'Motorbikes should be banned in Colchester High Street' (From Gazette)

The bloke in the middle looks like he is about to cry. :(

The laughable bit is the assumption that bus and taxi drivers are safer than all other road users. What about all the other 'professional' drivers who earn their living from driving, which after all is just what bus and taxi drivers do!

I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

Pity motorbikes and the majority of brain dead idiots that ride them aren't banned altogether.Also make them wear high viz clothing so that when they undertake on dual carriageways, you can see them before they carry out these acts of total stupidity.However, I am sure that it will always be the car drivers fault when they get injured or killed as usual.

'Motorbikes should be banned in Colchester High Street'

+1

What about the purple pavement pensioner perils (try saying that when you're p.ssed) nearly knee capping everyone as the ride round in their mobility maserati's?

Just ban shoppers and anyone visiting the town centre altogether, that way there'll be no accidents....

The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike.

Who are the three people in the photograph and what do they have to do with this report. Are they bikers or do they object to bikers not being banned . Perhaps they were just there when a photo of the road was taken

"The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike."

Link? When was this?

aww... those 3 people look as though they are about to cry... I want to give them a hug.

The last person I remember dying in town (not strictly the high street) was the young girl who was hit by the car driver by H&M

I am a biker and I could not care less whether I am allowed to use the High Street or not. I do park there because it is convenient but there are plenty of other places to park the bike. But my attitude is that any vehicle is a danger to the public and the fumes from buses are a danger in other ways. Ban the lot or leave it as it is. Leaving at is it though will deter the development of our town centre as a visitor destination. We could have cafe culture in the town, market stalls, etc. in the warmer months, that would make the High Street especially a very attraction place to use. Having said that, removing cars will certainly make it a lot better from the noise and fumes viewpoint and a lot safer for pedestrians. Motorcycles and buses tend to be noisy so you know they are coming. So, a good plan CBC, but could do better!

I have never been nearly knocked down by a motorcycle, they make plenty of noise. But CYCLISTS that is different. I have nearly had accident's twice getting off a bus ( the driver saved me once by saying a bike was coming up fast ) and once crossing Head Street with the pedestrian lights as the cyclist ignored the traffic 'stop' light and shot through between the cars, which had stopped.

The only reason I ride down the high street is to park. Are the powers that be going to replace m/c parking spaces along with the car disabled spaces that will now be lost from the high street? I bet not.

Wicky1 wrote:
"The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike."

Link? When was this?

It was along time ago, my neighbour at the time witnessed it.

It makes a good point though Joker, slagging off motorcyclists without having to back it up. Have you anything really relevant to add to this piece?

SR6460 wrote:
I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

"Scooter brigade?" do you mean the twist and go mopeds or the Lambretta and Vespa riders.

Jess Jephcott wrote:
It makes a good point though Joker, slagging off motorcyclists without having to back it up. Have you anything really relevant to add to this piece?

Sdapeze, why not come out into the open, and tell us whether or not you think motorcyclists should be banned?
.
Like you, I have no idea whether what Joker said is true or false, but at least he has stated his case.
.
As a self-proclaimed motorcyclist and hater of buses, you have an important contribution to make. We await your pronouncement with (mild) interest.

Yet again another dig at motorcyclists GET OFF OUR BACKS we are not all idiots that ride

Bikers for all their good intentions like to portray a macho image so it's little wonder that the general public are wary of them.

And as for the sad expressions of the trio in the snap,put yourself in their place on a Monday morning in the High St. You'd feel like crying too.Its grim up North Hill.

Having read this article thoroughly. I must comment on the Local Authorities first error. Letting any public Transport use, an area that should be designated “Pedestrians ONLY”. Heed this warning. I reside in a Town where a very similar scheme was introduced some five to six years ago. Why our Council kow-tow (ˈkouˈtou) to the operators of these deregulated services. Only they can say.
However, then came the legal questions from licensed hackney carriage operators. We are public service vehicles, and should be allowed the same dispensations as the Omnibus Operators.
This was also granted. Then Private Hire Vehicles, claiming they were being penalised because they were forced to use other routes that invariably increase the fare.
Alas, we now have Omnibuses, Hackney Carriages, and Private Hire vehicles using our pedestrian area. A further disadvantage is that visitors to our town regularly fall foul of this area. Our Private Hire Vehicles are not allowed any roof signs, and only have the name of their firm on the “Off /Near side Doors. Visitors to town following private hire vehicles are not aware they are going to enter this area that is no access for private vehicle of any category only those with no prohibited status.

