W
Wafflycathcsdir
Guest
Went to a meeting last night, in my CTC capacity.
Basically, various men in suits from Highways Agency and consultants to HA gave short presentations
on what is planned and not planned for the A47/A12 from Peterborough to Lowestoft over the next 3,
10 and 30 years.
All concerned listening - parish councillors, district councillors, county councillors, council
officers from various councils + yours truly and spouse alongseem to feel a right pig's ear is being
made of it. The A47 is going to be *hell* for *all* road users!
I wrote down some quotes from the various speakers, one of which was along the lines of 'what we
mean by road users are motorists' and 'minimum inconvenience to drivers'. Hmm.. full account taken
of vulnerable road users then!
Vernon & I raised two main points;
1. Lack of any mention in any of the presentations about considering the issues and problems faced
by vulnerable road users. Even the new head of planning & tranportation of Norfolk County Council
nodded in agreement to this!
2. Areas of conflict between HA plans for the road and local authority initiatives to get kids out
of cars and either cycling or walking to school - the A47 cuts through communities, where home on
one side of road, and school on other - gave real life example where to either cycle or walk to
school, kids wither have to go along a country lane (C class) that has been designated an HGV
route with no footpaths or cycle safety facilities, or cross the A47 where there is no safe
crossing point and it is three carriage lanes wide on a bend and a slope and no footpath etc.,
One guy (HA consultant) actually said publically that he had heard from some cyclists that they
refuse to use parts of the A47 now as it is simply too dangerous. I also know this to be true (A47
danger bit).
Vernon I did our bit by cycling there & back. Vernon actually cycled the A47 and was, ahem, educated
by the experience. I did the backroads and, although these are not too bad, they are narrow country
lanes with drivers doing 60+ in the effort to get home from work. Interesting
Cycling back in the pitch dark was interesting - came the back roads - as quieter than the A47
late at night, but *no* lighting. My super-duper Smart lighting went kaput. Being a boy scout in
a previous existance, I carry a spare light - but it is a basic British Standard front light.
Not exactly the best thing for cycling in the pitch dark - so slow & steady did it. At least the
rear ends of Vernon & I were well lit - I have three lights & Vernon two, plus were wore lots of
reflective stuff. Then my chain came off in the pitch black whilst going up the North face of
the Eiger.
It took me an hour to cycle to Swaffham along the undulating back roads but it took two hours to
cycle back in the dark :-(
If I ever suggest to anyone that I fancy doing a night time Audax, they have my permission to put me
up against a wall and shoot me ;-)
Cheers, helen s
p.s. I ache this morning. The headwind on the homeward journey + the effect of a laden bar bag on
steering gave me a really good upper body workout! I may be flabby, but boy, am I getting
fitter ;-)
~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!
Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~
Basically, various men in suits from Highways Agency and consultants to HA gave short presentations
on what is planned and not planned for the A47/A12 from Peterborough to Lowestoft over the next 3,
10 and 30 years.
All concerned listening - parish councillors, district councillors, county councillors, council
officers from various councils + yours truly and spouse alongseem to feel a right pig's ear is being
made of it. The A47 is going to be *hell* for *all* road users!
I wrote down some quotes from the various speakers, one of which was along the lines of 'what we
mean by road users are motorists' and 'minimum inconvenience to drivers'. Hmm.. full account taken
of vulnerable road users then!
Vernon & I raised two main points;
1. Lack of any mention in any of the presentations about considering the issues and problems faced
by vulnerable road users. Even the new head of planning & tranportation of Norfolk County Council
nodded in agreement to this!
2. Areas of conflict between HA plans for the road and local authority initiatives to get kids out
of cars and either cycling or walking to school - the A47 cuts through communities, where home on
one side of road, and school on other - gave real life example where to either cycle or walk to
school, kids wither have to go along a country lane (C class) that has been designated an HGV
route with no footpaths or cycle safety facilities, or cross the A47 where there is no safe
crossing point and it is three carriage lanes wide on a bend and a slope and no footpath etc.,
One guy (HA consultant) actually said publically that he had heard from some cyclists that they
refuse to use parts of the A47 now as it is simply too dangerous. I also know this to be true (A47
danger bit).
Vernon I did our bit by cycling there & back. Vernon actually cycled the A47 and was, ahem, educated
by the experience. I did the backroads and, although these are not too bad, they are narrow country
lanes with drivers doing 60+ in the effort to get home from work. Interesting
Cycling back in the pitch dark was interesting - came the back roads - as quieter than the A47
late at night, but *no* lighting. My super-duper Smart lighting went kaput. Being a boy scout in
a previous existance, I carry a spare light - but it is a basic British Standard front light.
Not exactly the best thing for cycling in the pitch dark - so slow & steady did it. At least the
rear ends of Vernon & I were well lit - I have three lights & Vernon two, plus were wore lots of
reflective stuff. Then my chain came off in the pitch black whilst going up the North face of
the Eiger.
It took me an hour to cycle to Swaffham along the undulating back roads but it took two hours to
cycle back in the dark :-(
If I ever suggest to anyone that I fancy doing a night time Audax, they have my permission to put me
up against a wall and shoot me ;-)
Cheers, helen s
p.s. I ache this morning. The headwind on the homeward journey + the effect of a laden bar bag on
steering gave me a really good upper body workout! I may be flabby, but boy, am I getting
fitter ;-)
~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!
Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~