NI Cycles

Promoting and providing opinion on safer environment for cycling through Ni Cycles

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

This is clearly a road improvement scheme, disguised also as an active travel scheme.

This is just another example of @deptinfra showing that it is unwilling to learn from their mistakes.

The road has a width of 17m (including sidewalks) and this is the best it can done?

[Department for Infrastructure @deptinfra]

The O’Neill Road, Newtownabbey is set to benefit from a 1km resurfacing scheme along with upgraded facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Details at https://t.co/62CmMu2Qsa

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

On one of the few projects to improve walking and cycling safety, the focus of this paper is the delay the work might cause. Priorities.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

🏁 Conclusion

1️⃣ Decent Quality
2️⃣ Provides a link from Botanic-City Center
3️⃣ Access could be better
4️⃣ Protection seems ok, it's difficult to understand the lack of gatekeeper wands on exits
5️⃣ It's a band aid, good enough for the pop up cycle paths scheme

Ride on 🚲

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

It's remarkable what can be done so quickly, when there's political will.

✅ Gatekeeper wands on entry
✅ Some form of protection, with planters and wands

➖ Acess is not that straightforward

❌ Lack of gatekeeper wands on exit
❌ Circuitous route
❌ No bus stop bypass

[Stripymoggie @StripyMoggie]

Enjoy!

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

🅿️3 open air car parks + cinema's multi storey car park
💲 businesses, with hotel, ormeau baths, Tesco and cinema
🏡 Residential

Most of the cycle route goes through acess roads, which should already be welcoming to vulnerable users.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

This is not a missed opportunity, it's a demonstration of the systemic failure on the approach to cycle infra.

[Department for Infrastructure @deptinfra]

Resurfacing was successfully completed on the Sydenham Bypass and adjacent cycle lane over the weekend between Dee Street and George Best Belfast City Airport

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@gaz3434 @BicyclemanJosh @nigreenways Will we see action even soon after the appointment?
Looking at the latest walking and cycling champions in London and Manchester, very little has actually been done and in London's case (with Will Norman and Sadiq Khan) some routes have actually been binned without replacement.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@CarolineB07814 Encouraging? That's what's been done for decades with no positive outcome.
What we need is enablement. Creating the conditions for walking and cycling safely and conveniently.
Let's hope this opportunity is not wasted.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland 2016-2018 is out and it continues to show that the work @deptinfra has carried out so far, has been negligible towards improving active travel habits.
@NicholaMallon better needs to be done and quickly.

https://t.co/RbnbbHnlD3

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@SustransNI @StripyMoggie @cicloviabelfast @LinenQuarterBID @panamabelfast @SBelfastGreens @ClaireHanna @rcb35 @BelfastChamber I noticed that most of them were quite busy. But besides that anecdotal evidence, is there any data on the roaring trade?
If not, how can we continue to dispel myths about cycling and events related to it?

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@Wiggle_Sport Just to show how ludicrous the proposal is compared to the Netherlands.

https://t.co/n4QGqLd1M1

[Stripymoggie @StripyMoggie]

The Dutch have 135,000km of public roads with 35,000km cycleways. The UK has 422,100km of public roads, so proportionally it would need over 60,000 miles of cycleways. The promise of 250 miles is about 59750 miles short.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@Wiggle_Sport Obviously no. It's not just about building it, it's about building the right things and doing it correctly.

The standards and guidance need updated and improved as well.

Look at this example in Northern Ireland:
https://t.co/FwBRlCvZLo

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

The difference in wording is staggering.

People cycling are reckless and dangerous, people driving unworthy vehicles are being dealt with.

Wonder why?

https://t.co/mjt0NED5Tq

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

On the other hand, @NicholaMallon has already announced resurfacing/road improvement schemes with no apparent improvements for walking and cycling that amount to more than £4.3 million.

[NI Greenways @nigreenways]

The @niassembly has rightly declared a climate crisis, but it’s business as usual as far as managing travel habits in Belfast. A city-wide road diet needs to happen within the next 2 years if Belfast is to make a genuine mark on fighting climate breakdown. https://t.co/xrEgOvtEEJ

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

It is telling when do many shops are closed in a street

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@moltovivo_ @nigreenways Disabled people can also cycle. For some it's actually a blessing the freedom it gives.
Having said that, if it makes sense, it might be beneficial to have very tight and controlled exclusions for those that really need.
https://t.co/yRaM918YZ7
https://t.co/2ePM78AAU3

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@SustransNI @GreenwayPlease @niurbanist @nigreenways @deptinfra @belfastcc @IrishCycle @NIAInfra @Cyclistie @WeAreCyclingUK @publichealthni @Ed_Authority @belfasthealthy @GBCycleEmbassy Behaviour changes with the right infrastructure. Walking and cycling needs to be safer, direct and more convenient than driving a car.

It's that simple.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@niroads Additionally, it's all about strategic development.Improving traffic flow is not strategic, is reactionary.
Spending £150m+ in the next 5-10 years to pursue with current proposal is condemning a city already choked with traffic and in climate emergency to live with it for decades

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

There are plenty of cons to. Especially when there are other less expensive options that bring more value to the city, e.g. Belfast cycle network.
Let alone the problem that will remain for future generations with a US style highway connections right in the city centre.

[NI Cycles @NI_Cycles]

@niroads The likely great benefit is that York st is to be better to walk/cycle than it is now, though that is dependent on traffic volumes that will remain high.