June 15, 2005
Traffic deviations
Yesterday it appears that the planned blockage between Church Lane and Main Street that prevents traffic from going up Bishopthotpe Road from Main Street (avoiding conflicts with outbound race traffic) took on a life of its own as the road was also blocked for outbound traffic wishing to get into the village or go on to Acaster. (Actually I saw a cyclist waved through outbound, and also later a laughing policeman whose mate leapt out and moved the cones so they could drive through.)
This meant that possible customers were kept away from village outlets after the race which is a pity, and caused the unheard of sight of two no 11 buses passing the Post Office in quick order heading towards Acaster Lane.
Anyway, a Very Nice Lady at the Council has said that they will look into this deviation from the plan, and perhaps we'll see a change later today.
Posted by martin at 08:12 AM | Comments (1)
June 10, 2005
Bus info!
To quote the City of York Council web site:
"Buses to Bishopthorpe
All bus services will follow normal routes. Special arrangements have been made to allow these buses to use routes closed to other vehicles. There will be slight delays in the afternoon between 4.00pm and 7.00pm so if you need to get to your destination by a certain time please catch an earlier bus than normal."
To quote the Your City newsletter shoved through the door:
Firsts 11 service will not call at South bank but will run dircetly to and from Bishopthorpe via Bishopthorpe Road."
Er?
Between 09.30 and 13.30 Coastliner buses running towards Tadcaster will be unable to access Tadcaster Road, but will instead run via Bishopthorpe Road, Bishopthorpe Village and Sim Balk Lane. Customers for York College and Tesco will be able to board and alight on request at the end of Sim Balk Lane.
Unforunely, regulations do not permit the buses to stop if hailed in Bishopthorpe
Posted by bishopthorpe at 09:10 AM
June 09, 2005
Here's another bit of inconvenience
On race days the Bishopthorpe Road will be one way southbound (or Bish-bound)on the short section between Church Lane and Main Street. Thus, by implication, the No 11 bus will have to travel to town via Sim Balk Lane and Church lane. The two stops at the Post Office and opposite Acaster Lane will be out of use.
You can pick up a town-bound bus by the Infant School and there is also a stop in Church Lane (to be a coned off no-waiting zone).
Much better of course would be to utilise (permamently) the bus pull-in by the Junior School, where there would be room for a bus shelter too. Its hardly used otherwise.
Posted by martin at 08:43 AM | Comments (2)
June 08, 2005
Pedestrian safety
One question we have been asked is - how do Bishopthorpe villagers who want to walk up to the course go? Should they use the path opposite Middlethorpe Hall, or are they in danger of being mown down by a royal landau? Or prevented by security? Our car-obsessed council has not thought fit to say.
Answers please! - use the comments link below.
Posted by martin at 09:13 PM
June 07, 2005
Travelling (1)
Brian Mellors also received a flier about no parking and cones. This is applicable to Church Lane. Again he queried his man at the City Council Department of Temporary Traffic Rules about enforcement especially for parents dropping off and picking up children from the Infant’s School. Back came the following reply:
"Church Lane will be subject to 'No Waiting' cones that will be on site
24 hours a day throughout the event but only enforced between 9am and 7pm.
The reason being that it is a traffic sensitive route and critical to the delivery of the traffic management plan. The wardens have been advised to be sensitive to vehicles stopping to drop off and collect children at the times you have indicated however any vehicle left unattended for more than a short period of time would then be liable to a penalty notice and towing away.
The school drop off and collection times are outside the times when we would expect any traffic conflict so the above should not be an issue."
Got that?
Posted by Andrew at 07:07 PM
Travelling (2)
A word about getting into and out of and round about the village:
I noticed, in the infamous Your City leaflet which may or may not have been delivered to your house (I got one from elsewhere) that we are advised to enter Bishopthorpe from the A64 (between 9.30 am to 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm on Ascot days) to exit the A64 at Copmanthorpe and use Copmanthorpe Lane to the village (Bishopthorpe). Copmanthorpe Lane is mostly a footpath with ditches and stiles so Brian Mellors queried this with his contact at the City Council Department of Temporary Traffic Rules, and got the following reply:
"The route to use from Copmanthorpe to Bishopthorpe is Manor Heath, Temple Lane and Appleton Road, I apologise for any confusion but the local residents will no doubt be aware of the route to use."
If you’re visiting from anywhere in the rest of the world, it means take the Copmanthorpe exit from the A64, go into Copmanthorpe village, and follow the signs for Bishopthorpe. Or ask.
Going into York? Use the Number 11 bus. It won’t be doing it’s loop around South Bank, so it might even be quicker than usual.
Posted by Andrew at 06:44 PM | Comments (1)
Travelling 3
Here is what we hope is a simple guide to vehicle travel restrictions from/to Bishopthorpe during race week.
Going in to and from York city centre
All day except between 2.00 and 4.00pm
Only use Bishopthorpe Road in and out of the city
4.00 to 9.00 pm
Bishopthorpe road will be one way into the village between Church Lane and Main Street so use Sim Balk Lane, Church Lane and Bishopthorpe Road to go in to the city.
Sim Balk Lane will be one way towards Tadcaster Road, and traffic will only be allowed to turn left at Tadcaster Road to gain access to the A64. This means no access to the city centre, or should you wish it, to Tescos and the Dringhouses area.
From the A64 into Bishopthorpe
9.30 am to 2.00pm
4.00pm to 9.00pm
Leave at Copmanthorpe exit and go through Copmanthorpe village centre, turn left on Station Road, and keep going until the crossroads with Appleton Road and take a left turn to get to Bishopthorpe
From 2.00pm to 4.00pm all routes are available as normal.
You can see the Council version of this information here
Posted by martin at 05:29 AM