Photomap

[Image taken on 7.5.22] Bootham Bar/St Leonard’s Place, York. This junction is a typical CYC 'fudge'. CYC is unable or unwilling to understand that its policy of 'shoehorning' (my term) is not a solution or even a compromise. All users here and on the streets and crossings beyond) are put at risk when using the road, the crossings, and breathing the air. Councillor Andy D'Agorne (democracy.york.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx) was elected the Executive Member for Transport following the elections in May 2019. In April 2022, I heard he had asked for confirmation of behaviours by motorised road users at Bootham Bar that put people cycling at risk. The junction was reworked in 2015 (I think), then consulted on again in 2021. The radical overhaul needed [www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19167994.roadworks-plan-puts-pedestrians-first---cutting-space-cars-30/] did not happen. The lights were changed to 'pedestrian lights on the same side not in the direction you are looking/crossing lights'. An 'early green' cyclists' light was put in on Gillygate (see: #175351). I kept a diary of my experiences of using the crossing (St Leonard's Place direction of Bootham) during February and March 2015. I sent them to CYC. I continued to keep a record between April 2015 and early February 2016. I sent these to the same contact. In 2022, as in 2015, the junction continues to fails everyone. I offer these images and the timeframe (just 20 minutes) within which the behaviours were observed as evidence. All users and anyone in the vicinity, on buses, or along the route traffic backs up: the air often 'stinks' of petrol and the 'greasy smell' of fuel pollution and, my lungs feel as if they are on fire when I wait/pass through here. Today, two of us observed for 20 minutes. The time was not 'chosen' it was when were were free. Here's what Rob Ainsley, the second person, observed (the images though and all other comments are mine):
"Informal observation
Sat 7 May 2022 2.15pm to 2.35pm
 
Motorist infringements recorded in the 20 minutes of monitoring
(letters in brackets denote route taken – see below for key)
 
Red light jumping
1 – (b)
 
ASL blocking
7 (of which 2 by tour buses) – (b)
2 – (d)
1 – (a)
1 – (e)
 
No motorists were seen taking an incorrect route
No cyclists were seen ignoring red lights
 
Routes
(a) Left from St Leonard’s Place into Bootham
(b) Straight on from St Leonard’s Place to Gillygate
(c) Turning right from Gillygate into Boothem
(d) Turning left from Bootham into Gillygate
(e) Turning right from Bootham into St Leonard’s Place
(f) Straight on from Gillygate into St Leonard’s Place"
He was here: goo.gl/maps/p6KAcucZpbXeiuDK9 with a view into Bootham and of the Gillygate pedestrian crossing as well as looking left into St Leonard's Place. I was here: goo.gl/maps/A6BipqZnG1Fsc1Nz7.

This image shows the layout of the northern two lanes (direction of Bootham left turn and Gillygate ahead). It shows the layout of the bus stops: tour and service. The redesign in 2015 (I think it was) said cyclists heading for Bootham are supposed to use the 'lane' that is also the bus stops. However, there are no clues when the lights will change - so you can get trapped in the wrong position however you try to reach the ASLs. Plus, due to the length of the lines of traffic and the very frequent fouling of the ASLs, you can find the ASLs are obstructed. This means some cyclists wait in the Gilygate ASL lead-in (ie beside the obstructing vehicles) which means: a) they are not in the safe position the ASL is designed to confer - ahead of other traffic, so visible, and not out of the 'exhaust zone'; b) they are unwittingly obstructing other cyclists who are using the central lane lead-in to reach the Bootham ASL. Drivers in the Bootham lane are not looking right for cyclists who are trying to access the ASL and can set off at the same time as cyclists trying to turn left into Bootham, so people on cycles are in conflict and at risk.
A reminder that CYC announced a climate emergency in March 2019; that the Government wants walking and cycling (presumably also wheelchairing and scooting) to the modes of choice for short journeys by 2030; and CYC voted for the city centre to be motor traffic-free by 2023 www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18128424.plan-ban-cars-york-city-centre-2023/; and that cycle use in the city has fallen in recent years: #yorkcyclecampaign.bike/2021/08/27/cycling-numbers-decline/ A fact the MD of Make it York repeated to me at a meeting on 31.3.22, at which I was asking that the organisation make active travel a strand of its tourism.
All images today (Accessing ASLs): #182461, #182462, #182463; (ASLs obstructed): #182464, #182465, #182466 (by driver who changed lanes): #182467; (Bus obstructing everything): #182468; #182469, #182470; (Good practice - service bus driver holds back): #182471; (Crossing on red lights): #182472, #182473, taxi driver: #182474; (Keep clears obstructed): #182475, #182476; ('Sheep pen' full): #182477, #182478; (Art Gallery racks full): #182479, #182480; (Library Square driver collecting family): #182481, #182482