Final push to fund new cycle-path link at Rufforth and Knapton

8:37am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

WORK has finally begun on a long-planned cycle path to link the villages of Rufforth and Knapton, despite complete funding not yet being secured.

City of York Council is due to meet next month to decide if it will rubber-stamp the final amount needed for the project.

The parish councils at Rufforth and Knapton have been pushing for the construction of an off-road cycle path and bridleway since 2007, when a steering committee was set up to spearhead the project.

Mike Wood, chairman of the committee said the path would link up with the existing cycle network in York.

He said: “This will allow cyclists to pedal into York in relative safety rather than risking their lives negotiating the heavy traffic on the B1224 and York residents can enjoy the pleasures of Rufforth with its church, shop and tea room. The route will also permit Rufforth schoolchildren to be more environmentally friendly by being able to cycle to school in Acomb.”

“The parish set up a steering group in 2007, and with the help of City of York Council, Sustrans cycling charity and various other bodies, a route has been finalised, approval obtained from nearly all land owners, and most importantly, almost all of the funding has been obtained.”

To ensure the final hurdle for funding is cleared, Mr Wood is asking as many people as possible to get in touch with the council to throw their weight behind the campaign.

He said: “The final meeting to allocate funding is to be held at CYC on November 19 and it is important that the council is made aware of the level of support in the community for this public amenity.”

To show your support email the council at walking.cycling@york.gov.uk or phone (01904) 551608.

Comments(16)

Mr Udigawa says...
8:45am Wed 31 Oct 12

Good to see a worthwhile scheme at last, I'd much rather our money be spent on this than on token gestures such as the Gillygate cycle path.

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Mr Udigawa says...
8:48am Wed 31 Oct 12

What's the correct e-mail address please?

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Oaklands Resident says...
9:03am Wed 31 Oct 12

The route is controvertial. While it avoids major roads it is a "dog leg" route which is likely to appeal to (day time) leisure cyclists only.

In winter it will be a dark and unwelcomg journey.

There is also a potentially hazardous crossing of the A1237 at one of its busier sections where vehicle speeds can be high.

Its a shame that there wasn't more publicity about the other options that were available.

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Mr Udigawa says...
9:10am Wed 31 Oct 12

Oaklands Resident wrote:
The route is controvertial. While it avoids major roads it is a "dog leg" route which is likely to appeal to (day time) leisure cyclists only. In winter it will be a dark and unwelcomg journey. There is also a potentially hazardous crossing of the A1237 at one of its busier sections where vehicle speeds can be high. Its a shame that there wasn't more publicity about the other options that were available.
What were the other options?

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Paul Hepworth says...
9:18am Wed 31 Oct 12

There is a dedicated page on the CoYC website at http://www.york.gov.
uk/transport/cycling
/Rufforth-Knapton/
The email address for messages of support is walking.cycling@york
.gov.uk and the deadline for responses is Nov. 16th.
There is an option to refurbish an existing farm underpass of the A1237 at Knapton, or if full funding is not obtained, to use the nearby existing "island" cycle crossing.
Either will usefully link with Northfield Lane and give a "back door" access to the new A59 P&R site for those who prefer to "cycle & ride" into York.

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Paul Hepworth says...
9:21am Wed 31 Oct 12

There is a dedicated page on the CoYC website at http://www.york.gov.
uk/transport/cycling
/Rufforth-Knapton/
The email address for messages of support is walking.cycling@york
.gov.uk and the deadline for responses is Nov. 16th.
There is an option to refurbish an existing farm underpass of the A1237 at Knapton, or if full funding is not obtained, to use the nearby existing "island" cycle crossing.
Either will usefully link with Northfield Lane and give a "back door" access to the new A59 P&R site for those who prefer to "cycle & ride" into York.

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greenmonkey says...
9:43am Wed 31 Oct 12

Gillygate isnt a 'token gesture' it does work on the whole in allowing cyclists to stay on the road and reach the front of the queue - except when blocked by buses or lorries. The road isnt wide enough to provide anything wider unless a more radical change is made to the traffic in the centre.

As to the Rufforth scheme, a safe crossing point for the outer ring road is essential - surface and underpass options would be ideal as the surface may be prefered at night but the underpass during the daytime when the road is busiest.