Boris asks the question of Sdapeze, ie me, whether I would ban motorcycles from the High Street. I thought I had made it clear in an earlier posting, but, for Boris' edification, I would ban all motorised vehicles from the High Street during the day, not just motorcycles. As a result of this article and as a small business owner, I am now going to cancel my membership of the FSB, on the basis that they have just wasted £3000 on a ridiculous exercise that has demonised motorcyclists - of which I am one.

pinkshrimp wrote:
The only reason I ride down the high street is to park. Are the powers that be going to replace m/c parking spaces along with the car disabled spaces that will now be lost from the high street? I bet not.

Motorbikes are not being banned this is just a non-offical suggestion.

Jess Jephcott wrote:
Boris asks the question of Sdapeze, ie me, whether I would ban motorcycles from the High Street. I thought I had made it clear in an earlier posting, but, for Boris' edification, I would ban all motorised vehicles from the High Street during the day, not just motorcycles. As a result of this article and as a small business owner, I am now going to cancel my membership of the FSB, on the basis that they have just wasted £3000 on a ridiculous exercise that has demonised motorcyclists - of which I am one.

As it happens, Jess, I am all in favour of motorcycles and scooters. As a former Lambretta and Bultaco rider, how could I be otherwise?
I only had a go at you because I know you enjoy being on the receiving end of a wind-up as well as dishing it out.
As far as I am concerned, traffic arrangements in High Street are fine now, and should be left as they are. Any pollution reduced there will automatically be added to streets such as Brook Street which are already far more polluted than High Street, so the imminent ban will be an exercise as pointless as robbing Peter to pay Paul. But it's been decided, so let's put up with it, and see what happens.

I fear we are ending up with a half-done job. It will not be a pedestrianised High St, so we don´t get any of the benefits of that - market back in High St, cafe culture, street music and art, clean air etc etc. I also feel that it really had to go hand in hand with a park and ride set up and ready to go. However, it is a step in the right direction. I support full pedestrianisation, perhaps with limited access for residents, controlled by bollards at the top. They have it in other places, so why not here. Deliveries would need to be done by, say, 11.00. Again, it might take some getting used to, but it is done in other places.

If buses are allowed, then motorbikes should also be allowed, but like Jess, I think we are doing half a job on this, and might end up with all the pain but no patricular gain.

Any shop which closes during this trial, people will be on here blaming the closure of the High St, but let´s not forget plenty of shops have closed while it is open. The council will have to stick to its guns on this and give it a proper trial. Week one and two, I am sure there will be queueing traffic on other roads - but again, let´s not forget that we have that anyway now. People will adapt their routes. Maybe a few will decide to walk or cycle instead of driving, which is good.

The success should be judged in a few months, not before then.

SR6460 wrote:
I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

I pity you and those who likewise complain that you sit in your own man made traffic jams, while decrying those who create very little exhaust emissions or road space, but you cannot see this due to the haze of exhaust emissions you make while complaining.
Buy a small engined scooter for town centre shopping, and free parking while there.
Or, perhaps a purple pavement posers emission free buggy.

Everything was fine when we had horse and carts.... sounds like some people would like to "progress" back to those days in the name of safety and green issues.....

Red Tape 2 wrote:
Everything was fine when we had horse and carts.... sounds like some people would like to "progress" back to those days in the name of safety and green issues.....

Turning the time back to horse and carriages, horse drawn milk floats along with the large brewery double draw Drays using Shires. Would certainly open the garden flowers, and make the grass grow.
We would also have that positive bonus of unpaid manure collectors keeping the street clean of Dobbins droppings. It may entice pet owner to clear up after their pets fouling.

pinkshrimp wrote:
The only reason I ride down the high street is to park. Are the powers that be going to replace m/c parking spaces along with the car disabled spaces that will now be lost from the high street? I bet not.

Not only that, now that the DWP and ATOS say that even if you are severely disabled you maybe able to work, and you MUST attend the Jobcentre, now if you can't walk far, where are they supposed to park ? no good saying the Car Parks, they can't walk form there !
DOH!

