[mattw]

From the Sustrans Annual Review which dropped recently (and I only just skimmed):

Improving accessibility on the Network There are thousands of restrictive barriers on traffic-free sections of the Network that prevent many people from accessing and enjoying their local routes. This year we removed or redesigned 377 barriers across the country, exceeding our target of 218. This included 106 on our own land. Thanks to a phenomenal effort from our volunteers, we also audited and mapped every remaining barrier along 5,100 traffic-free miles, so that we can better understand whether they need to be removed or redesigned. 

I think that makes it around 1000 since they started implementing this initiative in ~2020.

For context, their audit of the 13,000 miles of the NCN in 2018 identified 16,000 barriersm, so there is a long way to go in a project aiming to be finished by 2040. 

Imo this is heroic work, and I don’t know any other bodies ocmmitted to doing this, and it involves co-ordination with landowners, councils who are having their budgets slashed and local groups.

Meanwhile, I noticed this week that the 11.5 mile towpath of the Erewash Canal, which is mainly decent-ish quality and width (liable to be a little damp at the River Trent end), but is littered with K-Barriers (I am told), consists entirely of Public Footpaths (ie Rights of Way).

“Afaics the entire length of the towpath to the Erewash is a public footpath, and therefore a PROW. Derbyshire, unlike Notts, has their definitive map online and this is Sawley FP20, Long Eaton FP33, Sandiacre FP19, Stanton by Dale FP21, and Ilkeston FP81.”

So that means that a couple of legal tools are available to get rid of said barriers which do not straightforwardly apply to permissive paths – the Equality Act 2010 and Section 130 of the Highways Act 1980 (as used by the Ramblers).

If it’s good weather tomorrow I may go out and survey it from my cycle, with the aim of gently plotting to get rid of these barriers.

Link:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/12437/sustrans-annual-report-2022-23.pdf

Topic

[chrisonabike]

Should be an “image” thing at

Should be an “image” thing at the bottom of the editor (well – there is in my one anyway.

You can also reference already-uploaded images but ICR the syntax just now, andystow had that all worked out…

[mattw]

You have an example of such

You have an example of such signage (seriously)?

I’d be more concerned about the chicane barriers, but then barriers are my chosen issue.
 

 

[mattw]

That I think speaks to my

That I think speaks to my further comment.

I question “more harm than good” as too sweeping – where would we all be if it simply vanished?

[the little onion]

what percentage of the NCN

what percentage of the NCN can be navigated solo by a competent 10 year old, on a road bike, on a wet Tuesday in February? Or a 80 year old with a dodgy back on an e-assist bike? 
 

until the answer is close to 100%, and they stop putting in nonsense that meet the needs of neither of these, Sustrans are doing more harm than good.

[don simon fbpe]

They now just need to get rid

They now just need to get rid of the anti-cycling signage on the Millennium Greenway in Caer, or at least balance them out with “dog’s on lead” signage to comply with HC 56!

[mattw]

The start was 2020. I’ve had

The start was 2020. I’ve had a chance to look back throught the previous years.

Year   Barriers Removed/Redesigned
2018-19 Setting Plans
2019-20 31 barriers removed / redesigned
2020-21 242 barriers removed / redesigned
2021-22 423 barriers removed / redesigned
2022-23 377 barriers removed / redesigned

I make that 1073 so far. I’d sall that a “good start”, but the rate needs to go to 800-900 per year to meet the 2040 goal.

I think that what will happen is that at some point in a few years – maybe 2028-2030 – we will suddenly notice widespread benefit. That’s the normal long term project effect of overestimating what we achieve ni the short term, and underestimating the long term.

I think Sustrans will need to address two aspects:

1 – Keeping their maps of barriers up to date. I checked a barrier on NCN67 at 
///claim.pots.radiates, and it has gone. I think that means an accessible (barriers are gaps >1.2m) route from Sutton-in-Ashfield through to Chesterfield, which is 17 miles – with a bit on road at the Chesterfield end.

2 – Start creating more effective documentation of the quality of each route section, who it is suitable for, at what times etc.

[ktache]

It’s something…
A start?
It’s something…
A start?

[Author]

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