From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling


rCLNot everyone can leisurely take a bikerCY: Active travel scheme branded rCLmost expensive cat litter tray in historyrCY by residents threatening to move away from rCLnightmarerCY area rCo but cyclists say town centre will become
rCLsafer and more pleasant placerCY

The council has apologised for the disruption caused by the road works, but insists the scheme will transform the town centre for residents and
businesses and rCLgreatly improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclistsrCY
by RYAN MALLON
THU, OCT 03, 2024 15:22
9
A public realm improvement scheme, which aims to make Stretford town centre rCLgreener and saferrCY while rCLgreatly improving the experience of pedestrians
and cyclistsrCY, has been branded the rCLbiggest, most expensive cat litter tray in historyrCY by disgruntled residents and motorists, after 12 months of construction work has left them allegedly ready to rCLmove outrCY.

However, local cyclists and active travel campaigners, while admitting the works have rCLdragged onrCY, say the finished scheme will make StretfordrCOs town
centre rCLa more pleasant place for people to live and shoprCY, and have criticised rCLimpatientrCY drivers who criticise projects aiming to rCLimprove any mode of transport other than their ownrCY.

According to Trafford Council (link is external), the public realm
improvement works to StretfordrCOs Kingsway and Barton Road junction will
make the town centre rCLgreener and safer, greatly improving the experience
for pedestrians and cyclistsrCY, through the creation of new cycle lanes, crossing points, footpaths, and green spaces.

Forming part of Trafford CouncilrCOs long-term ambition to reduce health inequalities and address the climate crisis, the local authorityrCOs economy and regeneration executive member Liz Patel says the scheme will transform Stretford town centre rCLinto a great place for residents, shoppers, and businessesrCY.


Fluid logo

Stretford Kingsway improvement works (Dom Cycling) 3
rCLThese new road designs for Kingsway look fabulous and will make the road a safer experience, safer for pedestrians and cyclists and will complement
the redevelopment work currently taking place at Stretford Mall,rCY Patel
said earlier this year.

rCLLots of exciting work is taking place in Stretford and the town centre
will be amazing when the work is completed.rCY

However, with 12 months of construction work only now nearing completion,
some residents have been openly critical of the project, claiming that it
is causing congestion and long delays.

Stretford improvement works (Trafford Council)
rCLItrCOs a complete waste of money. No one I talk to when IrCOm walking my dog on Victoria Park has a good word to say about it,rCY 79-year-old Dave Cowell told the Manchester Evening News (link is external) this week.

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rCLItrCOs the biggest, most expensive cat litter tray in history, as far as I am concerned. IrCOm so fed up, IrCOm planning to move out of Stretford. IrCOve had enough.rCY

Meanwhile, Roya Nasiri, who runs a beauty parlour on Kingsway, said her
takings have gone down by more than half since construction began on the scheme.

rCLItrCOs been a total nightmare,rCY she said. rCLThis should all have been finished a long time ago. TheyrCOve caused all this disruption, but you never see any work going on. ItrCOs crazy.rCY

rCLI travel into Stretford Mall every day by car,rCY Joane Scott wrote on Facebook. rCLI donrCOt mind being stuck in traffic. ItrCOs going to be beneficial
in the long run. What I do mind, though, is while the traffic is at a standstill at the red lights for at least 10 minutes, I canrCOt see any men
at work anywhere.rCY

rCLThe reality is cyclists are going placesrCY: Ontario premier slammed for rCLput cyclists on secondary roadsrCY stance, amid rCLineffective and dangerousrCY plans to block bike lane projects

Meanwhile, utilising a narrative commonly deployed by opponents of cycling infrastructure, Michelle Osborne claimed that the apparent increased
congestion and creation of cycle lanes in the area would only benefit rCLleisurerCY cyclists, claiming that rCLnot everyone can leisurely take a bikerCY.

rCLItrCOs actually a daily battle to get through Stretford. No wonder people are always in bad moods. Trying to get to work/school is a nightmare,rCY she said.

rCLNot everyone can leisurely take a bike. This work has been going on the 18 months. No wonder people of Urmston, Stretford and Chorlton are unhappy.rCY

Stretford Kingsway improvement works (Dom Cycling) 2
However, in response to this criticism rCo which once again appears to
situate cycling as the exclusive preserve of able-bodied, leisure types rCo Harrie Larrington-Spencer, a disabled cycling campaigner and researcher at
the University of Salford who specialises in inclusive active travel, said: rCLI think the scheme is really nice and canrCOt wait till itrCOs finishedrCY.

She continued: rCLWhy are drivers so impatient when something is to improve
any other mode of transport than their own?rCY

rCLWe are getting there, albeit slowly,rCY added Sarah. rCLI will never understand residents whorCOd prefer a dual carriageway past their homes than some plants, a narrower road and nice things to look at. It makes zero sense.rCY

rCLIt was an unsafe, shocking 1960s racetrack before, now look at it,rCY another resident wrote. rCLWhen IrCOve been passing, there are people using the benches and kids playing. For that, itrCOs more than worth it.rCY

rCLThe works have dragged on, but Stretford will become a greener, safer and more pleasant place for people to live and shop,rCY said local active travel campaign group Walk Ride GM.

rCLCyclists dismountrCY sign put up as roadworks begin on rCLham-fistedrCY bike
lane repeatedly targeted by rCLbrazenrCY cone-stealing vandals, despite road being open to motor traffic

rCLThe public realm Improvement works to Kingsway and the Barton Road
junction are due to be completed in the next few weeks,rCY a Trafford Council spokesperson said.

rCLThese works will make this part of Stretford greener and safer for pedestrians by replacing the barrier lined dual carriageway that divided Stretford town centre from neighbouring residential areas.

rCLThe council would like to recognise and apologise for the disruption
caused during the highway improvement, safety and resurfacing work in and around Stretford town centre.

rCLThe works will transform the town centre into a place that better meets
the needs of local residents and businesses and includes new crossing
points, bus stops, lighting, footpaths, seating, planting, and trees. This
new highway is being resurfaced during these final stages.

rCLTo carry out the work, there will be some overnight road closures for five nights starting from (today) September 30. We are also working to provide permanent cycle lanes on Chester Road to provide safer travel active travel routes along the busy A56.rCY

"Ham-fisted" cycle lane cones to be replaced with protected cycling infrastructure rCo as councillor resists urge to "individually remove each traffic cone by drop-kicking"

The creation of this protected cycling infrastructure on the A56 hasnrCOt
been without its hiccups, however.

Last August, Trafford Council finally committed to introducing segregated cycling infrastructure on one of the cityrCOs busiest and most talked about routes, after multiple instances of vandalism which saw the flimsy cones separating the current cycle lane from motor traffic being removed and
stacked at the side of the road by upset locals, transforming the purported bike lane back into one for cars and prompting the local authority to
announce that the police had been involved.

a56 pop-up lane - via onetrafford.PNG
And in July this year, Trafford Council announced that the much-maligned rCLham-fistedrCY cones are set to make way for new, properly protected active travel infrastructure, after -u2m of investment was approved rCo though the local authority were soon on the receiving end of criticism after rCyCyclists DismountrCO signs were employed as construction work began on the lane,
despite the road still being open to motor traffic.

<https://road.cc/content/news/locals-threaten-move-due-active-travel-works-310615>
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