No Park & Ride and 50% pedestrianisation.. will lead to more people shopping out of Town, and other Towns, and thus more shops will end up shutting, but it could result in a street full of cafes and christmas 'only' shops ! :-)

jeffbridges wrote:

SR6460 wrote:
I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

I pity you and those who likewise complain that you sit in your own man made traffic jams, while decrying those who create very little exhaust emissions or road space, but you cannot see this due to the haze of exhaust emissions you make while complaining.
Buy a small engined scooter for town centre shopping, and free parking while there.
Or, perhaps a purple pavement posers emission free buggy.

Better than any of that, take the bus, or walk.
What is 2½ km round trip? Nothing, if you are able-bodied. And if you are advanced in years, like Jeff or me, you have got your OAP bus pass.

Frating16 wrote:

pinkshrimp wrote:
The only reason I ride down the high street is to park. Are the powers that be going to replace m/c parking spaces along with the car disabled spaces that will now be lost from the high street? I bet not.

Not only that, now that the DWP and ATOS say that even if you are severely disabled you maybe able to work, and you MUST attend the Jobcentre, now if you can't walk far, where are they supposed to park ? no good saying the Car Parks, they can't walk form there !
DOH!

Nunns Road car park to Job Centre isn't that far.

Anyway the Job Centre will be moving soon (probably to Chapel Street) when Willie Gees want their building back.

Joker50 wrote:

Wicky1 wrote:
"The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike."

Link? When was this?

It was along time ago, my neighbour at the time witnessed it.

I think you will find that the last person killed in the High Street was that young girl who was hit by a car, allegedly the driver falling ill at the wheel which can happen anywhere?

totallyfootball wrote:

Joker50 wrote:

Wicky1 wrote:
"The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike."

Link? When was this?

It was along time ago, my neighbour at the time witnessed it.

I think you will find that the last person killed in the High Street was that young girl who was hit by a car, allegedly the driver falling ill at the wheel which can happen anywhere?

That was head street.

someguyoverthere wrote:

totallyfootball wrote:

Joker50 wrote:

Wicky1 wrote:
"The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike."

Link? When was this?

It was along time ago, my neighbour at the time witnessed it.

I think you will find that the last person killed in the High Street was that young girl who was hit by a car, allegedly the driver falling ill at the wheel which can happen anywhere?

That was head street.

Sorry!

I'm a motorcyclist and a car driver (obviously not at the same time) and have had one accident in my time (car driver to blame) and 2 accidents in cars (also attributed to other car road users). Responsible drivers (cars and bikers) won't be a problem, but there's always an idiot out there somewhere. But pedestrians should also be aware of this and take note of warning signs, traffic signals and road conditions. Car drivers who don't see bikers 'undertaking' (filtering) have special signs located for them, stating THINK BIKE. Bikers don't have special signs saying THINK CAR. This might lead one to deduce that car drivers need some prompting, and one may also deduce that, given the expense of producing these signs, there is an obvious need for them, for safety reasons. Make of it what you will. Seriously, ban all traffic from the street, they will find other routes. You are simply moving potential accidents from one place, to another.

Say It As It Is OK? wrote:
The laughable bit is the assumption that bus and taxi drivers are safer than all other road users. What about all the other 'professional' drivers who earn their living from driving, which after all is just what bus and taxi drivers do!

As a motorcyclist, I find its usually the so called professional drivers who are the ones who pull out in front of us motorcyclists as they have to get from A to B to earn their money and get back for another passenger ASAP . . We are not all hooligans, just prefer the freedom to get to destinations easier than sitting traffic , especially in Colchester now-a-days. . R.I.P Colchester town , people will say away more now

SR6460 wrote:
I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

Exactly, it's the scooter brigade who blackens our name, they are mainly young irresponsible lads, I appologise if your a responsible rider, but there are admittedly bad eggs in every basket. . .

micksmercs wrote:
Pity motorbikes and the majority of brain dead idiots that ride them aren't banned altogether.Also make them wear high viz clothing so that when they undertake on dual carriageways, you can see them before they carry out these acts of total stupidity.However, I am sure that it will always be the car drivers fault when they get injured or killed as usual.

Yawn @ mick. . .dont paint everybody with the same brush. . ,all vehicles have their good drivers and their idiots too .

Taximan01 wrote:
What about the purple pavement pensioner perils (try saying that when you're p.ssed) nearly knee capping everyone as the ride round in their mobility maserati's?

Hehehe. . . That's true

Wicky1 wrote:
Just ban shoppers and anyone visiting the town centre altogether, that way there'll be no accidents....

