New lights work at the junction of Blossom Street, Micklegate and Queen Street (From York Press)
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New lights work at the junction of Blossom Street, Micklegate and Queen Street
9:14am Friday 3rd September 2010 in
NEW traffic signals will be installed at one of York’s busiest junctions over the next few weeks.
The work will see a new signalled pedestrian crossing introduced at the junction of Blossom Street, Micklegate and Queen Street, while measures to make it easier for large vehicles to negotiate the crossing are also on the agenda.
It follows a consultation exercise carried out by City of York Council earlier this year which sought residents’ views on how the junction could be improved and saw proposals for removing traffic lanes to make more room for cyclists being rejected.
The outbound stretch of Queen Street was reduced to one lane from last night to allow the central pedestrian islands on the road and Blossom Street to be removed, with Micklegate being closed to traffic today but the other routes into the junction running normally.
From 6.30pm until midnight today, work on the Queen Street kerbs will also see it cut to a single lane, as it will be between the same times next week, while Micklegate will also be closed between next Monday and Sunday, September 12.
Nunnery Lane will be closed in both directions on Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, with temporary traffic lights being put in place at the junction.
Blossom Street will become single-lane on its outbound route between September 13 and 15 and reduced to two lanes on its inbound stretch between September 17 and 22.
Comments(19)
ballistic
says...
9:33am Fri 3 Sep 10
Yosser Hughes
says...
9:58am Fri 3 Sep 10
pedalling paul wrote:Yes Paul, because the taxpayer has not paid enough for pointless cycle lanes yet have they?
Experienced cyclists can cope well with the three inbound lanes. The outbound race track is the more problematic particularly for cyclists in lane 2, intending to turn right to Holgate Road. I hope that some follow up work can be done in a subsequent financial year, to address this.
Von_Dutch
says...
11:24am Fri 3 Sep 10
meme
says...
12:36pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Lets hope they do!!!
But I doubt it
YEP pleasae use better English when writing headlines
shiftywillow
says...
12:47pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Yosser Hughes wrote:I take it then Yosser that you disagree with spending a bit of money to make York roads safer for cyclists and motorists alike?
pedalling paul wrote: Experienced cyclists can cope well with the three inbound lanes. The outbound race track is the more problematic particularly for cyclists in lane 2, intending to turn right to Holgate Road. I hope that some follow up work can be done in a subsequent financial year, to address this.Yes Paul, because the taxpayer has not paid enough for pointless cycle lanes yet have they?
yorkshirelad
says...
1:03pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Blossom Street has 5 traffic lanes - probably enough space for seven if you include the lay-by and central area. Frankly if a modern European city cannot create decent cycle lanes in a road that wide, you might as well give up on the whole idea of making the roads safer for cyclists.
We put a few minutes of waiting time as more important than the the safety of human beings - shame.
Net result - slightly better safety for existing cyclists - but not for those currently put off by the speed and aggression of Blossom street traffic. Ultimately more people in cars...longer traffic queues in clogged streets. When will we ever learn?
PobbleandBobble
says...
1:15pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Von_Dutch
says...
3:45pm Fri 3 Sep 10
PobbleandBobble wrote:I think that's the purpose of the new "green-cycle-filter-
I cycle home from the station to Acomb every evening. I first have to get past the bendy bus and position myself in the right hand land of the green box at the top of Queens street to turn right, then either keep to the left of the right land and risk being squashed between cars and buses both turning right down Holgate Road and going straight on in the left lane, or more correctly Im told, tale the centre of the right hand lane and ignore the abuse from cars impatient to get to the usually standing traffic at the lights onto Holgate Road. Whichever way it is intimidating and if people cant be a bit more considerate they should plan more time into their journeys.
light" which they're putting in for Queen St. (So that cyclists such as yourself have a few seconds to get through the junction before the rest of the Queen St traffic's released). Never seen one of these anywhere else in the country (even Cambridge or London), so it'll be interesting to see...
mockaroundtheclock
says...
6:46pm Fri 3 Sep 10
King Edward
says...
10:28pm Fri 3 Sep 10
pedalling paul
says...
7:06am Sat 4 Sep 10
King Edward wrote:Yes, I think that the fast reactions of motor vehicle drivers and cyclists has saved many a pedestrian from the consequences of their own stupidity......much of it caused by mobile phone use.
