Misplaced Pages

#225774

26-459: The Middlewood Way is an 11-mile (16 km) shared use path in north-west England, between Macclesfield ( 53°15′36″N 2°07′22″W  /  53.2601°N 2.1229°W  / 53.2601; -2.1229  ( Middlewood Way (Macclesfield trailhead) ) ) and Rose Hill, Marple ( 53°23′42″N 2°04′39″W  /  53.3950°N 2.0774°W  / 53.3950; -2.0774  ( Middlewood Way (Marple trailhead) ) ); it

52-532: A booklet costing one penny was published by His Majesty's Stationery Office and approved by the Home Office (and Scottish Office ). Entitled Traffic Signals to be used by the Police and Drivers of Vehicles , this booklet arose from discussions between the Police and The Automobile Association . In subsequent years, in addition to being promoted by the automobile associations, the code was publicised using posters by

78-493: A code of behaviour across the country. The code allowed the driver to use either his own arm or a dummy arm – which had obvious benefits in wet weather for drivers with the luxury of an enclosed cab, or for drivers using left-hand-drive vehicles, as in imported American cars. The intention to bring in the compulsory code was delayed and in successive years the code was expanded including whip signals for horse-drawn vehicles, and signals made by policemen controlling junctions. In 1923

104-425: A new "hierarchy of road users" was incorporated into the 17th edition (2022), classifying road users according to their risk in the event of a collision, with the most vulnerable at the top. The "hierarchy of road users", according to The Official Highway Code " is a concept that places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy". Three special rules are provided which cover

130-471: A path (and therefore pedestrians may walk wherever they choose). Shared-use paths alongside the highway often look like sidewalks to motorists. Therefore, at side roads, in jurisdictions where pedestrians do not have priority at side roads, the priority situation at side roads on shared-use paths can be confusing and often cyclists are required to give way to turning motorists. Before the January 2022 revision,

156-440: A responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians. At a junction, other road users should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which they are turning. Pedestrians have priority on zebra crossings and on shared use cycle tracks . Only pedestrians (including wheelchair and mobility scooter users) may use the pavement. Pedestrians may use any part of the road and may use cycle tracks as well as

182-607: Is also a Northern Ireland version, available in English and Irish. The Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Motor Vehicles announced in 1920 that "a compulsory and uniform code of signals for all road vehicles is to be brought into operation". Drivers in London had evolved a system for signalling their intentions to turn right or stop, using their arm, and this was seen to be of such benefit that it should be required and standardised as

208-540: Is not legally binding, many of its rules directly reflect the law, and a failure to observe any of its provisions may be used as evidence in legal proceedings (especially to establish liability in relation to offences such as careless and dangerous driving ). The Highway Code was first published in 1931, and is regularly updated. It is prepared by the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency , and

234-706: Is published by The Stationery Office in both electronic form and as a printed book. The 17th edition (2022) introduced some significant changes. In particular, a new "hierarchy of road users" classifies road users according to the danger they pose to others in the event of a collision, with the most vulnerable (for example, pedestrians and cyclists) at the top. The Great Britain version, available in English and Welsh, applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but region-specific signs such as driver location signs in England and bilingual signs in Scotland and Wales are not covered. There

260-625: Is the official set of information and guidance for road users in the United Kingdom . Its objective is to promote the safe and efficient use of the road network. The Code applies to all road users, including pedestrians , horse riders and cyclists , as well as motorcyclists and other drivers. It gives information on traffic signs , traffic signals , road markings and legal requirements for different road users, and has annexes on vehicle maintenance, licence requirements, documentation, penalties, and vehicle security. Though The Highway Code itself

286-472: The Highway Code gave no advice to pedestrians on how to share space with cyclists; there was also little guidance given to cyclists. (The 2023 edition covers both aspects. The UK Department for Transport advises local authorities that cyclists and pedestrians should not be expected to share space on or alongside city streets. Sustrans gives advice for cyclists, walkers and runners using shared-use paths on

SECTION 10

#1732845408226

312-715: The National Cycle Network . The Milton Keynes redway system is an example of a city-wide network of shared-use paths. The network consists of over 200 miles (320 km) of shared-use paths that avoid the city's busy and fast grid roads (which run between neighbourhoods rather than through them). In the US, the 1999 AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities defines a shared-use path as being physically separated from motor vehicular traffic with an open space or barrier. Highway Code The Highway Code

338-614: The UK Department for Transport found that cyclists and pedestrians prefer wider non-segregated paths to more narrow segregated paths (e.g. a 3 m wide shared path, compared with a 3 m path split into 1.5 m sections). The principal benefit of a shared-use path is saving space. This may be important in environmentally-sensitive areas or on narrow streets, where a full cycle track may not be feasible. Shared use paths are criticised for creating conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and creating complaints from pedestrians and speed. Therefore,

