There always were queues at Water End junction (From York Press)
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There always were queues at Water End junction
10:17am Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Letters By Reader's letter
I’M GLAD Coun Dave Merrett acknowledges that the congestion at the Water End junction existed long before the cycle lane was installed (Letters, December 19).
The regular presence of tailbacks on the other side of the road, which at one stage prompted the police to issue a warning to drivers who were stopping on the box junction and obstructing oncoming traffic while waiting to tag onto the queue of vehicles blocking Water End, demonstrates that the loss of the left-hand filter lane is only a minor factor.
Coun Merrett concedes this, as he rightly states that its removal “will not stop congestion”.
That being so, and considering that three experts have advised that altering the junction will make it more dangerous, the council should have the moral courage to tell motorists that congestion is a price they have to accept for opting to take a vehicle on to busy roads and that, as the safety of all road users must be paramount, the cycle lane will remain in its present form.
I’m sure the council has not forgotten the near-fatal accident caused when they ignored warnings and pushed through ill-judged changes on Fulford Road, which then had to be reversed.
PM Ray, Green Lane, Clifton, York.
Comments(4)
pedalling paul
says...
10:52am Thu 22 Dec 11
As the writer states, reopening a LH filter will only bring short term gain for a few months. But I'll continue to whizz past the jams on two wheels. However, reaching the "Green Box" at the head of the junction will be much riskier in future, without a continuous approach cycle lane. It could deter some less confident cycle owners from using their bikes for local journeys. Hardly an alignment with York's Local Transport Plan, which seeks to further reduce car dependancy.
yawn..
says...
9:00pm Thu 22 Dec 11
Magicman!
says...
2:42am Mon 26 Dec 11
York, the self-proclaimed Cycling City. pah. pathetic... utterly pathetic.
greenmonkey says...
10:49am Thu 22 Dec 11
There was no inevitability about reversing the bus lane, but the Lib Dem administration supported by local ward Green councillors took the view that safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, had to come first. In the case of Water End however the new Labour administration is now committed to implementing a scheme that they have been advised by officers will be less safe for cyclists, in order to provide more roadspace for motor traffic. The current 'consultation' offers the option of a dangerously narrow central cycle lane between two traffic lanes or two traffic lanes with no cycle lane. Hardly worthy of a council committed to cutting traffic and dangerously high levels of air pollution.