tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post4324440922641401467..comments2023-10-31T08:49:14.757+00:00Comments on Cambridge Cyclist: Camridge News are the real Raving Loonies...Cab Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-17015791099503269192015-10-08T06:39:03.738+01:002015-10-08T06:39:03.738+01:00Accomodating for those with disabilities and old a...Accomodating for those with disabilities and old age is not very difficult. Lowered curbs and tactile paving, a continuous pavement at minor side road junctions, at least 2 metres of width for footways, bleepers at traffic lights when pedestrians ever get a green man works well for footways. At least 2 metres, preferably 2.5 metres when the cycleway gets above 150 cyclists/hr for a one way, 3 metres for a two way, 3.5 metres for a two way on a higher volume path, and 4 metres on primary routes, no bumps or uneven surfaces, usable width being enough, not being boxed in anywhere, and certainly not mixing with buses in a high volume bus lane. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-77708390895508606562013-06-25T16:54:17.874+01:002013-06-25T16:54:17.874+01:00Cab, you're quite right. It's no great hel...Cab, you're quite right. It's no great help to let disability buggies use the cycle-path if the cycling facilities are awful.<br /><br />I used to quite often ride a loop out of Cambridge, out through Madingley and Dry Drayton to Bar Hill and returning through Longstanton, Oakington and Histon. Of course it was rare that this could be done without at least a few surprises on the narrow roads around Madingley and a few close passes around Oakington.<br /><br />Even though it's not a long distance, like many rides in the UK it felt like it was longer than it actually was. I think that's the stress.<br /><br />OTOH it's really quite a joyous thing to see how much disabled people in NL really do get out of their homes and travel independently because of this wonderful network of infrastructure. As a result you see such things as couples, one of whom has a disability, riding together and enjoying the countryside and fresh air a very good distance out of the city. Cafes expect it and provide charging points.<br /><br />This must surely be a LOT better than providing for people with disabilities by giving them no choice but to use the A14 !<br /><br />Disability rights groups should be allied with cycling campaigners. Both benefit greatly from the same infrastructure.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-91872090178148631392013-06-25T08:36:38.327+01:002013-06-25T08:36:38.327+01:00The relevant law here is something like "driv...The relevant law here is something like "drivers of vehicles for the handicapped may use the pavement/footpath, the cycle path or the (main) road"; in theory it should only have a positive effect, such as (as David mentioned) meaning that users have to be considered when (re)-designing infrastructure.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770044284126887469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-28184503629499445602013-06-24T15:06:29.504+01:002013-06-24T15:06:29.504+01:00I didn't know that. I do now, thanks!
Of cour...I didn't know that. I do now, thanks!<br /><br />Of course that only makes sense once you start treating cyclists well; to define disability aids as 'bicycles' in the UK wouldn't be doing their users a favour. Strikes me you've got to take cycling infrastructure quite seriously before thats worthwhile - Bar Hill as a satellite town of Cambridge (for pities sake, Cambridge!) demonstrates we're not getting it right here.<br />Cab Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-23631089813517060702013-06-24T12:50:34.233+01:002013-06-24T12:50:34.233+01:00I don't know if you're aware of this, but ...I don't know if you're aware of this, but the Dutch <a href="http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/search/label/disabilities" rel="nofollow">class wheelchairs, disability scooters and other disabled aids as "bicycles"</a>. No barrier with a gap of less than 1 m in width is allowed on cycle-paths because all disability vehicles must be able to fit through. What's more, the council hands out adapted bikes to families who need them so that cycling remains accessible to all.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-38799741679832059422013-06-24T11:17:25.182+01:002013-06-24T11:17:25.182+01:00Yes, although there's another at about 3 min w...Yes, although there's another at about 3 min which is probably worse.Cab Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019615820672574343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-58732272209713314302013-06-24T10:48:19.249+01:002013-06-24T10:48:19.249+01:00Take it the barrier to mobility scooters is the on...Take it the barrier to mobility scooters is the one at 2:24 on the video?Hesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01786445447447946710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031352915519488668.post-91183058086315568432013-06-24T09:25:16.862+01:002013-06-24T09:25:16.862+01:00I saw this story after it was picked up by the BBC...I saw this story after it was picked up by the BBC News Online, and agreed wholeheartedly with the story based on what I had been told (ie. that the blooke must have been -ahem- a bit dippy), but reading this post and the background to the story actually puts a whole new spin on it and I regret following the herd on it. I agree completely with you, and think that the media should be talking about how an area can be completely cut off like this.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02048607951978676228noreply@blogger.com