https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...630671.amp

Wonder how this will affect buses coming in and out of Gateshead/Newcastle as it mentions closing certain roads to buses.

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(22 Jul 2020, 2:51 pm)TEN 6083 wrote https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...630671.amp

Wonder how this will affect buses coming in and out of Gateshead/Newcastle as it mentions closing certain roads to buses.

(Mods please move if posted in the wrong place)


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I've copied/pasted some of the key points and added them below.

• The closure of the northbound section of the Gateshead flyover to make it cycle-only
  
  
• The creation of new cycle routes in the Oakwellgate area and on the approaches to the Tyne Bridge
  
  
• The removal of all traffic except for buses, cyclists and pedestrians from a section of Askew Road where it joins the Tyne Bridge
  
  
• The elimination of buses and other traffic from the historic Bridges Quarter except for access and deliveries.
  

Unfortunately, I can only see the problem of pollution shifting elsewhere.
I can't get my head around the first point at all.

I seen this the other day, does the "historic bridges quater" mean the high level bridge and the centrelink? Because removing buses from there sounds disastrous.

(22 Jul 2020, 8:13 pm)deanmachine wrote I seen this the other day, does the "historic bridges quater" mean the high level bridge and the centrelink? Because removing buses from there sounds disastrous.

I think it's the road we use to get onto the Tyne bridge, supposed bus & taxis only but cars & Van's use it aswell.

(22 Jul 2020, 8:17 pm)Stanleyone wrote I think it's the road we use to get onto the Tyne bridge, supposed bus & taxis only but cars & Van's use it aswell.

Suppose it could mean Hills Street, but I gathered that would be closing when they said they'd make Askew Road a bus lane.

I don't know the area well enough to comment, I agree on restrictions on private vehicles but not buses etc as a cyclist.

It's going to cause absolute chaos this nonsense. Can't see this being around for very long especially when Newcastle City Council realise the Central Station is gridlock all day. I'd love to know who comes up with these ideas with a bike lane to nowhere which barely anyone uses anyway.

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/161...-Gateshead - More Details
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/image/20884...8418900000 - Askew Road area plans.

(23 Jul 2020, 8:22 am)Storx wrote It's going to cause absolute chaos this nonsense. Can't see this being around for very long especially when Newcastle City Council realise the Central Station is gridlock all day. I'd love to know who comes up with these ideas with a bike lane to nowhere which barely anyone uses anyway.

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/161...-Gateshead - More Details
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/image/20884...8418900000 - Askew Road area plans.

They say it's only temporary. Knowing Gateshead Council, it'll either last 5 minutes, or it'll be there for good. Hopefully it's the former

(23 Jul 2020, 8:35 am)streetdeckfan wrote They say it's only temporary. Knowing Gateshead Council, it'll either last 5 minutes, or it'll be there for good. Hopefully it's the former

I know they want to do it permantely. Newcastle CC and Gateshead Council really need to just sit down badly and decide which route is going to be the East-West route across Tyneside as right now they've butchered them all. I feel sorry for anyone who lived in Walker and wants to get to Team Valley for work for example as there's no realistic route now. Buses you'd have to change 2 times, driving you can't get across NCL or Gateshead.

https://goo.gl/maps/UavV7dJmCpemvv9E9 - Reasonable commute then people wonder why no-one uses buses.

Gateshead Council are the reason there's issues in the first place. Traffic Management from the Town Centre across the Tyne Bridge is absolutely mental.

Cycle usage is of course up - that's because people have been furloughed and have had the time, and of course were told not to use public transport. We've also had lockdown coincide with generally nice weather. Fast forward to September, lockdown is all but over, weather is rubbish, furlough is pretty much done - there's going to be very little uptake in cycling, no matter what they think.

It does feel like a green left wing anti-car agenda is being sneaked in under the premise. The face they couldn't even consult as 'there wasn't time'. How very Soviet of them comrades!

Unfortunately not many council planners cycle. I would love to ride with them.

(22 Jul 2020, 8:17 pm)Stanleyone wrote I think it's the road we use to get onto the Tyne bridge, supposed bus & taxis only but cars & Van's use it aswell.

Network Rail/the management company they sold it off to, seem to be killing the bridges quarter due to the huge rents being charged to those in the arches.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/201...le-say-mps

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business...s-15136360
A real shame. 

Although not unique to Gateshead, it seems to be happening across the country.

This is frustrating to see if I'm honest:

1. I agree that something needs done but I don't believe for one second that more than maybe a dozen bikes an hour will go over the flyover. They'll continue to go directly through the town centre which makes the point of this moot.

2. Askew Road absolutely needs work but closing the incline coming off the High Level into Gateshead Interchange is going to put buses leaving Newcastle at the mercy of traffic ascending Prince Consort Road - a road which is already too small at the bottom end for the volume of traffic going up it. What the plans look like will cause absolute chaos. The traffic will then back up at the Civic Centre as everyone tries to pile down there to head down toward the Tyne Bridge or goes round the back of the Civic Centre and clogs up the Five Bridges roundabout.

3. Admittedly, getting out of Hills Street can be a total pain in the arse but at least you have a chance, especially with the lights blocking the oncoming traffic without you having to sit at yet another set of traffic lights.

4. This is just going to push more congestion onto the Western Bypass which will be just around the time they'll be commencing the widening scheme from Coalhouse to Birtley.

