Smooth enough for buggies (and wheel chairs) - wide enough to pass

You'll know from previous posts that I'm keen on encouraging everyday physical activity* and that basically this means making it easier to walk or cycle. Compared to other parts of Europe we in the UK are lagging well behind. Whereas over 20% of journeys in Holland are made by bike. Here its less than 2%.

As part of my self appointed role as champion of getting around under your own steam, I set up a Friends Group for the old railway line that runs between Scarborough and Whitby. Now branded as The Cinder Track, the urban section in Scarborough runs right up through the northern suburbs connecting three schools and three major play spaces. If you wanted to create a quiet off road corridor for the town then you simply couldn't do better than what already exists.

But, and I suspect you knew there'd be a but, if we are ever to bring about a serious modal shift (out of cars and onto bikes and feet) then there simply won't be a solution that doesn't bring facilities like the Cinder Track up to scratch.

The Cinder Track near Barrowcliffe and Northstead

This picture shows the Cinder Track as it crosses to old carriage sidings to the north of the town. At this point the track is less than 2m wide and the surface is badly broken up making it extremely bumpy. Conversations with wheelchair users suggest that most of them tend to go on the grass, as long as its not too wet, to avoid the spine crunching bumps.

Close up of the surface where it is breaking up

A fence next to the eastern side of the track compromises the width even more when the track passes Northstead School.

Further up the track where it passes Northstead School

The good news is that the southern section of the track, between Manor Road Play Area and the ironically titled Safe Ways Park, has been given a decent surface of proper width and is now very popular with parents who have children in buggies and is no longer avoided by the wheelchair users.

The Cinder Track approaching the town centre

But, and I suspect you knew there'd be another but, its been extremely hard to convince the Borough Council, who own the track, or the County Council, who are responsible for transportation and highways, to make the necessary investment.  It seems that spaces such as this, and the potential they offer to improve public health, cut pollution and reduce congestion, simply haven't quite made it onto the conventional political radar. 

*See  The cost of sitting around in North Yorkshire