Metrolink...(not) going round the bend !

Back in March this blog posted about the madness of Metrolink's plans to install a series of steps into the Trans Pennine Trail near Sandhurst Road as part of the extension of the tram network to Didsbury.  See Access for All? Metrolink plans to trash the Trans Pennine Trail ... Take action now!

Thankfully, (after a lot of campaigning, emails and lobbying), the then Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authrority (GMITA) instructed Metrolink to change their plans.  See Update: Step away from the Trans-Pennine Trail !

The photograph on the right (taken last week) shows how the old Sandhurst Bridge has been removed and preparations to install a new pedestrian bridge are progressing. The new bridge will have a wider span which will allow sufficient space to have a flat, ground-level Trans-Pennine Trail alongside the tram lines on this part of the route.

Hurrah for that we can hear you saying.....

Unfortunately, it appears that the people responsible for designing and managing this scheme do not yet seem to have a good grasp of what makes a good cycling route.

The photographs on the left show very tight-angled bends in the new Trans-Pennine Trail path.  Now, sometimes depending on the terrain and other factors it is necessary to build in tight turns.  But this is a newly constructed section and there is clearly space to 'soften' the angle of the bends.

Have the designers never seen a copy of Sustrans Greenways guide ?, for example "7. The Design and Construction of ‘Traffic Free’ Sections."
 
This section contains, plenty of really good and practical design and construction advice - what you won't find in these design guides are any right-angle bends in the walking and cycle path designs.  When Sustrans were asked, if there was any guidance for such tight-angle designs, a helpful but rather bemused response was received along the lines of "it seems such an obvious design criteria (not to include) that it is not specifically covered in the Greenway design guide" !

We hope that there is still time to improve the design of the TransPennine Trail, before all works are completed. 

If you would prefer not to have to navigate sharp turns when cycling along - perhaps you would like to drop Councillor Andrew Fender, the Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and (politely) ask him to request Metrolink learn a few basic cycle design rules...

Councillor Fender can be contacted via tfgmc@manchester.gov.uk