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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...t-18648307

Hundreds of people back petition against Gateshead traffic overhaul

Work on changes to the road and cycle network in Gateshead town centre are set to start this Friday

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https://twitter.com/NELiveTraffic/status...40130?s=19

Stills from Gateshead flyover this morning.

(27 Jul 2020, 9:09 am)Andreos1 wrote https://twitter.com/NELiveTraffic/status...40130?s=19

Stills from Gateshead flyover this morning.

What a surprise - funnel all the traffic onto roads not designed for traffic and then get chaos.

And that's with the vast majority of people still working at home. Utter incompetence.

(27 Jul 2020, 11:54 am)Ambassador wrote What a surprise - funnel all the traffic onto roads not designed for traffic and then get chaos.

And that's with the vast majority of people still working at home. Utter incompetence.

Total shambles. It really is. I don't get what they're trying to achieve with the flyover idea at all. 
The fact cyclists will have to cut across the traffic (which is forced off the A167) to get on to the flyover, doesn't seem to have crossed their minds. Surely it would be easier having the cyclists continue in a straight line and head past the civic centre or underneath the flyover?
Bonkers.

(27 Jul 2020, 1:04 pm)Andreos1 wrote Total shambles. It really is. I don't get what they're trying to achieve with the flyover idea at all. 
The fact cyclists will have to cut across the traffic (which is forced off the A167) to get on to the flyover, doesn't seem to have crossed their minds. Surely it would be easier having the cyclists continue in a straight line and head past the civic centre or underneath the flyover?
Bonkers.

Maybe its almost like a live model to watch traffic flows for when the flyover is eventually demolished.

Members of the Jewish community currently protesting on Durham Road due to closure of the pedestrian crossing near the Springfield Garage.

(27 Jul 2020, 2:25 pm)Charles41 wrote Members of the Jewish community currently protesting on Durham Road due to closure of the pedestrian crossing near the Springfield Garage.

Yes I saw that, they keep moving the cones. 
It's a valid point. That area is heavily patronised by that community with a school and boarding house on one side and the rest of the community on the other.

The Council have shown nothing but contempt

Well what an absolute s$%t show this is turning out to be. I went over to Newcastle late on last night and was sat in a queue of traffic along Askew Road. At least 6 cars in front of us, and probably more behind.

Can't see the logic in shutting the bank back up to Gateshead from the High Level. Buses will be sat at that give way junction for ages while lines of traffic will be streaming up Prince Consort Road from the western end of Askew Road.

Whoever has put these changes together deserves a colonoscopy with a cattle prod.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-53574236

Well that didn't last long!

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-18709616

'Ridiculous' - Your verdict on the controversial traffic changes in Gateshead
What our readers thought of the new Gateshead traffic measures as the council creates more space for walking and cycling in the town


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(05 Aug 2020, 7:25 pm)TEN 6083 wrote https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-18709616

'Ridiculous' - Your verdict on the controversial traffic changes in Gateshead
What our readers thought of the new Gateshead traffic measures as the council creates more space for walking and cycling in the town


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Saw a response to the Chronicle earlier saying Why is the paper asking people who can barely tie their shoe laces how’d they’d run a major logistical exercise.

(05 Aug 2020, 7:25 pm)TEN 6083 wrote https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-18709616

'Ridiculous' - Your verdict on the controversial traffic changes in Gateshead
What our readers thought of the new Gateshead traffic measures as the council creates more space for walking and cycling in the town


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As experimental as some GNE 'experimental' services.
If they're wanting to sort air quality, I'd hazard a guess that getting rid of all those traffic lights and white paint would help. 
The filtering in to one lane and subsequent stop/start of traffic as lanes merge/traffic lights appear can't help at all.

(22 Jul 2020, 3:25 pm)Andreos1 wrote I've copied/pasted some of the key points and added them below.

• The closure of the northbound section of the Gateshead flyover to make it cycle-only
  
  
• The creation of new cycle routes in the Oakwellgate area and on the approaches to the Tyne Bridge
  
  
• The removal of all traffic except for buses, cyclists and pedestrians from a section of Askew Road where it joins the Tyne Bridge
  
  
• The elimination of buses and other traffic from the historic Bridges Quarter except for access and deliveries.
  

Unfortunately, I can only see the problem of pollution shifting elsewhere.
I can't get my head around the first point at all.

Quite. Nobody cycles in gateshead! It's uphill both ways!

Jackson Street has now been closed to traffic. There's a cycle lane down the middle. Just wondering if the council has thought how deliveries will be made to the shops, bars and post office.

What a mess.

Charles

(05 Aug 2020, 11:04 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Quite. Nobody cycles in gateshead! It's uphill both ways!

If I lived up here permanently again, I probably wouldn't mind cycling. My issue is the cars, people round here just can't drive, especially round the Metrocentre. I mean, I could ride along the quayside, but then I'd have to tackle the bank up to Gateshead, and that ain't gonna happen!
Maybe if they put bike racks on the Quaylink services I'd think about it, but until then I'll continue to be a lazy sod and just use the bus!

Keep trying the hills!

(06 Aug 2020, 9:39 am)idiot wrote Keep trying the hills!

You're alright!
I'm the sort of person that gets the bus from Gateshead High Street to Gateshead Interchange because I can't be arsed to walk, I don't think tackling hills will be on the cards any time soon. 
I enjoy cycling, until there's even the smallest incline, then I'm out. Having said that, once I finally finish converting one of my bikes to an E-bike, I might give it a go