Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
28 December 2010
09:4686621......to continue developing a high quality walking and cycling link joining Buckland Mill to the seafront, following the River Dour Valley.
The River Dour Greenway is part of the wider regeneration programme for the town being co-ordinated by the Dover Pride Regeneration Partnership. The route forms part of Dover's Connect2 project, a partnership between Kent County Council and Sustrans, the charity enabling people to make more of their everyday journeys by foot, bike or public transport.
Sustrans' Connect2 project is developing new walking and cycling links in locations across the UK. It was awarded £50million by the Big Lottery Fund in 2007, following a public vote. Part of this grant (£450,000) is being used in Dover, along with an additional £300,000 of funding from the County Council
Upon completion, the new River Dour Greenway will allow and encourage people to cycle or walk from one end of Dover to the other in a safe and pleasant environment.
Kent County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, David Brazier, said: "This is good news for Dover. As well as providing easy access, the path is a link with the town's historic past. It opens up many areas which until now have been largely unseen."
Simon Pratt, Sustrans Regional Director for South East England, said: "We are very pleased to see that works are due to start in Dover. This will be an important route for local people as it will avoid the busy one-way system around the town, therefore making it so much easier and safer for people to get around on foot or by bike."
Public consultation was held from January to March 2010 and the majority of respondents were in favour of the new walking and cycle route. The concerns of those who were not in favour or gave qualified support have been considered and addressed wherever possible.
Fiona Dempsie, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South East, said: "This is great news for Dover as the new route will make it all that bit easier to make everyday journeys by foot or bike. People from across the UK voted for Sustrans to be awarded the £50 million Lottery grant, so it's fantastic to see some of that funding making its way to support communities within the town."
When completed the cycle and walking path will run from Buckland Mill to the Seafront, following the River Dour valley. Works on Phase 1a of the development commenced last October. The footway in Buckland Avenue and within the Brookfield Place junction was widened to provide adequate width for a shared use pedestrian and cycleway. Phase 1b will commence on 4 January, for a planned duration of 6 weeks, and will include improvements to the traffic signals at the junction of Buckland Avenue and Cherry Tree Avenue. Further parts of Phase 1 are planned for the period leading up to April 2011, with the remainder of the route following on in late 2011 and 2012.
Ends
The above is a DOVER PRIDE PRESS RELEASE.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
28 December 2010
09:5386622Well this is a very interesting development and should improve moving about a great deal here in downtown Dover. £750,000 is being spent on this and is very welcome indeed. Yous truly might even try a bit of low energy level cycling in due course. I must admit Sustrans is a new name to me - hadnt heard of them before.
How all this came into being I dont know.. perhaps PauliW might be able to enlighten us further ..but certainly very welcome initiative.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 December 2010
10:2286628this has been in the pipline for a couple of years at least, glad to see work is now starting.
there has been an exhibition at the library, i must admit that i thought the money from k.c.c would have been withdrawn, what with all the other cuts they have to implement.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
28 December 2010
12:0386634A good start to the New Year for Dover. Lets hope one good project leads onto another and i hope it creates some employment for locals as welll?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
28 December 2010
17:3486671Hi Paul Sustrans are a leading group of people who make sure that walkways and cycle paths are kept clean and open,their maps of footpaths are always excellent.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
28 December 2010
23:2086717We could do with some cycle paths out of Deal, then I might get out in the bike more !!!
Been nice knowing you :)
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,701
29 December 2010
01:5886725but would people then come back?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
29 December 2010
08:5586736lol! Ross that made me choke on my cornflakes!
Yes Scotchie Im sure the people of Deal would like it too, but its good to see that those people in right places are recognising Dover needs a few bob spent on it. There has been much complaining about cyclists on pavements, the reason appears to be the one way system operating here in Dover. You cant easily get from A to B on a bicycle in Dover..that seems to be part of the motivation re this initiative. It might even encourage some people to leave their cars behind, even yours truly might be tempted back into pedalling.
