Dear @SheffieldStar readers, the transport team from @SheffCouncil plan to spend £20m upgrading the #Shalesmoor roundabout, they advertise it as being a major benefit for all & a business boost but as you'll see, it DOES NOT. The plan missed EVERY SINGLE aim that they set out.
The £20m is likely coming from central government but almost £1/2 million of funds from (cash strapped) Sheffielders was used to develop the idea shorturl.at/juAHS. @Ameyplc are designing & installing it likely causing YEARS of DISRUPTION. I set out to have a look at it all
EVERY aim set out has been missed. shorturl.at/sFKO5 It does NOT improve the road layout; it just changes it. Does NOT provide priority for public transport; it makes it HARDER for people to use. Does NOT include more segregated active travel infrastructure;...
...it significantly REDUCES it. It Does NOT improve travel in the area for all road users; its hard to see any COST / BENEFIT. Does NOT improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists; it puts them in harms way MORE often. Lets dive in.
1st off, general comments on the design, here you’ll find my critique of the plan as a whole. TL:DR – Its rubbish. I cannot imagine anyone producing this has ever been & seen the area to understand the actual issues.
2nd, Lets put ourselves in a car & identify the problems faced & see if they have been addressed. Quick hint at the answer to this – No, no they have not. Most delays come from down Netherthorp Rd, an area hardly touched by this.
For those thinking I make this stuff up, I regularly drive through here & did so heading up into town on Fri with a dash mounted phone hence poor-quality vid (editing is a bit parp too, soz)
I also drove towards the Parkway on Sun with a passenger mounted phone... mildly better camerawork. The main bottle neck seems to be Rutland Rd & pedestrian crossing. One of which is being removed, the other made more complex.
3rd, I imagined I was walking through #Shalesmoor Here there's quite a lot of cross over with the public transport section as I’m walking to / from the Tram (rarely use the bus). Seems like everything has got a lot further apart. Also seems like its more dangerous in some areas.
4th, If I’m cycling what would I want? I do this a lot... like daily, so know it like the back of my hand & it's not too bad at the moment, should be an easy win to improve as long as you DONT take cycle ways out... Oh hang on, that’s exactly what you are doing.
The #Shalesmoor cycleway made this junction a joy, you knew that everyone in the left lane was turning left, now its a gamble, a dash & a hope. RIP the best temp cycleway in #Sheffield. Look at the mess around Dunn St, so much yet so little.
I tend not to use the South side heading towards #Shalesmoor so I thought I’d film it. It was surprisingly quiet but then look at the time, it's hardly rush hour, plus I’m a confident cyclist, I know many who wouldn’t cross this junction, Its an INNER CITY MOTORWAY.
5th, Public transport, does it "enhance access for the users" as it claims? does it ba**s, it makes users walk further by moving crossings AWAY to worse spots. To get from tram to Kelham you have to walk in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION. They removed the West Bar > Kelham crossing too.
6, We’re nearly done, the whole map could be made much cleaner & clearer, its a mess & the map in the video presentation () is shockingly poor to understand... why did they need two?
Conclusion: Does #Shalesmoor Gateway Scheme present value for money or improve the area for any user? Very unlikely as it stands. @SheffCouncil paid top £££ for this & I've ripped it in 1.5 days. EVERYONE needs to go to transport@sheffield.gov.uk & register their concerns
On as side note; I find that the ineptitude of this whole scheme so overwhelming that it cannot be put down to carelessness or an accident, I believe there has been an clear effort to misinform the general public though to what ends I don't know.
There's loads more I'd like to add but I've gone one enough so BIG thanks to @CycleSheffield @ArundelsN @DouglasJSheff @DexterJohnstone @activetraveleng @adamtranter & many others for inspiration & resources.
Looks like my links aren't working well so here's the first one democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ieDecisionDeta… and here's the second sheffield.gov.uk/home/travel-tr…
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