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 reported some of the close passes to North Yorkshire Police under Operation Snap. Their approach has been inconsistent.
At first, in March and early April 2023, they responded and said they would take positive action. This can include a warning letter or more serious action.
Then for several months they let the time limit go past then said they were taking no further action due to resource issues.
The final phase was that they either didn't respond at all, or if they did respond it would be in cases where they felt they could make excuses for the close-passing driver and take no further action.
Op Snap has the potential to support and back up people on bikes being put in danger by bad drivers. Unfortunately, in North Yorkshire in mostly does not work.
Update Autumn 2023: NY Police appear to have trained or recruited someone to deal with Op Snap submissions, and responses are once again prompt and sensible.
Taxi driver drives straight at me on Beech Grove before changing their mind at the last minute.
Close pass on Beech Grove by driver of Mini Countryman YF65LUH.
Driver of white Audi Q2 Technik VU20CZV ignores the left turn only at the bottom of Beech Grove.
Very close pass by driver of Porsche YA18LEJ. Positive action.
Close pass on Beech Grove by YM72JLX. Positive action.
Multiple drivers ignore the left turn only at the bottom of Beech Grove.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of YC65RZT, leaving less than 1.5m.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of silver Kia Sportage YD69WVM, leaving less than 1.5m.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of black VW Up YF16WUX, leaving less than 1.5m.
Close pass on Beech Grove by the driver of white Audi Q3 YG65WGD, leaving much less than 1.5m.
Two close passes on Beech Grove leaving much less than 1.5m.
The woman driving white Audi SD14XLA was driving with one hand and
not looking where she was going. She was looking at me, and making
angry hand gestures to tell me to GET OUT OF THE WAY.
North Yorkshire Police make excuses for drivers in these circumstances. If you're riding a bike, they do not have your back against dangerous driving, and they will do nothing.
Two close passes on Beech Grove leaving much less than 1.5m.
There is no point in sending these close passes to North Yorkshire Police, because they won't do anything about them. If they took place in West Yorkshire, the police force there would take positive action.
Currently in North Yorkshire, if the police can find an excuse for No Further Action, they will email and say so. If they can't think of an excuse, they do not get in touch and simply let the time limit for action expire.
Either way the result is the same: they do nothing.
Close pass leaving less than 1.5m by driver of VW YF19UUM.
Close fast pass leaving less than 1.5m by driver of Country Valley van YJ70EOD.
Driver of large workhomes.co.uk pickup truck YD66YDY ignores the Left Turn Only at the bottom of Beech Grove and drives at unsuspecting pedestrian crossing the mouth of Victoria Avenue.
Illegal movement straight on from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue by driver of black BMW X1 NV19ETF.
Close pass by driver of Castle Janitorial Citroen Relay van ML23BFP.
Multiple drivers ignore the Left Turn Only at the bottom of Beech Grove.
Driver of white Audi OE64UY ignores Left Turn Only at the bottom of Beech Grove.
Reported, but not dealt with by North Yorkshire Police, who cited resources issues.
Close pass by driver of Ford Fiesta YB70XVF, leaving less than 1.5m.
Close pass by driver of Renault Mégane YB72OJT, leaving less than 1.5m.
Close pass by driver of Uber taxi WM68VHH. Reported, but this is not a close pass according to North Yorkshire Police.
The driver left far less than 1m50 when overtaking me, and this case was worthy of positive action. It is hard to know the reason for the police failure to take action, but it may be that they do not want to do the work involved.
Inconsistency in the police response to reports corrodes trust and confidence in the system.
Pointless close pass by driver of Mercedes RY65AZU.
Driver pulls out of side road into my path.
Bad close pass on Beech Grove BMW AP15HPA.
Close pass on Beech Grove by a Bill Plant driving instructor YF72OMS leaving less than the minimum 1.5m. Reported, but not dealt with by North Yorkshire Police due to lack of resources.
Close pass on Beech Grove.
Impatient Must Get In Front driving approaching the junction at the top of Beech Grove.
Close pass on Beech Grove. Reported, but not dealt with by the police due to resource issues.
Two close passes, one by the driver of white Mini Countryman NK63PSY approaching the junction with Otley Road.
Two close passes on Beech Grove.
Reported under Op Snap. Police confirmed positive action against both drivers.
Illegal manoeuvre at the bottom of Beech Grove, YG14RWN.
Reported under Op Snap, police confirmed positive action.
Pointless close pass on Beech Grove.
Reported under Op Snap, police confirmed positive action.
Illegal manoeuvre at the bottom of Beech Grove.
Reported to North Yorkshire Police under Op Snap. Result: positive action.
Fast close pass.
Pointless close pass by the driver of large BMW SUV NJ16XEX.
Illegal manoeuvres at the bottom of Beech Grove - drivers ignoring Left Turn Only.
Very close pass by driver of Smart car GV65UVO.
Close pass by the aggressive driver of Mini YG20MXR, who then tried to start an argument because he felt I had looked at him in the wrong way. This person is not responsible enough to be driving a vehicle on public roads.
Very close pass by the driver of light blue VW Up.
Two close passes, one of them particularly pointless.
Close pass approaching a junction.
Pointless close pass by driver of white Audi MT11JWV.
Two close passes.
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