Parking's putting perilous squeeze on us, say cyclists
PARKING on a busy Lenton road has made life dangerous for cyclists, a campaign group claims.
Members of Pedals have highlighted the perils faced by riders in Lenton Lane and Gregory Street.
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Danger: HughMcClintock squeezes past parked cars at Gregory Street.
Hugh McClintock said a number of complaints had been raised at the group's latest meeting.
"We met at the end of September and a lot of cyclists are concerned about obstructive parking on the road.
"There have been problems with that particular cycle lane being blocked.
"As a result, cyclists are squeezed by passing vehicles, and use the road at the risk of getting run over by passing lorries.
"This is an urgent problem. It's not just a nuisance."
Professor Roland Backhouse, who lives in West Bridgford and works at the University of Nottingham's Jubilee campus, complained to the group about the issue. He said: "I use the route on a regular basis as a cyclist, so it's quite an issue for me.
"The situation seemed OK for a while in terms of obstructive parking but it seems to have started getting worse since the end of the summer.
"I'm not sure of the exact cause but it may be overspill parking from people visiting the Queen's Medical Centre.
"It could also be that there is a large employer in the area and employees are using the route to park on but I can't be certain."
Gary Tibbs, head of fire and security at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the QMC, said: "We go to great lengths to be a good neighbour to those around the hospital and always encourage staff and visitors to use the designated car parks within the QMC site.
"We have just opened a new car park at the QMC to increase the number of spaces for patients, visitors and staff and also have a free park-and-ride Medilink bus service near to the hospital.
Professor Backhouse said the issue had to be tackled.
"It's dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.
"There's no way cyclists could cycle along there, because the cars are just parked in the way.
"It's a very busy road used by buses and lorries, so it's hazardous to be parking on the sides of it.
"Some kind of action needs to be taken to sort this out. It could be that parking restrictions are placed in the area.
"At the moment, you have lots of people parking there from early in the morning until late afternoon.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for planning and transport, said: "The city council has an established relationship with Pedals and we hold regular meetings.
"We are keen to support cycling and cyclists using the network of cycle routes through the city.
"We will look at any problems on the Lenton Lane route with Pedals."
34 Comments
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by MarkXBSSensor
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 6:32PM
“So, if someone corrects a misapprehension about parking law, clarifies some misunderstandings about the Highway Code, corrects some mistakes about road safety, and answers some questions with facts:
That's a broken record cycling rant.
If that's the case, Tomson, I'd love to know how you would describe cyclists:
Persistently perjuring themselves about parking laws.
Continually conning people over the Highway Code.
And repeatedly denying the truth about road death risks.”
by Tomson67
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 4:19PM
“Not another rant. Give it a rest. Can't have an article about cycling on this website without a MarkXBSSensor cycle rant. It's like a broken record.”
by MarkXBSSensor
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 2:34PM
“by 2Loose Sunday, October 23 2011, 3:09PM
"How many more anti-cyclists do not bother to know the highway code before ranting."
A lot fewer than the anti-motorists who don't read their own sections of the Highway Code before ranting, I'd wager.
"Over a thousand pedestrian deaths last year on the pavement due to cars (yes, on the path) and one death due to a cyclist but still the hysteria continues."
No, only a few hundred everywhere, per about a 100 BILLION miles driven.
There are two or three pedestrians killed by every year due to cyclists.
And how many miles do THEY do?”
by MarkXBSSensor
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 2:30PM
“Perhaps some people here are confusing the Rules in the Highway Code, which can be used IN EVIDENCE to PROVE illegal acts, such as Obstructing The Highway, or Driving Without Due Care And Attention, and the actual crimes themselves.
Then again, isn't it strange that these people don't view the Rules in the Highway Code for PEDESTRIANS and CYCLISTS in the same way?
Perhaps they don't realise that there Rules in the Highway Code for THEM!”
by MarkXBSSensor
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 2:20PM
“by Poo_Stick Sunday, October 23 2011, 8:20AM
"digbypatch: It is still illegal to park partially on the pavement"
It's never been illegal to park on the pavement unless there's a specific bye-law applying to that particular named and delineated stretch of it, or you're driving a HGV.
There are laws about Obstructing the Highway, but that's another issue entirely, and doesn't apply just to motorists.”
by 2Loose
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 6:25AM
“Smith1980, another who can't read the signs.
The only illegal thing going on is the pavement parking. Sigh.”
by 2Loose
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 6:22AM
“"Get him ASBO'd up and fined - cyclists need to learn that pavement pedestrians and selfish law breaking cyclists do not mix."
And another one who can't read the signs. The only law breaking going on is the pavement parking. Sigh.”
by Smith1980
Monday, October 24 2011, 9:01PM
“Get him ASBO'd up and fined - cyclists need to learn that pavement pedestrians and selfish law breaking cyclists do not mix.”
by starving
Monday, October 24 2011, 8:37PM
“The AA may be venerable organisation but their findings seem to fly in the face of the observed behaviour of a good proportion of Local cyclists.
If by fault they mean that the average driver is not possessed of Superhuman Powers then yes they are to blame.”
by 2Loose
Monday, October 24 2011, 4:50PM
“John_Carlton, I agree on the whole, as I have stated before I would rather bikes and cars shared the road properly, as I think most cycle lanes are mostly unfit for purpose as well as confusing the issue over who should be where - e.g. so many here think the bike in the picture should not be on the path despite the signs.
All vehicles staying on the road would make it easier for people to deal with and even perhaps learn to coexist. It would also give more space over to things like proper parking.
Starving, when even the AA has found that well over 90% of accidents involving cyclists are the fault of the driver involved, I am not sure that you have a point. But I do differ between grown up, law abiding cyclists and darwin award candidates. Not that it has a bearing on this issue.”