Garden Walk has a dark secret. Garden Walk is not a One-Way Street. It is a two way street with a "No Entry" sign at Victoria Road, and a "Access Only" sign at Bateson Rd. / Stretten Ave. At Victoria Road, in a somewhat desperate legal construction, a short bike lane has been marked on the sidewalk which specifically serves to by-pass the "No Entry" sign. Hence: Bikes are welcome in both directions. Cars can drive in both directions, but only for "Access" (not for driving through) and must not enter at Victoria Rd. The street auditors felt that much would be gained if this information was made clearer and more visible for all.
Our road is used for:
Residential traffic and parking, deliveries and taxis with business on Garden Walk
Non-residential parking (extent not well known)
School traffic (mostly bike and pedestrian) to access Chesterton and Milton Rd Schools, Sunflower Nursery
Pedestrian traffic to and from Arbury and the North
Bicycle traffic to and from Arbury and the North
General cut-through traffic which tries to avoid the speed bumps on Stretten Ave
Taxi Drivers without business on Garden Walk
The street auditors felt that reduction in vehicle speeds is of prime importance. If the correct legal status of the road was made more evident to drivers, reduced speeds and less aggressive encounters between cars and bicycles could be achieved. It is a perfect recipe for conflict and agression when drivers fail to see the "Access Only" sign and believe the oncoming cyclists are in breach of the law.
Reduction in vehicle speeds are already achieved through a "natural" chicane around number 30 where car parking changes sides. This slows down traffic very effectively, perhaps more effectively than a speed bump. The desire was expressed that one or two additional "chicanes" or bottlenecks would be useful. Perhaps it is possible to change over the side of parking a second time at the middle of the road. Another way to implement a bottleneck and to reduce speeds would be signage highlighting the presence of bikes. "Cars yield to oncoming bikes" of similar, combined with a bi-directional bike marking on the tarmac. Because of the challenging conditions of the sidewalks, especially for push-chairs and wheel chair users, signage "Cars yield to pedestrians" would also be helpful. (Sunken curbs create steep angles which are hard to navigate)
On the Eastern side, between numbers 16 - 34, the sidewalk is at the road are level, no curb exists, and the sidewalk is marked visually only. It would help drivers to understand the presence and rights of pedestrians in this area better if the width of the optical "sidewalk area" could be increased, and the distinction between both road surfaces could be enhanced.
Along Peter Maitland Ct, the sidewalk is wide and comfortable. However, it is often fully blocked by parking vans. Wooden poles on the sidewalk could prevent vehicles from parking in front of the building. It may also be possible to reduce the width of the sidewalk at this location, and use the gained space to paint an extension of the very short bike lane along Maitland Ct
There is also a general sense of neglect: Road cleaning does not seem to exist. Curbs are often in a bad state. On street bike parking like the car shaped device recently installed in Kingston Street from Cyclehoop were considered and could play a role in the speed-reducing bottleneck mentioned above.
Suggested Actions
Signage:
Double Yellow Lines at Victoria Road junction are degarded and need re-painting
Victoria Road "No Entry" sign, add "Except Bicycles" sign
"Access Only" signage at Bateson Rd is only visible from one direction, add signage to make restricted status of street clear to turning vehicles (add two times "Access Only")
Extend traffic lane divider line at Northern end to approx No 86) and re-paint stop line.
Add signage to warn downhill cyclists turning from Bateson into Garden Walk of counterflow traffic
Additional Issues
Contact taxi firms and ask them to inform their drivers of the "Access Only" status of the road
Telephone pole in front of No 68 is baldy placed and blocks sidewalk (could it be moved onto garden of Michaelmas Place?) Whom to contact?
Overgrown Hedges: Whom to call?
Abandoned Cars, Long term parking: City Street Care
Gully blocked: Whom to call?
Granta Housing: driveway at 38 - 44 is in a very poor state, sidewalk impacted
Granta Housing: Suggestions to improve gardening should be submitted to Charlotte.Ashton@
Contact Whitfield Group (No 68) regarding appearance of front "garden" - surely the least green like property on Garden Walk, degraded: enquiries@whitfield-group.co.uk
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