Non-motorised wheeled access to Canterbury city centre from the A28/Wincheap corridor (or, Why do cyclists always ride on the pavements?) A Report by the Wincheap Society June 2017 The A28 Wincheap is very dangerous for cyclists. If this road is taken out of the equation there are four relatively safe routes from Thanington and Wincheap to the City walls. But only three actual entry points, two under Rheims Way and one over Pin Hill. And not all of these are useable or convenient for all categories of non-motorised vehicles: i.e. bicycles, adult shopper trikes, mobility scooters, pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Contents Introduction: why we wrote this Report Categories of vehicles considered Getting to central Canterbury: Routes under Rheims Way and over Pin Hill Crossing the River Stour to National Cycle Route Path, Route 18 Crossing the A28: cat s cradles of traffic light systems Area map (3 pages) Canterbury City Council s Plans for new cycle paths Map colour codes
Introduction: why we wrote this Report Traffic congestion and pollution on Wincheap worsen by the day and parking in the centre becomes increasing difficult and expensive. Residents are exhorted by Canterbury City Council to walk or cycle to and from the city centre, to relieve these problems and to improve their health. The 2011 Census identified 7888 inhabitants of Wincheap ward. An application by a developer to build 750 dwellings in south Thanington has been approved, and application has been made by another developer to build a further 400 dwellings west of that site. How will all these new people get in and out of central Canterbury? Or, as many of them are likely to be commuters, to Canterbury West station to use the high-speed train service to London? How many of them will be elderly? How many disabled? How many with infants in pushchairs? The current bus service from and to Ashford on the A28 is inadequate to the point of invisibility during the day, and does not operate in the evenings or on Sundays. A Park & Ride facility currently is located in the Riverside Retail Park and so does not extend into Thanington, and also does not operate in the evenings or on Sundays. Both these services terminate at Canterbury bus station on the south side of the city, and do not serve Canterbury West station on the north side. Canterbury East train station is located at the east end of Wincheap, offering services to Dover and to Faversham where passengers can connect with the coastal high-speed trains. But for commuters into London changing trains and taking a slower service into London is less attractive than the direct service from Canterbury West. The Wincheap Society decided to look at what routes are available now to people using non-motorised wheeled vehicles to get into the city centre from Thanington and the Wincheap corridor. Oxford, Cambridge, and Amsterdam (indeed all of the Netherlands) are famous for their cycling inhabitants. These cities are very flat: Canterbury is not. The city is flat only along the River Stour valley, where land south of the river slopes down to it gently. Bicycles and similar vehicles should be a favoured alternative to cars in such terrain, and useable by people of all ages and in reasonable health. This report aims to consider use by more than just the young and athletic. The A28 at and from the A2 junction down Wincheap, round the Wincheap Roundabout and on to Pin Hill, and Rheims Way leading into the Wincheap Roundabout are extremely dangerous for bicycles and adult tricycle shoppers. This report assumes that these roads are to be avoided wherever possible.
Categories of vehicles considered: 1. Bicycles. 2. Shopper trikes i.e. adult tricycles, back wheels width 73 cm (recliner trikes are not considered for the purpose of this report). Much heavier than bicycles, and very awkward to manoeuvre unless mounted. * 3. Four-wheeled mobility scooters, width 75/100 cm, turning circle 120 cm. (Batteries not classed as motors for the purposes of this Report) * 4. Pushchairs for children. Some of these are very wide. 5. Wheelchairs, whether pushed or propelled by the occupant. * Shopper trikes and mobility scooters are difficult to manoeuvre on staggered mid-lane pedestrian traffic Islands and around off-set tubed metal fencing designed to prevent motor vehicles entering pedestrian and cycle paths. Shopper trikes are favoured by older people because of their stability, but require good road and cycle path surfaces offering three parallel, smooth tracks for their wheels: potholes and ruts can result in dangerous upsets. Cycle paths should be wide enough to allow three- or four-wheeled vehicles (a) to share the width if arriving from opposite directions and (b) not to crowd pedestrians or other vehicles off the path. Regulations including the Highway Code state that categories 1 and 2 should be used only on roads and designated cycle paths. Categories 3, 4 and 5 are to be used on pedestrian pavements and other designated paths, and not on roads. Canterbury s paths and tracks that are not identified as designated cycle paths are intended for use only by pedestrians. Some are merely alleyways and unusable by categories 3, 4 and 5. In this Report we do not advise any breach of regulations. Out on the streets, the law is observed mainly in the breach. We know this. We also know that most people prefer to be law-abiding, unless being so endangers them. Here lies the body of Mike O Day Who died defending his right of way His right was clear, and his will was strong And he s just as dead as if he were wrong.
