To alert campaigners to the threat to commuting and leisure cycle routes posed by an amendment to the Road Safety Bill: Network Rail is seeking to close many, many level crossings because of their poor safety record, mostly involving motor traffic. See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/ ... 71,00.html
I have alerted Roger Geffen at CTC, but maybe we ought to be contacting our own MPs to support cycle/pedestrian crossings. Network Rail's argument is that there is often another crossing nearby, but how near is nearby to a cyclist or ped?
Level crossings
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Pedalling Pete
Re:Level crossings
Don't expect to get much, if any, support from HQ. Despite expansion of CTC staff for "Development" for activities paid for by central Government, and activities sponsored by the Charitable Trust, resources for Rights work at HQ seem grossly overworked and under-resourced.
As a consequence almost everything is seen, for convenience, as a "local issue" to be resolved by CTC members in their own local area - even when the same local issue is happening all over the country!
So Yes, you need to address this matter through your local MP. And get others involved ASAP.
Only yesterday our clubrun was halted at a canal bridge by a "jobsworth" paid to stop us passing as there was a temporary road closure in operation. It was clear that there was no danger as his car was parked on the bridge, noone was at work under the bridge, and others had passed over when the jobsworth was not present! But once a closure is approved, common sense ceases to operate. Clearly the locals had not asked for a pedestrian facility - they all use cars!
One closed level crossing near me has a gate for pedestrians. It is vital that any closure is not permitted without a facility that can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. You then benefit from a traffic-free route either side of the crossing.
As a consequence almost everything is seen, for convenience, as a "local issue" to be resolved by CTC members in their own local area - even when the same local issue is happening all over the country!
So Yes, you need to address this matter through your local MP. And get others involved ASAP.
Only yesterday our clubrun was halted at a canal bridge by a "jobsworth" paid to stop us passing as there was a temporary road closure in operation. It was clear that there was no danger as his car was parked on the bridge, noone was at work under the bridge, and others had passed over when the jobsworth was not present! But once a closure is approved, common sense ceases to operate. Clearly the locals had not asked for a pedestrian facility - they all use cars!
One closed level crossing near me has a gate for pedestrians. It is vital that any closure is not permitted without a facility that can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. You then benefit from a traffic-free route either side of the crossing.