Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Cycle commuters targeted in York 'crackdown'

'Anti-social' commuting focus of police attention...

So-called ‘anti-social commuting’ by cyclists will be the target of a crackdown in York, local police have warned.

Officers will be out at peak times of the morning and evening, looking for riders going against one-way systems and riding through the city centre when the controversial ‘footstreet’ policy (banning both cars and bikes) is in operation.

Motorists will also be targeted, particularly those using bus and cycle lanes at the wrong times.

PC Jonathon Hodgeon, of the Guildhall Safer Neighbourhood Team said the initiative was not an exercise in handing out tickets, but rather to give advice.

“It will be high-visibility and we will be doing proactive things such as handing out guides to York’s traffic system. We are taking a warning view rather than an enforcement one.”

According to the York Evening Press, he said that enforcement would follow in the case of persistent offenders.

“There are a few big hotspots – one of which is Walmgate,” he said, “but there is also Nessgate, Coppergate, Duncombe Place and Petergate.

“We did one exercise last week and we stopped and spoke to ten cyclists and six motorists in Duncombe Place and Petergate.

“But there were many people who saw the police and turned in their tracks immediately.”

PC Hodgeon said the initiative was triggered by a number of complaints from city centre shop owners, residents and taxi drivers about commuters regularly ignoring traffic rules.

He pointed out to those who travel in and out of the York that during the day, the city centre was closed to traffic, except on Sundays.

“We want cyclists to know they are not immune to the signs.”

Members of the Guildhall team are expected to be at one of the hot spots between 4pm and 6pm today (Tuesday) in what will be the first afternoon rush-hour operation.

The ‘footstreet’ policy has caused controversy since its introduction almost a decade ago and the pressure to allow cyclists into pedestrianised areas in the centre goes on. The York Cycling Campaign has published a manifesto, which states:

“York's "footstreet" policy excludes cyclists from many quiet, useful routes for large parts of the day. Re-admitting cyclists to the footstreet area would be a major step forward in provision for cyclists in the city centre. Available evidence suggests that this would not lead to any significant conflict between cyclists and pedestrians.”

 

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
dalbyk | 14 years ago
0 likes

I have just been to Budapest and I was impressed at the tolerance of cyclists, pedestrians & drivers. There were large numbers of cyclists and it appears that they cycle wherever they please, roads, cycle lanes and pavements. I don't recall seeing any conflict between the cyclists and pedestrians when they were in 'each others space'. I was with a group of >20 and we walked together a lot. We often completely obliterated cycle paths but the cyclists just sat patiently behind and thanked us when we eventually let them through! I also didn't see any accidents or near misses with cycles/cars/people. We went for a run together one day and I felt a little awkward about avoiding the locals but they didn't bat an eyelid. I think that the 'provision' for cyclists in this country causes more problems than it solves because we don't really 'belong' anywhere. I often cycle (slowly & carefully) around pedestrians on (pavement) cycle lanes and have (on more than one occassion) been on the receiving end of a 'look that could kill'! Even though they were in 'my' space. The problem is that drivers and pedestrians have 'their' space and cyclists have to share that space. I also think that some cyclists don't do themselves (or the rest of us) any favours.....

Latest Comments