RayCumbo

Entrepreneurial Hinckley

sign in the town centre highlighting that this was the place where The Hansom Cab was designed and built, and is the current home of Triumph motorcycles.

Hinckley Fair is mentioned in Henry IV:
www.hinckleypastpresent.org/shakespeare.html

The bottom of the shield acknowledges that Hinckely was a shoe making town.

The inventor of the Brook's cycle saddle also lived in Hinckley (until aged 6) see #179181.

Police commandeer bike to pursue suspect:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-67629952

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane over entrance to Burton Court, York. Context and links: #199609.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane over the entrance to Burton Court, York. I have tripped and stumbled crossing here in the direction of the camera many times… after dark. Further, this corner collects water. But the lighting here is ineffective and you can’t see the uneven or flooded areas, or where you can walk to avoid them. All ages use the pavement alongside Burton Stone Lane. From around the age of 60 you may need two-thirds more light to see than when in your 20s (www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/lighting/). The condition of the road surface undermines the point of providing dropped kerbs with tactile paving. Close up of the nearest area where water puddles: #199610. Other image today and links: #199597.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane, opposite forked entrance to/exit from Lumley Road, York. One exit from Lumley Road (see image of unobstructed ‘fork’ #199544) is blocked leaving only the ‘in’ lane for all users. It was very very cold today. The pavements, paths and carriageways were glassy. Yet, construction employees have parked such that the exit from/access to the pavement here is obstructed. It was already so difficult to move around on foot, on a cycle, with a buggy, with a walking aid, with a wheeled suitcase... (I saw these and many more people in the 10 minutes I was this on this stretch of Burton Stone Lane.) Other image today and links: #199597.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane looking south towards the junction with Lumley Road, York. Filthy, wet pavement. Churned up verge. The route is so narrow someone has to step off the paving to let others pass. Burton Stone Lane is a north-south-north desire line. The wheel tracks include those made by people with cycles who can avoid the long detour passed the works that have closed the road for three weeks. The glistening is due to melting ice. This combination shows how wet the pavement here has been over the past couple of days. But you can’t see where you are walking to avoid puddles, mud, etc as the trees, no matter they are leafless at present, block light from street lamps reaching pedestrian level which is where it is needed. Note also the works vehicles blocking the dropped kerb of the pavement to the left into/from Lumley Road - see: #199608. Other image here today and links: #199602.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane looking south towards the junction with Lumley Road, York. Filthy, muddy, sticky, uneven pavements. Plus the resident of the property ahead has not clipped the hedge. This massively reduces the usable width of the pavement and the attractiveness of using active modes of transport such as walking. Further, after dark as the lighting here is so compromised you don't see the hedge until you walk into it. Other image here today and links: #199602.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane. York. The fencing from the works has recently been moved - 4.12.23? - to include the grass verge in the works area. It now substantially limits the usable width of the pavement. And that's before you try to avoid the leaves, the uneven paving... You can't avoid the sticky surface. See also caption: #199604. Other image here today and links: #199602.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane (looking south along the pavement opposite Duncombe Square construction site), York. Leaves have been a lasting hazard on advisory cycle lanes, such as alongside Bootham, and on pavements – including Bootham/Clifton between Burton Stone Lane and St Olave’s Road, this year. CYC has not got to grips with this hazard. It has been very wet in October, November and early December 2023. The leaves are as slippery and hazardous as ice. This image also proves the presence of extensive surface water over the past couple of days – such that it was not possible to walk along the pavement without getting sodden shoes/wet feet. After dark, the lightin is so compromised by the trees – even in winter when the latter are leafless – you can’t see where you are walking. Notice too how uneven the pavement is. I slip and trip here. Yet this is a necessarily well used route by people of all ages and at all stages of life and in all levels of health/mobility. Other image here today and links: #199602.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane (looking south along the pavement opposite Duncombe Square construction site), York. There is too little lighting here after dark despite this being a key pedestrian desire line. The mud has made it hazardous over the past week. This was followed by extensive puddling. Today the surface water had turned to ice. The wheel tracks show how important the route is for people on cycles pushing, scooting or riding on the pavement: there is otherwise a long diversion during the latest Duncombe Square construction works see: #199582. Other image here today and links: #199602.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Burton Stone Lane. York. For the past week this pavement has been very slippery due to mud. Two days ago I was heading south along Burton Stone Lane. It was daylight and I was able to see that most of the pavement alongside the fencing (see: #199539) was puddled. I did not want to get sodden shoes so I scooted along it on my bike. The same evening, now after dark, I was here on foot. I got this far and remembered – though I couldn’t see it (the lighting is completely lacking here) – the next say 4m of pavement was substantially under water so I made a massive detour to avoid it. Today, during the daylight and after spending around 8 hours over several days completing the current consultation around transport that will shape the city for the next decade: www.york.gov.uk/OurBigConversation) I returned to take photographs of the mud that has made the route treacherous and the more recent puddling. Instead I found ice. The image shows how much mud there is and the white areas close to the camera and further away are the evidence of the puddling. Other images here today: #199603, #199604, #199605, #199606, #199607. Other image today and links: #199597.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Looking towards the junction with Horner Street, Burton Stone Lane. York. Other image here today and links: #199597.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Close to Sainsbury’s, Burton Stone Lane. York. Ice: unavoidable if you use the crossing. Ice: difficult to see and avoid if you use the pavement. Other image here today and links: #199597.

