News and Features from Cycle Heaven, York

25.02.10 Blossom Street Consultation: Vote for Option Three

York City Council are currently consulting the public on proposals to make improvements to the nightmarish, five lane, racetrack-like Micklegate-Blossom St junction. There are currently three options being considered and you can read about them, and vote on them here:  http://www.york.gov.uk/blossomstreet. Given that options One and Two offer precious little improvement to cyclists, we are strongly urging all our customers to vote for Option Three, which in addition to reducing the number of traffic lanes, also introduces the novel concept of cycle lanes onto this street (thanks for that!).

The Benefits
The main benefit of Option Three is that it should significantly improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and thus be a step towards making cycling a more attractive proposition in York. Surveys consistently show that the biggest deterrent to people taking up cycling as a means of transport is the percieved danger of the roads - of which Blossom Street is a perfect example. Option Three is the only one that will tackle this issue head on, and by doing so address the wider aims of the local transport plan to reduce car use and dependency.

The Objections
The main objection to this option, is that it will increase journey times for car users. This is the way the consultation is pitched - vote for Option Three and your journey times will increase etc,etc. Such a narrow emphasis, with little mention of the real benefits that such necessary changes will actually make, or reference to the wider context mentioned above, virtually guarantees that Option Three will fail. But consider this: with a 28% increase in York traffic predicted by 2021, journey times are going to increase anyway. Let me run this by you again: 28% in eleven years!  What will that make of Blossom Street? You know the answer - increased congestion and journey times are inevitable under the current traffic regime.

The Politics
Current council policy is basically one of burying their head in the sand. Rather than facing up to reality and spelling out to the electorate that there is no easy solution other than a drastic change in people's behaviour - one that can only be achieved through decisive and radical changes in our infrastructure and in council policy, council leaders are playing a game of poll watching. Many opposition members are no better and appear to be exploiting a bizarre populist strain of anti-cyclist sentiment in order to garner votes. This is a disreputable, but sadly familiar strategy. What opposition Councillor Toad ought to consider is, if he mines this political vein too profitably, he might actually end up in power! Then, traffic will be his problem - and one to which he clearly has no solution! And when he eventually comes up with one? You guessed it - it will be the same as the previous incumbent, but dressed up in his own colours.

Perhaps it would be too much to ask of our representatives to be honest with the electorate and try and work towards a cross party consensus on this issue. You all know what the solution is, and the reality, (sad or otherwise), is that the private car will play a very small part of it.

Why it Matters
The real issue, of course, is not one of traffic jams, or whether you prefer to drive, walk, cycle, ot take the bus, but a matter of what kind of city you want this to be and, what kind of world you want your kids to grow up in. Cycle friendly cities are people friendly places: greener, more socially cohesive, economically vibrant and typically enjoy a much higher quality of life than those that aren't. If you want some idea of what Toad had in store for us, visit Coventry (it nearly happened here!); if you want a glimpse of what else is possible try this: http://www.virgin-vacations.com/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.aspx