barriers on cycle paths.

[terry_gardener]

i had a hospital appointment on Thursday and i went by bike due to parking being a joke, but on the way home i decided to go the long way home via the cycle path. but partway down it there is a barrier that is to narrow for my bike to fit through and also entering the park my bike just fits scraping each side. the link below shows the type of barrier i am on about.

should this be reported to the council if so which department. also will the council do anything about it?

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=e...id=XFPYyswvwzHH21i8pCCwQQ&cbp=12,81.8,,0,15.2

 

[the_mikey]

There's one like that near me, it renders the whole path almost unusable, it keeps horses and motorbikes off, but it also keeps all but Road bikes off too. Don't even think about bringing a wheel chair, tricycle, hand cycle, trailer or almost anything with straight bars. It won't fit.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Yes, roads/transports would be a start?

They are a massive problem and do little to deter what they are supposed to (illegal off road motorbiking/quads etc), pretty sure they may contravene some disability laws as wheelchairs/mobility buggies certainly can't get down there.

 

[Roadrider48]

Yes, roads/transports would be a start?

They are a massive problem and do little to deter what they are supposed to (illegal off road motorbiking/quads etc), pretty sure they may contravene some disability laws as wheelchairs/mobility buggies certainly can't get down there.

That's just silly....

 

[clid61]

Wheel it through on the back wheel , shouldnt have to I know , but its the only way.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

One of those in Watermead Park in Leicester. I stop, straddle the frame and lean the bike right over to the left so the handle bars aren't level and then scoot the bike through. The other option is as clid61 says

 

[mcshroom]

Wheel it through on the back wheel , shouldn't have to I know , but its the only way.

This - Daft thing is this also works for motorbikes so they are no more useful than a single bollard in the middle. Why they can't just leave the track open is beyond me. Trikes, tandems and things like kiddie trailers are a real pain in these situations.

 

[terry_gardener]

looks like this happens in all areas so is it worth reporting because i think they will just ignore it.
they seem pointless and could stop people cycling (especially new starters) as they don't want the hassle doing the above methods.

 

[snorri]

should this be reported to the council if so which department. also will the council do anything about it?

The roads and transport department of your local council would be the responsible body.
If they will not remove the barrier, they should remove the round blue 'cycle path' sign. It has to be one or the other, it can't be both!
You could also approach a local councillor for assistance, and point out the insanity of wasting public funds on a sign indicating a cycle path beside a barrier preventing cycle access. .
Is there a local cycle campaign group?


Errrr These horizontal wooden spars each side of the barrier look as if they might fall off if someone were to stumble against them as they stopped to take a drink from a water bottle

 

[summerdays]

I know several of these, and depending on which one (differences in the gap size), I use any of the methods above,; leaning bike to lower the handlebar, slightly angling the handlebar, or lifting to handlebar above. All of which I can do but that others may not be able to.

And as others have said if I can do that I presume a motorbike can do the same.

 

[n3rdy]

Other than the fact a motorbike is significantly heavier than a 10kg bike

 

[coffeejo]

Report it with photos and keep reporting it. Speak to your local councillor as well.

 

[Mugshot]

There is a maximum width which they can be set to, last year some time there was one put on my local path and they set it too narrow, I spoke to the guy in my council that looks after the path and he said the contractors had screwed up and it was being sorted, it was then moved to what is alledgedly the maximum allowed, I can get through with ease on the roadie but have to sling my wifes bike onto the back wheel it get it through, she wouldnt be able to do this herself. On another section we have sprung gates, according to the same guy in the council they shouldnt be there as that section is classed as a bridleway but the farmer whos land the path crosses wont give them permission to remove them. It's all very frustrating and not very inclusive.

 

[jonnysnorocket]

In my experience, these barriers do a valuable job, and do deter the off road motorcycle & quad bikers, making my local trails a safer, quieter & more enjoyable place to be!

 

[byegad]

I left Sustrans as a Ranger and Supporter over this some years back. The fact that I ride a recumbent trike and so cannot access far too many of their facilities was not the only reason*. But it was enough that I couldn't ride the section I'd been responsible for for several years after they got a bee in their bonnet about illegal motorcyclists. They erected barrier after barrier and the one thing they didn't stop was the illegal motorcyclists who simply smashed down a couple of fences to ride across a field and onto the track.

*They were running a segregation campaign, which I see as the thin end of an edge that will end up with us banned from ordinary roads!