"One way street"

[said]

One of the changes made recently to our streets was the conversion of Talbot Street (Duke Street-Belmont Street) into a one-way ( towards the town) and with cycle lanes on both sides.

After some confusion there are now no entry signs on both sides of the road.

I live in the stretch between Belmont and Aughton Road, where we have been getting concerned about speeding. This measure will probably have some effect on town-bound traffic, but not in the opposite direction.

However I noticed yesterday drivers ignoring the one-way rule.This is potentially even more dangerous , if people driving away from the town drive down the road not expecting any oncoming traffic.

If it is not enforced we have a problem.

There was no need for cycle lanes in that road - if a cyclist could not negotiate that road before they should not even be riding a bike.

[sandGroundZero]

"There was no need for cycle lanes in that [i.e. Talbot Street] road - if a cyclist could not negotiate that road before they should not even be riding a bike." — post #33

Perhaps it had not occurred to some that Queens Road, Houghton Street, Chapel /Tulketh and Wesley Streets, and Talbot Street are designed as a connected route across Southport's town centre. It is spelled-out for you in a leaflet.

It seem safe to suppose that a cycle route suitable for less confident cyclists which bypasses Lord Street may have been by design. While it is true that many cyclists have braved the traffic for years, many more have not. A quid pro quo might be to up the ante for the anti-social behaviour of the town's thoughtless cyclists who antagonize pedestrians and motorists alike with their disregard for other road and footpath users.

[libraryguy]

They should put a 'Bus Lane' camera up, it would be a useful source of income, all traffic light and crossing systems should have cameras on as well by default to catch the Amber Gamblers and the suicidal / homicidal.

Oh, how I would agree with you, especially if cyclists had to have their bikes display a number plate so they can be traced and fined for jumping a red light 30 seconds after the light has indicated RED.

Way past being an "amber gambler"

[The PNP]

A) No doubt, if you are a regular cyclist, you are relatively fit and agile. I am genuinely pleased for you. Do you really think that the majority of residents of Southport fall into that same category?

B) Even many of those who are fit, do not want to expose themselves to the changeable British weather and arrive home cold and wet and in a miserable state.... those buying large purchases or a quantity of general shopping are at a huge disadvantage if they do not have access to motorised transport to get their shopping home.

C) councils should give greater consideration to the majority who do not choose to engage in this overrated pastime.

D) Is it right that we should give bikes such priority....Why are the minorities always given greater consideration than the majority?

A) With the advent of cheaper e-bikes (electric bikes) you no longer need to be fit to zoom everywhere at a cool 15mph!

B) If the weather's bad or bulky loads need moving, how about reverting to ones original method of transport? I see no reason why, having used the bike, a person is then precluded from driving, if the task requires it.

C) Anyone riding for a 'pastime', is very unlikely to choose town centre roads to do it on. These new measures are not so much about leisure. They are aimed more at facilitating bike use for normal everyday journeys in and out of, or through, the town.

D) Last time I looked, the overwhelming majority of roadspace in Southport, was occupied by and is the virtual preserve of motor vehicles.....Surely you don't begrudge existing (and potential future) riders, one single route to make it across town in relative safety?

[susanb]

I can't go food shopping on a bike.

As an OAP I am going to give up my driving license when I am 70 years.
I will then walk or bus, to the supermarket and get a taxi to take the shopping home.

[local]

Getter people generally fitter and a suitable weight is a good aim for all ages and abilities.

Cycling is certainly one way of helping but by and large is not practicable transport for many in Southport and particularly visitors.

Obstructing the very people who bring in the revenue to pay for our town is the work of blinkered fools.

