Author: Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

I'm Ben, aka BicycleBen, a local advocate for active and sustainable travel. I write occasional articles on my blog about local and regional developments for cycling and push for Dutch-style infrastructure and networks through the local cycle forum and consultations. I can be found over on Mastodon (@BicycleBen@mas.to) and Twitter (@BicycleBenUK). If you like what I do and fancy supporting me, you can "buy me a coffee" at Ko-Fi.com/BicycleBen - thank you!

A worn, painted bicycle sign on a narrow cycle lane in Coventry

Coventry City Centre Cycle Ban Proposal

Posted on 15/09/202317/09/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

A proposal has been raised by Coventry City Council to ban cycling and riding e-scooters through the pedestrianised city centre. The idea, which will involve an amendment to an existing Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), comes in response to concerns about dangerous and inconsiderate riding in pedestrianised spaces. It is now out for consultation allowing the public to have their say.

A47 Long Shoot, Nuneaton (West Bound). On the left is a town boundary sign. A pedestrian island is visible in the middle of the road, presenting as a pinch point.

Another Delay to the Long Shoot Route

Posted on 08/09/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

The wait for construction on Warwickshire’s high quality cycle scheme alongside the A47 Long Shoot in Nuneaton continues as the local authority has confirmed another delay to the project. While the scheme is still expected to proceed, it is now hoped that construction on the 1.4km route will begin early in 2024.

Coventry's Coundon Cycleway, a bidirectional route. This image also includes a pedestrian footpath and zebra crossing, a bus stop, and a general traffic road. It therefore illustrates multi-modal transport.

Foleshill Road Granted Coventry’s Third Cycle Scheme

Posted on 29/08/202329/08/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

In a demonstration of its continued commitment to active travel, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has announced that Coventry’s third protected cycle scheme will be constructed along Foleshill Road. This will be the first scheme that serves an area to the north of the city, and comes after the construction of the Coundon and Binley routes.

A 20mph roundel painted on an urban road surface just before the road bends round to the right. A car travels in the opposite direction. Image is by Tom Page (https://flic.kr/p/s9tMmY). Creative Commons Licence BY-SA 2.0.

Warwickshire’s reactive approach to road safety

Posted on 23/08/202323/08/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

While trying to get a very local issue with high speed driving in a residential area addressed, Warwickshire County Council has essentially confirmed their reactive approach to road safety – one that relies on incidents occuring before measures may even be considered to address a problem, incidents which could include property damage, injury, serious injury, or even death – incidents that could perhaps be avoided with a proactive approach.

Coventry to downgrade its Binley cycle scheme?

Posted on 14/07/202314/07/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Coventry City Council are running a “Let’s Talk” consultation on proposals to partly downgrade the separated cycleway in Binley, to include sections of shared use space on Clifford Bridge Road. This suggestion is a concerning one that puts the city’s second main separated cycle route at risk by adopting old-fashioned and inappropriate standards that risk conflict and hazard where mixing high flows of pedestrian and cycle traffic.

“Cyclists Dismount”: Evaluating a NEW Shared Use Path

Posted on 06/06/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

A new shared use path has been installed on part of Coventry Road, Nuneaton, as it approaches the Griff Roundabout. This has come about as part of the recent new development of a couple of industrial units – but given modern infrastructure standards, it falls short of what should have been built.

Warwickshire secures funding for active travel schemes

Posted on 19/05/202320/05/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Active Travel England has announced its latest round of funding in which Warwickshire has secured £4.761m towards three schemes in the county, one of which is in Nuneaton!

Traffic light controlled T-junction seen from a pedestrian refuge island on the side road. In the distance is a hedgerow and field, where soon a new housing estate will be built and the junction expanded into a cross-road arrangement.

New Nuneaton cycleway to be failed by a bad junction?

Posted on 18/05/202319/05/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Nuneaton is set to get a new road to serve the massive upcoming Top Farm development. The exciting part of this new road scheme is the planned inclusion of a bidirectional separated cycleway! But there’s a catch…

Image of a close pass of a cyclist through a pinch-point (handlebar camera view).

Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership dangerously misrepresent the Highway Code

Posted on 25/04/202325/04/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

In the last few days, a particular tweet and Facebook post from the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership (WRSP) has caused a stir due to misrepresenting the updated Highway Code in favour of drivers wanting to pass cyclists. The tweet has since been deleted, although the Facebook post remains up at the time of writing. So, what is the problem?

Eastboro Way/Crowhill Road Junction, Nuneaton

Motornormativity from Warwickshire Tory councillors

Posted on 22/03/202326/07/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

In a County Council debate on a developer-funded £4.4m road improvement scheme coming to Nuneaton, some Conservative councillors – particularly those local to Nuneaton – showed their anti-cycling, motornormative views and positions.