As it is
Long Ashton: North Somerset build new pinch points
Yatton pinch point
click photo for more information
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Clevedon - Weston-super-Mare link
A one mile link across the River Yeo between Kingston Seymour and Wick St Lawrence would cut out 7 dangerous miles of the journey between Clevedon and Weston. This would enable many more people to cycle to work, improving their health, reducing traffic congestion, and cutting carbon dioxide emission. There's not even any need for a bridge - an existing sluice can do the job. Many many cycle users have asked for this. But North Somerset and Sustrans (despite claiming it as a vital link in the NCN since the mid 1990's) dragged their feet on the issue until with new impetus in 2006 a consultation (linked to the Tidal Trail, a walking path) had a big response from cyclists and this has helped push things along. The present best guess is it might open in 2009. Need it take this long? You can keep in touch through N S Cycle Campaign - and help keep the pressure up. - The Gateway to Bristol We are pressing Bristol City Council, via the Bristol cycle forum, for action to make the A370 city entrance at Brunel Way safe for cycling. This road system is the major gateway for commuters from N Somerset into Bristol yet it is immensely intimidating and hazardous for cycling, even when using the best Cyclecraft techniques for negotiating slip roads. There are pathways under the flyover roads but these are not signed as shared use, have no destination signing and are used by many schoolchildren and other pedestrians. Cyclists need to be able to travel at a decent speed without intimidating pedestrians. The issues are: 1 Lack of enforcement of the existing speed limits 2 Speed limits need reducing so that all traffic modes are catered for. 3 Cyclists do use the underpass pedestrian paths and pavements, after being shown or finding a route through. But these paths are no help to those who wish to cycle legally, and they are unknown to newcomers or visitors. We would like these paths to be legalised for cycling and fully signed for cyclists leaving and entering Bristol. 4 There is scope for a new quality cycleway near the redundant railway tracks, keeping the present paths for pedestrians who clearly need them.
- St Georges Roundabout All traffic entering or leaving Weston super Mare to the North is directed to use the St Georges motorway interchange roundabout, which is exceptionally dangerous. The nearest alternative route is a mile longer, totally unsigned and difficult to follow even with a map. We have asked for safe and convenient solutions to cycling access on the A370 to Bristol and Weston super Mare, but the Councils make no sign of recognising any urgency.
- Reporting potholes This is an ongoing activity starting in 2004. It shows some success and from 2007 defects that remain unrepaired can be reported through the cycle forum and the cycling officer will follow them through.
Most of the "as it is" photos on this website were taken around 2003 and at the start of 2007 they remain as shown here. Putting them on the web has not shamed North Somerset into action. If you have an idea for persuading the Council to act, share it with like-minded people on the nscycle email group.