Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Bike Rides in Harrogate and Nidderdale is now available in paperback - find out more.
5th September 2025
The latest designs for Harrogate Station Gateway have been published.
Do they suggest that a usable cycle route will be built?
Read about the Harrogate Station Gateway Designs 2025.
12th August 2025
Five years after North Yorkshire Council won a million pounds of active travel funding, we have two light-controlled pedestrian crossings to show for it.
Is it value for money?
Read about North Yorkshire's Ambitious ATF2 Plans Turn to Dust.
8th August 2025
A&E Baines have lost their legal challenge to Harrogate Station Gateway TROs.
What did the judge say about their claim?
Read about the A&E Baines Lose Legal Challenge to Harrogate Station Gateway.
28th July 2025
York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority is distributing £15.4 million of Local Transport Grant to its two constituent councils.
What will the money be spent on?
Read about Local Transport Grant for York and North Yorkshire.
13th June 2025
A 2021 A59 Multi-Modal Study of the A59 between Knaresborough and York has just been extracted from North Yorkshire Council.
Which of walking, cycling, buses or highway capacity expansion were thought to be most effective to improve connectivity?
Read about A59 Multi-Modal Study.
24th May 2025
The Sainsbury's junction of the A661 Wetherby Road is one of North Yorkshire's ATF5 schemes.
What is the council proposing to do there, and when?
Read about Sainsbury's Junction is One of the North Yorkshire's ATF5 Schemes.
19th March 2025
Two pedestrian crossings on Victoria Avenue - all that is left of North Yorkshire Council's ambitious Active Travel Fund 2 projects - are expected to be built between March and July this year.
What else does the council say in its Harrogate & Knaresborough active travel update?
Read about Victoria Avenue Pedestrian Crossings to be Built Soon.
11th March 2025
The York & North Yorkshire Mayor has published a Strategic Transport Framework, which is a precursor to a full Local Transport Plan.
What does the Framework say about cycling?
Read about the York & North Yorkshire Strategic Transport Framework.
31st January 2025
North Yorkshire Council has published the results of its call for development sites, some of which will go into a new Local Plan.
Which areas of Harrogate may be developed?
Read about the Council Publishes Harrogate Development Sites.
23rd January 2025
North Yorkshire has published plans for 20mph limits on Oatlands Drive, Cold Bath Road, Beech Grove and Arthur's Avenue.
What are the details of and defects in the council's proposals?
Read about the 20mph Plans for Parts of Harrogate Published.
19th January 2025
North Yorkshire Council has decided on priority cycle routes for Knaresborough.
What are the short-, medium- and long-term priorities, and will any on-the-ground improvements ever be delivered?
Read about the Knaresborough Cycle Route Priorities.
23rd November 2024
Design work is continuing on the missing link in the A59 Knaresborough Road cycle path, and on one of the Cycle Infrastructure Plan routes.
Will any of it ever result in any on-the-ground improvements?
Read about Design Work Continues on A59 Knaresborough Road Cycle Path Missing Link.
13th November 2024
Mayor of York & North Yorkshire David Skaith has set out his Vision and Priorities for the region, and says that he intends to appoint an Active Travel Commissioner.
What else does he say about sustainable transport?
Read about YNY Mayor to Appoint an Active Travel Commissioner.
14th October 2024
The long-awaited crossings of Oatlands Drive and Wetherby Road have been delayed again, as North Yorkshire Council carries out its work at a snail's pace.
What has the council been doing in 2024?
Read about Oatlands Drive and Wetherby Road Crossings Delayed Again.
4th October 2024
North Yorkshire's active travel schemes exist in a twilight zone, where they are simultaneously happening in theory but not happening in practice.
What did the council tell Active Travel England about a new 20mph zone, and what is the reality?
Read about What North Yorkshire Told Active Travel England vs the Reality.
18th September 2024
A Traffic Regulation Order has been advertised for North Yorkshire's proposed changes to Victoria Avenue.
Originally, the Active Travel Fund 2 was to pay for four flagship cycling schemes; now there are none, just the somewhat pathetic Victoria Avenue pedestrian plan.
Read about Victoria Avenue TRO Published.
9th September 2024
Beech Grove, Harrogate, is to get traffic-calming measures as part of a scheme to make it 20mph. This represents a change to the council's plans, following speed surveys.