Won't need to ban them wicky1 , there won't be many shops open soon for shoppers to visit, I am just outside town, but always go to ipswich, because of the quality of the shops and mainly the park and ride, so much easier,

roger bacon wrote:
Who are the three people in the photograph and what do they have to do with this report. Are they bikers or do they object to bikers not being banned . Perhaps they were just there when a photo of the road was taken

Probably a load of do gooders, and look what happens to the country when we listen to do gooders. . We end up like we are now, . . In debt, .,..lawless society, ....,full of foreigners . .

Joker50 wrote:
The last person to be killed in Colchester High St by a motor vehicle was killed by a motorbike.

Enlighten us . . .

JBoswick wrote:
aww... those 3 people look as though they are about to cry... I want to give them a hug.

The last person I remember dying in town (not strictly the high street) was the young girl who was hit by the car driver by H&M

Yes, and that was by an elderly driver who the police were trying to get taken off the road by the DVLA , from previous stoppages or offences, god rest the poor girls soul,

DelA wrote:

SR6460 wrote:
I don't think responsible motorcycle users will be a problem - but what about the 'scooter brigade'? They don't seem to have any regard for anyone. I've seen them in action in out of town retail parks.

I'm not a motorcycle user but am a car driver and think this plan to shut off the High Street is ridiculous. The proposed alternative routes are already over used and what about the 'air quality ' of the new to be affected residents of places like Brook Street!

As for emissions - I will have to drive 2.5km extra every time I visit my elderly mother as will a lot of other people and probably sit in a traffic jam doubling or trebling my fuel emissions.

If just a few more large retailers move out of town don't worry about a Town Centre - you can turn it into a tourist attraction like the failed Art Centre!

"Scooter brigade?" do you mean the twist and go mopeds or the Lambretta and Vespa riders.

I see them as the twist and go mob. .easy to get on the road

Madcowmac wrote:
Yet again another dig at motorcyclists GET OFF OUR BACKS we are not all idiots that ride

Exactly,

HARRY438 wrote:
Bikers for all their good intentions like to portray a macho image so it's little wonder that the general public are wary of them.

If you get the time, people who read these, please go to Great Bentley on a Wednesday evening, especially when it's dry and sunny, and you will see loads of friendly bikers, using that term loosely , all types of bikes and all sorts of riders from all different back grounds, and never any trouble ,

romantic wrote:
I fear we are ending up with a half-done job. It will not be a pedestrianised High St, so we don´t get any of the benefits of that - market back in High St, cafe culture, street music and art, clean air etc etc. I also feel that it really had to go hand in hand with a park and ride set up and ready to go. However, it is a step in the right direction. I support full pedestrianisation, perhaps with limited access for residents, controlled by bollards at the top. They have it in other places, so why not here. Deliveries would need to be done by, say, 11.00. Again, it might take some getting used to, but it is done in other places.

If buses are allowed, then motorbikes should also be allowed, but like Jess, I think we are doing half a job on this, and might end up with all the pain but no patricular gain.

Any shop which closes during this trial, people will be on here blaming the closure of the High St, but let´s not forget plenty of shops have closed while it is open. The council will have to stick to its guns on this and give it a proper trial. Week one and two, I am sure there will be queueing traffic on other roads - but again, let´s not forget that we have that anyway now. People will adapt their routes. Maybe a few will decide to walk or cycle instead of driving, which is good.

The success should be judged in a few months, not before then.

The shops will struggle I think if the delivery times are schedule only, as they will have to pay extra for timed deliveries, thus having to either lose the extra costs or pass them on and possibly lose trade due to inflated costs, surely these shop owners can't keep taking the brunt of costs, I am sure they struggle enough now with business rates etc, . . . Deliveries can't always be scheduled due to other drops on their " rounds" along with other shops, which are not always local

Frating16 wrote:
No Park & Ride and 50% pedestrianisation.. will lead to more people shopping out of Town, and other Towns, and thus more shops will end up shutting, but it could result in a street full of cafes and christmas 'only' shops ! :-)

That's so true, plus since they changed the bus park, my elderly mother has stopped going to Colchester due to the extra walking she has to do, just to get off and get to the busses, let along going round the town, as she struggles with walking up inclines, . . . .okay for Council healthy bods, but not for some who doesn't drive and is 79 years old.