Barriers & Parking

Removing barriers to accessibility

Foot, bike and shared path routes across Hull and the East Riding, as across the rest of the country, are littered with access restricting barriers. They are legacy pieces of infrastructure designed to stop inappropriate, dangerous or criminal use of paths. However, they restrict access to the majority of legitimate users while very rarely deterring the minority illegitimate users. Modern design standards and the access officers of many local authorities recognise this, as does the law; it is not permitted to hinder access, particularly as this affects disabled people the most. Unfortunately, many local councillors and police forces still see them as a way to address anti social behaviour associated with access to paths. This approach must be challenged, with new barriers not being installed and existing barriers replaced with bollards. Not doing so will leave local authorities open to costly legal action in the near future. The use of bollards, spaced appropriately at about 1.5m apart, stops the most dangerous issues (use by large motor vehicles) while enabling use of paths by all means of personal mobility, from non-standard cycles to mobility scooters.

If you’re aware of an access-restricting barrier in Hull or the East Riding, let us know and we’ll keep a record of them on a map for visitors to the website to see, as well as raising the issue with the relevant ward councillors; if enough people raise each instance as an issue, the councillors will have to take action.

More Parking Please!

Don’t worry, we mean for bikes! Lack of a secure place to keep a bike at a destination is often the biggest reason for not cycling in the first place…and it’s one of the easiest issues to solve - well positioned Sheffield Stands don’t need to be expensive. Even if the solution requires a bit more thought (or money) than a few Sheffield Stands, if it’s going to help enough people, it needs to happen!

Get in touch with your suggestions for more bike parking will help. Just like with barriers, we’ll keep a record of suggestions on a map for visitors to the site to see and let ward councillors know there’s demand for more bike parking. What easier way is there for them to help make their communities a little bit more sustainable?