Newcastle's Dangerous Cycling Bridges

[@guyroberts8932]

Jordan, this is bang on. During lockdown I was cycling to work on team valley from Newcastle every day, and initially there was nothing on the road, but as business started to reopen, the 2 lane roundabout at the Gateshead side of the Redeugh bridge got scarier on a daily basis, to the point I now hop off and cross the road like a pedestrian coz its a deathtrap

[@MBrady1970]

Another great video Jordan 👍There really needs some serious investment into cycle friendly lanes and paths if the government wants to encourage us onto two wheels and meet their net zero target. I would love to see another bridge across the Tyne, somewhere midway between Scotswood bridge and the Redheugh bridge, for pedestrians and cyclists only. I'm sure there was talk of this in the past.

[@BonkersAboutAlice]

You should do a blog on the Diamond mile running route around quayside. The route is marked on the ground with small steel diamonds. The score board showing times is on the Gateshead side of the millennium bridge.

[@JordanReeve]

That’s something I’ve never heard of! Will have to look into it

[@AfterA_Gaming]

As some one who has cycled all these bridges regularly your assessment is spot on, personally I used to cross The Redheugh as a commuter for 5 plus years and it is an awful bridge to cross, cycling or walking, but for some reason the High Level bridge always freaks me out more, it is the low railings I think.

[@JordanReeve]

Neither of the bridges at the top of the Tyne gorge are good for cycling at all. They really need to lose a car lane to provide a good cycling route at this level.

[@ravenna_bronze]

"well, is MEANT to swing 😒😒😒"

[@zter07]

1m 5 sec.. didn’t even stopped for red light to vehicles and cyclings 🤦‍♂ beautiful view of newcastle/Gateshead city tho

[@ravenna_bronze]

A vestigial light to cross the road to a cycle path that was canned during it's construction, it runs about three meters. The functioning cycle road turns and continues left without meeting any motorized traffic. The light is vestigial. Either the northbound cycle lane needs to be built or the junction, and the light removed.

[@JordanReeve]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s a light with no real purpose as I’m turning into a protected cycle lane

[@alfiestewart6312]

I think the Swing Bridge is the best for cycling on albeit a steep climb to the city centre. I think they should do something with the High Level Bridge to allow cyclists to use the roadway. Like having lights at either end and cameras similar to the bus lights now to allow cyclists to use it when there's no buses. If this was to happen the High Level Bridge would be best especially considering there is a segregated cycleway onwards and hopefully all the way into the city centre if they do extend the cycle path to the Cathedral and maybe even John Dobson Street and all the way past Central Station to St James Boulevard.

[@stevecampbell7589]

that will never work as you will impede on the flow of buses

[@alfiestewart6312]

@@stevecampbell7589 not necessarily. If you time it so that barriers go down when a bus comes in the opposite direction then it should work. Do it similar to trains at level crossings.

[@stevecampbell7589]

@@alfiestewart6312 trains level crossings are completely different and can close a barrier when a train is 3 or 4 miles away. A bus will never be more than a few yards away and what if the bus comes while there is a cyclist is still on it. However, they can always revert to the bridge being 2 lanes as it were around 20 years ago when buses used to pass each other side by side but still keep buses running Southbound only and the other lane split into 2 for opposing cyclists

[@alfiestewart6312]

@@stevecampbell7589 I think doing that would be a good idea although it is fairly narrow to have a bidirectional cycleway so I think they should have buses one way (SB) up the middle and then have wide cycle lanes on each side with buses using whatever space is left. Similar to residential streets in the Netherlands

[@martynridley513]

Very interesting report. I am not a cyclist but I do see you issues with all the bridges. Looking at it as a non participant I would be working with the local authorities to allow cyclists to use the high level . When I walked across I remember that the road way had been artificially restricted. It should be possible to get a cycle way on the bridge.

[@HammondM102.72]

i suggest talking about that 35 storey proposal in the city centre, i dont know if its cancelle or approved, but i do know that its very slender and it has the word 'carliol' in its name

[@gavinliddle3046]

All this video did was make me want to get me bike out and text some friends for a weekend bike ride / pub crawl along the river tyne

[@flippstar09]

Fully agree with the redhugh I hate this bridge with a passion

[@smullen2000]

Another interesting vlog Jordan but please, take a breath between sentences 👍

[@stephen8468]

I cycled over the blaydon bridge on the road the other day and that’s more dangerous that all these bridges

[@MBrady1970]

On the A1? wow that would be scary....I dont think I've ever seen a cyclist on that bridge, I didn't think it was allowed?

[@Crana]

@@MBrady1970 I think he means Scotswood Bridge.

[@stephen8468]

@@MBrady1970 I mean Scotswood bridge, you could technically cycle over a1 road bridge but not advised, only motorways you can’t cycle on or prohibited roads.

[@alfiestewart6312]

Even going over Scotswood Bridge (I get confused myself) would be a nightmare. Unless you're on a suicide mission I would not recommend it.

[@ravenna_bronze]

Just use the footpaths on that bridge, there's cycle paths on either side. And a cycle overpass to a railtrail outside scotswood factory... just watch out for the stairs into the underpass immediately ahead of you when coming off scotswood hahaha, not ideal, no, maybe deadly yes, but bridges two really nice routes (keelman's and derwent) so is my second favourite to use, behind the old wylam rail bridge. :)

[@svenhoek.6095]

can my sister have her bike back mate 👍🏻

[@stevecampbell7589]

I agree, cyclists and pedestrians shouldnt share. Just like cyclists and motor traffic shouldnt