COPY OF THE RECENT RESPONSE ABOUT MY QUESTIONS ABOUT DOUBLE TRAMS ON THE SHAW AND CROMPTON METROLINK LINE

shaw tram

Dear Councillor Sykes,

RE: Metrolink Travel

Thank you for your recent correspondence in relation to the Metrolink network.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) recognises that many parts of the system would benefit from additional capacity and is constantly examining ways in which we could increase capacity on the Metrolink network, particularly during the peak periods.  We normally do this by doubling trams where possible.

We phase the doubles across the network to serve customers travelling in both directions between all Metrolink lines at the times of highest demand.

Three double trams have been operating on Rochdale services all day within the 12 minute service.

The opening of our Exchange Square Metrolink stop on 6 December means that the Rochdale line to Shaw and Crompton now benefits from an increased frequency which provides much more capacity than the 12 minute frequency previously deployed.

Feedback from our customers during the initial three weeks following the opening of Exchange Square has been positive and has indicated that our customers are enjoying a much more comfortable experience, particularly during peak times.

Earlier this year we received our 100th tram of the 120 ordered and as and when the remaining 20 trams arrive we will be in a position to increase the number of double trams and place them where demand is at its highest.

I hope you find this response helpful and if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Customer Services Manager, Sean Dyball via sean.dyball@tfgm.com

Yours sincerely

Peter Cushing

Metrolink Director

TfGM urged to consider using ‘Cycle Alert’ to improve safety

cycle-alert

Copy of recent correspondence to the CX of TfGM re ‘Cycle Alert’ (and his reply).

This is currently being used in York and has clearly improved cycle safety and I am pleased to report TfGM will be looking into this matter. 

For copy of his reply follow this link: Cllr Sykes Cycle alert

My original request about this matter is below.

To: Jon Lamonte
Subject: Lamonte – Cycle Alert – Re Draft

Dear Dr. Lamonte,

Re: Cycle Alert

I am writing to you in connection with something that I saw recently in York, a safety innovation called Cycle Alert.

I do not profess to understand all of the technology, but essentially the safety system comprises an electronic unit located on a bus and a unit placed on cycles.

The two units bounce signals other and a warning is sounded in the bus driver’s cab alerting him when a cyclist is nearby, particularly when the cyclist is in a blind spot.

Although 23% of cyclist deaths were caused by HGVs, I am sure some deaths and injuries must be inflicted to cyclists each year by buses.

This system seems effective and is relatively cheap but placed against the cost of a life lost that is priceless, cost seems immaterial.

In York, Transdev buses have been fitted with Cycle Alert since 2013.  Independent market research released from Actionline research stated that 88% of Transdev drivers give the system a positive rating, and a whopping 95% recommended that it should be used by other bus companies in the city.

Given that Greater Manchester is a more built up and busy conurbation, I would suggest the benefits of installing Cycle Alert on buses across the region must be immense.

To assist you, I have attached information sourced from the Cycle Alert website (www.cyclealert).

I would welcome your views on this matter and how such technology could be applied in Greater Manchester.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE

Street Charter will make Streets Safer for Sight Impaired, say Lib Dems

RNIB-street-campaign-500x375

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, will be proposing a motion to Wednesday’s Oldham Council meeting (16/12/15) that the Council look to work with individuals with sight loss and organisations representing them to develop a Street Charter for the Borough.

In a survey conducted by the Royal National Institute for the blind amongst people with sight loss, nearly every respondent reported that they had collided with an obstacle (such as a wheelie bin, a car, or an advertising – or A- board obstructing the pavement) in the street within the previous three months, and a third of people reported an injury as a result.

Cllr Sykes said: “Like, the Royal Institute for the Blind, the Oldham Liberal Democrats find it unacceptable that those residents of our borough who have sight loss have to chance serious injury every time they step outside their front door.”

“We want the Council to take a lead in removing obstacles and hazards from our streets and pavements.”

“Many of these already pose a significant hazard to the elderly, wheelchair users and parents with prams and buggies but imagine how much more of a hazard they are to those suffering from sight loss.”

“If we do not take action then the situation will only get worse – it is expected that the number of residents in our borough who live with sight loss will increase to nearly 9,000 by 2030.”

Cllr Sykes and the Lib Dems therefore support the ‘Who Put That There!’ campaign by the Royal National Institute for the Blind to raise awareness amongst the sighted and to ask local authorities to engage with blind and partially sighted people in their area to develop a Street Charter to remove obstacles and hazards from the public realm.

The Liberal Democrat motion calls for the Overview and Scrutiny Board to convene a workshop with representatives from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, people living in this Borough with sight loss and their local representative bodies and highways and planning officers to draw up a Street Charter for the borough.

Cllr Sykes added: “I am proud that the Oldham Liberal Democrat group have in the past raised many proposals in Council to support disabled people in this Borough.  We shall always champion sensible ideas in the Council Chamber to help those living with disabilities.”

“December is Disability History Month during which there is greater emphasis on identifying issues that impact on the lives of disabled people.  Last year we proposed more support for disabled people and carers seeking employment through the Council’s Get Oldham Working programme, measures to combat the evil of hate crime against disabled people, and the need to consider disabled access when the Council Chamber is eventually refurbished.”

Cllr Rod Blyth, Shadow Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, who is seconding the motion said:

“I am proud to support this motion as I represent Oldham Council on the board of Sight Support Oldham.  This worthy charity has been providing support and advice to the visually impaired, and their friends and family, since 1878.”

“In the United Kingdom someone starts to lose their sight every 15 minutes. According to data from the Royal National Institute for the Blind there are approximately 2 million people with sight loss in Britain; 6,000 of whom live in Oldham.”

“As it is estimated that the number of residents in our borough who live with sight loss will increase to nearly 9,000 by 2030, this call for the Council to work with key partners and residents with sight impairment could not be more timely.”

Motion – Royal National Institute for the Blind Street Charter 

Council notes that:

  • Every 15 minutes, someone in the UK starts to lose their sight.
  • According to data from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (the RNIB) there are approximately 6,000 people in Oldham living with some degree of sight loss, and this figure is expected to rise to nearly 9,000 by 2030.
  • Obstacles in the public realm such as:
  • Inaccessible crossings;
  • Vehicles parking on pavements;
  • Advertising boards (A-boards);
  • Street and cafe furniture;
  • Wheeled bins and refuse bags; and
  • Overgrown shrubs and trees, and overhanging branches impede access and mobility, and represent hazards, for the two million people in the UK who suffer from sight loss.
  • In a Royal National Institute for the Blind survey conducted in 2014 nearly every respondent with sight loss reported that they had collided with an obstacle in the street within the previous three months, and a third of people reported injury as a result.

Council therefore welcomes the ‘Who Put That There!’ campaign by the Royal National Institute for the Blind and endorses the call to local authorities to engage with blind and partially sighted people in their area to develop a Street Charter to remove obstacles and hazards from the public realm.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to convene a workshop with representatives from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, blind and partially sighted people living in this borough, and their local representative bodies, and highways and planning officers to draw up a Street Charter for this borough.

BOWLER STREET SHAW, TEMPORARY CLOSURE Thursday 10 December for 1 day

Road-closed

Applies to that part of Bowler Street from Arthur Street for a distance of 30 metres.

The restrictions are required to facilitate manhole works and will be in force on Thursday 10th December 2015 or until the works are completed whichever is the lesser period.

The alternative route for Vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via Glebe Street/Blakelock Street/Arthur Street – in both directions.

bowler street shaw – 10 december