15 Hotspots identified by Taunton cyclists

Out of the survey from 2016, TACC identified 15 ‘hotspots’ for cycling. TACC made statements to Somerset County Council (Nov 2016) and Taunton Deane Council (Dec 2016) asking for the hotspots to be addressed. We are meeting with Somerset County Council officers on a regular basis to discuss the hotspots and other cycling issues.

Since 2016, there has been only very limited progress on resolving the ‘hotspots’ as follows:

  1. Leycroft Avenue subway has been resurfaced
  2. There have been some improvements at Creech Castle, although there has been criticism that these are only partially effective
  3. The multi-million car based project at Junction 25 includes a series of new crossings and the old problem of crossing the M5 southbound on slip has been removed. The new arrangement is very convoluted and long winded. One cyclist using the provision described it as ‘arse around elbow’
  4. Possibly the hotspot most raised with us by people, the Market  House roundabout, has received funding to be resurfaced. However Somerset Council have pulled this scheme. This is because it is affected by wider traffic management ideas for the town centre. These in turn keep being delayed for various reasons.

This leaves 11 locations which have had no attention, including Station Road. Station Road has one of the highest crash rates involving cyclist, in the County. Wellington to Taunton and Bishops Lydeard to Taunton are currently under study.

TACC has identified 15 'hotspots' for cycling in Taunton

1. Station Road, Taunton – high traffic volumes, narrow lanes, cycle lanes blocked, problem junctions
Hotspot: Station Road, Taunton Hotspot: Station Road, Taunton

2. Cobbles at Market Hall – at least one person has reported injuries/hospital attendance
Hotspot: North Street cobbles

3. Crossing on slip road J25
Hotspot: M5 J25-A358-side

4. Lack of safety/provision for cyclists on A38 Taunton to Wellington
Hotspot: A38 Taunton to Wellington Hotspot: A38 Taunton to Wellington
Hotspot: A38 Taunton to Wellington Hotspot: A38 Taunton to Wellington

5. Lack of safety/provision for cyclists on A348 Taunton to Bishops Lydeard
Hotspot: A358 Norton Manor Hotspot: A358 to Bishops Lydeard

6. Compass Hill gyratory- multiple lanes, and high speeds make it difficult to negotiate and generally intimidating.
Hotspot: Compass Hill Hotspot: Compass Hill

7. Roundabout Crescent/Corporation St – difficult to negotiate
Hotspot: Crescent Corporation Street roundabout

8. Multiple problems as Castle Street/Tangier/A38 area
Hotspot: Castle Street Hotspot: Castle Street

9. Obridge Viaduct – many people avoid it
Hotspot: Obridge Hotspot: Obridge near Toneway
Hotspot: Obridge Hotspot: Obridge

10. Lack of crossings across Silk Mills road; especially when trying to get across to Long Run Meadow
Hotspot: Crossing at Silkmills Bishops Hull

11. Subway Leycroft Road-Victoria Park cycle/walking path – very poor surface and can feel intimidating

*** FIXED *** It has been resurfaced which is progress. We have had an email saying that the surface is rather bumpy (not machine laid) and another saying that it is quite smooth. How it feels probably depends on your wheel type. What do you think?

Hotspot: subway path surface
Before

Hotspot: subway-toneway
Before

Hotspot: subway-obridge
After

Hotspot: subway-leycroft-after
After

12. East Reach – ‘traffic nightmare’
Hotspot: East Reach Hotspot: East Reach Hotspot: East Reach
Hotspot: East Street Hotspot: East Reach

13. South Road/Shoreditch Road – sharing narrow lanes with fairly high volumes
Hotspot: South Road Hotspot: South Road

14. Canal towpath poor surface and other issues
Hotspot: Tone path near Morrisons

15. Creech Castle Junction and approaches – lack of provision/space for cyclists
Hotspot: Creech Castle junction Hotspot: Creech Castle junction Hotspot: Creech Castle junction
Hotspot: Creech Castle junction