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Road closure at Gillygate

9:54am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in


It’s been an interesting couple of weeks in Gillygate. I’m still failing to understand how two words to two different groups of people can mean so many things.

“Road closed” is pretty simple, yet so many drivers think they have a need, or don’t have to obey what everyone else does.

I had an “altercation” on Friday night with a van driver who claimed to live in Gillygate, despite travelling at a stupid speed down the street (he didn’t turn into a side road at the end...).

Now point two – “cyclists dismount”.

I might be a bit thick, but would have thought that even “York pedestrians on two wheels” would have understood the first bit. “Cyclists” means people on bicycles. Now we’ve sorted that bit, “dismount” means get off (and presumably push).

A final observation – the council website says that York pedestrian streets are “strictly enforced”… bring on the revolution !

Dave Barker, Huntington, York.

Comments(10)

Silver says...
1:04pm Wed 17 Mar 10

The Dark Side in me does love watching cars thinking on Lord Mayor's walk that "Oh those signs must be wrong, I'll try and drive through Gillygate, whoops it's closed now what do I do." It's all got signs telling you it's closed. Before you even get to it. Shame it takes longer to go up Wigginton Road, but it's not gonna be around forever.

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sensationalism says...
4:34pm Wed 17 Mar 10

I have ridden my bicycle South along Gillygate a few times since it's been closed. I saw a sign saying "cyclists dismount" but wasn't sure if it referred to cyclists turning off Gillygate or what. Anyway, no problems riding down the empty half of the street. We all know signs like this are just to prevent the contractors being sued, in the unlikely event of an accident. I doubt they constitute a legally enforceable ban on cycling, being rectangular, ambiguously sited, and unecessary.

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pedalling paul says...
6:15pm Wed 17 Mar 10

sensationalism wrote:
I have ridden my bicycle South along Gillygate a few times since it's been closed. I saw a sign saying "cyclists dismount" but wasn't sure if it referred to cyclists turning off Gillygate or what. Anyway, no problems riding down the empty half of the street. We all know signs like this are just to prevent the contractors being sued, in the unlikely event of an accident. I doubt they constitute a legally enforceable ban on cycling, being rectangular, ambiguously sited, and unecessary.
Can anyone in authority please give definitive guidance?

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ak7274 says...
7:06pm Wed 17 Mar 10

What planet are you on?
Cyclists dismount means "GET OFF YOUR BIKE" As for "we all know it's to prevent the contractor being sued" Get real and get off your bike.
What's ambiguous about cyclists dismount? apart from the ambiguous words cyclists and dismount?
If I speed on the road and the sign says 30 mph.. does it mean me or the car in front or behind........hmmmm.
. difficult one that. Best ask a cyclist.

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old_geezer says...
9:13pm Wed 17 Mar 10

Mr Barker: van numberplate, ring police, may do no good but will lower your (justifiable) blood pressure. But they just might go after him ...

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sensationalism says...
12:33am Thu 18 Mar 10

Look, ak7274, maybe you don't ride a bicycle, and maybe you haven't read the Highway Code, but if you did, you would soon learn that there are all sorts of nanny-ish signs saying "Cyclists Dismount" which are rectangular and ADVISORY, implying no obligation. They are merely warnings, or, as I said, set up to avoid litigation: "We advised cyclists to dismount: we are therefore in the clear as regards the accident" etc etc.
It's a bit like the green man at traffic lights: in this country you can cross at your own risk when the red man is showing. In Germany you would be fined for doing so. We are allowed to excercise common sense in this country.
If Pedalling Paul (above) doesn't know the definitive answer, then it's by no means as clear cut as you believe.

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pedalling paul says...
9:14am Thu 18 Mar 10

It appears from a later article, that a temporary traffic order is in force, giving legal weight to the contractor's signage.

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ak7274 says...
10:02am Thu 18 Mar 10

"We advise cyclists to dismount" is a request. "Would all cyclist please dismount if convenient" is a request. Please would cyclist dismount and push their cycles by hand" is a request. CYCLISTS DISMOUNT is hardly ambiguous is it?
If you belive it's illegal for a contractor to erect such signage, complain to him, but I tend to do as the traffic signs tell me. I am a cyclist, a car driver and also drive HGV's for my living and have done for over 30 years from Eire in the west to Minsk and Moscow in the East. As for Puddled Paul knowing the answer, since when was he the appointed by you to be the font of all knowledge regarding the Road Traffic act? Olease do have a pop at my profession. ignorant people usually do. Then tell me how your precious Cycle got to York, or indeed the Beef on your plate on Sunday and for the veggies and vegans out there, how did your lentils arrive? As a professional Lorry, car, cycle user I would say that
tends to give me some credence in the road traffic act, don't you? Or will you still argue from behind your curtain of sublime ignorance of others who don't doff their cap to your blinkered views.

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sensationalism says...
8:40pm Thu 18 Mar 10

To AK7274, I was not saying it's illegal for a contractor to erect any sign he likes.... the question is whether it has any authority in law, do I have to obey it, and can it be enforced? Fascinating continuation of this Gillygate problem today, with reports that official "Access Only" signs are legally meaningless and unenforceable.

I have over 40 years of driving experience, by the way, cars, motorcycles and buses... plus 55 years cycling. But I do agree with you that some who only use one mode of transport often can't see the whole picture.

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KarenWhite1978 says...
6:35pm Fri 19 Mar 10

old_geezer wrote:
Mr Barker: van numberplate, ring police, may do no good but will lower your (justifiable) blood pressure. But they just might go after him ...
If there are any other people you have grudges against be sure to report them for "motoring offences".

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