[Little Londoner]

No doubt, if you are a regular cyclist, you are relatively fit and agile. I am genuinely pleased for you. Do you really think that the majority of residents of Southport fall into that same category? Even many of those who are fit, do not want to expose themselves to the changeable British weather and arrive home cold and wet and in a miserable state.
Also, as I have mentioned before, those buying large purchases or a quantity of general shopping are at a huge disadvantage if they do not have access to motorised transport to get their shopping home.
Of course cycling will always suit a minority but councils should give greater consideration to the majority who do not choose to engage in this overrated pastime.
Certainly, as a town that aspires to attract tourists, it is not unreasonable to assume that most of those tourists will arrive by car or public transport. Perhaps less than 0.1% arrive by bike. Is it right that we should give bikes such priority as to restrict the traffic flows of other road users?
Why are the minorities always given greater consideration than the majority? Now there's something to think about!

He doesn't think anything only removing motor vehicles (except his of course) from the road. As you say, which he will not answer, how do you expect the ageing population of the town and surrounding areas to go for necessities other than by car. I have pointed out to him many times, which he does not acknowledge, people in the main don't work within walking or cycling distance of their home they commute or travel from call to call in various areas. Just because he works locally he has no regard whatsoever for people who don't. A psychiatrist may be able to explain his idiotic behaviour and his mania with cycling. The fact that the Police are so understaffed and overworked they turn a blind eye to morons on bikes breaking the law, it is about time a crackdown was financed and offenders bikes confiscated and scrapped or sold to offset cost.

[sandGroundZero]

Modification to highways discussed in this thread did not appear out of the blue. [It is, however, probably the case that SARS-Covid-2 restrictions put the government into a blind panic, not knowing how to ameliorate the damage of 'lockdown'. Suddenly urgent action was the order of the day! ]

Active Travel is part of a long term shift in our routine behaviours made necessary by detrimental effects of pollution and a generally unsatisfactory urban environment. The changes will likely include an altogether different pattern of settlement — that is, over time a change in our habits, in our vehicles and in the shape of our towns and cities.

we will use different vehicles

The phasing-out of internal combustion engines is underway. Social distancing including working from home will have expedited a change in the way we work. Failure to embrace these changes threatens unpalatable changes to our lives. Southport could revert to South Hawes as it was prior to the 18th century namely, remote sand dunes separated from the inland hills by largely impassable, waterlogged bogs (— that is, if the dunes survive).

Step back. Take a longer-term view. Changes are happening, willy-nilly. Don't be an obstacle.

[*concerned*]

To save many from going to Google :

"ameliorate" : make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
"the reform did much to ameliorate living standards"

[The PNP]

A) how do you expect the ageing population of the town and surrounding areas to go for necessities other than by car.

B) I have pointed out to him many times, which he does not acknowledge, people in the main don't work within walking or cycling distance of their home.

A) It's impossible to generalise like that. One 70yr old may be perfectly capable of balancing on a regular bike/e-bike - another may not. For the less able, there are electric buggies. Some of which are road-legal, can do 15mph and are equipped with brake-lights, indicators, etc.

So let's not forget the plight of our local buggy-users. Who either have to drive along bumpy pavements, dodging pedestrians, dog-leads/mess, and sometimes high kerbs - or chance it in with the traffic. This scheme, and others like it, will be a real blessing for them.

B) Disagree, imo people in the main have all kinds of routines. While few would want to cycle daily to Manchester, they might to Preston - if a suitable cycle-route existed. E.g. via the planned foot/bike bridge to Longton over the Douglas at Tarleton.....Destinations closer to home like Ormskirk (8 miles away) are a doddle with an e-bike. At 15mph, you'll be there in little over 30mins, and avoid daily parking issues/charges too!

[The PNP]

A) Getting people generally fitter and a suitable weight is a good aim for all ages and abilities.

B) Cycling is certainly one way of helping but by and large is not practicable transport for many in Southport and particularly visitors.

C) Obstructing the very people who bring in the revenue to pay for our town is the work of blinkered fools.

A) Agree.....Not only leading to a better quality of life, but saving our NHS a shedload of £money treating them for weight-related health issues.

