North Orbital - A414/A405 Footway Sharing

STACC has been campaigning for a many years to have the footway of the North Orbital Road changed to a shared path for cycles and pedestrians. Without success so far.

A new approach is being taken right now, by exploiting the provision that any person or group can address the Highways Joint Members' Panel (HJMP) of St Albans District Council (SADC) on any relevant matter - provided that the action is supported by a petition with a number of signatures. STACC had to provide at least 30 signatures. We asked the members to respond - which they have done with great enthusiasm in very few days - with the result that no less than 125 signatures have been received.
Many thanks to everyone for your support.

So this evening (23 July 2009) at 7 pm, Steve is able to go ahead and address the meeting - for just 3 well filled minutes. So Good Luck to him.

Update 25 July : One of the Councillors on the HJMP told me that Steve gave an impressive presentation, which was very well received by the panel.
In fact the Chair of the panel Councillor Aislinn Lee, on hearing the size of our petition, declared "Make that 126," and promptly signed it herself - probably breaking all rules of protocol. (STACC-Tom)

Watch this space for further progress.

M10 becomes A414

The M10 from Park Street Roundabout to M1 Junction 8 has now been de-trunked and become part of the A414.
This means that it is legal to cycle on it. Not a particularly pleasurable experience but it does offer the most direct route between Park Street & Hemel Hempstead.
Hard shoulders have been retained, so you are able to ride well separated from the running lanes for the majority of the route.
At the north end, north bound, there is no hard shoulder, only an edge-of-carriageway line a metre or so from the edge of the black top, which affords some degree of separation. Traffic lights control the merge with traffic which has left the south bound lane of the M1. Beyond this, towards Hemel, there appears to be no facility you can use for segregated cycling.
At the north end, south bound, again there is no hard shoulder. The split point of M1 north bound traffic from A414 traffic offers serious conflict possibilities. The narrow 'lane' inside the edge-of-carriageway is rather more usable because of a smoothly contoured water run-off gutter gives a greater effective width.
At the south end, the hard shoulders do not start/end at the roundabout, but fall short by some 20 metres.
I believe that there were once cycle lane markings at the north end, but these have now been removed.
I have not cycled the road yet, only observed it whilst driving a car, so I will have missed some details. These will be added when available, possibly with a few photos.
I believe that it is much less dangerous to use than the A414 between Hatfield & Hertford (which I have ridden at a fairly busy time) where there is no hard shoulder or footway to use to avoid traffic & no lighting. The old M10 retains its full motorway standard lighting, all the way to Hemel.
Clearly there are points which demand great care, judgement & experience. I suggest you make your own recce by car before riding the route.
Please add informed comments to this post.