And apart from anything else its very green.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
29 December 2010
19:5586801Even when people are cycling in the direction of the traffic they seem compelled to ride on the pavement. Nothing can explain that except a blatant disrespect for the law.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
29 December 2010
22:2286808Been nice knowing you :)
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,701
30 December 2010
03:0286812I agree Scotchie - considering the speed that car and truck drivers race round the town at - you need to be extremely confident and hard nosed as a cyclist to ride the road - most are not and take to the pavements to feel safe
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Unregistered User
30 December 2010
11:2886828Looking at the time you posted Ross you're onviously missing Day 5 From Melbourne.
Only a few more days to go until Sydney
Unregistered User
30 December 2010
11:4186831The Dover Pride heading on this success story hides the work of one Dover individual, who managed to ensure the KCC contribution was not cut.
I'll make sure that person is recognised at any local opening event. For now we'll wait.
Watty
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
30 December 2010
12:4786835The law says that riding a bicycle on a pavement is an offence. If the traffic is dangerous, by all means use the pavement, but get off and push your bike, at least until the law is changed. Personally I think the law should be changed to allow cycling on pavements, provided: 1. pedestrians still have absolute right of way 2. riders carry compulsory 3rd party insurance and 3. 5mph speed limit. Until then, please don't break the law, or scare the sh1t out of me as I walk along Castle St, or use abusive language at me if I ask you not to ride in a dangerous manner, like so many of the cyclists who use Dover's streets have done in the not-too-distant past.
In the meantime I am all for schemes like the Dour Greenway. I would also welcome contraflow cycle lanes in one-way systems, as are commonplace on the continent, as well as designated cycle lanes through pedestrian precincts and subways such as the Townwall St tunnel. Silly to ban cycling through it, just give cyclists their own lane. Both Castle St and Russell St are amply wide enough for a cycle lane, and Walmer seafront is an excellent example of what can be done with a little thought. Simples.
I would also support zero-tolerance enforcement of the existing laws as, if cyclists can continue to flout the law with impunity, there will be no pressure either to introduce improvements, or change the law. In fact, if a cyclist can ride illegally on the pavement (or on London Road against the traffic flow) from Buckland Bridge to the seafront with no fear of prosecution, why should he want to use the new Greenway?
PG.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2010
16:0486846nothing will actually work unless errant drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are fined for actually contravening regulations.
cyclists on pavements, speeding drivers and jay walking pedestrians will not realise they are doing wrong until they get a summons or on the spot fine.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
30 December 2010
16:1486850Actually Jay-walking, while stupid, can't actually be prosecuted unless in contravention of a 'no pedestrians' sign. Dashing across a red crossing signal is not an offence (unlike in Germany). Pedestrians still have right of way in most situations. Otherwise I agree wholeheartedly Howard.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,888
30 December 2010
16:1986852howard
there are a number of issues within your post.
1; we can't push cyclists onto the roads until we can be sure it is safe for them to
do so
2;we have a big education to be had if we truely want to get cyclists off pavements
3;if police were to give fines, then that means they may be taken away from more
important jobs, that should be in everyonses minds
I think this subject is a long way from a result, a lot more work to be done
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2010
16:2786854keith
if cyclists find road conditions dangerous they can do as peter said or they can leave their bikes at home.
what more important jobs keith?
if they see a cyclist breaking the law, their job is to lecture them or fine them.
should they get a call to go to an incident then that takes priority over the cycling offence.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,888
30 December 2010
16:3486857howard;
we are here trying to get people out of cars and more use of cycles, it defeats the object to say oh well don't bother leave them at home, and calls into question this new cycle route.
it is about priorities and just because a police person is walking down the road and taking no action against a cyclist you would not be aware of what job that police person is doing, they may be doing a number of other jobs and certainly there are a number of higher priorties so that should be recognised.
that said this issue should be looked at, but there are all these other issues involved.
and the police alone cant solve them
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2010
16:3986859keith
yes we are trying to get people to use bicycles more, but only legally.
on the subject of the police letting cyclists do as they like in our pedestrian precinct, we have all seen the police cars parked up and cyclists racing past them.
the town centre bloke does all he can but he cannot be everywhere.
Been nice knowing you :)