Cardiff Cycling Campaign

Cardiff Cycling Campaign
33, The Balcony, Castle Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 2BY

Ken Barker
Secretary, Cardiff Cycling Campaign
FAO Richard Cole,
Development Control, City Hall, Cardiff
developmentcontrol@cardiff.gov.uk

11th March 2008
Bute Park new access, Bridge and Roadways, planning application 07/02649/C
We were briefly consulted on an early outline version of this access that ruptures the mandatory cycleway, but provides the benefit of access to the cycleway to and from Corbett Road. However, the new details raise particular concerns at the poor consideration given to cyclists.

We point out this would become a significant route for cyclists, as the cut-through the Park over the Millennium Bridge to and from the University and other offices is a key route avoiding the city centre. It would also be chosen by some cyclists from Gabalfa and Pontcanna in preference to using Colum Road.
We object to the present design and seek changes covering the following:

No indication of priority for vehicles or cyclists movements is shown. We propose cyclists to have priority against vehicles emerging from the Park, whereas vehicles can have priority entering from North Rd and Corbett Rd. We reason that vehicles will be waiting for an appropriate traffic light phase for access onto North Road, and should not block the cycleway for all that time.
As the lights phase is not clear to vehicles emerging from the Park, a traffic light control would be preferable (and safe) and appropriately coupled to traffic lights for both directions of the cycleway.
The turning areas for vehicles within the car park (northern and southern parts) need physical separation from the cycleway. Note this is marked as a mandatory cycleway, but not always respected by vehicles while the turning space is so limited as to encourage drivers to trespass on the cycleway. The physical separation could be simply bollards for the lengths that are designated for turning.
The layout must be designed to enable cyclists to exit into Corbett Road. We note vehicles are to be prevented from this movement, but cyclists can fit in easily (readily see the traffic pulses and cross as pedestrians do at present). Cyclists would make this movement even if not designed. It must be designed in – a specific gap in the lengthened separation island would be best in safety terms, with a red box ahead of southbound waiting vehicles.
From Corbett Rd into the Park and onto the cycleway, there should be an advanced cyclist box with mid roadway feed-in (there is as much or more space than at the similar Park Place crossing of Boulevard de Nantes).
Because of the complexity and importance of this issue (and costs involved), we ask the Planning Committee to require detailed proposals, including safety/cycling audits before permitting this new access to the Park.
We would be pleased if you could include our comments and objections in your report on this planning application.
Yours sincerely,

Ken Barker
Secretary

Ken BarkerSecretary, Cardiff Cycling Campaign,


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