Getting to central Canterbury: Routes under Rheims Way and over Pin Hill There are three entry points, but not all useable or convenient for all categories 1 From Bingley Island, Bingley Court and St Andrews Close, over a wooden bridge across the River Stour, to a concreted path on the north side of the underpass beside the river under Rheims Way. The path emerges on the east of Rheims Way with steps up to Rope Walk on the left, or over a wooden footbridge to the right and a sloped path up to Castle Street. Signed Cyclists dismount, so suitable for all five categories but inconvenient for shopper trikes, and access to Rope Walk is only for bicyclists and pedestrians with pushchairs who are prepared to bump up the steps. The underpass path between a wall and the river may be too narrow to allow two wider vehicles to pass without caution. 2 Underpass at the west side of Wincheap roundabout, under Rheims Way. Signed Cyclists dismount, so suitable for all five categories but inconvenient for shopper trikes. East from Wincheap and west from Castle Street approaches by sloping ramps commencing on pedestrian pavements, so bicycles and shopper trikes should be dismounted even before reaching the ramps. 3 Pedestrian path and bridge from Station Road East to the City Wall pedestrian and cycle path and on to the bus station or down the left-hand slope to Castle Row. Signed Cyclists dismount. Suitable for all five categories therefore, but inconvenient for shopper trikes.
From the south and west there is no access via Canterbury East Station (except for unencumbered pedestrians who can take the steps down to and up from the tunnel under the tracks, and then only when the gate to the London-bound platform accessed from Gordon Road is unlocked - which it usually is not). Mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs must approach from Wincheap up Station Road East. Bicycles and shopper trikes are expected to enter Station Road East from Wincheap by circling the Wincheap Roundabout, but this route is very dangerous, so they should dismount and walk their machines along the pedestrian pavement under the railway bridge and then remount when in Station Road East, In Station Road East (which is oneway for motor traffic) there is a contra flow cycle lane which allows cycles to come from Canterbury East Station to Wincheap against the traffic flow 4 Pedestrian bridge between Oxford Road Path (CC51) and Lansdowne Road Path (CC50) then into Station Road East and to the path and bridge to the City Wall. This narrow bridge over the railway is reached by many steep steps at each end. Pushchairs need to be folded up and the child carried. There are grooved narrow ramps for manoeuvring bicycle wheels on the steps at each end. How difficult this may be will depend on the weight of the bike and the strength of the cyclist. Not useable by shopper trikes, mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
Crossing the River Stour to National Cycle Route Path, Route 18 1 At the foot of Tonford Lane in Thanington. There is a wide slatted footbridge over the river, approached at each end by several very wide steps leading to National Cycle Path, Route 18. Suitable for bicycles and pedestrians with pushchairs who are prepared bump up and down the steps. Not suitable for shopper trikes, mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
2 From the north end of Ten Perch Road. There is a cycle and foot path leading to a bridge across the river and on to National Cycle Path, Route 18, suitable for all five categories. The National Cycle Path does not lead directly to the city centre, but provides access via Westgate Gardens to West Gate and St Dunstan s and on to Canterbury West train station 3 Take the Cotton Road/Jackson Road path ( Horse and Goats Tunnel ) under the railway line to St Andrews Close, across the carpark, cross the footbridge over the river west of Rheims Way, and turn left to the path joining the National Cycle Path. Suitable for all five categories
Crossing the A28: cat s cradles of traffic light systems 1 There are no pedestrian crossings on the western extension of the A28 through Thanington Without until the two traffic light systems each with a staggered central pedestrian island and two sets of pedestrian lights for east- and west-bound traffic, adjacent to the Thanington Recreation Centre (TRC) near St Nicholas Road. These are a long way east of the Tonford Lane footbridge. Suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs, but only for bicycles and shopper trikes if the rider dismounts. 