What other active travel updates will be presented at a council meeting this week?
Read about Beech Grove to Get Traffic Calming.
8th September 2024
The Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme (HTIP) has cost £459,186 and taken 5 years so far, without producing any on-the-ground improvements.
What has North Yorkshire Council been doing, and does it have any intention of delivering meaningful changes?
Read about Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme Has Cost £459,000 to Date.
22nd August 2024
A man in his sixties was killed when riding a bike on the B6165 near Burnt Yates on 20th August.
What are the details of the collision?
Read about Bike Rider Killed by Van Driver near Burnt Yates.
9th August 2024
North Yorkshire is planning to turn Trinity Road, Harrogate, into an official rat run.
What are the details of the irresponsible scheme which has been dreamt up by this high-traffic, high-carbon council?
Read about North Yorkshire Plans to Turn Trinity Road into a Rat Run.
7th August 2024
North Yorkshire is planning a fragment of cycle infrastructure on Pannal Ash Road.
Weren't we supposed to get joined-up routes? Did Gear Change and the promised cycling revolution completely pass us by in this corner of England?
Read about North Yorkshire Plans Fragment of Cycle Track on Pannal Ash Road.
29th July 2024
North Yorkshire Council has released its Transport Strategy for the West Harrogate housing developments, but the cycling elements are fatally flawed.
Beyond the warm words, what does the council actually intend to do, and is it all about cars, cars, cars?
Read about Fatal Flaws in the Cycling Strategy for West Harrogate Developments.
7th July 2024
North Yorkshire has published the results of the consultation about its latest proposals for Victoria Avenue.
What did people say?
Read about Responses to the Victoria Avenue Consultation.
3rd July 2024
Crossings of Oatlands Drive and Wetherby Road, which will provide safer routes to school, ought to be uncontroversial.
Surprisingly, a minority of Harrogate residents have scraped the barrel to find objections. What do they say?
Read about Opponents of Harrogate Crossings Scrape the Barrel with Objections.
1st June 2024
At a meeting on 30th May, local Councillors agreed to fund the design of two cycle routes - the missing link from High Bridge, and a Bilton to Hornbeam Park route.
How much will the designs cost, and how long will they take?
Read about Local Councillors Agree to Fund Design of Two Cycle Routes.
21st May 2024
A diluted version of Harrogate Station Gateway appears set to proceed after WYCA approved the business case earlier this year.
Does the much-reduced cycle infrastructure represent a usable facility?
Read about Diluted Harrogate Station Gateway Set to Proceed.
14th May 2024
Active Travel England is letting Harrogate cyclists down by rubber-stamping a lame scheme for Victoria Avenue. The funding bid was for four ambitious cycling schemes, but now cycling has been stripped out of the last remaining one.
Why is ATE approving such an unambitious scheme, and what could be behind its failure to make a difference in North Yorkshire?
Read about Active Travel England Lets Harrogate Cyclists Down with Lame Victoria Avenue Scheme.
17th April 2024
HAPARA, the Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents' Association, is attempting to stir up opposition to Phase 3 of the Otley Road Cycleway.
Are HAPARA's arguments convincing, and why are they so anti-cycling?
Read about HAPARA Attempts to Stir Up Opposition to Otley Road Cycleway Phase 3.
24th March 2024
North Yorkshire Council have finally got around to launching a consultation on crossings of Oatlands Drive and Wetherby Road - crossings which should have been built by the end of this month.
Are the designs competent?
Read about Oatlands Drive and Wetherby Road Crossings Consultation.
16th February 2024
North Yorkshire Council has published a report detailing its cycle prioritsation work for Harrogate.
While the idea is good, is there any evidence that the council can actually deliver on-the-ground improvements?
Read about Harrogate Cycle Network Prioritisation.
9th February 2024
It's early in 2024, but already two Harrogate cyclists have been hit by drivers in the year so far. This follows on from two other collisions in December 2023.
Where did these crashes happen?
Read about Four Harrogate Cyclists Hit by Drivers in Less Than 2 Months.
8th February 2024
Phoenix Peloton have organised a sportive, with three different distances. The rides take you from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge and back.
The event raises funds for a good cause.
