Transforming Cities, Tadcaster Road York

West Yorkshire Combined Authorities are running a consultation on cycling, walking, and bus improvements to Tadcaster Road York. It is open until 19th September 2021.

Money for the scheme is from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund. The plans are for Tadcaster Road from Askham Bar to Blossom Street.

Elements of the scheme include:

• footway widening to 3m and conversion to shared use on some stretches, notably near Askham Bar
• sections of 1.8m wide cycle track (presumed to be physically separated from the road)
• sections of 1.8m wide cycle lane (presumed to be not physically separated from the road)
• an early start cycle light for northbound cyclists at the junction with St Helen's Road (but York Cycle Campaign say this would not be automatic, but triggered by a 'beg button')
• new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing near the junction with Nelson's Lane, and Toucan crossing near the junction with Knavesmire Road

Transforming Cities, Tadcaster Road York: Physical Protection and Widths

Physical Protection from Traffic

The majority of the cycle route would change from advisory (dotted white lines) to mandatory (solid white line) cycle lanes - but still with no physical protection from traffic. The width of the lanes would increase to 1.8m.

York Cycle Campaign points out that cycle lanes with no physical protection do not meet LTN 1/20 guidance for roads with such a high volume of traffic (6,000 vehicles per day).

To comply with the guidance, the cycle lanes need light segregation (e.g. rubber kerbs and wands).

Width of Cycle Lanes

The Desirable Minimum width of cycle lanes is 2m. This can reduce to an Absolute Minimum of 1.5m 'at constraints', but that rule would not permit a general width of 1.8m along the length of the route. There should also be an extra 20cm where the cycle lane runs alongside a kerb - see Table 5-3, LTN 1/20.

Transforming Cities, Tadcaster Road York: Other Issues

The Mount North of Albemarle Road

As pointed out here, the cycle track on the east side of The Mount, north of Albemarle Road, gives way to side roads instead of having priority over them.

On the west side of The Mount, north of Albemarle Road, the cycle infrastructure gives up altogether, although there is a bus lane until just short of Holgate Road. To be fair, there is not enough space for a bus lane and a cycle lane.

Blossom Street

There is no further provision beyond the junction with Holgate Road, meaning that cyclists have to ride in mixed traffic on one of the most hostile sections (Blossom Street and the junction with Queen Street and Nunnery Lane).

Moor Lane/Tesco Roundabout

York Cycle Campaign point out that the path around the Moor Lane roundabout is poor quality and does not meet standards in the guidance (constantly swaps sides with the footpath, less than minimum width). They suggest a Dutch-style roundabout instead.

Sim Balk Lane

York Cycle Campaign have some suggestions for the south western end of the scheme area:

• improve the narrow blind corner on the shared path next to the Sim Balk Lane traffic lights
• improve the cycle entrance into Askham Bar P& R (currently a steep corkscrew to the Solar System path or a very narrow entrance into the P&R from Tadcaster Road)
• formalise the desire lines where people cross the road entrances into the P& R