Current Issues (extract from recent minutes 26th April 2023)
Current Issues (Lewis Simpson)
Perth Circular
Blair Watt (BWat) and Susannah Rae (SRae) plan to join the 1st Wednesday Ride which will
ride this route (maybe in both directions). The sequence of the lights at Dobbies needs
changing – at the moment 3 crossings are required to get across. There are also two kissing
gates on the path into Bertha Park which make cycling impossible.
Scone Routes
Still waiting for BAM. Scone Estates are waiting for a Rhododendron Clearing Grant then they
will get on with the path. The Green Path has been started in Scone Woods.
Kidical mass – still on-going
Perth City Leadership Forum (PCLF) – nothing has happened. LSim has followed up.
Attended Planning workshop organised by Cycling UK in Scotland facilitated by Planning Aid
Scotland in Edinburgh. It was very technical. Main point was we need to get in at the very
beginning in order for anything to happen.
At the Earth Day event in Perth there was a large board on which residents could write
comments. A cyclist had already written lots of comments.
If you want to let PKC know what is needed in your locality email
LDPconsultation@pkc.gov.uk
Contact your local councillors and invite them to see your issues.
Traffic Light timings on Kinclaven Bridge – cyclists report not having enough time to get
over. Has been in contact with farming and horse riding groups who have similar issues to
cyclists and have highlighted this to Council Officers.
KMel askied if there was an update on the Dunkeld Road corridor – LSim replied consultation
is complete. Still working on current plan. The Roads Department are still short of officers.
ADut asked about the new path between Stanley and Luncarty. LSim confirmed there is a
difficult landowner slowing things down.
KMel asked is anyone attending the Ride Leader Training promoted by Roger? Yes LSim,
Scott Cowie and Janet Heggie.
GMac attended a recent Kinrosshire Climate Café which was also attended by all 4 local
councillors. Local cyclists did presentations and then put all their ideas on a map. SRae now
has the map. Loch Leven Heritage Trail is currently being resurfaced.
Did PKC chiefs waste cycle funding opportunity?
Read Peter John Meiklem’s article from the Dundee Courier HERE and comments from long standing ByCycle member, Roger Humphry.
Also why a Fife tragedy made Peter John Meiklem question why he rides his bike on the roads.
ByCycle Gather to Welcome New Highway Code
Members and supporters of ByCycle met in Perth on Thursday 3 February to welcome the recent changes to the Highway Code, which came in to force at the end of January.
Chair Craigie-Lee Paterson, said “It’s great to see these changes to make walking and cycling safer incorporated in to the Highway Code. Many of them clarify what was already the practice of careful road users. One of the most important is that a safe passing distance of cyclists by motor vehicles is given as a minimum of 1.5 metres (5 feet) when travelling at less than 30mph, more if going faster or in bad weather or at night. This was already widely used by Police Forces across the UK when considering what was a ‘close pass’ necessitating action.”
ByCycle may be known now primarily as a group which leads regular rides around Perth and Kinross to encourage cycling. But it also aims to ensure that public policy encourages cycling for work and leisure. Co-ordinator for this aspect of its work, Katharine Melville, said at the gathering on Tay Street on Thursday: “These changes have been widely welcomed, including by the AA and RAC. However, surveys have shown that a substantial proportion of drivers are unaware of them. Along with other organisations, such as Cycling UK, we are calling for a publicly-funded publicity campaign. That is why we have gathered here today – to welcome and publicise these improvements. It was good to see our members turning out together with Councillor Lewis Simpson and other supporters, and the local Press”.
Katharine considers that as well as the minimum 1.5 m passing distance other changes which should help protect cyclists are the new hierarchy of responsibility (making it clear that drivers of motor vehicles have a special duty to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe) and the guidance on road positioning for cyclists (cyclists to stay at least 0.5 m out from the kerb, cycle in the middle of the lane in many circumstances and stay a door width out from parked cars).
Guidance to drivers and their passengers emphasises that doors should not be opened without checking for other road users and recommends the ‘Dutch Reach’, where you open the door with the arm on the opposite side from the door, ensuring that you look round. The changes also clarify that cyclists can ride two abreast and explains why this can often be safer. Guidance at junctions and roundabouts has been improved too, making it clear that drivers should give way to cyclists continuing straight on at junctions or negotiating roundabouts.
The changes follow a public consultation on the Highway Code to improve safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. According to the UK Government there are ‘eight changes that you need to know about’. You can see a summary HERE. They will be published as a new Highway Code book in April.
You can read the Dundee Courier’s article HERE.
PKC Consultation on Road Safety Issues
Perth and Kinross Council and Sustrans on seeking YOUR views on two proposals to increase road safety within Perth. The first involves introducing additional school streets (also known as School Exclusion Zones) as part of our Spaces for People programme as parents, children and residents have reported that these locations have been experiencing on-going road safety issues caused by drivers bringing their vehicles too close to the school gate.
The second is the installation of cycle lanes along Tayside to improved the safety of cyclist travelling between the Inches.
Please take this opportunity to make your views heard.
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust currently has an online survey asking for comments on proposals to a walking/cycling path between Stanley and Luncarty. Please respond by the closing date of 22nd February 2021. The site also has useful updates on other proposals such as the proposed Bridge of Earn to Newburgh route.
Dutch government pilots technology to cut e-bike road deaths
Electric bike motors will be shut down when entering residential or built-up areas of Amsterdam, under a government-funded project to cut road deaths from the increasingly powerful vehicles.
