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Archive for the ‘Accessibility’ Category

New “Points of Interest” map

Posted in Accessibility, Art, Geography, History on September 12, 2018|

Members of the Friends have just produced a new and updated “Points of Interest” map!  The map has multiple layers which can be turned on or off by the user, showing the route of the Loop and points of interest on or accessible from it. Current map layers are:

  • Access points
  • Wildlife and natural features
  • Public resources and amenities
  • Landmarks
  • Historical interest
  • The railway 1891-1981

The Friends would like to continue to refine and update this over time so if you have suggestions for places to include on this map or notice any necessary corrections then please let us know!

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Beelines!

Posted in Accessibility on September 9, 2018|

Beelines logo

Beelines logo

The Friends have welcomed the Beelines cycling development proposals for Manchester, which have been developed with all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities and “will be the largest joined-up system of walking and cycling routes in the UK”.

Don’t forget that until the end of September there is an online process underway where you can view a map of the first draft of the proposals and zoom in on any areas that may be of interest, adding specific comments relating to development of the scheme.  See https://mappinggm.org.uk/ beelines/.

You will probably need to read the instructions to work out how to utilise the map layers and add comments.  We encourage all members of the Friends to engage with the consultation and share their views on how the proposals interact with the Loop in particular (and of course – we’d encourage everyone to get involved with the consultation for other routes and areas too)!

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Final report for the trial of open barriers

Posted in Accessibility on February 4, 2017|

The final report for the “open-all-barriers” trial on the Loop has now been completed.  Please find a copy here (please note that it’s a 14Mb file!).

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New Loop map and guide!

Posted in Accessibility, Geography on January 15, 2017|

The Friends have recently undertaken a major revamp of our map and guide to the Loop. This is now complete, and has gone to the printers for an initial print-run of 10,000 copies.

The map A3 page contains much more detail on how to reach other cycle routes from the Loop (e.g., the Trans-Pennine Trail in both directions, the Ashton and Bridgewater canals, the route to Salford Quays and the different routes to the city centre), as well as showing more parks and green spaces. It also distinguishes which of the entrances are accessible for non-standard bikes.

The guide page is now divided into eight panels (instead of six) and can fit easily into the pocket.  The front and back panels explain what the Fallowfield Loop consists of; inside the first fold are panels headed THEN and NOW, with the former giving a brief history of the old railway line, and the latter showing its present transformation into a Greenway and wildlife corridor. The remaining panels deal with volunteering, cycling and walking contacts, use by the disabled and basic rules of the Loop (‘share with care’) respectively.

The PDF versions of the new map and guide are available on our Maps page.

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Tandem ride by Lord Mayor and Consort

Posted in Accessibility, Bicycle rides on November 28, 2016|

Further to the positive response to the opening of barriers on the Loop, the Friends have been delighted that the Mayor of Manchester Carl Austin-Behan and his Consort Simon Austin-Behan have joined in, with a tandem ride to help celebrate the removal of the barriers and easier access to and along the path!  The Lord Mayor and his Consort also met local volunteers and members of the Friends to mark the occasion. Further details are on Sustrans’ website.

The Lord Mayor and Consort (Image credit: Chris Foster)
Celebrating the occasion (Image credit: Ian Barker)
Volunteers at the tandem ride (Image credit: Ian Barker)
The Lord Mayor and Consort (Image credit: Chris Foster)

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Hallowe’en Kidical Mass bike ride

Posted in Accessibility, Bicycle rides on October 28, 2016|

Another year, another Hallowe’en family-friendly bike ride extravaganza!

Hallowe'en Kidical Mass

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Disability groups celebrate open access

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on September 22, 2016| 1 Comment »

Sustrans has published a news item describing how people with disabilities, parents cycling with children, tandem riders, and standard bicycle riders have overwhelmingly welcomed the trial opening of barriers on the Fallowfield Loop!  Read more on this here.

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Summary of responses to the open barrier survey

Posted in Accessibility on September 12, 2016|

Feedback received on the trial of open barriers on the Loop and the results of the Friends’ surveys (online and face-to-face) have now been collated.  A fuller report will be completed and published in due course, but meanwhile this summary report is being shared with Sustrans for discussion.

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Trial opening of barriers – updated feasibility study

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on April 27, 2016| 2 Comments »

Further to the recent post about the trial opening of Loop barriers, a final version of the feasibility study for the trial is now available, to incorporate some updates and corrections. A timeline of the planned trial is also available.  The trial is now in progress, with the first 6-week phase having started on 10th April 2016.  The Friends will keep users informed of the trial’s progress!

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Trial opening of Loop barriers

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on March 21, 2016| 1 Comment »

Many members have found negotiating the barriers along the Loop to be a cumbersome experience, and the barriers can also prevent certain categories of potential users from venturing onto the route at all, whether in wheelchairs, tricycles, trailer bikes, or tandems. Together with Sustrans we are planning a trial opening of all the internal barriers along the Loop on six successive weekends starting shortly. Actually this will be on each Sunday and the following Monday, so that those using the route for travel to work or school can experience the change as well as leisure users. Subject to review, the barriers will then be open continuously for a three-month period following the weekend trials. The start date of the weekend openings will be confirmed as soon as small posts have been installed so that the barriers can be locked open safely – we hope by early April 2016.

Lorenza Casini, who jointly organised two successful Kidical Mass rides last autumn, with the barriers open, has drawn up an extensive plan and schedule for the openings in a feasibility report for the trial.  Our thanks are due to her for an impressive document. She sees opening the barriers as offering the opportunity for a step-change in the use of the Loop, bringing new users in, and better linking up the different communities through which the route passes.

Different events will be planned to take place while the barriers are open, culminating in a ‘Fallowfield Loop Festival’ some time in the early summer. Towards the end of the period we will conduct a survey of users, to gauge their reactions to the opening.

There are many things that volunteers can do to contribute to the success of this programme.  Please contact us if you can help with any of the following (or have any other suggestions!):

  • Helping with the opening of the barriers at the start of a Sunday and closing again on Monday evening.
  • Coming up with ideas for events to take place while the barriers are open.
  • Giving feedback, once the trial has started, on how you find the experience of the barrier openings.

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