Cycling in Sheffield - the view from a volunteer
Out and about in the Steel City with Sustrans Volunteers.
Sustrans Volunteers look after the National Cycle Network in Sheffield. One of the great things about going out on workdays is chatting with local people who are always very appreciative of the work we do.
We had a workday with volunteers from Amey at Tinsley Park Road, also covering the path down to Attercliffe Common (Broughton Lane and Crucible Way). The result was excellent but we have no guarantee it will remain so. We have yet to hear of any concrete proposals to resolve the on-going problems in this area and I’ve put a question into the council’s Waste & Street Scene committee to ask how this failure of street maintenance has come about and what can be done to remedy it. The committee meets on the 27th September.
Amey volunteers working with Sustrans Rangers
We do sessions with Good Gym, focusing on the Manor Area as it is close enough for them to run to. The saga of the Durham Ox many be coming to an end: Next Good Gym session is 2nd October.
We’ve entered into discussions with Gripple who have two works alongside the river and are keen to participate in workdays etc.
Overall our inspection rides have shown that the overall condition of the trail is quite good.
Working with Sustrans staff we’ve put on some very successful accompanied rides highlighting lesser-known parts of the Trail.
Stocksbridge. We were shocked to learn that the Town Funds Board had torn up the agreed proposal for an Active Travel route reaching down towards Oughtibridge, also linking with the TPT, and have decided to give the money to Yorkshire Water for a leisure route on their land instead. Along with our partners we have protested vigorously with our partners, not only about the questionable transfer of public money to a privatised water company, but about the secrecy and poor record-keeping around the whole process. I’ve put a question into the council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee committee to ask them to provide governance over this irregular situation. This is on-going. Meanwhile the section of the Little Don Trail that Barnsley put in sits in the woods above the A616, isolated and possibly becoming overgrown.
Chapeltown After 20 or so years the Chapeltown Greenway is still not complete, with an unsurfaced section remaining alongside the Smithy wood office park. There is still a lack of clarity about where the routes should go after Thronecliffe - the TPT doubles back via Tankersley to Wentworth or over to Wortley, which make for great circular rides/walks but not so good if you are going point to point, while it is possible to continue via Greaves Lane but then you have the major barrier of the A61 and M1 junction 36 to contend with.
Route Closures: The Thessco section of the Five Weirs Walk is still closed with no sign of a repair coming.
The Cobweb bridge has been damaged by criminal behaviour but we are told that this is within the Amey contract and will be repaired despite technical difficulties (It is suspended above a river)
Damage to the Cobweb Bridge
Nearby, we are concerned that the viewing platform at Norfolk Bridge has been closed for many years and there appears to be no appetite to get it open again.
Route improvements:
5WW: A major development by Meadowhall promises a new crossing of Weedon Street but we are disappointed to learn that this will not be signalled. The plans also remove parking along Weedon St which will affect a great little coffee and crafts place on Weedon St called Rag and Bone. Normally environmentally minded people support reductions in car use, but on the other hand we also support small people friendly businesses. The amount of traffic that Rag and Bone generates is infinitesimal compared to Meadowhall and they are very welcoming to walkers and cyclists.The business has a petition which we are encouraging people to sign, we have raised it with council officers and hope this will be reversed as small and independent businesses and enterprises are the backbone of our local economy.
We are still awaiting commencement of works to put in place a crossing on the very dangerous Meadowhall Way, part of the Connecting Sheffield Magna Tinsley project. (Expected Feb 2024 I think.
We are also awaiting the resurfacing of the remaining two unsealed sections of the 5WW, although since the closed Thessco section is between them this will be of limited value. An activation project is under way and this includes an intervention with asylum seekers occupying an adjacent hotel.
We are concerned about safety for cyclists on the now compromised narrow rat run that is Carbrook St. The pavement has barriers and the road feels very scary with speeding motorists.The crossing from Webster street across Carbrook Street is awful because the sight lines to the left make seeing speeding motorists really difficult. This needs to be looked at.
A cycle hub at Meadowhall, right at the end of the link from the TPT into the Interchange has just opened, while the Sheffield Station Hub is to be closed for renovation and we believe the bike shop there is to close. Charges at the Hubs have been set for £5 a month - sign up here. The promised City Centre Hub has not yet opened.
Barrier removal has reached a hiatus but the plethora of barriers that will hinder people from reaching the Meadowhall Hub when it opens should be a priority.
Resources; It’s great that we have additional resource from Sustrans now. Helen, Josh and Emma are providing invaluable support although they have a lot of demands
Beaumont Rd.
The housing development at Beaumont Rd will go ahead (creating a conflict at the crossing of the NCN 627 alongside the Parkway). We will have to track this application and argue about details (wherein lies the devil, of course). The current papers show a remodelling of the crossing, which is the cause of the conflict/bias to vehicles. But this is only outline permission, I think; so detailed conditions can still be argued.
So there’s plenty to keep us busy!