Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) put in modal filters on Beech Grove, Harrogate, in February 2021. That had the effect of cutting out through traffic and making it a safe cycle route.
There was a 6-month consultation period from February to August 2021, but NYCC did not publish the results at the time. In August 2022, they took the modal filters out again.
Only 6 months later, in Feburary 2023, did they publish the evidence they had gathered. This showed that there was 66% support for the modal filter scheme. Removing it was unjustified, and a terrible decision.
Now Beech Grove is back to being a significant rat run for motor vehicles, and as a result much less pleasant and safe for cycling.
Cycle routes should be suitable for 8 to 80 year olds. Beech Grove without the modal filters isn't.
When riding into town, drivers coming in the opposite direction keep well away from the parked cars, and end up driving at you.
When riding away from town, there isn't enough space for an overtaking driver to leave 1.5m; every pass will be a close pass. Do drivers wait? No.
North Yorkshire Council claim they are going to do an unspecified something on Beech Grove at an indeterminate time in the future. Months go past, and nothing happens.
If Beech Grove as it is now is North Yorkshire's offer, there is no chance of modal shift towards cycling.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code instructs drivers to give cyclists at least as much room as they would when overtaking a car. As a guide, they should leave at least 1.5m when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Note also Rule 213: 'Cyclists are also advised to ride at least a door's width or 1 metre from parked cars for their own safety'.
I report some of the close passes to North Yorkshire Police under Operation Snap.
Their approach is very inconsistent. Sometimes the response is 'positive action', and sometimes it is 'no further action' with excuses for the dangerous driver.
Generally it is hard to see a difference between the positive actions and the no further actions - it appears to be down to the subjective opinion of the person reviewing the footage.
Driver of Jaguar F-Pace YH18AFA makes a very close pass on Beech Grove. If the driver had waited a few seconds, they could have passed leaving enough space. Driver brakes after overtaking as though thinking about stopping and trying to initiate a confrontation.
Reported to the police under Operation Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of BMW 520 CS03APS makes an illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue, driving at several people on foot who were crossing the mouth of Victoria Avenue.
Reported to the police under Operation Snap. Outcome: no response from the police.
Driver of silver Mazda 6 ST11AUY makes very close, pointless Must Get In Front overtake on Beech Grove.
Drivers of Toyota YJ18KKZ and Honda CR-V HV11UEF make illegal movements from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue.
The Toyota driver drives at unsuspecting pedestrians crossing Victoria Avenue. The Honda driver drives into the path of a right-turning vehicle.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
This is not the first time the Honda driver has made the same illegal movement - see also this video from 29th August 2024.Driver of untaxed Mercedes-Benz A-Class RY65AZU makes an illegal close pass on Beech Grove.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of Land Rover Discovery Sport YH67UZG makes an illegal close pass on Beech Grove.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of Mini Coooper Electric YB24FXF makes an illegal close pass on Beech Grove.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of VW Up YY67NWL makes an illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of Neptunus Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van KU23XOZ takes all the road space and drives at me instead of slowing down/stopping and pulling over.
Driver of Peugeot 2008 MW22WDX makes an illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue, putting at risk pedestrians crossing Victoria Avenue and a driver making a legal right turn from Victoria Avenue.
Reported to the police under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of black VW T-Roc YH21CLM makes an illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue.
Reported under Operation Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Driver of black BMW X3 MM14TFX begins an overtake without being able to see whether it is clear ahead.
Pointless very close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of silver Skoda Yeti PK64ZKZ.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue by driver of YJ58ZDP.
Reported under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of silver Vauxhall Agila YE10FFY.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of silver VW Polo YH24AWU.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue by the driver of LM63EKY.
Reported under Op Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue by two drivers, one driving electric BMW AK72DZJ.
Reported under Op Snap. Outcome: no reply.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of Volvo YY70BBO.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue by driver of BMW X5 YG69FBD.
Two pointless close passes on Beech Grove by drivers of RF53JEO and KV17YKO.
Close pass on Beech Grove by driver of YD19DVU.
Reported to the police under Operation Snap. Outcome: positive action.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove straight on to Victoria Avenue by the driver of A4XMF and another driver.
Reported to the police under Op Snap - feedback 'no further action' because registration not clear enough.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove straight on to Victoria Avenue by the driver of KM23USB.
Reported to the police under Op Snap - feedback 'positive action'.
Illegal movement from Beech Grove straight on to Victoria Avenue by the driver of SM12KBU.
Reported to the police under Op Snap - feedback 'positive action'.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of Audi SUV.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of YC14UZP.
See also close passes on Beech Grove 2023.
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