Read on Twitter
DESIGNED TO FAIL?
A thread on Reigate’s short-lived 3 day pop-up cycle lane.
A case study in how not to do it: It is hard to think of much which would have been done differently had the council designed it to fail.
So read on
A thread on Reigate’s short-lived 3 day pop-up cycle lane.
A case study in how not to do it: It is hard to think of much which would have been done differently had the council designed it to fail.
So read on
TIMING 
It was clear action for active travel was needed at the end of April, in fact we wrote to the council.
The government agreed, issuing statutory guidance on 9th Msy.
And the Reigate High Street scheme was confirmed on 19th May.
Things then slowed down... https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1254797014082162690
It was clear action for active travel was needed at the end of April, in fact we wrote to the council.
The government agreed, issuing statutory guidance on 9th Msy.
And the Reigate High Street scheme was confirmed on 19th May.
Things then slowed down... https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1254797014082162690
It was 4th July before it finally launched. The day lockdown measures were significantly relaxed.
By this point many who had enjoyed cycling & walking on quiet roads had been scared back into cars.
And cars were back big style. The busiest traffic for almost 4 months.
By this point many who had enjoyed cycling & walking on quiet roads had been scared back into cars.
And cars were back big style. The busiest traffic for almost 4 months.
FUNDING 
The DfT said “anything that does not meaningfully alter the status of the road will not be funded”
We wrote again, saying be bold, be ambitious. Andrew Gilligan will not favour the timid. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1268795772688048129
The DfT said “anything that does not meaningfully alter the status of the road will not be funded”
We wrote again, saying be bold, be ambitious. Andrew Gilligan will not favour the timid. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1268795772688048129
Surrey submitted plans. They were neither bold nor ambitious, although unsure to what extent as they only kept screenshots. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1kuQz4eXcPH-nVA4uQO7PLO8--aetpO/view?usp=drivesdk
The DfT cut funding by 50%.
Surrey said they would match. Using tax payer money to fund schemes already judged as poor.
The DfT cut funding by 50%.
Surrey said they would match. Using tax payer money to fund schemes already judged as poor.
THE PLANS 
On the 12th June initial plans were released.
Some were pleased but there were a lot of questions & concerns in the feedback.
Mainly as you had to cycle on hostile roads to reach the High Street, it excluded those less confident & able. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1271461368156377089
On the 12th June initial plans were released.
Some were pleased but there were a lot of questions & concerns in the feedback.
Mainly as you had to cycle on hostile roads to reach the High Street, it excluded those less confident & able. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1271461368156377089
So, we had a virtual meet & reached a consensus.
There was ambition to the plans but it was highly confrontational, which in itself is not a bad thing, but the potential gains looked too small.
We wrote another letter asking to allay these concerns.
We received no answers. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1273183111942213632
There was ambition to the plans but it was highly confrontational, which in itself is not a bad thing, but the potential gains looked too small.
We wrote another letter asking to allay these concerns.
We received no answers. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1273183111942213632
COMMUNICATIONS 
Case studies show there will be kickback. This needs to be addressed. Listen & engage, explain the objectives of the scheme & how it will be monitored.
A tweet went out 2 days before work started.
Local Facebook groups & the business guild entered meltdown https://twitter.com/reigatelc/status/1278283912977043465
Case studies show there will be kickback. This needs to be addressed. Listen & engage, explain the objectives of the scheme & how it will be monitored.
A tweet went out 2 days before work started.
Local Facebook groups & the business guild entered meltdown https://twitter.com/reigatelc/status/1278283912977043465
THE LANE 
On the morning of the 4th July it was born.
It certainly wasn’t a looker & was a bit scary to reach & was only in 1 direction but it offered protection from the c.17k vehicles a day which usually thunder down the High Street. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279305673713516545
On the morning of the 4th July it was born.
It certainly wasn’t a looker & was a bit scary to reach & was only in 1 direction but it offered protection from the c.17k vehicles a day which usually thunder down the High Street. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279305673713516545
It was clearly appreciated. Despite the scary approaches, all sorts of people on bikes were seen. From full on roadies, to a kid on a balance bike & a lady on a trike.