[Image taken 6.12.23] Horner Street junction with Burton Stone Lane, York. The persistent puddling on the pedestrian buildout - aimed at enabling people who need a dropped kerb to cross - and on the pavement, has turned to ice. I will rechallenge the lack of action by CYC. Context: #193301. Other images here today: #199599, #199601. Other images today: #199602, #199603, #199604, #199605, #199606, #199607, #199608, #199609, #199610.

The Hansom Cab was developed on this site, which is now a depressing failing shopping arcade.

www.hinckleypastpresent.org/hansomcab.html

The High Street in Much Wenlock is a car storage area.

The Ivanhoe Line, which one day may reopen to passengers. Footbridge adjacent to Ratby Lane road bridge is visible in the distance.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoe_line

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-63427780

Advance warning that the crossing of the Ivanhoe Line in Leicester Forest East is not suitable for bikes.

Crossing of the Ivanhoe Line in Leicester Forest East - not suitable for bikes.

Crossing of the Ivanhoe Line in Leicester Forest East - not suitable for bikes.

[Image taken 4.12.23] Deangate, York. The posters have been relocated. Now people who want to read them will be in less danger from road users including large lorries delivering to/from the gate in the hoardings facing the camera and will create less of a hazard. Context: #197599. Other image today: #199582.

Crossing should be raised to ensure motor vehicles slow to allow residents to cross

Motorists routinely use this private road for turning in the village. Narrow the road so that it's impossible to turn here

This crossing should be raised to meet pavement height in order to prioritise pedestrians and deter drivers using it to turn around

Village used as rat run, should be one way coming up through the village

No reason for cars to come through here other than rat running

No cycling or walking infrastructure

Insufficient pavement width and cars parking on pavement mean moving through the village often difficult

[Image taken 4.12.23] Burton Stone Lane, York. Explanation for the closures on Burton Stone Lane – see: #199226 - in the Winter 2023 issue of Grapevine (‘A local magazine for the parish of St Luke the Evangelist [stlukesyork.org/] on and around Burton Stone lane’) delivered 2.12.23. Other image today: #199590.

[Image taken 30.11.23] Pizza Time, Burton Stone Lane, junction with Garth Terrace, York. Detail of damage in: #199580. Other image today: #199579.

[Image taken 30.11.23] Pizza Time, Burton Stone Lane, junction with Garth Terrace, York. Damaged, uneven paving – closeup see: #199581. Pavement clutter. Other image today: #199579.

