Update 14/08/18
Sheffield Council have decided to remove the parking along Clarkehouse Road. This is a very welcome decision which will resolve the long running problem of people parking in the cycle lanes.
The changes will:
- Remove the peak hour waiting restrictions on Clarkehouse Road between Glossop Road and Brocco Bank,
- Remove the uncontrolled parking area between Park Lane and Broomgrove Crescent,
- Introduce double yellow lines on both sides of Clarkehouse Road for its whole length,
- Retain the existing peak hour loading restriction.
The proposal received overwhelming support – there were 111 responses, of these 101 were supportive of the proposal and nine against.
Further information about the decision can be seen here. This should be implemented by the end of 2018.
Update 14/03/18
Sheffield Council are now proposing to prevent parking along Clarkehouse Road which will end the very long running issue with the cycle lane being blocked by cars. They believe this may prove controversial so please email matthew.lowe@sheffield.gov.uk and Scheme.Design@sheffield.gov.uk by the 29th of March in support of this proposal . Our response is below.
Hello,
I am responding to the TRO on behalf of CycleSheffield.
We strongly support this proposal. The problem of parked cars in the cycle lane along Clarkehouse Road is a longstanding one and we are very pleased that the council will finally resolve the issue.
Parked cars blocking the cycle lane made it difficult and potentially dangerous to cycle along a very busy road. The parked cars often obstructed the pavement as well.
Clarkehouse Road is a popular route for cycling into Sheffield and in the long run the road needs protected space for cycling due to the heavy volumes of motor traffic but this is a welcome step towards this.
There are two large multistory car parks within walking distance of this road and so there is no need for onroad parking.
Regards,
Update 08/04/17
We’ve set up a petition calling for the council to end the abuse of the cycle lane. Please sign and share!
Free parking in a busy cycle lane
Clarkehouse Road is a popular route for cycling into Sheffield and it has a painted cycle lane which should provide at least a small amount of clear space. Unfortunately the council allows this cycle lane to be used as free car parking except at peak times, and even then it is still abused making it largely useless.
There is no need to use this road space for parking. There is a multi-story car park with 702 spaces next to the Royal Hallamshire hospital approximately 100 metres from Clarkehouse Road and there is a Q-Park with 560 spaces next to the University of Sheffield approximately 300 metres from Clarkehouse Road.
The restricted parking times are routinely abused
People park up and sit in their vehicles from 8am onwards blocking the cycle lane. At 9.30am this parking becomes legitimate and most drivers will leave their vehicles parked there until 4.30pm.
This makes it even more difficult and potentially dangerous to cycle along a very busy road.
CycleSheffield and Sustrans have held events to monitor this situation. Whilst this deters the offenders on the day it only highlights the problem and doesn’t solve it.
What is the solution?
Due to the volume of motor traffic the long term solution is to provide a segregated cycleway along Clarkehouse Road.
In the short term the council could immediately remove the free parking along the road, meaning there was no benefit to parking on the road instead of using the multi storey car parks. Alternatively they could remove the on-road parking entirely. Or at least they could keep the parking restriction on the cycle lane in force until 10am. This would increase the time that people would need to remain in their vehicles and reduce the appeal of doing so.
Report the issue to the council
If you see this problem please report Sheffield Council parking services via email parkingservices@sheffield.gov.uk (attach a photo if possible, clearly showing the registration number of offending vehicles) or by phone 0114 2736255.
It would be good to raise the problem with your councillors as well. https://www.writetothem.com/ is the easiest way of doing this.
The more often the issue is raised with council officers and councillors the more likely it that they will take action to resolve the issue.
We have contacted Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Councillor George George Lindars-Hammond and Tom Finnegan-Smith who are responsible for transport in Sheffield, as well as the three councillors whose ward Clarkehouse Road is in to raise this issue.
This proposal will make cycling along Clarkehouse Road a lot safer. I’m one of the many that regularly use this route. Parked cars currently squeeze riders into the middle of the road, where they are more vulnerable to the driving of motorists in a hurry.
It would be useful to know if there is a proposed date for the start of this change to the “free parking” being removed.
Hi Anne, the end date for the consultation is the 29th of March, so please email SCC this week in support of the proposal.
Then they’ll have to look at the responses, decide whether to make any changes to the plans based on the response and then the cabinet member will need to approve it and it will be implemented. So it could be in a few months.
Cheers, Dexter
Having spoken to residents and other users of Clarkehouse Rd.
I strongly suspect that the results of SCC’s consultation are
spurious. Consideration should be given to the inconvenience
of many as against the benefits to few.
A cyclist