wide roads. Dan Bank is a very steep hill that most cyclists (myself included ) can not cycle up. Therefore it remains Paramount that when for example a family with young children or indeed a novices cyclist can take their time and wobble a bit, knowing that they will not be swept of their bike by a Quarry lorry speeding past. Is it unreasonable to want to make the road safe? Or do you suggest that I put a room aside at my house for a treatment room for injured walkers / cyclists ???
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May I ask you Miss Marple, as I'm not too clear on your initial post, are you saying that you think the traffic is driving along Stockport Road at a greater speed than it used to? - and that this is because of the new lights at Seventeen Windows?
Yes that is exactly what I am saying. On a recent telephone call to Highways I was informed that the increase speed and flow of traffic was because they had received complaints from drivers queuing at the bottom of Seventeen Windows and Dan Bank. The council as a result of complaints from drivers increased the flow of traffic by altering the traffic lights to increase the speed and amount of traffic coming up / down Dan Bank. The council informed me that their success in getting the flow of traffic faster was my downfall as I would see an increase in amount, speed and faster flowing traffic. What I now fail to understand is why cyclists, walkers and environmentalists on this site can not see the issue!
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I suspect that any complaints were about the length of time spent in the queues for the traffic lights.
There is virtually no queue out of Marple at 7 am, and traffic flows freely at 30 miles per hour.
Returning at 4:30pm the queue is normally joined around the Wright's Arms, and crawls all the way to the bottom of Dan Bank from where it flows freely, at 30 miles per hour if you are lucky !, until Rose Hill, provoided you are not behind a bus.
I can accept that SMBC tinkering with the traffic light sequencing etc can increase the 'flow' of cars through the lights i.e the number of cars per hour.
I fail to see how altering the traffic lights can alter the 'speed' of the traffic i.e. miles per hour which is totally under the control of the driver.
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I suspect that any complaints were about the length of time spent in the queues for the traffic lights.
There is virtually no queue out of Marple at 7 am, and traffic flows freely at 30 miles per hour.
Returning at 4:30pm the queue is normally joined around the Wright's Arms, and crawls all the way to the bottom of Dan Bank from where it flows freely, at 30 miles per hour if you are lucky !, until Rose Hill, provoided you are not behind a bus.
I can accept that SMBC tinkering with the traffic light sequencing etc can increase the 'flow' of cars through the lights i.e the number of cars per hour.
I fail to see how altering the traffic lights can alter the 'speed' of the traffic i.e. miles per hour which is totally under the control of the driver.
That's probably why you don't work for the Highways or Road Traffic monitoring. ??? I have not just made up this information I spoke to relevent departments within the council. If you require further information on traffic calming , flow, or the effect of traffic light adjustment to speed up traffic congestion, might I suggest that you speak to Ken Harrop at Highways or his manager Tony Adams because that's who gave me my informed knowledge surrounding traffic flow with the use of traffic light adjustments . :P
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I fail to see how altering the traffic lights can alter the 'speed' of the traffic i.e. miles per hour which is totally under the control of the driver.
Traffic will travel as fast as the driver can. If the driver can get away with 60mph, traffic will travel at 60. If they have top stop for traffic lights, the speed will decrease. Increase the flow of cars through the lights, increase the speed of traffic
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Correct! But we dont all drive at 60mph. Saying that, many do especially at night, thats when most of the accidents happen :(
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I can not think of a more ludicrous idea than to put a cycle track up Dan Bank.
I am not opposed to a cycle track far from it,
So that's all clear then. ;)
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Dave I think you need to read all my comments in context ;)
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Taking up Miss Marple's point about families and wobbly cyclists. I hope therefore she will add her support to the proposed Connect2 route that will allow some cyclists to bypass this section of road and offer the opportunity for parents to give children some opportunity to learn how to cycle and enjoy the countryside without having to contend with speeding traffic. However I must also point out that there are many cyclists able to cycle up Dan Bank, albeit slowly thus requiring a dedicated cycling area, and even more would do so if they considered it safe to do so.
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It may be because you started the thread with "I can not think of a more ludicrous idea than to put a cycle track up Dan Bank".
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I think Miss Marple means she is all for cycle tracks, but not up Dan Bank. Seems a bit odd to me too.Of all the roads around the area, somebody picks the most difficult bit of road to peddle up. why?
