Lessons about ‘providing for’ cyclists
This article will accumulate examples of (and, where possible, links to) ‘providing for cyclists’. Some are best practice and some demonstrate the difficulties when design is ostensibly for cyclists but compromises, or isn’t thought through.
We welcome your suggestions of good and bad practice via the comments box on this page.
Cycle Hereford’s line is that we should have 20mph (or less!) where required by context (social, shopping, residential) or available roadspace. At 20mph or less there is time for all road users to negotiate. If there is a conflict between a metal-box-on-wheels and a pedestrian or cyclist, the chances that death or life-changing injury will result are much reduced.
Everywhere else there should be full width, continuous, properly designed and enforced cycle lanes. And these should be introduced in connection with the same high standard level of service for pedestrians. There should be ample space for both of these road user groups.
FREIBURG vindicates this approach. 28% of trips are made by bicycle, the second highest rate of cycling in Germany.
‘Perhaps most important, Freiburg’s cycling facilities have been fully integrated into a complete bikeway network that permits cyclists to ride on separate facilities or safe, lightly travelled streets [with 30kmh speed limits] between virtually any two points in the city.’
(Pucher, J. and Buehler, R., ‘Sustainable Transport that Works: Lessons from Germany’ in World Transport Policy and Practice Vol 15, Number 1, April 2009, pp 13-46)
[photos from Freiburg to come!]
Meanwhile
LONDON’S CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAYS have come in for some stick. This is a link to an article from Local Gov website. Its main interest is some very useful embedded video.
If you don’t know London well, are in a hurry and can put up with the buses, lorries, cabs and big cars, then the blue paint does guide you from A to B. But you are still dodging traffic, and relying on an incoherent and/or poorly understood or accepted system of signing as well, as as these videos indicate. (Still, it’s a very enjoyable novelty to be one among many cyclists.)