Read about Phoenix Peloton Wellbeing Ride.
6th February 2024
The push button at the top of Coach Road, Harrogate, is out of reach of everyone except horse riders and former England rugby player Martin Johnson.
Why doesn't the council want cyclists to have convenient facilities for utility trips?
Read about High Horse Button on Coach Road Harrogate.
10th January 2024
Revised and diluted plans for Harrogate Station Gateway are to include a one-way cycle track on Station Parade.
What else do we know after a statement about the project to the local press?
Read about Diluted Harrogate Station Gateway Plans to Include One-Way Cycle Track.
7th January 2024
Labour's candidate for York & North Yorkshire Mayor wants better cycle infrastructure in the region.
What else did he tell local papers, and what are the commitments on his website?
Read about Mayoral Candidate David Skaith Wants Better Cycle Infrastructure.
28th December 2023
North Yorkshire Council is preparing a new Local Transport Plan to address dissatisfaction with the transport system in the county, and to attempt to decarbonise transport.
What does the recent progress report say?
Read about North Yorkshire Local Transport Plan Progress Report.
20th December 2023
North Yorkshire Council intends to waste £10,000 of public money on an unwanted cycle signage review in Harrogate & Knaresborough. Signing was done comprehensively in 2014.
What should the council do instead?
Read about North Yorkshire to Waste £10,000 on Unwanted Cycle Signage Review.
16th December 2023
North Yorkshire Council is recommending ten highways projects to replace Phase 2 of Otley Road Cycleway, and therefore planning a broken link in the cycle facilities.
What do council officers say in their latest report?
Read about North Yorkshire Council Planning a Broken Link in Otley Road Cycleway.
14th December 2023
North Yorkshire highways officers are recommending that Beech Grove be made 20mph, but with no traffic calming.
Which other unambitious or half-baked measures are included in the council's 20mph plans?
Read about 20mph Recommended for Beech Grove but no Traffic Calming.
10th December 2023
Following traffic surveys and a public consultation, what design options have the consultants come up with for the Oatlands area?
This post follows on from the previous one outlining the results of the traffic surveys and consultation.
Read about Design Options for the Oatlands Area.
9th December 2023
The results of the Oatlands consultation held back in October/November 2022 show that most respondents are unhappy with the way the area is dominated by motor vehicles, and want change.
What are the key issues on and around Oatlands Drive?
Read about Oatlands Consultation Shows Most Respondents Unhappy and Want Change.
23rd November 2023
Harrogate Station Gateway - originally a hugely positive active travel and public transport project - has been stripped of most of the worthwhile elements.
If it goes ahead, it will now largely consist of prettifying the status quo for pedestrians and prioritising cars with the traffic light timings on Station Parade.
Read about Harrogate Station Gateway Stripped of Most Worthwhile Elements.
9th November 2023
I recently wrote about Quick Wins suggested by Harrogate Cycle Action - small improvements to Harrogate's cycle network that could be implemented quickly and cheaply.
Are there any more examples of Quick Wins? Yes! Here they are.
Read about More Quick Wins for Harrogate's Cycle Network.
3rd November 2023
Harrogate Cycle Action have suggested a number of Quick Wins to improve Harrogate's cycle network.
What sort of improvements fall into this category, and is there any appetite on the part of the council to deliver them?
Read about Harrogate Cycle Action Suggest Quick Wins.
20th October 2023
The Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Tom Gordon appears to have picked opposition to active travel as his bizarre and depressing election strategy.
What on earth is he doing?
Read about Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Picks Opposition to Active Travel as Bizarre Election Strategy.
26th September 2023
The Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme, begun following the 2019 Congestion Survey, rumbles on without producing any results.
What is the latest state of play according to a report presented to a meeting of Councillors this month?
Read about Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme Rumbles On.
15th September 2023
Three years into the project to improve Oatlands Drive for active travel, we're still waiting for the results of the third consultation which closed nearly a year ago, with a fourth one promised.
Will there ever be any on-the-ground improvements?
Read about Results of the Autumn 2022 Oatlands Consultation Still not Published.
14th September 2023
At a council meeting today, campaigners asked for main and strategic roads to be made 20mph along with residential roads in south and west Harrogate.
There is resistance from North Yorkshire Council, but could it happen?