2 To reach the path at the north end of Ten Perch Road or the Horses and Goats Tunnel via Jackson Road. If the A28 is crossed from south to north near the TRC, the A2 north-bound slip road must be crossed (pedestrian light). On the eastern side of the A2 bridge, cross the left turning from the A28 into Ten Perch Road, the straight entrance into and exit from Ten Perch Road and the left-turn exit from Ten Perch Road. All three have pedestrian light controls and islands between the lanes. Bicycles and shoppers may choose to enter Ten Perch Road at this point, as do the Park & Ride cars and shuttle buses, and traffic for the Riverside Retail Park. 3 Alternatively, remain on the south side of the A28, cross the A2 north-bound exit (pedestrian lights for left and right turning traffic, pedestrian island between), across the A2 bridge to the A2 south-bound exit (pedestrian lights for traffic entering from the left, straight across from Ten Perch Road and entering from the right (light system, pedestrian island between). Suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs, but for bicycles and shopper trikes only if the rider dismounts 4 Moving east from the Ten Perch Road junctions to the traffic light system at the junction of the A28 and Homersham, there are pedestrian crossings for the traffic turns left and the right out of Homersham, and one for the left turn from the A28 into Homersham, all three with pedestrian lights and islands. From the central pedestrian island take the pedestrian crossing over the A28 with a staggered central pedestrian island and two sets of pedestrian lights for east- and west-bound traffic. Suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs, but for bicycles and shopper trikes only if the rider dismounts.
5 Take the signed pedestrian pathway slightly to the east of the A28/Homersham junction down the slope into Morrison s carpark. Although signed for pedestrians this path appears on a number of cycle way maps as a cycle path. Hypothetically suitable for all five categories. Cross the carpark to the north exit by Morrison s petrol station, turn left into The Boundary, proceed to the north end of Ten Perch Road and onto the path leading to the National Cycle Path. 6 Pedestrian crossing controlled by lights to the east of Cow Lane and Hollow Lane junctions with A28 Wincheap. This gives access from south of Wincheap to Cow Lane and thence to Cotton Road to the Horses and Goats Tunnel, or back west via The Boundary to the north end of Ten Perch Road. Alternatively, a left turn from Cow Lane into Maiden Lane gives access to the pedestrian/cycle path into Morrison s carpark - provided that the door at the western end of Maiden Lane has not been shut and bolted outside trading hours. There is a Public Right of Way CC57 leading from Homersham to the northern end of Hollow Lane, avoiding the polluted A28 road and pedestrian pavement when approaching the Cow Lane junction from the west. However, there are steps at the Hollow Lane end of this path, so it is not useable for shopper trikes, mobility scooters and wheelchairs and, as it is little more than an alleyway, it is not suitable for ridden bicycles.
7 Unmarked pedestrian crossing with an island between lanes (no lights) between Victoria Road and Biggleswade Passage south of the A28, giving access to Simmonds Road via path CC68 Coopers Lane beside No 122 Wincheap. The Simmonds Road end of this passage is signed as a pedestrian pathway. Cross Simmonds Road to take Simmonds Road Path to Jackson Road and the Horses and Goats Tunnel. Should be suitable for all categories, BUT On 20th May 2017 we left the following message on KCC s Public Rights of Way website: The surface at the Simmonds Road end of this footpath has been entirely broken up and lifted into house-brick size chunks. Now entirely unsuitable for bikes, wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs, and almost impassable for pedestrians. It's been in this state for some weeks. (Warning It is feasible to access Simmonds Road from Wincheap via the west side of Elite Garages. However, this is private property and not a public path. There is a red-circled sign on the building with a red diagonal line through a pedestrian figure, and another at the entrance on Simmonds Road.) 8 Pedestrian crossing controlled by lights between York Road and Tudor Road junctions to the south and west of the Simmonds Lane junction with A28 Wincheap. Once across Wincheap turn west to the Spring Gardens pathway and then west again to Simmonds Road Passage, or right to Simmonds Lane and either follow Simmonds Lane to Simmonds Lane Pathway, to Jackson Road and the Horses and Coast Tunnel via Simmonds Road Path. Or, cross the Simmonds Road junction with A28 Wincheap (without lights, central pedestrian island) and continue on the pedestrian pavement to the Wincheap underpass. Suitable for all categories, provided bicycles and shopper trikes are dismounted on pedestrian pavements. The pedestrian pavement on the north side of Wincheap, east of the railway bridge outside Coombs Ltd, slopes sideways towards the roadway, is in poor repair, and is hazardous for both pedestrians and wheeled vehicles.