364-493: The Highway Code is the one in force at any time, but in legal proceedings the version current at the time of the incident applies. The Road Traffic Act 1988 states: A failure on the part of a person to observe a provision of The Highway Code shall not of itself render that person liable to criminal proceedings of any kind but any such failure may in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal...) be relied upon by any party to

390-758: The National Safety First Association (which still continues this work, having been renamed the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 1936). The formal introduction of The Highway Code was one of the provisions of the wide-reaching Road Traffic Act 1930 . Costing one penny, the first edition of the code was published on 14 April 1931. It contained 21 pages of advice, including the arm signals to be given by drivers and police officers controlling traffic. The second edition, considerably expanded, appeared in 1934, and now illustrated road signs for

416-514: The UK, cyclists are legally permitted to cycle on bridleways (paths open to horse riders), but not on public footpaths. Therefore, bridleways are, in effect, a form of shared-use path. On segregated or divided paths, the path is split into a section for pedestrians and a section for cyclists. This may be achieved with a painted line or different surface. It may also be delineated with tactile paving for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Research by

442-424: The concept: Sets out the principle that those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others. The principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles. Cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse drawn vehicles likewise have

468-709: The first time. During its preparation the Ministry of Transport consulted with the Pedestrians' Association . Further major revisions followed after the Second World War so that, for example, references to trams were removed after the 1954 version. ( Blackpool was for decades the only place in the UK with a tram system. Tramway rules returned to the Code in 1994, after the first modern tram systems in Britain had opened.) Motorway driving

494-1167: The high number of passengers commuting to Manchester Piccadilly; the station is now a single-tracked terminus for a spur off the Hope Valley Line . The path runs approximately parallel to the Macclesfield Canal and passes through Bollington and Higher Poynton . It can be reached by rail at Macclesfield, Middlewood , Rose Hill Marple and Romiley , via the Goyt Valley Connect 2 scheme. The trail forms part of National Cycle Network Route 55 from Ironbridge to Preston . Shared use path The path may also permit other users such as inline skating . Contrastingly, motorcycles and mopeds are normally prohibited. Shared-use paths sometimes provide different lanes for users who travel at different speeds to prevent conflicts between user groups on high-use trails. Shared-use paths are criticised for creating conflict between different users. The UK's Department for Transport deprecates this kind of route in denser urban environments. In

520-505: The line: Marple (Rose Hill) , High Lane , Higher Poynton , Bollington and Macclesfield . In 1879, a new station was opened at Middlewood; it was later renamed Middlewood Higher where the line crossed over Middlewood Lower station on the Buxton line . On 5 January 1970, the section between Rose Hill Marple and Macclesfield closed to all traffic; the track was lifted in early 1971. Only Rose Hill Marple station remained in operation, due to

546-534: The more vulnerable road user is on the road, but also when they are in a cycle lane or on a cycle track. Certain rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and are identified by the words 'must' or 'must not', presented in bold red block capitals. In these cases, the rules also include references to the corresponding legislation. Offenders may be cautioned, given penalty points on their driving licences, fined, banned from driving or imprisoned, depending on

SECTION 20

#1732845408226

572-504: The paths do not properly take into account the different needs of different road users. For example a study by the Institute for Chartered Engineers found that users of shared use paths were confused about the nature of the path and who has priority on them. Pedestrians are sometimes unsure how to behave on shared-use paths. The question arises whether the path is to be treated as a road (therefore pedestrians should face oncoming traffic), or

598-459: The pavement, unless there are signs to the contrary. Drivers should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when they are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane (just as they would not turn across the path of another motor vehicle). The code says "do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the [more vulnerable road user] going straight ahead to stop or swerve". This applies not only when

624-474: The severity of the offence. Although failure to comply with the other rules will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in court under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to establish liability or determine who is at fault in a road traffic incident. These include advisory rules with the wording 'should' and 'should not' or 'do' or 'do not'. The latest official printed version of

650-541: Was included in the fifth edition. The sixth edition, in 1968, used photographs as well as drawings for the first time, and also updated the illustrations of road signs to take the new 'continental' designs into account. The 70-page 1978 edition introduced the Green Cross Code for pedestrians and orange badges for unskilled drivers. The format was changed to a 'taller' size in the 1990s. An electronic Highway Code app followed in 2012. Following public consultations in 2020,

676-489: Was opened on 30 May 1985 by Dr David Bellamy . It serves the needs of walkers, dog walkers, cyclists, joggers and horse riders and plays host to a wide range of flora and fauna . The Middlewood Way follows the route of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway , which had operated between 1869 and 1970. This section of railway connected Macclesfield and Rose Hill Marple, with trains continuing on to Manchester Piccadilly . Initially, there were five stations on

#225774