Read about Harrogate 20mph Zone Could Include Main Roads.
12th September 2023
Harrogate Station Gateway appears to be changing from a sustainable transport project to a high-traffic neighbourhood scheme.
What are the latest plans from irresponsible North Yorkshire Council?
Read about Harrogate Station Gateway Plan to Increase Traffic Instead of Sustainable Transport.
8th September 2023
All meaningful cycling elements have been stripped out of the West Harrogate sustainable transport package by the council.
The one positive in the revised package is a 20mph zone, but the rest is breathtaking cynicism. Is the council just looking for ways to waste money that it no longer wants?
Read about Cycling Stripped Out of West Harrogate Sustainable Transport Package.
26th August 2023
Andrew Jones MP says the emphasis on sustainable transport in the Harrogate Station Gateway project is 'welcome', but allocating space to sustainable travel is not - because it must all be kept for cars.
He supported the project in June, but opposes it in August.
Read about the Andrew Jones MP's Weasel Words on Station Gateway.
25th August 2023
There's a proposal to extend the hugely popular Nidderdale Greenway to Pateley Bridge and beyond.
Give your views via a 2-minute survey.
Read about the Nidderdale Greenway Extension Survey.
15th August 2023
Are Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrats anti-cycling? The question arises because they oppose the one and only major local public realm and active travel scheme, Harrogate Station Gateway.
Read about Are HK Lib Dems Anti-Cycling?
2nd August 2023
It emerged at a full council meeting last month that North Yorkshire Council's Executive remains committed to Harrogate Station Gateway.
That's the good news, but there has been a setback and some political squabbling.
Read about N Yorks Executive Remains Committed to Harrogate Station Gateway.
27th July 2023
Op Snap has the potential to be brilliant for people on bikes, taking away the feeling that whatever drivers do to you, there are no consequences.
Is it working in North Yorkshire?
Read about Op Snap in North Yorkshire.
31st May 2023
North Yorkshire Council Executive approved Harrogate Station Gateway at a meeting yesterday. What was said, and what are the next steps?
Read about North Yorkshire Executive Approves Harrogate Station Gateway.
24th May 2023
A council report to be presented to the North Yorkshire Executive on 30th May 2023 recommends pressing the Go button on Harrogate Station Gateway.
Read about Recommendation to Proceed with Harrogate Station Gateway.
18th May 2023
North Yorkshire Council held a meeting last night to brainstorm ideas for how to use the Otley Road money they have left after cancelling Phase 2 of the cycleway. Five years after receiving the funding, they said, 'it's early days'.
Read about 5 Years After Otley Road Cycleway Project Began, NYC Highways Brainstorms Ideas.
9th May 2023
A look at the objections to Harrogate Station Gateway based on ease of access for shoppers, and whether they amount to a convincing case against the project.
Read about Shopping Objections to Harrogate Station Gateway.
5th May 2023
Councillors of the Harrogate & Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee gave their conditional support to Harrogate Station Gateway this morning, despite heckling and jeering from some opponents in the public gallery.
Read about Conditional Support for Harrogate Station Gateway at Area Committee.
11th April 2023
North Yorkshire Council has cut down around 300 trees at Myer's Wood for its Kex Gill realignment project. How does this fit in with the authority's climate strategy?
Read about North Yorkshire Council Has Cut Down 300 Trees for Kex Gill Diversion.
1st April 2023
North Yorkshire's bid for £3 million from Active Travel Fund 4 has failed in its entirety. Why?
Read about North Yorkshire's ATF4 Bid Fails.
24th March 2023
North Yorkshire made promises at a road safety and active travel meeting at St Aidan's School on Monday 21st March, including to build a parallel crossing of Oatlands Drive. Will the council keep its promises this time?
Read about North Yorkshire Make Promises at Road Safety Meeting.
16th March 2023
Highways officers presented an active travel update at a council meeting today. Inevitably, there were no actual, on-the-ground improvements to report.
Read about Active Travel Update at Area Committee Meeting.
27th February 2023
Cancelling Phase 2 of Otley Road Cycleway leaves a broken link in the cycle network. N Yorkshire want to waste money putting up signposts instead.
Read about N Yorkshire Want to Waste Money on Signposting Non-Existent Cycle Routes.
