Sunderland Commuters

jongooligan
jongooligan Posts: 223
edited July 2007 in Commuting chat
Got a meeting with some Sunderland councillors this week. They want to know why more people don't commute by bike in this fair city.
If anyone out there from Sunderland would care to comment I'll pass your messages on.

Comments

  • jjojjas
    jjojjas Posts: 346
    To be honest I'm in Sunderland's area (just...) and work Gateshead & Newcastle way....so I may not be able to offer a decent view....however....
    I do notice that newcastle & gateshead actually have a pretty hard to avoid cycling awareness/profile and quite a few cycle paths (the usefulness of I won't go into :? ) but I know nothing of Sunderlands... Maybe it's just not publicised enough ?
    Just a though. I just find it odd that I pay my council tax to Sunderland, but know far more about Gateshead & Newcastles cycle policy than I do of Sunderlands. In my spare time all my local rides are in Sunderland also. Can't recall seeing any secure parking either, but that's possibly just my poor eyesight...:lol:
    pm me if I can help any further.
    Jas
    it looks a bit steep to me.....
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    One reason is that the cycle paths that exist are frequently covered in glass or blocked by vehicles. In March I complained about a blockage on the Durham Road cycle path and got the following reply from the ROW officer

    Thank you for your e-mail.



    I presume that you refer to the Eden Vale / Mayfair Buildings section on the one way island. I have recently had surveys done to establish whether we can re-allocate highway space to allow for all demand (carriageway, parking, cycle route and pedestrian), and have discussed options for improved protection of route availability with the Council parking enforcement section. Unfortunately it is a persistent problems here, as you have experienced, which hopefully we can improve on in the future,



    Tim Ducker

    Cycle Network / Rights of Way Officer

    It will not surprise you to learn that this is still regularly blocked.
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    Just bumping this back to the top as the meeting has been postponed until tomorrow. Anyone else commuting in the Sunderland area like to air their views?
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    As I was driving home today (sorry - suit and car needed occasionaly!) another thought I had is that Sunderland is a bit "cut off" by the main roads. I live near Darlington and drive part of the way in, then use my MTB for the bit through the city. I do cycle from home 2- 3 times a year and i have to use my tourer, rather than race bike, as the only route i can find is through Sedgefield , the Trimsdons, South Hetton and then the the sustrans track to Ryhope. Theres no "quiet" fast roads and the sustrans track is too full of pot holes and glass for my "proper" bike - if there was a route under 35 miles I would use it at least once a week during the summer and keep using my drive / ride split for the rest of the week. Hope this makes sense - but i'm just in from pub!

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