Be nice if pedestrians use it instead of running out... and we won't get drawn on the two wheelers.....
newshawk
says...
7:43am Sat 4 Sep 10
PobbleandBobble wrote:It's not clear which part of Acomb you're heading for, but there's a perfectly good alternative for cyclists and pedestrians alike, which is actually quicker than the one you describe. It has several variations too. Leeman Road; Salisbury Terrace; dedicated cyclepath up Water End to Poppleton Road; Manor Drive/Lindsey Avenue/Carr Lane/Beckfield Lane (you choose). You can even use the north end of the footbridge to exit the station, so avoiding the tunnel on Leeman Road.
I cycle home from the station to Acomb every evening. I first have to get past the bendy bus and position myself in the right hand land of the green box at the top of Queens street to turn right, then either keep to the left of the right land and risk being squashed between cars and buses both turning right down Holgate Road and going straight on in the left lane, or more correctly Im told, tale the centre of the right hand lane and ignore the abuse from cars impatient to get to the usually standing traffic at the lights onto Holgate Road. Whichever way it is intimidating and if people cant be a bit more considerate they should plan more time into their journeys.
Older Sometimes Wiser
says...
10:50am Sat 4 Sep 10
Are they incapable of correcting even the smallest mistake?
mystic_genius
says...
12:21pm Sat 4 Sep 10
`
Instead, make Micklegate cycle-only inbound, then there is no cars trying to overtake or tail gate closely through the Bar.
`
That would mean making Blossom Street (inbound) 2 lanes, going left and right only. Traffic from Queen St is forced down Nun Lane or Blossom St outbound anyway, and very few vehicles turn right from Nun Lane through the bar.
`
All told, a safe place for pedestrians to cross outside Wetherspoons, safer for cyclists heading into town, wider lanes on Blossom Street for FTR's and cyclists.
`
Make the junction similar to Walmgate Bar must be the only solution. Walmgate Bar/Lawrence St/Foss Islands junction is miles from perfect, but it's a far safer solution for all road users than what is currently at Blossom St/Micklegate, and also seems far safer than what is proposed here too.
Maquis
says...
2:32pm Sat 4 Sep 10
AnotherPointofView
says...
3:20pm Sat 4 Sep 10
I agree with you that Micklegate Bar outbound is a problem. However rather than close it because only a few cars exit followed by a couple more on amber/red. The phasing should changed to add a few more seconds on green. That way more cars can exit at very little delay to all other users.
Mind you, users exiting from Micklegate could help themselves more by being awake. I wait frustrated behind those who wake up just as the light changes back to red...
bpk68
says...
12:40pm Mon 6 Sep 10
yorkshirelad wrote:Hahahaha, 'speed and aggression'....I don't think I've ever been anywhere, at any time in York in the 5 years of living here where I could use those words in a sentence describing traffic. I think most folk have to call the DSA when the light turns green to see what they're supposed to do next.
A real pity that the proposals for a proper re-design of this junction were watered down. As commented above, the junction will still be dangerous (in both directions if you ask me).
Blossom Street has 5 traffic lanes - probably enough space for seven if you include the lay-by and central area. Frankly if a modern European city cannot create decent cycle lanes in a road that wide, you might as well give up on the whole idea of making the roads safer for cyclists.
We put a few minutes of waiting time as more important than the the safety of human beings - shame.
Net result - slightly better safety for existing cyclists - but not for those currently put off by the speed and aggression of Blossom street traffic. Ultimately more people in cars...longer traffic queues in clogged streets. When will we ever learn?
To be fair I used to live in Teesside and you have to move quickly to avoid all the gunfire......
m dee
says...
8:23am Tue 7 Sep 10
pedalling paul wrote:Paul you have this strange way of turning every traffic related article into a cycle discussion.
Experienced cyclists can cope well with the three inbound lanes. The outbound race track is the more problematic particularly for cyclists in lane 2, intending to turn right to Holgate Road. I hope that some follow up work can be done in a subsequent financial year, to address this.
The article clearly states ,
It follows a consultation exercise carried out by City of York Council earlier this year which sought residents’ views on how the junction could be improved and saw proposals for removing traffic lanes to make more room for cyclists being rejected.
I am all for cycling but as newshawk, Acomb says.. there are quiet a few alternative routes offering a much safer option, particularly with so many buses,delivery vehicles ect using this route.
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pedalling paul says...
9:20am Fri 3 Sep 10