21st February 2023
N Yorkshire's ATF4 bid was revealed in a council meeting today. The scheme at the heart of the bid is for Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.
Read about N Yorkshire's ATF4 Bid.
10th February 2023
The leader and transport portfolio holder at North Yorkshire County Council have made a number of commitments to Active Travel England, including to Gear Change and LTN 1/20. They also specifically pledged not to remove experimental schemes without evidence.
How is that going?
Read about What North Yorkshire Told Active Travel England, and What They Did.
7th February 2023
North Yorkshire County Council is refusing to reinstate the modal filters on Beech Grove, despite public support for the scheme.
Read about 66% Supported Modal Filters on Beech Grove - But NYCC Refuses to Reinstate Them.
7th February 2023
North Yorkshire County Council is to scrap Otley Road Cycleway Phase 2, despite majority support for it in the most recent consultation. The same applies to Beech Grove.
Read about N Yorkshire to Scrap Otley Road Cycleway Phase 2 Despite Majority Support.
31st January 2023
North Yorkshire are failing to make any progress on their current active travel projects, but they continue to make promises about future active travel schemes. Will those promises ever materialise?
Read about the Cllr Duncan Expresses Hopes for ATF4.
30th January 2023
After 5 years and very little achieved, North Yorkshire have indicated that they want to abandon the Otley Road Cycleway.
Read about the North Yorkshire Want to Abandon Otley Road Cycleway.
14th January 2023
North Yorkshire has published its draft Climate Change Strategy. Unfortunately it's like homeopathic version of the region's Routemap to Carbon Negative. Is it so vague that no one will be able to hold the council to account for its performance, and is that the intention?
Read about North Yorkshire's Climate Change Strategy.
13th January 2023
The results of the 3rd consultation on Harrogate Station Gateway have finally been announced. Overall it's good news, with support for the project increasing since the 2nd consultation.
Read about Outcome of Harrogate Station Gateway 3rd Consultation.
13th January 2022
Harrogate Borough Council's Dragon Road car park was at one time going to be used for housing. Given its central location, it would have been a good fit with HBC's rhetoric about 15-minute neighbourhoods.
Now it appears that parking is going to be prioritised instead of housing.
Read about Dragon Road Car Park to be Resurfaced not Developed.
5th January 2023
N Yorkshire have won a relatively small amount from the Capability & Ambition Fund. The central purpose of the fund is to develop active travel expertise in councils across England. Will N Yorkshire use their allocation to develop in-house expertise?
Read about N Yorkshire's Allocation from the Capability & Ambition Fund.
22nd December 2022
York & N Yorkshire LEP is boasting about having spent £12 million on a new road to enable more people from a new housing estate to drive about a mile to Northallerton town centre. There's no mention of active travel.
Read about York & N Yorkshire LEP Boasts about £12 million Road Project in Northallerton.
13th December 2022
A Slingsby Walk crossing of Wetherby Road is to be discussed at a council Executive meeting tomorrow. Might this long-discussed crossing finally be built and if so when?
Read about Wetherby Road Crossing for Slingsby Walk.
26th November 2022
The Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone initiative has been presented to the council, with a public statement to a council meeting and comments by Councillors.
Read about Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone Presented to Council.
17th November 2022
A consultation is open on devolution for York and North Yorkshire. A Mayor would have powers to develop an integrated transport plan.
Read about York & N Yorkshire Devolution Consultation.
15th November 2022
North Yorkshire is contributing £13 million to an A59 Kex Gill realignment project, focused on driving to Skipton. Meanwhile the council is not prepared to commit a single pound of its own money to active travel projects in Harrogate.
Read about N Yorkshire to Spend Millions on Kex Gill Realignment.
1st November 2022
A look at the types of comment being made on Commonplace during the current active travel consultation on Oatlands ward.
Read about Types of Comment on Oatlands Commonplace Page.
29th October 2022
North Yorkshire County Council is consulting on two options for Beech Grove - and one of them is useless.
Read about N Yorkshire Consults on Useless Scheme for Beech Grove.
25th October 2022
Could there be a connection between the width of the Oatlands Drive cycle lanes and the fact that they are not used as much as they might be?
