Useful Cycle Lanes
Cycle routes have been slowly increasing in number in my local area (South East London) over the last few years. Some being useful - Like:
Toucan crossings on busy A-road roundabouts,
New bus lanes (shared benefit for busses / black cabs / cyclists),
And advanced stop lines at traffic lights.
Dangerous Cycle Lanes
Some traffic engineering ideas can actually in real life use, make situations MORE dangerous for cyclists! For example: road narrowings / pinch points, which coerces cyclists in to a likely rear-end impact from fast-moving traffic. Also inconsistent priorities between cyclists & other vehicles.
A trend I see also is the traffic engineers install cycle lanes on the easy roads where there is not much danger or vehicle dynamics. Yet when that road comes to a difficult static hazard like a multi-lane junction, just when vulnerable cyclists need as much protection from the 2 ton vehicles competing for the same space, so often I see: "END" of cycle lane. Which I interpret as: "pfff, well, erm, basically we ran out of ideas here, and it was a Friday, so... Good luck! (*door slams, sound of hurried footsteps*)"
Stupid Cycle Lanes
And then for a laugh there are the stupid cycle lanes.
All of 5 meters - fully signed and painted cycle lane, complete with tactile paving. It has everything. Except a purpose!
Laughable examples:
- Bins designed in the middle of cycle lanes??
- A slalom course of obstructing lamppost in a cycle lane??
- Pointless short stretches of painted cycle lanes for just a few meters??
Examples have the hallmark of a complete afterthought. Unrealistic, impractical, will never be used, and would be funnier if it wasn't us who paid for it through our taxes.
More Examples & Links:
Warrington Cycle Campaign - Facility of the month
Flickr.com - Bicycle Facilities
Technorati Tags: Cycle Lanes / Commuting / Bicycle Facilities
No comments:
Post a Comment