The digital technology, which has been successfully trialled on a 4km stretch of bike lanes at Schiphol airport, was funded by the Dutch ministry of infrastructure and water management.
Thinking of Buying an Electric Bike?
More and more people are thinking of buying an electric bike for commuting and pleasure. With the many choices available it is often difficult to decide what is the best option for you. This article, although a little dated, throws some light on the advantages and disadvantages of different mechanisms and what you should look out for.
Parking in Cycling Lanes
I understand your concerns about the safety of those using cycle lanes. Yesterday we voted against this as there were technical issues with the amendment, and by creating a criminal offence it goes against the principle of decriminalised parking enforcement. Additionally, local Councils already have powers to ban parking in cycle lanes. The Scottish Government have however agreed to review the regulations in this area and we support this approach.
Whilst I appreciate this will be disappointing in the short term, I hope in the longer term this move will allow a safer environment for cyclists.
Definitely disappointing. We hope the review is early, comprehensive and positive.
Cycle Lanes and the Primary Position
You can find here a very interesting blog by Susan Morrison that champions the use of the primary cycling position on the road and introduces some interesting concepts on cycle lanes.
Consultation on 20 mph Speed Limits
Unfortunately the bill that was drawn up by Green MSP Mark Ruskell proposing to reduce the default speed limit in built-up areas of Scotland to 20mph fell at Stage 1 on 13th June 2019. This in spite of the fact that it was backed by 25 of Mr Ruskell’s fellow MSPs, including 12 from the SNP, seven from Labour, five Greens and one Lib Dem as well as green groups, health organisations and round-the world cyclist Mark Beaumont.
Sustrans
Sustrans is the national charity which coordinates the National Cycle Network. Routes are a mixture of dedicated cycleway and country roads.
Relevant to Perth and Kinross: NCN7 which comes south from Inverness to Carlisle via Drumochter Pass, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Kenmore and Loch Tay.
NCN77 goes from Pitlochry to Dundee via Dunkeld and Perth. NCN83 links Dunkeld to Ballinluig via Logierait, giving the option of a circular route.
NCN775 goes from Perth to Kinross. It is hoped that eventually this route will be signed westwards via Crieff, Comrie and Lochearnhead to join NCN7 and the westerly network.
Many ByCycle members are also Sustrans Rangers with the Perth and Kinross local group.. They have regular work parties, particularly on the off-road sections, involving path maintenance, litter picking and vegetation control. They have contacted Perth and Kinross Council with such issues as fly tipping (some involving asbestos) and post-flooding silt on the path.
Sustrans is also involved with schools via the iBike scheme.
They administer a considerable pot of money on behalf of government, providing matched funding for small community projects – often to make cycling to school, work or station safer and easier – . known as Community Links.
Members of the local group also are involved with a biodiversity project known as Greener Greenways. Wildlife champions record flowers, bees, butterflies and other wildlife along stretches of cycleway. They also have work parties to remove invasive species such as himalayan balsam.
There are also social rides and public engagement activities.
Links: www.sustrans.org.uk
Local Volunteer Coordinator: Katharine Melville, kmelville@ogoroad.com
Members and supporters of ByCycle met in Perth on Thursday 3 February to welcome the recent changes to the Highway Code, which came in to force at the end of January.
Chair Craigie-Lee Paterson, said “It’s great to see these changes to make walking and cycling safer incorporated in to the Highway Code. Many of them clarify what was already the practice of careful road users. One of the most important is that a safe passing distance of cyclists by motor vehicles is given as a minimum of 1.5 metres (5 feet) when travelling at less than 30mph, more if going faster or in bad weather or at night. This was already widely used by Police Forces across the UK when considering what was a ‘close pass’ necessitating action.”
ByCycle may be known now primarily as a group which leads regular rides around Perth and Kinross to encourage cycling. But it also aims to ensure that public policy encourages cycling for work and leisure. Co-ordinator for this aspect of its work, Katharine Melville, said at the gathering on Tay Street on Thursday: “These changes have been widely welcomed, including by the AA and RAC. However, surveys have shown that a substantial proportion of drivers are unaware of them. Along with other organisations, such as Cycling UK, we are calling for a publicly-funded publicity campaign. That is why we have gathered here today – to welcome and publicise these improvements. It was good to see our members turning out together with Councillor Lewis Simpson and other supporters, and the local Press”.
Katharine considers that as well as the minimum 1.5 m passing distance other changes which should help protect cyclists are the new hierarchy of responsibility (making it clear that drivers of motor vehicles have a special duty to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe) and the guidance on road positioning for cyclists (cyclists to stay at least 0.5 m out from the kerb, cycle in the middle of the lane in many circumstances and stay a door width out from parked cars). Guidance to drivers and their passengers emphasises that doors should not be opened without checking for other road users and recommends the ‘Dutch Reach’, where you open the door with the arm on the opposite side from the door, ensuring that you look round. The changes also clarify that cyclists can ride two abreast and explains why this can often be safer. Guidance at junctions and roundabouts has been improved too, making it clear that drivers should give way to cyclists continuing straight on at junctions or negotiating roundabouts.
The changes follow a public consultation on the Highway Code to improve safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. According to the UK Government there are ‘eight changes that you need to know about’. They are available on-line at www.GOV.UK and will be published as a new Highway Code book in April.