Read about Oatlands Drive: 'the Cycle Lanes Are Wide Enough but Very Rarely Used'.
13th October 2022
A petition for a Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone has been launched. It would involve a 20mph zone, traffic-calming, safe crossings and more.
Read about Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone.
12th October 2022
Active Travel England are involved in the designs of Harrogate's cycle schemes on the A59 Knaresborough Road and Victoria Avenue, it emerged today.
Read about Active Travel England Involved in Design of Harrogate Cycle Schemes.
10th October 2022
North Yorkshire's climate policies will be discussed at a council meeting this week, including how to apply the five 'ps' to projects and programmes.
Read about Climate Policies in North Yorkshire to Be Discussed this Week.
7th October 2022
North Yorkshire's 20mph policy is to come under scrutiny at a council meeting next week. Is the policy just a long list of excuses for refusing to agree to new 20mph limits?
Read about the N Yorkshire's 20mph Policy to Come under Scrutiny.
6th October 2022
An upate report on sustainable transport plans for the A61 is to be discussed at a council meeting next week. Will North Yorkshire County Council just go round and round in circles commissioning reports, or will it ever actually DO something?
Read about the Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme.
3rd October 2022
'The most common cause of project failure is lack of project time management or...non-adherence to project schedule.'
Read about the What's
Going Wrong with Harrogate's Active Travel Projects?
30th September 2022
There has been a very modest improvement to Harrogate's cycle network, with the removal of the barrier between Parson's Intake and Rossett Drive.
Read about the Rossett Drive Barrier Removed.
26th September 2022
This isn't the end of a cycle route, so why do North Yorkshire County Council insist on putting up END OF ROUTE signs?
Read about the N Yorkshire Still Putting Up Incorrect End of Route signs.
12th September 2022
Victoria Avenue in Harrogate is waiting for its segregated cycle tracks, but in the meantime it already has some small but helpful bits of cycle infrastructure.
Read about LTN 1/20 and Victoria Avenue.
27th August 2022
The York and North Yorkshire region needs to cut car use by 48% by 2030 to achieve its carbon goals. There will have to be a 900% increase in cycling too.
Read about Car Use in York and N Yorkshire Must Be Cut by 48%.
16th August 2022
Burning wood pellets from America at Drax Power Station is not sustainable, admits the Business and Energy Secretary. York & North Yorkshire's Net Zero strategy relies heavily on future "negative emissions" from Drax, so what are the implications for our region?
Read about the Burning Wood Pellets at Drax Not Sustainable.
5th August 2022
North Yorkshire County Council is to rip out the modal filters on Beech Grove when the trial period ends on 14th August. Why?
Read about North Yorkshire to Rip Out Beech Grove LTN.
27th July 2022
A third consultation on Harrogate Station Gateway is under way. Why so many consultations, and how do you respond to it?
Read about 3rd Consultation on Harrogate Station Gateway.
25th July 2022
A look at the Emission Reduction Pathways for York & North Yorkshire, with a special emphasis on transport. How much will private car use have to be reduced for the region to become Net Zero by 2038?
Read about York & North Yorkshire Emissions Reduction Pathways.
24th June 2022
Harrogate's Active Travel Fund projects on Victoria Avenue and the A59 Knaresborough Road should have been completed by 31st March 2022, but no work has started. What has happened to them?
Read about What Happened to Harrogate's Active Travel Projects?
18th June 2022
In the last couple of days there has been anonymous briefing against Harrogate Station Gateway - an £11 million project to improve Harrogate town centre. This is after it has already been improved. The project can't be derailed at this stage.
20th May 2022
North Yorkshire's bid for money from the third tranche of the Active Travel Fund (ATF3) has failed. What are the likely reasons behind the DfT's decision to send the cash elsewhere?
Read about North Yorkshire's ATF3 Bid Fails.
11th May 2022
What do the local elections that took place on 5th May 2022 mean for cycling in Harrogate? I don't know, but I think I've written an informative article on the subject anyway.
Read about in What Do the Local Elections May 2022 Mean for Cycling in Harrogate?
5th May 2022
The National Planning Policy Framework says that housing developments should give priority to active travel, but does Persimmon's King Edwin Park estate in Harrogate do that?
Find out in Does Persimmon King Edwin Park Give 1st Priority to Active Travel?
