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I'm absolutely furious!
Just recently someone has erected a "kissing gate" on the tow path just
past Iffley lock on the Thames in Oxford. Before hand there used to be a gate This renders it almost impossible to take a bicycle through, although it can be achieved with great difficulty. I am absolutely furious about this, especially considering this does indeed form part of the national cycle route no. 5 (see www.sustrans.org.uk) It is obviously known that this route is used by a lot of cyclists, and obviously someone somewhere has decided they don't like cyclists and are doing their best to block them. Now short of (illegally) tearing this gate down, what exactly can I do about it? Anyone else affected by this issue? |
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Of course I have written to sustrans but so far have been fustrated, it
seems no one is prepared to take the issue seriously. Very interestingly the gate does have the provision for a sort of lock-and-key system which it claims is for "disabled users", this allows the gate to be removed, but you need a key. I haven't really had any succes in finding out who the gate was build by, I believe the lock as with all locks on the thames is owned by the environment agency, surely a body that would want to encourage cycling. I have about a 13 mile cycle each way to work, and I could very easily drive, but I try not to as much as possible but it is a long way and really I think the authorities should be doing everything they can to make it as easy as possible to cycle!! |
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"David Martin" wrote in message ... On 9/5/05 4:13 pm, in article , " wrote: Just recently someone has erected a "kissing gate" on the tow path just past Iffley lock on the Thames in Oxford. Before hand there used to be a gate This renders it almost impossible to take a bicycle through, although it can be achieved with great difficulty. It is obviously known that this route is used by a lot of cyclists, and obviously someone somewhere has decided they don't like cyclists and are doing their best to block them. Now short of (illegally) tearing this gate down, what exactly can I do about it? 1. Find a family with a trailer and the local press. 2. Find a disabled user of the towpath and bring an action under the Disabilities Discrimination Act if you cannot get the wheelchair through the gate. ..d 2. Find a disabled user of the towpath and bring an action under the Disabilities Discrimination Act if you cannot get the wheelchair through the gate. Hear Hear. There are gates where it is a pig to get my touring bike through (due to 'cages' being built for short road bikes). Others have restrictions at knee height which means panniers have to be removed and replaced each time. There's no way a wheelchair/mobility scooter will go through. (my dad uses one). I have always thought that it is discriminatory to allow pedestrians access but not allow access for the disabled. However, since the act came in, none of the gates I know of, have been removed. Does anyone know if such gates definitely come under the auspices of the act? If so, then is it sufficient that access is prevented? ie Does it actually have to be a disabled person that makes the complaint? Paul. |
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in message .com,
') wrote: Just recently someone has erected a "kissing gate" on the tow path just past Iffley lock on the Thames in Oxford. Before hand there used to be a gate This renders it almost impossible to take a bicycle through, although it can be achieved with great difficulty. I am absolutely furious about this, especially considering this does indeed form part of the national cycle route no. 5 (see www.sustrans.org.uk) It is obviously known that this route is used by a lot of cyclists, and obviously someone somewhere has decided they don't like cyclists and are doing their best to block them. Now short of (illegally) tearing this gate down, what exactly can I do about it? Complain to your councillor (if it's in the area of the council you elect), to your MP, and to Sustrans. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ Just as defying the law of gravity through building aircraft requires careful design and a lot of effort, so too does defying laws of economics. It seems to be a deeply ingrained aspect of humanity to forever strive to improve things, so unquestioning acceptance of a free market system seems to me to be unnatural. ;; Charles Bryant |
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in message , Paul D
') wrote: On 9 May 2005 08:13:50 -0700, wrote: Just recently someone has erected a "kissing gate" on the tow path just past Iffley lock on the Thames in Oxford. Before hand there used to be a gate This renders it almost impossible to take a bicycle through, although it can be achieved with great difficulty. I am absolutely furious about this, especially considering this does indeed form part of the national cycle route no. 5 (see www.sustrans.org.uk) It is obviously known that this route is used by a lot of cyclists, and obviously someone somewhere has decided they don't like cyclists and are doing their best to block them. Now short of (illegally) tearing this gate down, what exactly can I do about it? Well, the first thing to do would be to find out who erected it. Surely if it's legal to cycle on that route, then the gate would be an illegal obstruction. Yup, it must be. A cyclepath is a highway, and it is illegal to obstruct a highway. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ ;; "If I were a Microsoft Public Relations person, I would probably ;; be sobbing on a desk right now" -- Rob Miller, editor, /. |
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wrote:
Of course I have written to sustrans but so far have been fustrated, it seems no one is prepared to take the issue seriously. Very interestingly the gate does have the provision for a sort of lock-and-key system which it claims is for "disabled users", this allows the gate to be removed, but you need a key. I haven't really had any succes in finding out who the gate was build by, I believe the lock as with all locks on the thames is owned by the environment agency, surely a body that would want to encourage cycling. I have about a 13 mile cycle each way to work, and I could very easily drive, but I try not to as much as possible but it is a long way and really I think the authorities should be doing everything they can to make it as easy as possible to cycle!! As I understand it, the right to use a right of way includes the right to use a bicycle along the route. http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-cou...issues/public/ .... says: "Protecting Rights of Way" "Highway authorities (usually synonymous with surveying authorities) have a duty to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of any highway. In this instance, ‘highway’ includes rights of way. This means they are obliged by law to keep rights of way open and useable. There are various provisions that assist in carrying out this duty." "It is an offence to wilfully obstruct free passage along a highway without lawful authority or excuse. Anyone can take out a prosecution against those who obstruct a highway. In addition, highway authorities may secure the removal of obstructions by serving notice on the person responsible for the obstruction. If that person fails to comply with the notice the highway authority is entitled to arrange for the removal of the obstruction at that person’s expense." "New powers, to be introduced under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, enable any person to serve notice on a highway authority requesting it to secure the removal of an obstruction. Such a notice may lead to an order requiring the removal of the obstruction being imposed by a magistrates’ court. In addition, the 2000 Act already provides for a magistrates’ court to order the removal of an obstruction following a conviction for wilful obstruction. Failure to comply with such an order can lead to further fines, which may be imposed for each day the offence continues. For more details about these provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-cou...e/cl/index.htm " "The Government expects authorities to ensure that any obstructions they discover, or have reported to them, are removed as soon as is reasonably practicable." -- Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap |
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