Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) put in modal filters on Beech Grove, Harrogate, in February 2021. That had the effect of cutting out through traffic and making it a safe cycle route.
There was a 6-month consultation period from February to August 2021, but NYCC did not publish the results at the time. In August 2022, they took the modal filters out again.
Only 6 months later, in Feburary 2023, did they publish the evidence they had gathered. This showed that there was 66% support for the modal filter scheme. Removing it was unjustified, and a terrible decision.
Now Beech Grove is back to being a significant rat run for motor vehicles, and as a result much less pleasant and safe for cycling.
Cycle routes should be suitable for 8 to 80 year olds. Beech Grove without the modal filters isn't.
When riding into town, drivers coming in the opposite direction keep well away from the parked cars, and end up driving at you.
When riding away from town, there isn't enough space for an overtaking driver to leave 1.5m; every pass will be a close pass. Do drivers wait? No.
North Yorkshire Council claim they are going to do an unspecified something on Beech Grove at an indeterminate time in the future. Years go past, and nothing happens.
If Beech Grove as it is now is North Yorkshire's offer, there is no chance of modal shift towards cycling.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code instructs drivers to give cyclists at least as much room as they would when overtaking a car. As a guide, they should leave at least 1.5m when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Note also Rule 213: 'Cyclists are also advised to ride at least a door's width or 1 metre from parked cars for their own safety'.
I report some of the close passes to North Yorkshire Police under Operation Snap.
Their approach has been inconsistent. The Op Snap service was much better for most of 2025, then at the end of the year and the start of 2026 they stopped reviewing submissions at all, blaming lack of resources.
Eleven drivers make an illegal movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue in the space of around 4 minutes. They are:
Reported to the police under Operation Snap. Outcome: no reply (lack of resources).
See also:
Techalogic DC-1 dual lens helmet cam.
Price £198.95 from Amazon at the time of writing.
Garmin Edge Explore, £197.99 at the time of writing.
Garmin Edge Explore on Amazon (affiliate link).