Things have got tougher for cyclists on Tyneside recently.
The Pedestrian/cycle tunnels which go under the River Tyne and are part of the C2C Route have up and down escalators at each end as well as a small lift.
There is now only one escalator working. The escalators are 60 years old and the treads are made of wood! They are Grade 2 listed so nothing can be done to modernise them yet pedestrians and cyclists were having to use them every day. The bearings have collapsed on two of them and the handrail needs replacing on another but they have been unable to source a supplier. Or more likely they won't pay out any money for something that is free and doesn't bring in any revenue.
They are now relining the lift shafts and will fit new lifts all to be completed by Xmas - 5 months to fit two small lifts!
In the meantime we must walk down the 150 steps of the escalator and up 150 at the other end.
The alternative is you have to wait for a 'courtesy' 7 seater car towing a trailer for bikes. This then joins the queue of traffic at the vehicle tunnel totally defeating the point of cycling to work to avoid traffic jams.
I tackled the stairs today and managed it - 63 years of age and carrying a 23 kg bike, but it is hard work.
The Pedestrian/cycle tunnels which go under the River Tyne and are part of the C2C Route have up and down escalators at each end as well as a small lift.
There is now only one escalator working. The escalators are 60 years old and the treads are made of wood! They are Grade 2 listed so nothing can be done to modernise them yet pedestrians and cyclists were having to use them every day. The bearings have collapsed on two of them and the handrail needs replacing on another but they have been unable to source a supplier. Or more likely they won't pay out any money for something that is free and doesn't bring in any revenue.
They are now relining the lift shafts and will fit new lifts all to be completed by Xmas - 5 months to fit two small lifts!
In the meantime we must walk down the 150 steps of the escalator and up 150 at the other end.
The alternative is you have to wait for a 'courtesy' 7 seater car towing a trailer for bikes. This then joins the queue of traffic at the vehicle tunnel totally defeating the point of cycling to work to avoid traffic jams.
I tackled the stairs today and managed it - 63 years of age and carrying a 23 kg bike, but it is hard work.
