Dates for your diary

Monthly social ride

Friday 30 August, 6:30pm

Meet at 6.30pm at the West end of York Minster (visitors’ entrance) for a gentle ride around the city centre before going to a cafe or pub. We take turns to lead these informal protest rides and want to help build up social networks so we can be even more effective in raising the profile of safe, fun cycling. Please join us – there is no need to book, just turn up.

Bike security marking

Tuesday 20 August 4.30pm – 6.30pm

The British Transport Police will be marking and registering cycles at York Railway Station in the short-term car park area. If you can help at the YCC recruitment stall that will be running at the same time, please contact Leah.

Bike Belles Nature Rides

Tuesday 13 and 20 August, lunchtime or afternoon, c1 hour

Bike Belles are running the final two free Nature rides: either at lunchtime for those pedalling their own standard or adapted bike (can be provided with a week’s notice) or on the Tuesday afternoons for Cycling Without Age (electric trikes with a “pedaller” or a wheelchair transporter bike are provided). The rides restart on 1st October for a further 10-week Autumn Programme. and will they will run three more programmes in 2025. The gentle rides cover about 4 miles with pauses for nature connection along the way.

York Environment Week(s) will encompass four weeks of activities and events: from Saturday 14th September to Saturday 12th October 2024.

Kidical Mass Ride

Sunday 6 October, 10:15am

Marshalled, family-friendly ride: 10:30-12 from Hungate Reading Cafe to Cycle Heaven. We are anticipating a big ride sending a strong message of the importance of cycling in York’s Transport Strategy. Please keep sharing on social media, register so we can get an idea of numbers and invite all York based friends and family to join in. Note that while it will be ‘family friendly’ fun event we want everyone of any age to join us, with our without placards, horns, whistles etc. If you have school age children please spread the word and encourage attendance – just need to have a responsible adult with them if not their parents/carers.

St Nick’s Autumn Fayre

Saturday 12 October

Live music, community stalls and activities set in St Nick’s meadow and environment centre. YCC hope to hold a stall at this event. If you can help, please contact Leah.

Movement and Place Plan – important action  

As reported last month, York’s ambitious Transport Strategy (which aims to cut vehicle traffic movements by 20% despite a growth in housing development) has been approved. However detailed measures will be unveiled in September, including the draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and bus gates to reduce through traffic. These schemes include some quite radical proposals which are likely to be controversial. It is really important for all our members to be vocal in defence of this proposed shift in transport policy in favour of active travel and bus use. Email your local councillors or go to their ward surgeries; raise the issue with school governors, employers, local businesses.  If you need help or advice just shout and let us know your successes. This is really important if we are to have a real chance of seeing better cycling provision and safer roads in York. Look out for details of a high profile members meeting in October.   

Blossom Street junction trial

From mid-August till late September a change in the traffic signal sequencing at the Blossom Street/Nunnery Lane/Queen Street crossroads will be trialled. It will reduce wait time for pedestrians (currently up to 3 minutes), which currently risks those “in the know” – and several, more dangerously, not in the know – to pre-empt the green crossing light. This seems an excellent move in favour of active travel: do feed back to the Council if you have comments on its operation. This change may prove controversial, so please consider voicing support for the principle of proactive travel designs and re-designs.

New-look Millennium Bridge approch

Thanks to Sustrans funding, the council has at last completed the project to raise the Butcher Terrace access to the Millennium Bridge by 0.6m meaning that in future it should be dry for all but the highest floods. Pipes underneath ensure that the causeway does not impact upstream flood levels.  Work was delayed until after the Clementhorpe works by the Environment Agency were completed. At the same time the ‘speed humps’ that created difficulties for disabled cyclists have been removed. Please note that the bridge and new section are ‘shared space’ where cyclists should take care (in particular looking out for children, dogs or elderly and disabled people. Horns and bells may help but not for the deaf or those wearing headphones!)

Station Frontage update 

Work continues on removing the Queen St bridge, but the gated access from Lowther Terrace, Holgate has been reopened following strong lobbying. The latest plans DO now show a two way cycle lane will be provided across the entrance to the planned multi storey car park. Other changes to the planned layout have been made in response to concerns from York Disability Rights Forum and York Bus Forum. Original plans suggesting granite setts for the bike route have thankfully now been changed to green tarmac to give strong contrast for pedestrians. Crossing points are now going to be raised to pavement level and some will be ‘controlled crossings’ – we hope this doesn’t mean lots of traffic lights rather than zebra markings. ‘Tea room square’ is still shown as being dominated by bollards / railings and loading bays and cyclists still in the dark about any improvements to cycle parking arrangements.  

Skeldergate update

More roadworks! Please note that the route remains open to cycles but also to local traffic for access.  

Navigation Road scheme issues

A safety scheme to link the toucan crossing from Morrisons on Foss Island Rd with Navigation Rd has recently been completed. There is a significant area of shared space and a blind corner, which has been raised as a concern by a disability campaigner. Please report any issues you experience with this new facility.  