A lovely change for a High Street where usually only the brave dice with the HGVs
https://twitter.com/twiglet_monster/status/1280167693639974916?s=21 https://twitter.com/twiglet_monster/status/1280167693639974916
A lovely change for a High Street where usually only the brave dice with the HGVs
https://twitter.com/twiglet_monster/status/1280167693639974916?s=21 https://twitter.com/twiglet_monster/status/1280167693639974916
However, as well as being ugly, there was minimal utility for the wider community - we had suggested tables & parklets.
Plus the signage
the lane was open & well used by people but this made clear it was closed & ‘cyclists’ were to blame.
Plus the signage
the lane was open & well used by people but this made clear it was closed & ‘cyclists’ were to blame.
Other bits didn’t help. The cycle parking was all in one place. And rather extensive.
With 50 places, even if popular it was going to look empty. Perfect optics for those who wanted to say the facility wasn’t being used. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279137393052921856
With 50 places, even if popular it was going to look empty. Perfect optics for those who wanted to say the facility wasn’t being used. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279137393052921856
THE BIKELASH 
It was clear that the people that get angry wanted to get angry & boy did they make sure they got angry.
The traffic, the ambulances, the disabled. The road tax, the licences, the helmets, etc.
And they had a petition https://twitter.com/oliviafurner/status/1279875883499687937
It was clear that the people that get angry wanted to get angry & boy did they make sure they got angry.
The traffic, the ambulances, the disabled. The road tax, the licences, the helmets, etc.
And they had a petition https://twitter.com/oliviafurner/status/1279875883499687937
The local MP then saw which way the crowd was running & jumped on board. https://twitter.com/crispinblunt/status/1279379599907004419
However, this didn’t seem to fit with the reality had just seen cycling through.
Timed a car, just over 4 minutes through the whole area. Slow but nothing compared to the gridlock that was being shouted about. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279384496261955585
Timed a car, just over 4 minutes through the whole area. Slow but nothing compared to the gridlock that was being shouted about. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279384496261955585
And this was the first weekend. Neighbouring Redhill had seen significantly worse for weeks after changing their gyratory. And that was nothing to do with cycle provision, unless blue signs on pavements have a magical effect.
Nb - please read thread around this tweet https://twitter.com/CycleRandR/status/1279681610691026944
Nb - please read thread around this tweet
https://twitter.com/CycleRandR/status/1279681610691026944
But the mob was in full force. It was going to be even worse Monday morning rush hour. The responsible cabinet member stood firm but his Facebook page was awash with abuse. https://twitter.com/mpfurniss/status/1279642397002080257
Later that day, the council caved to the inevitable.
It ended up being removed the next day. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279895223678783489
It ended up being removed the next day. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1279895223678783489
THE AFTERMATH 
Well the next morning was not as the naysayers had foretold. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1280037317076492288
Well the next morning was not as the naysayers had foretold. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1280037317076492288
Ambulances were getting through unimpeded.
But the decisions as already made & ended up being deconstructed just over 60 hours after opening.
But the decisions as already made & ended up being deconstructed just over 60 hours after opening.
A few people rushed down to get their last opportunity of safe cycling in Reigate.
Probably for a very long time. https://twitter.com/happy808/status/1280214378529394689
Probably for a very long time. https://twitter.com/happy808/status/1280214378529394689
They decided to continue with the advisory 20mph zone. I realised I hadn’t even noticed the signage.
However, it’s there. Behind the traffic signal. Will have to see if it will meaningfully alter the status quo, if not guess the DfT may claw even more money back.
However, it’s there. Behind the traffic signal. Will have to see if it will meaningfully alter the status quo, if not guess the DfT may claw even more money back.
We had a simple question. Another letter asking what next?
We await an answer. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1280176560646086656
We await an answer. https://twitter.com/cyclerandr/status/1280176560646086656
