On 28th November last year I started a thread (Another Cycle Lane
letter) regarding a dangerous cycle lane near me.
"After yet another driver making a point of passing dangerously close
when I chose not to use a cycle lane I finally got round to drafting a
letter to East Dunbartonshire Council regarding one of their cycle
farcilities. With his permission I stole some of Bob Downie's letter
to Glasgow City Council regarding the new cycle lanes in Kilmarnock
Road. For a picture of the farcility in question See
www.flickr.com/photos/24192247@N00/308662833/ ............"
After getting no reply for 2 months I e-mailed a reminder and have
now had a reply basically saying they are not going to change
anything.
Well at least if a cyclist is doored there the council will not be
able to claim they weren't aware of the problem.
The reply is "Dear Mr Cullen
I refer to your e-mails of 29th November, 2006 and reminder of 31st
January, 2007 regarding the above and I apologise for the delay in
responding as your original e-mail must have slipped through the net.
The Traffic & Transportation section of the Roads Service carried out
a
study in 1997 on the A81 Milngavie Road, between Roman Drive and
Glasgow
Road, with a view to installing a Traffic Management Scheme that would
reduce speeds, provide sheltered parking, right turning facilities,
cycle
lanes and a minimum carriageway width of 7.3m. Within the constraints
of
the existing road widths, a scheme was designed and drawings were
presented
to the public within local libraries, where they were asked to comment
on
the design and implementation of the proposed scheme. In addition,
staff
from the Traffic & Transportation section were in attendance during an
exhibition held in Kilmardinny House. At this exhibition, members of
the
public had the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments.
Emergency
services and local cycle organisation, Go Bike, were also consulted
and
were requested to comment. All comments were taken onboard and where
appropriate included in the scheme which was implemented in November
1997.
To date, the scheme on the A81 Milngavie Road has proved successful
and
both vehicle speeds and accidents rates have decreased since its
introduction, some 10 years ago. You should also note that because of
the
success of the scheme it has been extended along Main Street to
Milngavie
Town Centre. At present, therefore, I have no intention to make any
alterations to the existing traffic management schemes.
It should be noted that during the design stage for the cycle lanes on
the
A81 Milngavie Road, the Scottish Executive's guidance 'Cycling by
Design'
was in draft format. This guidance document, in fact, only started to
emerge during the year 1996. Furthermore, it should be noted that
'Cycling
by Design' has still not be formalised by the Scottish Executive. The
design of the A81 Milngavie Road cycle lanes was based on the
principles of
the existing cycle lanes which had been implemented by Glasgow City
Council
at that time.
I trust the foregoing is of assistance."
I've not decided what to reply yet or whether since they are not doing
anything it would be worth approaching the local paper. It is
disappointing though not unexpected that they are choosing not to
improve this lane.
Iain