This post forms part of a series, documenting the recommendations of Cycling Review commissioned by Horsham District Council. The background is described here, and in the first post of the series here.
Route 2 runs from North Heath Road, at the northern border of Horsham, to Redford Way, in the west. It is the green route, marked with the number 2, on the map below.
The numbers in brackets, after each recommendation, represent the ‘practicality’ of each proposed measure, ranging from 1 (relatively inexpensive) to 4 (difficult to implement).
The first recommendation –
North Heath Rd/Giblets Way roundabout – Redesign roundabout to continental design (2). Reduce circulating space and entry/exit speeds by introducing hatching/overrun areas (1).
A roundabout of a hostile design for cycling, with wide radius bends on entry and exit, and nothing to limit vehicle speeds. You could drive across here at 50 mph, if you wanted to. Note also the (ridiculous) anti-pedestrian fences.
Next recommendation –
North Heath Lane (Giblets Way – Holbrook School Lane) – Reallocate roadspace and remove centre line to provide cycle lanes (min 1.25m) in both directions and 2-way central lane (min 4.8m) for motor vehicle flow (2). Introduce cycle-friendly traffic calming measures (3).
North Heath Lane, looking southbound. The pinchpoint ahead presents a hazard for cycling, with potential close overtakes through it, or around it. Plenty of width here for properly conceived on-road or off-road cycle lanes. The junction to the right in the distance is the entrance to a primary school. Unfortunately this is not a friendly road for children to cycle on.
North Heath Rd/Holbrook School Lane roundabout – Redesign roundabout to continental design (3). Reduce circulating space and entry/exit speeds by introducing hatching/overrun areas (1).
The roundabout at the junction with Holbrook School Lane. This should be designed for children to cycle on, but isn’t.
North Heath Lane (Holbrook School Lane – bridge over Chennells Brook – Reallocate roadspace and remove centre line to provide cycle lanes (min 1.25m) in both directions and 2-way central lane (min 4.8m) for motor vehicle flow (2). Introduce cycle-friendly traffic calming measures (Practicality – 3).
An enormously wide road here – but the space has been used for needless hatching between the carriageways, and for a filtering box. A design for driving fast.
North Heath Lane, junction with Dutchells Copse – Remove central island at Dutchells Copse and narrow to single lane in each direction w. reduced radius corners (2)
Absurdly, for a residential road, there is a left-turning slip road coming out of Dutchells Copse, presumably to help drivers hit 30 mph as quickly as possible. This needs to be removed, and replaced by tighter radius corners. Note also the unnecessary right-turning slip lane on North Heath Lane which could also be removed, with space allocated to pedestrians or cyclists.
North Heath Lane (Chennells Brook – Amundsen Road) – Reallocate roadspace and remove centre line to provide cycle lanes (min 1.25m) in both directions and 2-way central lane (min 4.8m) for motor vehicle flow (2). Install Toucan crossing of North Heath Lane to provide link between Amundsen Close and path along n. side of Chennells Brook (3).
Children waiting to cross from Amundsen Road, onto the Chennells Brook path, running east. No improvements here.
North Heath Lane (Amundsen Rd – Parsonage Rd) – Introduce cycle-friendly traffic calming measures (3)
North Heath Lane, south of Amundsen Road. Not a nice road to cycle on. Pinch points like the one illustrated above.
North Heath Lane, j/w Heath Way – Replace existing Pelican crossing with Toucan, and linking cycle tracks between Heath Way and Coltsfoot Drive (2).
No Toucan crossing yet.
No cycle track linking to Coltsfoot Drive, the left turn behind the cycle stands. This would be handy, as it would allow cyclists to avoid the roundabout.
North Heath Rd/Parsonage Rd roundabout – Redesign roundabout to continental design (3). Reduce circulating space and entry/exit speeds by introducing hatching/overrun areas (1). Increase deflection northbound with cycle slip (2).
Another enormous roundabout, with little or no traffic calming effect. Again, you barely have to slow when driving across it. There is ample scope for a separated cycle lane running northbound here (alongside the pavement on the right in the photo), which would also serve to increase deflection on the roundabout itself.
Wimblehurst Rd (Parsonage Rd – Richmond Rd) – Reallocate roadspace and remove centre line to provide cycle lanes (min 1.25m) in both directions and 2-way central lane (min 4.8m) for motor vehicle flow (2). Introduce cycle-friendly traffic calming measures (3).
A fast, straight road. Removing the centre line, and adding wide cycle lanes, would help a great deal here.
Wimblehurst Rd (North Heath Rd – North Parade) – Introduce cycle-friendly traffic calming measures (3).
The road narrows further south. With a 30 mph speed limit, this is not very pleasant to cycle on.
Wimblehurst Rd (North Heath Rd – North Parade) – Introduce ASL with lead-in lane (2).
No ASL – I’m not 100% convinced about the effectiveness of Advance Stop Lines, but it is worth noting, in passing, that there is not a single one, anywhere, in Horsham.
West Parade (North Parade – Trafalgar Rd) – Make section east of Newlands Rd 2-way for all traffic (with signal phase at North Parade and install eastbound contraflow cycle lane west of Newlands Rd (3). Install eastbound contraflow cycle lane with signal phase at North Parade (3).
Ample scope here for a contraflow cycle lane, with or without removal of the parking bays (most houses here have ample off-street parking, so the bays are probably not necessary, as you can see from their emptiness in this photo).
A little more difficult on this section, perhaps, for a dedicated contraflow. But two-way cycling should surely be permitted.
Kempshott Rd/Spencers Place – Sign as cycle route
No signage, as far as I can tell.
In summary, of the 29 recommendations for this route, none have been implemented.
I will be documenting the other routes in due course.
As Easy As Riding A Bike 