B) Disagree. A bike is one of the most practical forms of transport. Visitors are catered for, via the towns bike-hire outlets....What better way is there for visitors to explore the area, than by hiring a bike for the day?

C) Just how many visitors actually drive down Talbot St, etc? Having little or no local knowledge, they invariably stick to main roads like Eastbank St and Lord St, probably ending up parked somewhere down by the seafront.

[silver fox]

A) It's impossible to generalise like that. One 70yr old may be perfectly capable of balancing on a regular bike/e-bike - another may not. For the less able, there are electric buggies. Some of which are road-legal, can do 15mph and are equipped with brake-lights, indicators, etc.

So let's not forget the plight of our local buggy-users. Who either have to drive along bumpy pavements, dodging pedestrians, dog-leads/mess, and sometimes high kerbs - or chance it in with the traffic. This scheme, and others like it, will be a real blessing for them.

B) Disagree, imo people in the main have all kinds of routines. While few would want to cycle daily to Manchester, they might to Preston - if a suitable cycle-route existed. E.g. via the planned foot/bike bridge to Longton over the Douglas at Tarleton.....Destinations closer to home like Ormskirk (8 miles away) are a doddle with an e-bike. At 15mph, you'll be there in little over 30mins, and avoid daily parking issues/charges too!

Just out of interest, where is this foot/bike bridge over the Douglas going to be built?

If it's in Tarleton you have the canal as well as the Douglas to cross, a substantial construction, farther out in Hesketh Bank not many places where you can actually get to the Douglas, curious is all.

[The PNP]

Just out of interest, where is this foot/bike bridge over the Douglas going to be built?

If it's in Tarleton you have the canal as well as the Douglas to cross, a substantial construction, farther out in Hesketh Bank not many places where you can actually get to the Douglas, curious is all.

The County solicited plans for the bridge several years ago, and subsequently received a number of design proposals. The bridge would cross the Douglas at the site of the old S'port-Preston railway bridge (long since demolished). I believe it's to the rear of Altys yard.

The canal feeds into the Douglas upstream of the site, so is out of the equation. However navigation does come into it, vis-a-vis clearance for sailing vessels masts....It will be interesting to see what sort of bridge results, when and if it does!

[silver fox]

The County solicited plans for the bridge several years ago, and subsequently received a number of design proposals. The bridge would cross the Douglas at the site of the old S'port-Preston railway bridge (long since demolished). I believe it's to the rear of Altys yard.

The canal feeds into the Douglas upstream of the site, so is out of the equation. However navigation does come into it, vis-a-vis clearance for sailing vessels masts....It will be interesting to see what sort of bridge results, when and if it does!

I knew you would come up with that site, please take a ride into Hesketh Bank, Alty's yard doesn't exist, it's well on the way to being a complete housing development, the old railway track bed simply does not exist anywhere in Hesketh Bank, even the track bed which carried a branch line to what was Tarleton Mill has now vanished.

No need to worry about tall ships, nothing of any size went through the railway bridge, merely access for small boats to the canal.

[The PNP]

I knew you would come up with that site, please take a ride into Hesketh Bank, Alty's yard doesn't exist, it's well on the way to being a complete housing development, the old railway track bed simply does not exist anywhere in Hesketh Bank, even the track bed which carried a branch line to what was Tarleton Mill has now vanished.

No need to worry about tall ships, nothing of any size went through the railway bridge, merely access for small boats to the canal.

Well, that's where it's going I was told - if it ever does. Presumably cyclists/walkers would use the road/s of the new housing estate to access the bridge itself.....Btw, the cycle-route from S'port to H/Bank goes via Marine Drive to Banks, then along Marsh/Shore Rd and Station Rd.

N.B. There may not be any ''tall ships' visiting Tarleton boatyard anytime soon, but clearance is required for pleasure craft with masts, i.e. medium-sized sailing yachts.