[Image taken 30.11.23] Pizza Time, Burton Stone Lane, York. On 29.11.23, I saw the deepest area of tarmac damage had been repaired. I don’t know who did it. I’ll email everyone I asked to get it mended, with this image and with thanks. This is a desire line – it’s on a corner, and with permanent and temporary pavement clutter, plus parking on the forecourt, pedestrians have to use whichever area of paving is unobstructed. Other images here today – pavement clutter and damage: #199580, #199581. Marked up area: #199367. Measurements: #197913. Original image: #190155.

Sign needed here to point to Gatwick Airport. The path to the west looks like the correct route, which it isn't.

Junction needs a cycle route off the busy road eg left hand pocket with separate traffic light phase to reach Russells Crescent.

Signs needed to make the entrance to the subway more obvous when travelling south along route 21

Resign route 21 to use the new pavement cycle path.

Ressign national route 21 to use the cycle path under the railway not the road.

This whole section of route 21 is a national embarrasment. Hopelessly flooded and muddy yet its the Avenue Verte from Paris to London! Needs a massive improvement with proper drainage and rideable surfaces, not mud baths!

Flooded section here needs raising to stop the path being blocked next to the road.

Muddy surface starts at the edge of the road which is dangerous as someone will fall off into the traffic here. Needs a better surface for the first few meters of the bridleway as a minimum and ideally the whole path needs a much better surface.

Create a Wandle Trail route under this bridge so people on cycles can avoid the horrible main road.

[Image taken 29.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, looking into Grosvenor Road, York. Context: #199553.

Footways on both sides of Church Street shut at the same time with pedestrians told to divert via Torness Street (to the left) and Byres Road. Well reader, not all of them were doing as they were told!

A car parking space painted in the middle of the signal-controlled junction!

Lawrence Street junction with Byres Road.

I'm not convinced this is a correct use of Guidance Path tactile paving, with poles in the way.

Large signs to diagram 606 in Chancellor Street, where they should be to diagram 609.

Pavement parking in Dalcross Street, a Restricted Parking Zone where, as the sign says, drivers are to "park only in signed bays".

Motor vehicles parked on the unfinished cycleway, and double parking on the other side of the road.

A wheelie bin left in the unfinished cycleway in Byres Road, and some double parking.

Sign saying 'No Entry except cycles' for Church Street on Dumbarton Road, the lower part of which has since been covered up since there is no contraflow on Church Street at present.

[Image taken 28.11.23] New Walk looking north to the Blue Bridge, York. [NOTE: No street view at this exact location.] This section of the riverside NMU route has been cleaned after the most recent high water. Contrasting image (and links): #199557.

[Image taken 28.11.23] New Walk looking south towards the Blue Bridge, York. Context and links: #199557.

[Image taken 28.11.23] New Walk, York. [NOTE: No street view at this exact location.] Climate resilience means safe and usable routes for non motorised users at all times. When the Ouse floods in York (many times a year) some or all of the riverside routes – almost an inner ring road for people cycling, walking, wheeling – are impassable. When the water recedes it looks like this until the Council can clean the route (see: #199559.) New Walk is a key route to school, work, university, for shopping of all kinds, and for leisure... Other image here today and links: #199558. Other image today and links: #199554.

[Image taken 28.11.23] St George’s Field car park, Castle Mills Bridge, York. A fallen Tier hire (e-)cycle blocks access to the toast rack-style cycle parking in the car park, near the river and next to the public toilets. My cycle was necessarily on the outside of the rack which made it vulnerable to vehicle movements and people taking exception to it/its position/the fact it is a cycle. Tier products do not need to be secured to anything. Tier products do not need to be supported. The rack here is good practice: it’s next to the loos, it’s close to riverside walks/boat hire/a cafe/it’s in a car park. (Where there’s car parking there should also be cycle parking.) Tier overview: #164663. Other image today and links: #199554.