14th April 2022
I noticed someone's interpretation of this crossing facility and cycle path today. If the designer expects you to do something daft and inconvenient, do you do it, or do you ignore them?
Read about Design vs UX on Harrogate cycle path.
7th March 2022
Destination Harrogate is an organisation that promotes Harrogate District as a destination for visitors.
What proportion of the District's economy relies on visitors? What are the priorities in improving Harrogate's appeal, and where does the Nidderdale Greenway fit in?
Find out in Destination Harrogate Supports Nidderdale Greenway Extension.
10th February 2022
An exciting addition to Harrogate's bike shops, The Electric Bike Shop opens on the Leeds Road parade of shops this week.
Read more about The Electric Bike Shop Opens in Harrogate.
26th January 2022
Harrogate Station Gateway took a step forward yesterday as North Yorkshire's Executive voted unanimously in favour of it proceeding.
Read about Harrogate Station Gateway Approved by North Yorkshire Executive.
23rd December 2021
10 key points about Phase 1 of Otley Road Cycleway after a first look.
Read about 10 Key Points About Otley Road Cycleway Phase 1.
5th December 2021
Are you on the look-out for a unique and eco-friendly Christmas present for someone? reCycled gifts are made from bicycle parts that are no longer needed.
Read about reCycled Gifts.
22nd November 2021
People on foot are the biggest beneficiaries of the modal filter used to create a Low Traffic Neighbourhood on Beech Grove.
Read about 100 pedestrians per hour use Beech Grove crossing.
18th October 2021
A consultation on detailed designs for Harrogate Station Gateway gets under way today. The plans are broadly excellent, but there a few disappointments too.
Read about the Harrogate Station Gateway Second Consultation.
17th October 2021
Government guidance says cycle tracks should be created by reallocating space from motor vehicles. At the junction of Otley Road and Harlow Moor Road, motor vehicles are getting a lot more space. How much is left for pedestrians and cyclists?
Read about the Otley Road - Space Reallocated to Motor Vehicles at Harlow Moor Road Junction.
13th October 2021
In theory, new housing development is an opportunity for new and improved cycle infrastructure. In practice, developers provide a few bits of joke cycle non-infrastructure.
Read about the Failure on Cycle Infrastructure at Trinity Fields and Castle Gate, Knaresborough.
11th October 2021
The metal barrier on Rossett Drive is inconvenient on a normal bike, and blocks access altogether to non-standard cycles. It's also illegal under the Equality Act 2010. You'd think it would be removed.
Read about the Rossett Drive Barrier.
4th September 2021
The people have spoken: no more shared use paths on the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Read about Sustrans Shared Use Paths.
27th August 2021
What's the point in a walking and cycling path that no one can get to? Does the path meet the current Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance?
Read about Cycle Infrastructure at J47 of the A1M.
22nd May 2021
The results of the Harrogate Station Gateway consultation are in. What did people say, and what are the next steps?
Find out in Harrogate Station Gateway Consultation Results.
21st May 2021
The Otley Road Cycleway project has gone from serial missed deadlines to a new strategy of providing no timetable at all. Is the new tactic an improvement on the old, or just as bad but in a different way?
Find out in Otley Road Cycleway Delayed Again.
28th April 2021
Buy Local By Bike is a commendable initiative by Harrogate Borough Council.
Read about Buy Local By Bike Harrogate Knaresborough.
19th March 2021
North Yorkshire has abandoned its plans to make walking and cycling safer on Oatlands Drive, without even going through with its own planned consultation.
Read about North Yorkshire Caves in on Oatlands Drive Before Consultation.
2nd March 2021
The representatives of Harrogate's business groups are focused on 'cars, cars, cars', but is this compatible with the changes we need to make to avoid climate breakdown?
Read about Harrogate Business Groups and the Climate.
21st February 2021
Exciting new plans have been announced for Harrogate's 'station gateway', to make it less dominated by cars, and more easily accessible by bike.
Read about Transforming Cities Harrogate.
18th February 2021
Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood was finished yesterday. What are the benefits, and the answers to objections?
Read about Beech Grove LTN.
2nd February 2021
You can now order a tailor-made cargo bike, hand-built in Harrogate.
Find out more about Harrogate Cargo Bikes.
