Thanks for your feedback on a couple of subjects covered by Bath Newseum just recently.
The first concerned the state of the pavements and kerbs in Cheap Street and Westgate Street as huge delivery lorries try to pass each other and pedestrians have to keep a constant look out – especially during the early morning.
Anne Love writes:
What Bath needs is the ‘Last mile delivery’ solution. This is by cargo bike which is becoming increasingly popular in London, several companies are already doing it. The vans deliver to a warehouse a short distance from the city centre. Distribution within the city centre and surrounds is done by bike.
There is already one company offering cargo bike delivery service within Bath, namely ‘3 Bags Full.’
No more broken pavements and congested streets, not to mention the pollution, noise and risk to pedestrians and cyclists.
I hope you find this of interest
This is the full description
Thank you Anne.
Now, Nigel Sherwen – like me – is pleased to see the hoops back in place near Bath Abbey’s north side.
He writes: ‘Many thanks for your work in putting pressure on officers and councillors re getting cycle hoops reinstated.
The bolts you photographed in the pennant pavement were for the original bronze cycle hoops that were installed in accordance with the Pattern Book that was established during the Public Realm and Movement Strategy (an excellent work that is probably sadly gathering dust on shelves. I have a copy).
I think their fixings were not resistant to theft and they gradually disappeared over time. Not doubt worth quite a bit on the illegal metal salvage market?
Let’s hope this matter can be resolved quickly as bike theft is a major problem and loss of a bike used for transport will be a big setback for many.’
Thank you Nigel. Can l quickly add that – as far as l am aware – all the bronze bike hoops that have been removed are still in the council’s possession and are stored somewhere.
I have some sympathy for the idea of consolidation before city centre delivery (how much of the load on the trucks driving around it is destined for elsewhere?) but I don’t think you have any idea quite how much stuff is delivered to city centre shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, etc every day – not to mention removal of their rubbish. This is never going to be done by bikes because it would be unbelievably inefficient not to mention utterly exhausting.