A dangerous road scheme may be implemented on the A166 at Gate Helmsley shortly.
The proposals involve a 40mph speed limit zone which is good news and installing four central refuges for people to cross the road. The real danger arises from the gap proposed at the refuges, 3.6 metres, which is wide enough to tempt drivers to squeeze past cyclists but vehicles will be too near for safety.
The design guidelines recommend gaps of between 4.0m and 4.5m. Gaps between 3.1m and 3.9m are described as the least satisfactory. It is predictable that vehicles travelling towards York can be expected to be doing up to about 45mph. If vehicles cannot get by they may have to brake hard which could lead to rear end collisions, skidding or hitting the cyclist.
The solution is to provide cycle lanes, design to the guidelines and provide the recommended widths even if the cost is higher. Several people have died in accidents close to York in recent years and poor design has played a part. It is better to do one thing right than ten things wrong.
Colin Clarke,
The Crescent,
Stamford Bridge,
York.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article