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Barrie Stephenson says...
1:31pm Wed 31 Oct 12

I just want to express my support for this proposed cycle route from Rufforth to Knapton. I regularly cycle into York from Rufforth on one of my leisure rides and it's the only part of the journey that's on roads that are not really suited to cycling. The creation of this new path would be the missing link in my regular ride from York via Beningborough, Linton on Ouse, Aldwark Bridge, Thorpe Underwood, Whixley, Cattal, Tockwith, Rufforth and back to York.

PS - It would really help if everyone used their real names in these comment forums.

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turkey kid says...
1:50pm Wed 31 Oct 12

today i just missed been hit by a cycle on the path i asked the x.xx..x.x why is was not useing the cycle path he said show me the sign that says i have to to ,A.R......SOLE ,

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Mr Udigawa says...
2:34pm Wed 31 Oct 12

Barrie Stephenson wrote:
I just want to express my support for this proposed cycle route from Rufforth to Knapton. I regularly cycle into York from Rufforth on one of my leisure rides and it's the only part of the journey that's on roads that are not really suited to cycling. The creation of this new path would be the missing link in my regular ride from York via Beningborough, Linton on Ouse, Aldwark Bridge, Thorpe Underwood, Whixley, Cattal, Tockwith, Rufforth and back to York. PS - It would really help if everyone used their real names in these comment forums.
But then the boss would know what I really get up to at work.......

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Buzz Light-year says...
4:07pm Wed 31 Oct 12

What exactly would it help with?

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pedalling paul says...
5:31pm Wed 31 Oct 12

Barrie Stephenson wrote:
I just want to express my support for this proposed cycle route from Rufforth to Knapton. I regularly cycle into York from Rufforth on one of my leisure rides and it's the only part of the journey that's on roads that are not really suited to cycling. The creation of this new path would be the missing link in my regular ride from York via Beningborough, Linton on Ouse, Aldwark Bridge, Thorpe Underwood, Whixley, Cattal, Tockwith, Rufforth and back to York.

PS - It would really help if everyone used their real names in these comment forums.
I notice that PH used his...

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arglemcgee says...
8:56pm Wed 31 Oct 12

I suspect they looked into this, but a much more direct route (from the city centre via Holgate/Acomb) would be extending Grange Lane across the ring road (the road still exists on the other side) and then following the north end of the Rufforth air field.

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Rich Tea says...
12:08am Thu 1 Nov 12

In my experience, cycling on he A1237 (if you're well lit and in the "hard shoulder area") is much easier and safer than negotiating some of the junctions in the City Centre. You're also much less likely to be attacked by folk intent on stealing your belongings (the cyclepath between "Scarborough Bridge" and Jubilee Terrace for instance, being particularly badly lit - I personally have had several unwanted approaches down there). Let's face it ... how many stories do we read about cyclists involved in accidents and incidents on the A1237? Oh, wait, maybe it's because there's none there!? Or maybe it's because most of the traffic on the A1237 moves slower than it does on Blossom Street ;-)

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Magicman! says...
1:19am Fri 2 Nov 12

Certain sections of the A1237 are wide enough to have a seperate off-road cycle route parallel to the road, such as between the B1363 and Haxby Road/New Earswick. The current bottleneck between the A19 and Poppleton services need to be looked at, and by 'looked at' I don't mean bigger "cyclists dismount" signs, because a person walking with a bike takes up more width than a person riding a bike, so such signage on a narrow path is utterly bewildering and stupid.

The Rufforth and Knapton link sounds goo, but without a grade seperated crossing of the A1237 I fear it may be underused. I currently have no problem cycling along the B1224 to Knapton, and the roundabout at the A1237 normally provides a fairly short wait to cross to the other side by bike, much shorter than the current wait at the crossing point from Northfield Lane/Moor Lane to Knapton Main Street, and safer too as vehicle speeds are much lower. A cycle underpass would be preferrantial here, with investment in LED lighting. Moor Lane has a LED street light by the gate leading to the A1237 and it uses about 37w of power - due to the lower mounting height of an underpass you could probably get away with a handful of these LED replacement lamps for halogen spotlights you get in B&Q, fitted into vandalproof enclosures, and with the energy consumption low there'd be the possibility of powering it from a combined solar panel and mini wind turbine (and by 'mini' I'm talking about something about 9 inches diameter and about 5m tall). If the underpass was lit there'd be no problems at night, it's not like that end of the road has any problems with chavs!

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Magicman! says...
1:24am Fri 2 Nov 12

It is a good start though for more off-road cycle routes.... maybe Huntington can have one beside the river foss next?

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