Annual General Meeting 2023

In accordance with our constitution, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of West Berkshire Spokes will take place at 3pm on Saturday 10 June 2021 at the Waterside Centre, Waldegrave Place, Northbrook St, Newbury RG14 1DS.

All SPOKES members are very welcome to attend the AGM. There will be refreshments for members to buy if they wish courtesy of Colline’s Kitchen.  

Below are links to the AGM papers:

If you have any items that you wish to add to the agenda, then please get in touch by emailing info@westberkshirespokes.org by midnight on Friday 2 June. The final agenda will be provided at the AGM itself.

All committee posts are up for re-election and there are several vacancies due to people stepping down. If you have any nominations for any of the posts, then please notify the Committee by emailing info@westberkshirespokes.org by midnight on Friday 2 June.

If anyone wants an informal chat in advance of the AGM, then feel free to get in touch with any of the committee. E-mail contacts can be found on our website at: https://www.westberkshirespokes.org/about-us/committee/

Spokes @ GreenFest 2022 Report

On the Spokes stall back in GreenFest 2019, questions and comments were dominated by the relatively newly opened Hermitage to Hampstead Norreys traffic free shared used path. At this 2022 year’s event, the path – and its potential extensions North and South – were still a talking point. But there was was a broader set of talking points too.

With environmentally related groups attending the event from Pangbourne, Mortimer and Burghfield – we had various comments on cycling and cyclist needs in those areas of West Berkshire. Cycling facilities along the A4, particularly with the recent changes between Waitrose and Brummel Road, was also a hot topic. Fortunately, with an almost encyclopaedic knowledge, Clive and Gordon were on hand to answer and respond to the stall’s visitors.

Noticeably, many people spoke about their new electric bikes which have brought a new lease of life! However, for some there is a concern of where to securely park their bike. Whilst Spokes encourages, or through planning applications will comment on, cycling parking facilities – it is not always possible to place them immediately outside an office, shop, etc. However, various people did say they don’t mind walking from and to a more secure cycling facility (e.g. a cycling hub). What are your thoughts? Would you use a cycling hub in your local town’s centre?

Another common comment was that people thought they are “cheating” with their electric bike – particularly on rides. For Spokes, we have had a some riders on electric bikes for about five years now. Anything that gets you out, meeting others and is an alternative to a less environmentally form of transport is definitely not cheating – surely desirable!

In the space of less than 30 minutes, two people talked about their experiences of using tricycles to assist with a poor sense of balance. One in particular is looking for a compact folding tricycle, do you know of one? And talking of folding, I had the good fortune to talk to one of the original founders and investors of Brompton. He put in £100 in the mid-seventies to help kick off a fantastic business and one that is responsible for “the” design for a folding bike, not a bike that folds. I thought my purchase of a Brompton in 1995 with a number in the 5000’s was impressive, this person’s Brompton’s was numbered 20!

We gave a way a number of old logo tabards – they weren’t making anyone more seen when in my shed. Although I felt sorry for the family of four when there was only two left of the child sizes. Still they did all get a free bell!

Many people took away the very popular free local cycling maps and routes, M-check sheets (check online if you don’t know what this is) and the odd tip to help them enjoy cycling more.

Big thanks to Gordon and Josh for a very early start, the extended help from Clive, and Ed for general help on the stall and transporting all the gear back. William

Andover Road Cycle Route

The lower section of Andover Road in Newbury is being upgraded between the St John’s roundabout and Buckingham Road, where resurfacing works are being combined with improvements to the cycle route and parking.

Cyclists heading south away from town, are now taken off the carriageway immediately after the pedestrian crossing and are given priority across Old Newtown Road. This is a welcome improvement. The markings from the previous cycle lane had almost entirely been scrubbed away by encroaching vehicles, which illustrated how little room there was for cyclists at this point.

South of Old Newtown Road, there is a short section of shared path, which takes cyclists behind an enlarged parking bay and relocated bus bay, before the cycle route splits from the footway to run alongside the carriageway as before.  The route then drops back to carriageway level before reaching Wendan Road and continues as far as the pelican crossing. The route fizzles out beyond the crossing where the carriageway narrows.

In the northbound direction, the route is a continuous on-carriageway cycle lane, between Wendan Road and St John’s roundabout. Spokes has been assured that double yellow lines will be provided to prevent cars from parking in the cycle lane. This has been facilitated by providing the enlarged parking bay on the other side of the road to cater for those residents who have no off-road parking.

Other improvements that are expected imminently include improved cycle markings on the exit from St John’s roundabout and a smoother transition between the raised and on-carriageway sections of cycle route on the southbound approach to Wendan Road.

Spokes broadly welcomes the scheme, which addresses some long-running concerns, particularly with parking in the cycle lane. However, it’s by no means perfect – the southbound route around the tree and bus stop involves some significant changes of direction that slow cyclists down, the on-carriageway sections lack any sort of physical protection, and it would be good to have some cycle markings painted on the carriageway where the route crosses Wendan Road.