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I think Miss Marple means she is all for cycle tracks, but not up Dan Bank. Seems a bit odd to me too.Of all the roads around the area, somebody picks the most difficult bit of road to peddle up. why?
how else do you get from the bottom of Dan Bank to the top of Dan Bank without either going all the way round through Romiley or Torkington? Cyclist won't just stop riding if you don't put in facilities. And if you put in rubbish facilities, don't be surprised if cyclists don;t use them - a LOT of the "cycle lanes" in Stockport are useless and are there only so the council can say they're doing something for cyclists
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Sorry NBT but I disagree, the more facilities you put in for cyclists the more you will encourage people to cycle. There has been a remarkable increase (from a low starting point) in the number of cyclists on Stockport roads over the last 5 years. Cyclists pay taxes, just like all other residents of Stockport, they have a right to have some of that money spent on cycling infrastructure.
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I think Miss Marple means she is all for cycle tracks, but not up Dan Bank. Seems a bit odd to me too.Of all the roads around the area, somebody picks the most difficult bit of road to peddle up. why?
Miss M and sooty seem to be assuming that cycling is a recreational activity, rather than a means of transport. In reality, of course, it's both, and for those cyclists who are actually going somewhere (as opposed to just peddling around), then Dan Bank is a route which gets them from A to B. So it's not unreasonable for it to be made safer for them, is it.
And btw, anyone who thinks Dan Bank is 'the most difficult bit of road to peddle up' needs to try Brabyns Brow. :'(
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I would consider Dan bank to be the main commuter route from stockport to Marple more than a leisure route. thats why I didnt mention Brabyns or compstall Brow. The way the council are doling out money at the moment they may consider cycle lanes in both those places.If you dont ask,you cant get ;D
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Sorry NBT but I disagree, the more facilities you put in for cyclists the more you will encourage people to cycle. There has been a remarkable increase (from a low starting point) in the number of cyclists on Stockport roads over the last 5 years. Cyclists pay taxes, just like all other residents of Stockport, they have a right to have some of that money spent on cycling infrastructure.
I agree totally, more facilities for cyclists is a good idea, but my point was that these facilities do need to be well thought out - a safe cycle track up Dan bank is a good idea. However, plonking a little bit of green tarmac down and calling it a cycle lane is not always a good idea - witness the wonderful examples from all over the place at the "cycle facility of the month (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/)" website.
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Where does the proposed cycle track start and end. Does anyone know ???
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Any cycle track is a good idea. Anything that gets them off the road.
I followed one down Dan Bank this morning who decided to move from the left hand side to the right hand side of the road, without any indication, and another one who was cycling two feet away from the kerb, despite the fact that half the pavement weas painted green.
These pepole on bicycles should be insured as cars are, they should all have passed a cycling test in the same way that drivers have to pass a test, and they should be made to obey the rules in the highway code. That way the roads, and pavements, would be sa lot safer.
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Latest Highway Code advice to cyclists is to travel 2 feet from the kerb, might also help that if there was a cycle lane cars stayed out of it! Unfortunately there are far more worse drivers than cyclists and it might be an idea that all car drivers had to spend 2 hrs cycling on the road as part of their driving test, might make them more aware of cyclists needs!
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I admit that I do not have the most recent edition of the Highway Code but if a cyclist is coming up Dan Bank two feet away from the kerb they will almost certainly prevent any cars from getting passed them, which makes sense of providing a cycle lane.
I am all for motorists staying out of cycle lane as long as cyclist stay in them.
Whilst I will not argue about the number of bad drivers on the roads there are a far greater number of good drivers that there are good cyclists. In my view a small percentage of cyclist obey the rules whilst a small percentage of drivers disobey the rules.
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As a cyclist and a car driver I see far more instances of dangerous driving by car drivers than by cyclists. I have lost count how many times cars have cut across me when turning left, pulled out in front of me, blocked the carriageway forcing me onto the pavement. A nice lady once drew alongside me sounded her horn and wanted me to stop cycling so that she could turn left. I have been deliberately driven at because I slowed a following car down for all of 10 secs and they missed one change of traffic lights. Once I was even shot at from a bus! Try cycling a few times to Stockport and then see if you think there are far more bad cyclists than bad drivers.
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And so, as expected, we descend into the usual "I am in a car and so these damned cyclists should just get off the road and out of my way". I shall refrain from further participation in this thread. ::)
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Just had an awful thought :'( I do hope the grass verges and trees on the left hand side going up Stockport Road wont be destroyed in the making of the cycle track.We dont need the mad axe men on the rampage again like the Dan Bank/ seventeen Windows fiasco >:(
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Dan Bank is not wide enough to add green lane cycle tracks
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Oh it will be when the council agrees a deal with the local farmer to purchase some of his land! It will be sad to see yet another lot of trees chopped down. :'(