26th January 2021
An update on the Otley Road Cycleway - not actual work starting, of course, but news on the Stray land exchange and Northern Powergrid's timetable for moving their services.
Read an Otley Road Cycleway Update.
24th January 2021
How will we increase active travel in Harrogate if North Yorkshire County Council keeps prioritising cars over people?
Read about the Pedestrian Crossings in Harrogate.
7th January 2021
Here's a first draft of a London Underground-style map of Harrogate's cycle network. I'm not sure if it's of any value, except as colourful spaghetti.
Let me know what you think about the Harrogate Cycle Tube map.
3rd December 2020
Have we got some decent cycle infrastructure at the top of Harlow Moor Road? Are the new Cycle Infrastructure Design standards being applied?
Read about Miller Homes 'Cycleway' is not a Cycleway.
11th November 2020
HAPARA, the Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents' Association, has produced a report which is supposed to be about sustainable development. Unfortunately, it dismisses cycling as a solution to transport problems, and calls for road-building.
Read about Deeply Flawed HAPARA Report.
9th November 2020
Zero Carbon Harrogate has published a Vision and Strategic Plan setting out how the District can become zero carbon by 2030.
Read about Zero Carbon Harrogate Strategic Plan.
31st October 2020
Harrogate once had a lot of railways, but most of the lines are disused. Wouldn't it be great if they were turned into greenways?
Read about railways and greenways.
22nd October 2020
Is the surrealist work of bicycle-related art on the corner of the A59 and Oak Beck Road the worst cycle path in Harrogate?
14th August 2020
The sub-standard painted cycle lanes on Oatlands Drive could be replaced with proper protected cycle tracks if the county council succeeds in its bid for funding.
Read about active travel improvements for Oatlands Drive.
After missing out on half its Tranche 1 bid for Emergency Active Travel Fund money, North Yorkshire County Council is to consult community groups over its Tranche 2 bid for £1,065,000.
Read about NYCC to consult over EATF Tranche 2 bid.
Chris Batley wrote to the Yorkshire Post objecting to positive plans for the town centre. I set out the reasons why I don't agree, and why his arguments don't reflect the facts.
5th June 2020
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) is to bid for funding for active travel improvements in response to the pandemic.
Read about the NYCC bid for active travel funds.
17th May 2020
North Yorkshire County Council is so far failing in its active travel response to the Coronavirus. Widening pavements in a handful of locations for a single weekend makes no sense when the virus can be transmitted on any day of the week.
Read about the NYCC failing in Coronavirus active travel response.
28th February 2020
Harrogate District Cycle Action is today launching its new website, alongside an updated manifesto and refreshed social media accounts. The website invites local people to sign up as supporters and contribute their ideas.
Find out more about the HDCA website.
8th January 2020
Can anyone guess the purpose of this 12m long cycle path? It's by the roundabout at the Bellway housing development, on the old Dunlopillo site, but it doesn't seem to lead anywhere.
Read about daft cycle infra at the Bellway Pannal development.
21st November 2019
A group of councils including Harrogate BC and North Yorkshire CC is making a bid as part of the Leeds City Region for funding from the DfT.
The bid is for a share of the Transforming Cities Fund, which is money to make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel and get to work, by improving transport connections across city regions.
If the bid is successful, part of the money is to be spent in Harrogate to improve the front of the station, and create better access for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also be spent on improved facilities for walking and cycling in the town centre, and improving public spaces in town.
The bid should be submitted on 28th November 2019.
17th September 2019
In a letter to the Yorkshire Post, Bishop Monkton Councillor Brown claims that 'motorists' are being knocked and made to feel unwelcome in Harrogate Borough. This is a response to some of his arguments.
12th September 2019
A survey by the local MP, to find out what local shoppers think of the town centre, shows how people get there and what they think of the cycle facilities.
Read about Harrogate Retail Inquiry.
12th September 2019
A leaflet from a campaigner against the Otley Road cycleway came through my door today. I disagree with the arguments in the leaflet - read why.
Read about anti-Otley Road cycleway leaflet.
20th August 2019
NYCC published the results of their congestion study, and the answer from Harrogate and Knaresborough was a resounding 'no' to the so-called relief road.
Read about no to Harrogate relief road.
