LCAG

Following lobbying by an LCAG member, the Council have looked at a potential cycle improvement scheme from Rothwell to Hunslet. The proposed routes provide an alternative to a stretch of busy and fast dual carriageway and a large roundabout at a junction with the M621.

This will potentially benefit anyone cycling between Leeds and Wakefield on the A61, between the “Rothwell Jawbones” junction and Hunslet road.

The Council are keen to get cyclists’ feedback on these proposals, so if you have any comments please contact Lizzie Reather.

The proposals (described in a Leeds-bound direction:) use a footbridge across the M621 and travel via Middleton Road and Pepper Road to rejoin the A639 (Hunslet Road) in Thwaite Gate. A developer currently owns a field between the A61 and the M621, and a cycle route across this area was planned as part of the development. There is an existing track across the field but it’s quite rough and bumpy at present. There has been no sign of the developer progressing the development, and they have not been in discussion with LCC for some time. It may therefore be a long time before they restart development and a long time after that before a paved cycle link is made across the field.

There are 3 options shown here for the route between A61 and M1 bridge.

Option 1
This is the existing bridleway, clearly the main desire line and uses the topography well. However the developer has applied for it to be diverted and that diversion has been accepted. They, in fact constructed part of this diversion before the development stalled (see option 2). This means that we would not be likely to get funds to resurface the existing bridleway in case development starts and it all gets ripped up again.

Option 2
Most of the proposed bridleway (the route will not become actual bridleway in law until completed) exists but needs both ends finishing off. What has been built is of a good quality (although not tarmac) but does not use topography well and requires you to cycle up a hill and back down again. The ends to the bridleway could be constructed but I’m not sure it would be used. Also, again, as it is not bridleway in law until complete, and a new development may be proposed with a new layout and new route for a bridleway.

Option 3
The access road off the roundabout (into Leeds Valley Park West) has cycle lanes marked in block paving and uses the topography reasonably well (not as good as option 1), however it is not connected to the bridge. The developers would need to be contacted to see if they would agree to a temporary link to the M1 bridge. It seems that this could form the only possible temporary route, but I would welcome your opinion as to its value. It seems to be used but not as well as the existing bridleway and it would provide a useful link from Middleton for those travelling over the roundabout on the A61 to other parts of Leeds Valley Park.

The continuation of the route on the Western side of the motorway uses Middleton Road and Pepper Road. There doesn’t seem much scope for on-road provision here. At the South end there are opportunities to harden the verge to form shared-use footways, but once one Pepper Road anything off road would require widening into the road which is very expensive; traffic calming may be an option. There doesn’t seem to be much alternative to Pepper Road; there is a footbridge over the railway off East Grange Drive, but this would divert the route towards Hunslet centre, which might not be better for cyclists heading into and out of Leeds.

The Council would welcome LCAG opinions on these proposals. If you have any comments please email Lizzie Reather.

Challenge for Change currently have a job vacancy in Leeds which might be of interest.

Challenge for Change work with the CTC to get more people cycling across the UK through their successful behaviour change programmes. They’re currently recruiting for a Project Manager to join their operations team in Leeds. More details including a Job Description, Covering Letter and Application Form can be found at www.challengeforchange.com/awesome-jobs.

Leeds Cycle Point have generously decided that LCAG members can store a bicycle for free during the daytime (it is £1 a day for non-members).

This is an excellent opportunity to spend a short time or indeed a full day in Leeds city centre confident that your bike will be secure.

Whether arriving by train or cycling there, just show your card to the staff to arrange free storage.

Opening hours of 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Monday to Friday (10-6 weekends, 9-5 BHs). A shop with repair facilities run by Evans Cycles, is conveniently located near the railway station. See www.cyclepoint.org for further details.

Note how easy it is join LCAG, membership is only £7 per year! Just click on the link shown on the right.

Here are some tips for riding through the winter months.

Dave’s tips
Always ride with two lights at the front and two at the back. As well as increasing your visibility this is vital insurance as batteries can and do go flat, or even on a couple of occasions I’ve accidentally switched one off but fortunately the other was still running.

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong cloths. Time for a trip to your local bike shop.

Richard’s tip
The more lights, the better. You can put one or two on your helmet if you wear one, as well as on your bike. With a little ingenuity and a rubber band or two, it can be done!

Angela’s tip
Thin silk gloves inside your winter gloves…makes a massive difference.

Jon’s Tip
I do not wear a helmet when cycling except when mountain biking or when its icy. I didn’t use to but a few tangles with black ice made me decide that I was quite likely to have a low speed spill in these conditions so that on balance (no pun intended!) it was worth wearing one. Also I was unlikely to have an overheated head in this conditions, which is one of the reasons I don’t usually wear a helmet.

Martin’s tips
Lightweight waterproof trousers keep you warm and dry.
Change to wet lube for your chain.
Use good brake blocks or pads.

Allan’s Tips
Choosing a route: As the temperature dips below zero use bus routes only. They are always gritted first and often swept clear of snow & ice by cars and buses. Ride in the cleared area of the lane. Cars really will go around you.

No tyre (except one with metal studs) is stable on ice so avoid ice that is not well covered with grit. Snow packs into the wide treads of a tyre so knobblies become a ring of ice. A fairly slim tyre
(28 to 35mm) with fine tread is better and cuts a groove in snow and slush that aids stability.

Steven’s tip
Good mudguards. They are the difference between a wet rear, muddy back and bike that’s dirty and clogged up and must be cleaned straight away if you don’t want it to seize up and, well, simply not having that hassle.
After not having any for a while because mudguards don’t look cool (silly), then trying ones that the mud was able to fly round somehow, then ones that didn’t fit and scratched finally I have found mudguards that are just right – light, narrow, black and hug the wheel perfectly without touching it.

Yesterday arriving outside Leeds Central Library early in the afternoon I saw another cyclist. He was without his bike, however he did still have his cable lock which had been neatly cut in two. It’s a while since I’ve seen anybody so angry, “I’d cut their hands off!” he was fuming. Well, I wasn’t sure what to say to him, I suggested there might be cameras around that could have recorded what happened so perhaps the police and council could help, but he didn’t think there was much point in that. He was probably right, once it’s gone it’s almost certainly gone for good.

He had just been in the library two minutes, if this could happen so quickly in the centre of Leeds on a warm, sunny weekday then it can happen anywhere.

If you don’t want this to be you then please consider the expert advice that’s out there – see the links below for just some of the guidance about how to properly secure your bike…

London Cyclist – How to lock your bike
Why Cycle? – Safety and Security
Going going bike – How I lock my bike
Police advice – How to lock your bike
Cycling London online – How to lock your bike
The ultimate guide to locking your bike

S Smith, LCAG member

The council has asked for views from LCAG members on the proposed changes to the Roundhay Road cycle lane.

Attached here are the drawings.

Comments to Tim Parry, Senior Transport Planner, Leeds City Council (Tim.Parry@leeds.gov.uk or 0113 2476385) by Friday 29th July.

From Waitrose’s website “Waitrose is introducing cycle trailers to help customers transport their shopping home by bike. Equipped with large canvas shopping bags, the trailers will be loaned out free of charge to customers who wish to use them. Available at selected branches, please ask at the welcome desk of your local branch for more details.”

No idea whether they have any bike trailers in Leeds, but they won’t if you don’t ask!

Branches at The Core shopping mall on The Headrow and on Meanwood Road in Meanwood.