Berkshire research

[Chainring]

Going Dutch? Berkshire site tests Netherlands cycling model | Life and style | The Guardian

Found this today. Think what we could have if the fifty billion were to be spent on this, and not on a new railway line...

 

[flecc]

This was featured on TV a couple of weeks or so ago and it wasn't all good news. Many cyclists and drivers were confused and at risk of collision and one of the cyclists deliberately ignored the cycle route, cutting straight through the most direct traffic lanes for the quickest crossing.

Some of the article is misleading too, the mention of Boris Johnson's plan going ahead in London is rubbish since it's an unfunded pipedream with almost no possibility of any of it happening.

At least HS2 will be heavily used, in Britain these cycle schemes will be as empty as over 90% of all the cycle lanes and paths are.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I partly agree with what you're saying, Flecc, but the reason most cycle lanes and paths don't work is because they're not fully integrated, and they don't give cyclists priority. Even for the better ones, you've got to run the gauntlet of normal traffic to get to them, and then again to get from them to your final destination.

We have loads of cycle lanes here in Telford, but they're all over-run by pedestrians, dogs, glass, weeds and tree roots, and you have to stop and wait every time there's a side road or roundabout (where you wait several times), so it's a lot safer and easier to use the roads.

IMHO, cycle lanes need to be properly segregated from pedestrians and motor vehicles. It'll never happen in my lifetime, but anything they can do to that end is a bonus.

 

[jazper53]

What about tunnels or flyovers for cyclist and pedestrians at main junctions roundabouts etc that was integrated with cycle paths/lanes ?

 

[flecc]

I partly agree with what you're saying, Flecc, but the reason most cycle lanes and paths don't work is because they're not fully integrated, and they don't give cyclists priority. Even for the better ones, you've got to run the gauntlet of normal traffic to get to them, and then again to get from them to your final destination.

We have loads of cycle lanes here in Telford, but they're all over-run by pedestrians, dogs, glass, weeds and tree roots, and you have to stop and wait every time there's a side road or roundabout (where you wait several times), so it's a lot safer and easier to use the roads.

IMHO, cycle lanes need to be properly segregated from pedestrians and motor vehicles. It'll never happen in my lifetime, but anything they can do to that end is a bonus.

Totally agree Dave, the position is largely the same in my area with little sensible integration. The other problem which most areas suffer from is the lack of cycle path maintenance and sweeping.

 

[flecc]

What about tunnels or flyovers for cyclist and pedestrians at main junctions roundabouts etc that was integrated with cycle paths/lanes ?

If big money is to be spent, I'd rather see the roundabouts etc elevated for motor vehicles to cross the hump, rather than cyclists having added "hills". Roundabouts are often elevated at motorway junctions so it's commonplace design and construction. Good way to slow traffic too!