Close Passes on Beech Grove 2025

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.

Standard of Cycle Routes

Summary Principle 1, LTN 1/20 — Summary Principle 1 of LTN 1/20

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.

Passing Distance

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'.

Operation Snap on Beech Grove

I report some of the close passes to North Yorkshire Police under Operation Snap.

Their approach has been inconsistent. Sometimes the response is 'positive action', and sometimes it is 'no further action' with excuses for the dangerous driver. More recently the Op Snap service has been better.

Videos

30th December 2025

Close pass by driver of Citroen C3 LG24MLA followed by brake checks.

Reported to the police under Operation Snap. Outcome: late reply after deadline for Notice of Intended Prosecution, due to lack of resources. Educational letter sent.