[Image taken 28.11.23] Tower Street, close to the entrance to/exit from St George’s Field car park, Castle Mills Bridge, York. New crossing – currently pedestrian only – over four lanes of very fast-moving traffic. Unbelievably there was previously no crossing despite there being close a public car/coach park on one side of the dual carriageway and ‘town’ on the other. This crossing will metamorphose into a toucan – see the final paragraph of the article:
New crossing close to St George’s Field car park (www.york.gov.uk/directory-record/2115/st-george-s-field-car-park)
Context:
(www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23948957.york-toucan-crossing-installed-near-st-georges-field-car-park-exit/)
York: toucan crossing installed near St George's Field car park exit
Article published: 26.11.23
Work to install a toucan crossing across the dual carriageway on York’s inner ring road has been completed.
The crossing is in Tower Street close to the entrance to St George's Field car park and just down the slope from Castle Mills Bridge over the River Foss.
As The Press reported, City of York Council announced that the pedestrian and cyclist crossing would be built last December (2022).
The installation is part of the first phase of the council's Active Travel Programme aimed at boosting the city's walking and cycling infrastructure.
At the time the council’s then executive member for transport Andy D’Agorne said the projects would make it easier and more attractive for residents to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle safely conveniently around the city.
Speaking during the announcement last year, a council spokesperson said cyclists and pedestrians previously had no safe and direct way of crossing Tower Street from the car park, and plans were currently in place to develop the Castle Mills area around the Castle Museum.
[This is the critical paragraph for the city’s cyclists – and those who could/would cycle...] They said the design would initially provide a pedestrian crossing until a planned cycle route was available, when it would be upgraded to a toucan crossing.”
Other image today and links: #199554.

[Image taken 28.11.23] College Street junction with Deangate, York. Cycle parking here – on the edge of the pedestrian area (‘foot streets’) is good practice. The racks are well used – even at 09.30 on a cold weekday morning. One has been removed. This leaves room for a longer cycle (what I call a ‘York’ cycle – a rig/design designed or adapted for carrying dependants and/or making utility trips). At the meeting of the York Cycle Campaign and 20's Plenty for York (yorkcyclecampaign.bike/) on 9 November 2023 (www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23916358.york-campaigners-call-citywide-20mph-speed-limits/) people reported their frustrations about pavement parking [by drivers] and the lack of cycle parking for trailers. This image shows that spaces need to be wider too... The cycle and trailer mean three spaces are not available. Other images today: #199555, #199556, #199557, #199558, #199559.

[Image taken 27.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, looking east into Shipton Street, York. Context: #199226 and #199021. It feels as if there is rat running. More people seem to be using the route alongside the rail line – and at speeds they may be used to driving at on Burton Stone Lane. The pavements are too narrow on those streets to walk sociably or protectively or with a dog. So people walk in the roads. The rat runners’ behaviours feel inappropriate – ‘humans’ massively outnumber motor vehicles (see count result from 22.1.22 #178038), and aggressive. I’d love the diversions to add up to ‘cells’ and this be an informal trial for an LTN between Burton Stone Lane (to the west), the roads next to the York-Scarborough line (east) and Crichton Avenue (north) and Bootham/Clifton (south). Parallel road with the same sign: #199569.

[Image taken 25.11.23] The Stonebow, York. Other im[Image taken 25.11.23] The Stonebow junction with Dundas Street, York. Location and further overview of the damage to the tarmac at this junction. People on cycles turn right off The Stonebow to funnel through the Hungate development to the motor traffic-free NCN658. Other image here today and links: #199550.

[UPDATE CYC response 27.11.23 "The current status of your report is: closed. The problem has been inspected and no follow up work is required."]

[Image taken 25.11.23] The Stonebow, York. Extensive tarmac damage. The fissures are directly hazardous – people on cycles could find their wheels are ‘held’; or indirectly: people cycling have to look down before they can choose a road position or cannot choose the road position they need to, for example, the centre of the carriageway to turn right. Reported. See also: #199548. Other image here today: #199551. Other image today and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] The Stonebow, York. This is the location of the damage in: #199548.