Bootham cycle crossing: comments sought

One of our Committee members recently contacted the Council about the cycle crossing from the hospital through Bootham Park waiting to cross from the Bootham Park gates. His experience was that these lights do not change unless there happens to be traffic waiting to exit St Marys opposite. Apparently the issue was resolved in May and they now function correctly, but the council officer says cyclists tend to cycle through at red. It’s possible that regular users now just ignore the lights because they don’t realise they’ve been fixed. Please send any comments on this junction to Andy D.

Ward reps update

Acomb: Our Ward Rep for Acomb, Barry T, has been working with Manor School to discover opinions on students using the A1237 flyover cycle path. The results suggest widespread concern, and Manor CE Academy say they would welcome improvements to the cycle path/bridge on the A1237 to enable a safer route for staff, students and the local community.

Dringhouses: Tim S reports that work by Sustrans has made a big difference at the Tadcaster Rd end of the planets cycle path: the spiral is now great, but the bit before it and the cemetery corner which is just after it are awful. Both were promised to be sorted through the Tadcaster Rd scheme but haven’t been.

Bishopthorpe: Andy F has been cataloguing and reporting potholes with much success in getting them filled in. He has even got his own measuring device! He’s also established a dialogue with the local GP practice to find ways to promote the health benefits of cycling in Bishopthorpe. 

Huntington/New Earswick: Lynne C has identified several issues, most particularly a barrier on the access point to the cycle track that leads to Nestle on Alder Way in New Earswick which she has been trying to get  removed since 2021; the inadequate width of the so-called cycle lane on Huntington Road near the outer ring road and an overgrown cycle lane on another section of Huntington Road known as Mill Hill.

YCC is very grateful to our ward reps for their excellent work. If you would like to know more about cycling issues and our activity in your neighbourhood, or if you want to volunteer to be a rep for your area, please get in touch. You can contact the ward rep(s) for your area via yorkcycle.wardreps@gmail.com. 

Planning updates 

Hull Rd site near Grimston Bar P+ R: 162 new homes approved, with a condition to upgrade path alongside the site to 3m wide shared use path, linking to other paths in the area.  

Ordnance Lane off Fulford Rd approval for103 affordable zero carbon homes with ‘low car’ development, 300 bike spaces, a cargo bike and car club available etc. With this being close to the Millennium Bridge (and Cycle Heaven!) it is hoped this attractive scheme can set an example for other developments in York  

MacDonalds, Fulford Rd This controversial application is expected to go to planning committee in September. Among concerns are the possibility of food couriers on scooters and motorbikes crossing the Millennium Bridge late at night to make deliveries on South Bank. 

If you spot a planning application that you think could be of concern to the campaign drop us an email, if possible with the reference number or address. Proposed new developments are a critical time for securing better provision for walking and cycling.

Active City York 2025

Following the Leicester Conference where our representatives heard about many useful ideas and exemplars, we can now confirm that the national conference will be held in York at the beginning of July 2025. If you would like to help plan for this event when delegates from across the country will be coming to York please get in touch with Leah, Andy D or Andy F. It will be a real opportunity to highlight best practice and raise the profile of cycling in York. We intend to work closely with sponsors Active Travel England and City of York Council to develop the programme which could include local rides, talks etc.

Working with the police on bike crime  

We are setting up a group of YCC members who would be interested in working with the North Yorkshire Police to help tackle bike crime.  To join the group, please contact Leah.

Tansy Beatle Trail

Make It York and York Civic Trust have created a sculpture trail featuring tansy beatles, including a cycle route. The trail will be available until 30 September, after which some of the artwork will be removed.

Cyclist training and support

Know someone new to cycling? Bike Belles offer Start Cycling buddy support for people new to or returning to cycling. For further details, contact Sarah Wilson on 07493 692490 (Mon-Wed) or email her. 

Various opportunities for cycle training are offered by City of York Council: 

a) If your child goes to school in York, they will have the chance to take part in cycle training to a national Bikeability standard. To consolidate this training or to move up to the next level, extra private lessons can be bought – £32.00 for a 60-minute lesson or £48.00 for a 90-minute lesson. For further information on additional or private lessons please contact the team on 01904 555 579 or email them. 

b) If you, partner or anyone you know who wants to feel more confident riding in York, you can participate in Urban Skills Training. Sessions are currently offered at the subsidised cost of £5 per adult for 90 minutes. They can be for individual adults or families (up to two adults and two children over the age of 8), tailored to meet the needs of most abilities from total beginners to advanced riders. There is no test; the aim is to build on and develop skills and confidence. Bring your own bike, or if you want to learn how to ride an electric cycle the council can provide one for you to ride during your session. You can apply for yourself or your family if you are over 18 and if you live or work in North Yorkshire. Training must take place within the City of York Council authority area. 

For more information on training, please contact 01904 555579 or email.