CycleSheffield respond to Chesterfield Road and Spital Hill Scheme Designs

Today CycleSheffield has responded to Sheffield City Council Chesterfied Road and Spital Hill road schemes.

We’re disappointed that Sheffield City Council has not taken the opportunity to utilise some of the space on these roads to allow people in Sheffield to cycle safely and confidently. We need the council to be far more ambitious in its provision for cyclists.

Unfortunately we’ve been asked to not share the plans on the Internet for Spital Hill, but the plans for Chesterfield Road are available here.

Update 10/11/2015 – The plans for Spital Hill are now available online (1 & 2).

CycleSheffield Response to Chesterfield Road Plans

Commenting on the specifics of this design, which leaves the road fundamentally unsafe for cyclists, might be seen to condone it, so we will refrain. The minor changes represent no significant improvement for cyclists (existing or potential).

In summary: Chesterfield Road is the natural major cycle route connecting the South Sheffield to the city centre. There is no convenient alternative.

The road is extremely busy in rush hours and busy for the remainder of the day. During rush hour, having to compete for spaces with 10-ton busses and numerous taxi cabs at the time when they are moving fastest between stops and stopping most frequently, is unpleasant and risky for experienced cyclists, and will discourage inexperienced cyclists to start cycle commuting. Both during and outside of rush hour the advisory cycle lanes (in which cars may legally be parked) are dangerous for all cyclists.

Taking into consideration the volume of traffic along Chesterfield Road, safe cycling requires the provision of protected continuous cycling space in both directions. Chesterfield Road is currently 4 lanes wide with generous pavements, and the Council is obtaining further land by compulsory purchase where it is considered necessary to deliver the scheme, so it is particularly disappointing that Sheffield City Council has not taken the opportunity to utilise some of this space to allow people in Sheffield to cycle safely and confidently along this road. We need the council to be far more ambitious in its provision for cyclists.

CycleSheffield Response to Spital Hill Plans

Commenting on the specifics of this design, which leaves the road fundamentally unsafe for cyclists, might be seen to condone it, so we will refrain. The minor changes represent no significant improvement for cyclists (existing or potential).

In summary: Spital Hill is the natural major cycle route connecting the Burngreave and Pitsmoor to the city centre. There is no convenient alternative.

Again this is an extremely busy road, with a complex junction. During rush hour, having to compete for lane spaces with 10 ton busses and numerous taxi cabs which will be switching lanes, is unpleasant and risky, and will in itself discourage inexperienced cyclists to start cycle commuting. In addition the proposed lane layouts are confusing to both motorists and cyclists which will lead to unpredictable road behaviour which is a further grave risk to cyclists in the traffic stream.

Both the traffic volumes and complexity of the junction make it unreasonable to expect people to share them for cycling.

The width of the streets (both Savile Street and A6135/Spital Hill) have ample room for the Council to provide protected space for cycling. It is disappointing that Sheffield City Council has not taken the opportunity to utilise this space to allow people in Sheffield to cycle safely and confidently in this area.

Chesterfield Road – CycleSheffield Response PDF

Spital Hill – CycleSheffield Response PDF

3 thoughts on “CycleSheffield respond to Chesterfield Road and Spital Hill Scheme Designs

  1. Completely agree. Who do we contact to voice further concerns. I use Spital Hill daily and the current roadworks are an ideal opportunity to improve city centre cycling provision

  2. Spital Hill is chaotic at best. I use it regularly and find the biggest problem to not be the road layout but to be the drivers using it. Cars constantly block the cycle path on the road, drivers are eager to pass in unsuitable places and the bus stops are located such that they can bring ALL traffic to a halt for considerable amounts of time. Drivers stop in the middle of the road to chat and park their cars inappropriately either protruding into the road, mounting the kerb or occupying the bus stops. The proposals from the council can’t address any of this and the primary issue here is enforcement of the rules. As a cyclist along this route I advise any other cyclist to take the lane to avoid car doors, pedestrians step out in front of you and prevent drivers overtaking. In my opinion Spital Hill can never be made ‘cycling friendly’ its just too busy (Since the 1st Nov 10 bus routes use this corridor to get into the city) and alternative routes need to be improved to get people to the north of Sheffield such as improving Pitsmoor Road or Woodside Lane.

  3. My friend is still recovering from a head injury that she got while cycling in Spital Hill a few months ago. They really ought to make this roads safer.

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