Some progress

20 Mar 2009
As reported previously Get Wendover Cycling contacted BCC Highways expressing safety concerns now that the street lights have been switched off along the A413 between Marroway in Western Turville and the roundabout at the start of Wendover bypass. Other people have also raised this as a safety issue for users of this section of the Amber Way cycle route and now, as you can see from the accompanying photographs, white lines have been painted each side of the path. 

As a further safety aid bright yellow stickers have been placed on posts and objects close to the path. We feel these actions are a worthwhile  improvement but no substitute for the missing street lighting. This view has been passed to BCC Highways. They have advised that the switch off experiment will continue and the outcome reviewed at the end of the trial in about two years. So if you have any views on this exercise in energy saving please write to BCC Highways. (PS. The stickers were placed by two Get Wendover Cycling members at the request of BCC Cycling and Walking Officer).

Some Action

03 Feb 2009
Following a number of our members and a member of the public talking to us about the problems they have encountered along Aylesbury Road at night over the winter, we have been in touch with Bucks County Council with the following: “I would like to register the concern expressed to Get Wendover Cycling at the street light switch-off along the A413 between Marroway in Western Turville and the roundabout at the start of the Wendover bypass. As you may be aware the Amber Way cycle path runs alongside this stretch of road. Several users have drawn to our attention that after dark , the headlights of oncoming vehicles make it very hard to see the line of the path and any obstacles and debris (currently broken glass and thorny hedge trimmings) that may be in the way. At two points there are posts supporting traffic signs to the side of the path that are difficult to see against oncoming headlights. These also present a hazard. As the route is promoted by Cycle Aylesbury I consider it should be safe to use at all times of the day. At present this is not the case. If those who commute by bicycle from Wendover to Aylesbury by bike are not able to do so safely, I would like to know what BCC will do to ensure they have a safe journey along this nationally promoted cycle way. In the interest of safety and promoting cycling as an alternative to the car, we would ask that BCC bring these lights back into service. If this can not be done then an alternative would it be to have the lights on until say, midnight. A further possibility would be to have the edges of the path identified by white lines and cat eyes and the hazardous posts similarly painted or moved. Your views on how to address this problem would be appreciated”.

Street Light Switch Off 

January 2009
Aylesbury Cycling Campaign recently raised with BCC safety issues as a result of street lights being switched off on local roads.   In reply BCC stated that full safety audits had been carried out prior to the switch off and no reasons not to proceed were identified.  Details of the trial can be seen on www.buckscc.gov.uk/streetlightingenergy

This switch off affects users of the Aylesbury/ Wendover  cycle route between the start of the Wendover bypass near the garden center and the Marroway roundabout in Weston Turville.  Anybody affected by this should write to Mr P Stonehewer, Strategic Maintenance and Road Casualty Reduction  at BCC and copy it to Lee Stevens BCC Cycling and Walking Officer. The trial has still some time to run and comments will be taken into consideration.  In the meantime Get Wendover Cycling will consider the best way to respond.