Canterbury City Council s Plans for new cycle paths For a CCC map: www.canterbury.gov.uk and search for proposed cycle routes. 1 Wincheap to South Canterbury Including Public Right of Way CC56 from its junction with CC52 to Hollow Lane to be upgraded to a cycle path, and Public Right of Way CC52 from Hollowmede to its junction with CC54, and CC54 to its junction with CC55 to be upgraded to cycle paths. Estimated cost: 100,000. Comment Pentland Homes Ltd currently are building 52 dwellings between Hollow Lane and CC56 where it extends west of an allotments area. Planning permission was awarded with a condition that PHL preserves and enhances CC56, so presumably PHL will contribute to all or part of the 100,000. On 13th May 2017 we left the following message on KCC s Public Rights of Way website: At the point where CC56 turns into the orchard and towards Hollow Lane there is a fence across it: paling, heavy wire and barbed wire. The lower and middle wires have been bent back to get access, but the upper wire and a strand of barbed wire above it remain, at about eye height on an adult, necessitating people to crouch down to get through the narrow gap. The north-east / south-west section of CC56 nearly is not being used as much as formerly: vegetation is beginning to impinge, and there is "weathered" litter along the path. Query: when building by Pentland Homes is completed, will the east-west section of CC56 lie alongside the new estate boundary, or will it continue to run through the orchard?
2 Thanington to Hollow Lane. To provide a mainly off-road alternative to the A28 and link two large residential areas. Estimated cost: 50,000. This utilises the farmers underpass under the A2 at Birch Road. The CCC map marks to be upgraded rough tracks west of the underpass. It also appears to incorporate Hollow Lane from the Homersham junction north to the Hollowmede. Comment These same tracks are marked as cycle paths on Pentland Properties Ltd s plan for Thanington Park, so presumably PPL will bear the entirety of that cost. East of the underpass Birch Road (which is partly pedestrianised and borders a park with a children s play area) joins Homersham just west of its junction with Hollow Lane. The roundabout at this point has been enlarged and enhanced to deal with traffic from Pentland Homes Ltd s development. Public right of Way CC56 joins Hollow Lane just north of the roundabout, quite literally through a hedge. It is impossible for drivers to see walkers, or walkers to see traffic, until walkers are actually on the roadway. Perhaps some of the 50,000 could be used to make this junction safe. Comment No part of Hollow Lane is suitable as a bicycle or shopper tricycle route. It is narrow for all its length. North of the Hollowmede junction, it is bordered by terraced houses and residents cars parked on the west side. Between Hollowmede and the junction with Homersham, the surface is badly potholed. Cars are parked on the west side (particularly when lessons at Wincheap Foundation Primary School are starting or finishing) so that it is often difficult for cars from opposite directions to pass, and there is no pedestrian pathway on the east side (and PPL has not been required to provide one) so pedestrians with or without pushchairs, mobility scooters, and wheelchairs cross from east to west all along this section. South of the Homersham junction it is a winding and overshadowed country lane with no footpaths on either side and very limited sight lines. 3 Wincheap to Canterbury East Railway Station. From Oxford Road, north-east along Lime Kiln Road to the east end of Gordon Road. This would provide pedestrian and cycle access from the south side of the railway station. The train operating company will be encouraged to open up the gated access to the London bound platform. Estimated cost: 30,000. Comment: This enhancement to the cycle path will not facilitate access to the bridge across Pin Hill for any of the categories of vehicles under consideration in this report. Comment: Currently this is a narrow, winding section of Lime Kiln Road between private properties, and used by motor traffic (including HGVs), cycles and pedestrians. The sight-lines are limited It is difficult to see what the 30,000 can spent on. Perhaps on the path and part cycle route running straight from the east end of Hollowmede along back alleys and garage-access roads to join Lime Kiln Road where it turns at Martyrs Field? This path is badly potholed and uneven. The section between Heaton Road and Guildford Road is unlit at night, which makes both walking and cycling very hazardous. To view current public rights of way mentioned here: www.kent.gov.uk, and search for public rights of way, then click on rights of way map ; enlarge the Canterbury section of the map, and search on the left hand menu by the CC number.