Objections to new "No Entry" restrictions

I've just sent off objections to three proposed Traffic Regulation orders:

1) Park Road

"I object to the proposed order in so far as pedal cycles are excluded from lawful passage from Park Road to Quinton Road.

I have no objection to pedal cycles being excluded from lawful passage from Quinton Road to Park Road. Whilst legalising such a manoeuvre would be a useful improvement to the cycle route from Parkside to Park Road, the council would probably consider the turn too hazardous without alterations to the road layout. 

The ground for this objection is that Park Road provides a direct route for cyclists from the railway station to the Gulson Road area of the city. Experience from London and other cities shows that even where a cycle route does not have a high level of perceived safety (e.g. the ring road) it will generate cycle traffic if it is convenient. Using the ring road to cycle from ring road junction 5 to Gulson Road is far more convenient than a route past the Council House. Coventry Council does has a policy of encouraging cycle use to both relieve traffic congestion and improve public health.

Allowing lawful passage for cyclists from Park Road to Quinton Road would need no civil engineering measures, merely the addition of a word to the sign indicating that taxis are exempt from the entry prohibition. Without the exemption some cyclists may be tempted to cross the footway, creating a hazard for pedestrians."

2)  Lammas Road

"I object to the proposed order in so far as pedal cycles would be excluded from lawful passage from Holyhead Road to Lammas Road. 

I have no objection to motorists being prevented from using Lammas Road as a "rat run" to avoid the traffic lights at the Moseley Ave. / Holyhead Road junction. Cars are noisy, polluting and are usually driven at an inappropriately fast speed on "rat runs", posing a hazard to other road users. Pedal cycles, in contrast, make no noise and move relatively slowly. Use of the road legally by cyclists would be a way of promoting cycling as a means of transport to drivers waiting in the Holyhead Road traffic queue. Coventry Council has a policy of encouraging cycle use to both relieve traffic congestion and improve public health.

Allowing lawful passage for cyclists from Holyhead Road into Lammas Road would need no civil engineering measures, merely the addition of a sign below that showing "No Entry" indicating that pedal cycles are exempt from the entry prohibition. Without the exemption some cyclists may be tempted to ignore the prohibition which would reduce the standing of cycling in the public mind which would in turn create difficulties for the council when it wishes to improve conditions for cycling by means of measures which mildly inconvenience other road users.
"

3) Little Park Street and various Roads

"I object to the proposed order in so far as it applies to pedal cycles. 

The proposal will lead to increased cycling on the footways of those roads included in the order. This will be a hazard to pedestrians. We already see much cycling on the Hales Street footway as a result of it becoming one-way.

Little Park Street, Much Park Street, Earl Street and St. Johns Street form a shape which is approximately a square. There will be little incentive to cycle against the main flow of vehicular traffic for those people wishing to travel between diagonally opposite corners of the square . But the following movements will be much shorter if the cyclist travels contrary to the main flow of traffic, on carriageway or footway:

1. Gosford Street (and thus the whole Coventry University area) to Broadgate.
2. Broadgate to New Union Street (and thus to the Friargate area and the railway station)
3. New Union Street to the Much Park Street / Short Street subway (and thus to Coventry University's Technocentre)
4. Much Park Street / Short Street subway to the Herbert Art Galley (and further to the Cathedral and Priory Street)"