The managing director of York based train operator LNER has reached out to cycle campaigners after the issue of late night access to Scarborough Bridge flared up again.
David Horne told Kate Ravilious, co-chair of the York Cycle Campaign, to get in touch and he would arrange for discussions and to look at whatever data already exists about the number of cyclists using the route during the closed period.
Kate told the YorkMix Radio Late Show that she thought that York had some great bits of cycle infrastructure but none of it seemed to join up.
Her concern was that you faced hurdles along the way on simple trips from A to B. One of those, at night, was the safe route through the station short stay car park, on to the long stay and into Holgate Road.
LNER have insisted on closing gates at Scarborough Bridge and Lowther Terrace after 11pm cutting off the car free route.
She said that many cyclists at night didn’t want to have to make a detour onto Leeman Road because it didn’t feel as safe.
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No explanation
She will now attend a meeting to discuss her concerns and see if there is any way of reversing the decision.
LNER was asked for an explanation of why they closed the gates but haven’t responded with that information.
All they said was “Safety is always our top priority. During late evening hours, access to York Station is possible via the main entrance as other areas of the station are closed.”
They also declined to appear on tonight’s YorkMix Radio Late Show which will be focusing on a number of issues concerning cycling in the city.
This week YorkMix reported that cycling levels in York have dropped to below the numbers seen in 2009. One of the reasons given by the council was that the Tour De France in 2014 artificially increased figures and 2020 was quite an abnormal year due to Covid.