Anti-motorbike barriers to be removed from National Cycle Network

[raleighnut]

It doesn't stop most site workmen......

They need one of these fitting,
http://www.googleadservices.com/pag...ahUKEwj97q7Np9DQAhVMK8AKHX38AHwQwg8IIA&adurl=
Then the 'jobs a good un'.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Not with that 'stone cutting' blade in.

They need one of these fitting,
http://www.googleadservices.com/pag...ahUKEwj97q7Np9DQAhVMK8AKHX38AHwQwg8IIA&adurl=
Then the 'jobs a good un'.

It would have a similar blade in it at the appropriate time, that was a libary picture, not the actual item

 

[Inertia]

These are the type that they have on the towpath, a real pain in the artichokes

Luxury! I dont have a picture of the ones near me handy, but imagine smaller than that but with a kissing gate in the middle instead of the barrier. The only way to get a bike through is to stand it up vertical and walk it through. PITA

 

[Drago]

They're a pain, effectively rendering routes wheelchair inaccessible.

 

[mjr]

They're a bloody menace, but I'm not sure what it will be like without them, will motorbikes become an actual problem rather than imagined?

Not unless they already are. So-called "anti-motorcycle barriers" are no such thing. If you know the history of hybrid bicycles, then it's pretty obvious why they can't work: early off-road bicycles were basically bicycles with motorcycle handlebars, which is part of why flat bars have the same ⅞" (22.2mm) bar diameter, rather than the 15/16" (23.8mm) traditional drop bar diameter - that's actually very useful when you want to fit switches for dynamo electrics because classic motorcycle controls fit.

Anyway, that means that there are plenty of motorcycles around with narrower handlebars than the typical 600mm width bars on hybrids. IIRC, there's even one of the Honda Goldwing models with narrower bars!

Most motorcycle barriers seem to be installed incompetently, too. I know several sets where scramblers just motor through the treeline nearby, while legitimate users who stick to the track are either blocked completely (wheelchairs and mobility scooters) or occasionally injured as they try to ride through the barriers.

These barriers also disproportionately block the sorts of people most likely to be encouraged by cycle tracks: those on hybrids, roadsters, tricycles and other more upright bikes. Roadies with narrow drop bars can just ride straight through most of them, but we're often used to riding on the roads if the track's substandard anyway.

The only solutions to motorcycle abuse are policing and making the cycle tracks so busy that they lose all attraction to the nobbers because they can't get up any speed and get videoed and reported to the police almost every time.

 

[Brains]

The solution used around these parts by the off road motorcyclists is to have one of these in you tool kit

Costs about £15 and will remove most anti-motorbike gates in a couple of minutes.
One set of local gates were removed 3 times in 3 months.
The council have given up replacing them

The solution is not gates, but to upgrade the path with tarmac and a kerb on any area where going off road may be a good idea. This way the path becomes 'boring' for off road scrambling (but better for the cyclists and other wheeled pedestrians)

 

[Milkfloat]

As far as I am concerned the sooner they are gone the better. But the headline is very misleading.

 

[Jody]

They have been removed from a few areas of the Chesterfield canal loop I do and we haven't had any nuisnce motor bikers. Its great not haing to stop and shimmy through with handlebars at an angle. However most of the local scrotes now ride pit bikes so they can go under/over any barrier put in place.

These are the type that they have on the towpath, a real pain in the artichokes

I find those frustrating but its a good test to get round them without dabbing a foot.

 

[mjr]

I find those frustrating but its a good test to get round them without dabbing a foot.

Good test of what? Do obstacle courses encourage people to cycle?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I find those frustrating but its a good test to get round them without dabbing a foot.

Good test of what? Do obstacle courses encourage people to cycle?

Balance, control skills, have you ever seen trials cycling? There are more than one type of cycling to which to encourage people to enjoy

 

[Jody]

Good test of what?

Bike control/skill obviously

Do obstacle courses encourage people to cycle?

No of course they don't. But neither does the sight of a 15 year old on an unlicensed and uninsured MX bike doing in excess off 40+ on a shared use path. You may not have had much of this behaviour where you live but not so long ago South Yorkshire and surrounding areas were blighted with it. It seems to be a dying trend but is still prevalent in some areas.

 

[mjr]

Balance, control skills, have you ever seen trials cycling? There are more than one type of cycling to which to encourage people to enjoy

Not really appropriate for a SUStainable TRANSport network, though.

But neither does the sight of a 15 year old on an unlicensed and uninsured MX bike doing in excess off 40+ on a shared use path. You may not have had much of this behaviour where you live but not so long ago South Yorkshire and surrounding areas were blighted with it. It seems to be a dying trend but is still prevalent in some areas.

And which is completely irrelevant to these barriers because that MX bike can get through most barriers which bicycles can because they have basically similar handlebars. I'm sorry if South Yorkshire hasn't got effective policing of its cycle tracks, but making them inaccessible for disabled users is not a fair or effective alternative.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

And which is completely irrelevant to these barriers because that MX bike can get through most barriers which bicycles can because they have basically similar handlebars.

You really have no clue what you are talking about have you

These are the same as on your bike are they?

I'm sorry if South Yorkshire hasn't got effective policing of its cycle tracks, but making them inaccessible for disabled users is not a fair or effective alternative.

We're not arguing with you, we agree with you, are you actually reading what we type or is there a hidden agenda we don't know about

 

[Jody]

And which is completely irrelevant to these barriers because that MX bike can get through most barriers which bicycles can because they have basically similar handlebars.

Appreciate the bit about disabled users but handlebars are not the same as a bicycle. For a start they are wider and second they are double clamps (on the fork) which means they can't turn more than (about) 35/40 degrees. they only way to get a bike through it by lifting the handlebars higher than the gate. Given the weight of a crosser it makes it very difficult.

 

[I like Skol]

Not really appropriate for a SUStainable TRANSport network, though.

Since when has my cycling preferences been restricted by, or had to conform to some idealogical standard dreamt up by SUSTRANS? I actually enjoy the challenge of getting around the tight u-bend type restrictions, balancing, hopping and making sure the panniers don't catch are all part of the ride experience.

And which is completely irrelevant to these barriers because that MX bike can get through most barriers which bicycles can because they have basically similar handlebars. I'm sorry if South Yorkshire hasn't got effective policing of its cycle tracks, but making them inaccessible for disabled users is not a fair or effective alternative.

You get it, I get it, most of the users get it but apparently project managers and planners of such cycle paths the length and breadth of the country don't see the problem. Why is this?