A4 Western Avenue Cycle Route

The new active travel scheme on A4 Western Avenue in Newbury is progressing well. It will link Brummell Road and the Waitrose roundabout and is designed to  improve connections from the main part of Speen estate and Robert Sandilands School with the northern end of the town.

The scheme design was modified in response to feedback received through the public consultation exercise. For most of its length, the north side will have a 3m segregated bi-directional cycle route with a 2m footway to the rear, but there will be short sections of shared use path at either end. A new shared-use path will be created on the south side, which will extend from Waitrose to a point just west of Old Bath Road, at which point cyclists will transition back to the carriageway, protected by a traffic island. Toucan crossings will help cyclists cross the A4 just to the west of the Waitrose roundabout and east of Old Bath Road. An additional uncontrolled crossing will be provided to the west of Brummell Road. The following link shows a PDF of the scheme layout: A4 Western Avenue Active Travel Improvements.

Spokes broadly welcomes the scheme, which will support local residents and school kids making local journeys on foot and by bike and will help to reduce the dominance of the busy A4 corridor, which acts as a significant barrier. However, reservations have been expressed about some elements of the scheme, particularly the shared use path on the south side. Although this footway has very light flows of pedestrians, there are locations where cyclists will have to give way to traffic, rather than having priority as per design guidance and best practice. This includes the crossing of Old Bath Road. As a consequence, experienced cyclists may still choose to remain on-carriageway when travelling westbound, which will no doubt irritate people who are driving behind them.

The scheme is scheduled to be completed by the end of April, with the next phase planned to include a link east of the Waitrose roundabout towards the Winchcombe School.

2022 Highway Code Changes (Part 2)

In our last post, we talked about the main changes to the Highway Code that come into effect on 29 January 2022. In this post, we have summarised the other changes that are relevant to cyclists. These are mostly clarifications or tweaks to existing rules, but there are some new rules too.

Walking, Cycling or Riding in Shared Spaces

People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.

People cycling are asked to:

  • not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
  • slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (for example, by ringing their bell)
  • remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
  • not pass a horse on the horse’s left

Positioning in the Road While Cycling

The updated advice specifically encourages cyclists to assume what is known as the ‘primary position’ in certain conditions, advising them to:

  • ride in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings
  • keep at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them

Cycling in Groups

The updated code will explain that people cycling in groups:

  • should be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups
  • can ride 2 abreast – and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders

People cycling are asked to be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when it’s safe to do so.

Cyclists Passing Parked Cars

The updated code explains that cyclists should:

  • take care when passing parked vehicles, leaving enough room (a door’s width or 1 metre) to avoid being hit if a car door is opened
  • watch out for people walking into their path

Overtaking

While previous guidance stated drivers needed to give cyclists ‘as much room as possible’ when overtaking, Rule 163 has now been updated.

When overtaking vulnerable road users, motorists are advised to:

  • leave at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
  • pass people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space
  • allow at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking in the road (for example, where there’s no pavement)

They are also advised to wait behind vulnerable road users and do not overtake if it’s unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.

For cyclists passing stationary / slow-moving traffic, the updated code confirms that cyclists may pass on the right or left. They should proceed with caution as people driving may not be able to see them. This is particularly important:

  • on the approach to junctions
  • when deciding whether it is safe to pass lorries or other large vehicles

Cyclists at Junctions

There will be new advice about new special cycle facilities at some junctions. Some junctions now include small cycle traffic lights at eye-level height, which may allow cyclists to move separately from or before other traffic. Cyclists are encouraged to use these facilities where they make their journey safer and easier.

There is also new guidance for people cycling at junctions with no separate facilities. The code recommends that cyclists should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cyclist facilities. This includes positioning themselves in the centre of their chosen lane, where they feel able to do this safely. This is to:

  • make them as visible as possible
  • avoid being overtaken where this would be dangerous

The code includes advice for cyclists at junctions where signs and markings tell them to turn right in two stages:

  • stage 1 – when the traffic lights turn green, go straight ahead to the location marked by a cycle symbol and turn arrow on the road, and then stop and wait
  • stage 2 – when the traffic lights on the far side of the junction (now facing the people cycling) turn green, complete the manoeuvre

The code specifies that when cyclists are going straight ahead at a junction, they have priority over traffic waiting to turn into or out of a side road, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.

Cyclists are asked to watch out for motorists intending to turn across their path, as people driving ahead may not be able to see them.

Roundabouts

The Highway Code clarifies that motorists should give priority to cyclists on roundabouts and should:

  • not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person’s lane
  • allow cyclists to move across their path as they travel around the roundabout

The code already explains that people cycling, riding a horse and driving a horse-drawn vehicle may stay in the left-hand lane of a roundabout when they intend to continue across or around the roundabout.

Guidance will be added to explain that motorists should take extra care when entering a roundabout to make sure they do not cut across vulnerable road users who are continuing around the roundabout in the left-hand lane.

Dutch Reach

The code now recommends a new technique when leaving vehicles called the ‘Dutch Reach’.

Where drivers or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right side.

This will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them. They’re then less likely to cause injury to:

  • people cycling or riding a motorcycle passing on the road
  • people on the pavement