Campaigning cyclists in Manchester have expressed concern about Metrolink’s plans to install a series of steps on the Trans-Pennine Trail (TPT)
The Love Your Bike campaign, which is run by Manchester Friends of the Earth, say the steps would create a major barrier to local people and visitors enjoying the popular traffic-free walking and cycle route.
Campaigners are now asking Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) to stop Metrolink installing the steps.
(c) Stuart Brown
Current work to extend the Metrolink tram system to Didsbury has meant some small sections of the Trans-Pennine Trail have hadto be rerouted. Early designs submitted to Manchester City Council, Sustrans and TPT user groups showed that ramps would provide level access to the trail.
However, the latest plans from Metrolink show that they are intending to install the steps into the trail in the vicinity of Sandhurst Road.
Love Your Bike says people with prams or double pushchairs, wheelchair or mobility scooter users, families cycling with child buggies or “tag-alongs” and many mobile elderly people would find the steps an unwelcome and impassable barrier.
It is urging GMITA to ensure that Metrolink provides an alternative solution that enables the Trans-Pennine Trail to continue to offer access for all. To this end, Manchester FoE has written to all GMITA members ahead of GMITA’s policy and resources committee meeting on Friday 18 March.
The Trans-Pennine Trail, now 21 years old, runs on land owned by Manchester City Council, which has responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the Trail. Campaigners argue that the route is a council “service” and has a duty under the Disability Discrimination Act to prevent barriers being introduced to the trail.
Catherine Thomson from Manchester Friends of the Earth said: “We support the extension of the Metrolink tram system as it can help deliver a more sustainable transport system for Greater Manchester. But this should not be at the expense of existing popular walking and cycling routes. Metrolink and Manchester City Council have a duty to ensure that this popular trail remains accessible to all.”
In a statement, Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink director, said: “We have, at all times, had regard for Trans-Pennine Trail users and have been talking with cycling groups, Manchester City Council and other interest parties for some time about this corridor.
“Now more than ever, people appreciate how important it is for us to deliver value for money on this publicly funded project, and we’ve worked hard to find solutions to a number of issues relating to the nature of the trail and the delivery of Metrolink.
“We have carefully considered the plans for this section of the route and providing steps over the bridge at this location would be the most cost-effective way of maintaining the trail within the corridor, compared to the significant cost of providing ramps.
“An on-street diversion to the trail has been in place for more than a year now and will continue to be in place throughout construction of the line. Like other parts of the trail, we believe this would offer an alternative for people unable to use steps through this section. The detailed designs are being reviewed and will be finalised in due course.”
Mr Purdy’s assertion that the current diversion along busy roads is suitable for push chairs, invalid carriages etc. is ridiculous. The diversion involves the use of busy School lane, crossing Kingsway and a dangerous right turn on Burnage Lane. It is taxing enough for an experienced cyclist. Not only that, it involves a very considerable extra walk for anyone who would have used the back entrance into Tesco’s. In terms of the overall budget, the financial penalty is insignificant, if indeed any can be quantified.
We have seen such problems with our local council, to the extent that we have almost had to start a guerilla war against them.
We believe there are three reasons for such screw-ups
* Ignorance: not understanding the needs of their people
* Incompetence: understanding, but not being able to address the needs.
* Indifference: not caring.
This looks like indifference.
[...] for a number of weeks against GMPTE’s decision to press ahead with plans to install a series of steps at a section of the Trans-Pennine Trail in West Didsbury. They say the steps will create a major barrier to local people and visitors enjoying the popular [...]