Cycle lanes

discussion on radio 4 now.

it was quite good.

well done chris peck of ctc.

missed it.

Also, an article by Ben Webster in the Times today:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6828100.ece

All the cycle lanes were slightly narrower than the minimum width of 1.5m (5ft) recommended by the Department for Transport. The majority of Britain’s cycle lanes do not comply with this guideline.

Wow! that is the recommended width!

Wow! that is the recommended width!

The MINIMUM recommended width. Unfortunately, minimum widths tend to become maximum widths in the minds of engineers.

theres a project i think in holland to rid town of all sign posting white lines on the roads stop signs paedo crossings etc
they state that as there is less distinction between lanes / carriageways more caution is observed and more eye contact is made
the trial has cut injuries / accidents by a significant percentage

eye contact between road users being the key to rights of ways and progress through the town

less clutter more care

The MINIMUM recommended width. Unfortunately, minimum widths tend to become maximum widths in the minds of engineers.

Is that ment to be in each direction or both ways?

Is that ment to be in each direction or both ways?

In each direction. Two-way tracks have completely different parameters (and are not recommended).

theres a project i think in holland to rid town of all sign posting white lines on the roads stop signs ped crossings etc
they state that as there is less distinction between lanes / carriageways more caution is observed and more eye contact is made
the trial has cut injuries / accidents by a significant percentage

eye contact between road users being the key to rights of ways and progress through the town

less clutter more care

(I don't think you meant your spelling before 'crossings', so I've edited it.)

Yes, de-engineering, as it's also called, or 'Naked Streets' can have a lot of benefits, although turning back the tide of indicators of a motor-centric environment will take longer in London than elsewhere, especially than in small Dutch towns and villages.

In each direction. Two-way tracks have completely different parameters (and are not recommended).

The only place I've seen cycle lanes that wide was Nantes on a very busy but still single carriageway road.

There are quite a few examples of 2.0m and 1.5m-wide cycle lanes in London, too.

Yeah, I call them roads.

You're not the only one.

![](http://www.reproducts.de/museum/2005/0104_catweazle/catweazle.jpg)

theres a project i think in holland to rid town of all sign posting white lines on the roads stop signs paedo crossings etc
they state that as there is less distinction between lanes / carriageways more caution is observed and more eye contact is made
the trial has cut injuries / accidents by a significant percentage

eye contact between road users being the key to rights of ways and progress through the town

less clutter more care

This is the designers website for the most radical scheme currently in operation in U.K,
located in wait for it, radical Ashford kent- watch the full film here:-
http://www.wtlandscape.com/#
Personal friend says it is a great success, although this friend employed by council has to field an above- average number of calls from the disabled user groups.

I heard this, it was classic BBC radio bollocks.

queue presenter putting on dismissive tone and talking down to the CTC (britain's cyclist's er..thing) bloke (who was typically wet sounding, to appeal to all the bike haters "listen to that nerd!") and immediately on with the accusing about RLJ, pavements yaaawn.

CTC bloke did actually hold it up and come out better, but this doesn't usually happen.

was there no more news today?

Has anyone seen the cycle paths that have priority over the road they're crossing, so the road users are supposed to turn into a side street, stop immediately at the cycle path which crosses directly under their front wheels and then proceed when the bikes are gone?

Don't know what you'd call them, so I can't UTFS, apologies if this is a done-to-death topic.

The only place I've seen them is Ruislip. Do they exist anywhere else?

if you got them Im happy for you.
The principle of halting traffic turning off main roads to give way to cycle paths crossing is Dutch, and is a complete reversal of our priority system.
have you got pics, links? just because I like to wind people up about this sort of thing in boring meetings.

This is the designers website for the most radical scheme currently in operation in U.K,
located in wait for it, radical Ashford kent- watch the full film here:-
http://www.wtlandscape.com/#
Personal friend says it is a great success, although this friend employed by council has to field an above- average number of calls from the disabled user groups.

Just watched the vid, haven't read much/any of the site, but I just have a concern over disabled peds. Obviously there's no modern pedestrian crossings (apart from the very subtle one in the vid), with the green man and ringing tone for the deaf and blind respectively. What's happening in that respect?

Just watched the vid, haven't read much/any of the site, but I just have a concern over disabled peds. Obviously there's no modern pedestrian crossings (apart from the very subtle one in the vid), with the green man and ringing tone for the deaf and blind respectively. What's happening in that respect?

Advocacy groups for visually impaired people are for the most part highly critical of the removal of tactile features. Here's a campaign by Guide Dogs:

http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets/

I think there was an organisation that took a different stance, but I can't remember its name now.

@ oliver no no sir my spelling was perfectly correct thanks

It's nice when you get a decent width cycle lane, but I tend to cycle as far away from the kerb as possible so I'm closer to the traffic. Vehicles tend to give you a bit more room and it makes it easier to manouver across the carraigeway if needed.

It's a shame there are so many ill thought through cycle lanes, and also that people think you shouldn't be on the road if there is a cycle lane (often one that has swerved suddenly off the road at a sharp angle with no warning). Sometimes I feel it's better not to have them at all.

Why must we let the guide dogs organisation wreck what could be the best hope for road safety and indeed the visual enhancement of our towns and cities. Why is their approach "this must be stopped!" when it could so easily be "this must be done slightly differently"?

Have they even gone to European cities that have been doing this for years to find out what the real experience is?

It's nice when you get a decent width cycle lane, but I tend to cycle as far away from the kerb as possible so I'm closer to the traffic.

First rule I learn when I cycle - take the lane.

It's the most sensible and safest approach to riding in the traffic.

when appropriate.