[UPDATE CYC response 28.11.23 "The current status of your report is: closed. The problem has been inspected and no follow up work is required."]

[Image taken 25.11.23] The Stonebow, York. Damaged tarmac that could catch and hold a cycle wheel. Motor vehicle speeds - including of buses - are high in both directions on this stretch of road, plus drivers pass even when there is another motor vehicle oncoming. People on cycles ** must ** be able to:
- look laterally around and not down;
- choose their road position (and not need to look down before moving out/or for it to be compromised).
Reported 26.11.23.
Location of this damage: #199549.
Other image today and links: #199539.

[MY EXPERIENCE: 29.11.23. Very difficult conditions for all public realm users heading south, as I was, due to the low bright sun. I was heading even more slowly than usual with one hand shielding my eyes towards the exit from the measures, around 5m from them, in the centre of the carriageway. I had the sun in MY eyes. There was another cyclist behind me also wearing hi viz.
A driver of a white van ignored the Give way to oncoming vehicles sign and the double give way lines and so drove straight at me. The person had to turn sharp left into the kerb to avoid me. There were at least two vans parked in line one van space into the 'pound'. I was wearing a bright pink beanie and hi viz jerkin. I was very visible - as evidenced by the fact two people who know me waved at me within the next hour.
The measures - installed over a year ago - put people at risk. They rely on drivers to follow the signs and the road markings. And there are no cameras to catch those that don't. The design has introduced real danger. They need to come out. Yet, all CYC says is (19.10.230: "Thank you again for your comments relating to Burton Stone Lane. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion and we will continue to note your comments." This undermines any Council strategies and statements about the need to get people out of cars and moving actively around the city.]

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane (looking north), York. The missing piece of infra has been once again been replaced and once again with a wider structure. Other image here today and links: #199545.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane (looking south), York. Note the plastic item wedged behind the signpost. It’s been there since October 2023: #198240. It think it is debris from when a vehicle hit the splitter island. On 26.11.23 I emailed CYC asking for it to be removed. Other image here today and links: #199545.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane (looking south), York. The structure on the splitter island has been replaced for the fourth or possibly fifth time with something chunkier. View of the splitter island in June 2023: #195235: Burton Stone Lane traffic calming overview: #187753. Other images here today: #199546, #199547. Other image today and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane looking into Lumley Road, York. Tiny green triangle, large tree. Other image here today and links: #199543.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane looking into Lumley Road, York. I think the sign has been bashed/turned. I will report it and see if it gets altered. Other image here today: #199544. Other image today and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, York. The information/apologies board is hidden and inaccessible. The latter problem is made worse by the fact it’s almost on the ground. Context – issues – and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, York. Context and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, York. Context and links: #199539.

[Image taken 25.11.23] Burton Stone Lane, York. There is an information board/apologies board with contact details but it’s hard to find – this spot is not lit at night, the ground is wet and uneven. In short it’s invisible and inaccessible. Would people find it if they needed it? Could they even get to it? Would they be able to see/read the phone number? Other images this topic today: #199540, #199541. Related image: #199542. Other images today: #199543, #199544, #199545, #199546, #199547, #199548, #199549, #199550, #199551.

Cycle parking at Eureka Leisure Park.

Cycle parking at Eureka Leisure Park.

Quench Cycles offer cycle hire at Bedgebury Forest.

Bedgebury Forest has many cycling and walking routes.

Cycle parking at the side of the cafe at Bedgebury Forest

Cycle parking at East Street in Faversham town centre.

Cycle parking outside the post office in Faversham town centre.

Full cycle parking outside the library. Looks like we need some more stands.

There's a need for proper bicycle parking at the Water's Edge.

This bicycle locked to something more secure than the almost adjacent cycle parking #48421 demonstrates that that provision isn't good enough.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Cycle parking in King Street.

Cycle parking in Market Square.

Contraflow cycle lane in Church Street used by the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route sign on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route sign on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Shared use path used by the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Shared use path used by the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.

Route signs on the River Dour Greenway cycling and walking route.