Traffic Islands - A cyclists enemy?

Eat My Dust

I've noticed that almost every near miss or argument I've had with drivers happens at traffic islands, is this just me, or are they a total hazard to cyclists? You know the situation, car is trying to overtake, oncoming traffic island!!!!!! Oh my god, they have to SLOW down, next thing you know, you're a drivers worst enemy!!!!

mazcp

Deffo hazardous. I got squeezed against the kerb and knocked over at one such place...driver thought she had room to overtake me before the roundabout...I've since learnt to move into primary a lot earlier!

janm399

Same here; I move to primary and then make a point of visibly moving to secondary. If I do that, most of the drivers understand that I haven't done it only to slow them down; plus I usually keep at about 25 mph, so they don't actually get slowed down that much.

lateralus

Now I think about it, this is definitely true. There's one straight road on my commute with 2 traffic islands, and the majority of my near misses happen at those 2 spots. If you don't take primary, they regard it as an invitation. Never mind that I always catch and pass them in the queues at either end of the road, those 3 seconds are important! :roll:

Kaipaith

Being relatively new to the commuting game, I haven't had too much of a run-in with these yet, but the only time I've thought they were particularly dangerous has been when there is a cycle lane and a traffic island on a narrow road. The cycle lane effectively forces the cyclists to keep well to the left, leaving not quite enough room for a car to get through.

I often wonder how many try anyway.

domtyler

These things are lethal to cyclists, you must be in primary well before reaching one and even that is not a guarantee.

Kaipath - I urge you to not stay in the cycle path going past these things, you will end up squashed into the kerb one time. Take the middle of the lane and block anyone in a car from overtaking at this point.
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M40

Kaipaith

domtyler wrote:

Kaipath - I urge you to not stay in the cycle path going past these things, you will end up squashed into the kerb one time. Take the middle of the lane and block anyone in a car from overtaking at this point.

There are a few (I'll see if I can remember exactly where, and take a picture) where the cycle lane lasts for no further than the traffic island itself - this is what I mean by effectively forcing the cyclist into the lane. I think I saw them in the Twyford area. I will head over and take a look and a picture if correct.

graeme_s-2

Kaipaith wrote:

domtyler wrote:

Kaipath - I urge you to not stay in the cycle path going past these things, you will end up squashed into the kerb one time. Take the middle of the lane and block anyone in a car from overtaking at this point.

There are a few (I'll see if I can remember exactly where, and take a picture) where the cycle lasts for no further than the traffic island itself - this is what I mean by effectively forcing the cyclist into the lane. I think I saw them in the Twyford area. I will head over and take a look and a picture if correct.

Just ignore the lane, you're not forced to use it wherever it is. You can (and imo should) choose to ride in the primary position through these islands.

The road that leads to the building I work in has these along it and I've had all sorts of weird and wonderful incidents, including one, where I moved into primary at the same moment as the guy behind me decided to accelerate to pass me, he had to dive round the wrong side of the island to avoid hitting me, and a car coming the other way had to come to almost a complete halt to avoid a head on collision.

I had a word with him when I caught him at the back of the inevitable queue that he was stuck in. After a quick chat he did seem to understand that I'd moved across because there wasn't room for him to pass me through the narrow gap, but he ended up saying "all right mate, no one died did they?" I left it at that, but I couldn't help thinking that if someone had died it would have been me, not him.

graeme_s-2

Oh - and these things make filtering through a queue of traffic a total pain in the arse as well. I normally have to join the queue just before each island and move through the gap with the rest of the traffic, then sprint down and do the same at the next one. Sometimes if the other lane is free I'll just use the wrong side of the road and go round them.

ddraver

yep get into primary way beforehand, i ve had several people go round them the other side, but that usually gives the cyclist (me), plenty of time to get out of the way if they were to hit someone coming the other way

they would have to be particularly stupid to do that though

Eat My Dust

domtyler wrote:

These things are lethal to cyclists, you must be in primary well before reaching one and even that is not a guarantee.

yup, this morning had an incident that escalated into a driver giving me death threats for "being in the middle of the road" at the traffic island.

dazzawazza

I haven't driven a car for 5 years. Can someone please remind me why traffic islands exist?

Eat My Dust

dazzawazza wrote:

I haven't driven a car for 5 years. Can someone please remind me why traffic islands exist?

I think they are for pedestrians who are too stupid to cross a whole road in one go!!

PrettyBoyTim

As a pedestrian I resent that comment!

Eat My Dust

PrettyBoyTim wrote:

As a pedestrian I resent that comment!

Why, are you too stupid to cross a whole road at once?

PrettyBoyTim

I can cross a whole road at once, but it's quicker if I only have to wait for a suitable hole in the traffic one side at a time.

It's also a lot nicer to be able to do that if you happen to be crossing with children.

Hairy Jock

Traffic islands are defiantly a threat to cyclist and local authorities can be made to change them to make them more cycle friendly. I know that Midlothian Council was taken to court over this issue was forced to change them so that cyclist are explicitly given priority where there is a restriction.

Flycatcher

PrettyBoyTim wrote:

I can cross a whole road at once, but it's quicker if I only have to wait for a suitable hole in the traffic one side at a time.

It's also a lot nicer to be able to do that if you happen to be crossing with children.

Spot on.

Buggi

when moving into primary position, i make sure i look at the driver behind when indicating to come out, and turn the palm of my hand towards them as if telling them to slow down; and then i make sure i thank them with a thumbs up... this makes them feel pleased with themselves for slowing down and letting you in, and thus less likely to make a stupid move around you. works 9 times out of 10 for me.

BentMikey

PrettyBoyTim wrote:

I can cross a whole road at once, but it's quicker if I only have to wait for a suitable hole in the traffic one side at a time.

It's also a lot nicer to be able to do that if you happen to be crossing with children.

Thirded.

CarKiller

Hairy Jock wrote:

Traffic islands are defiantly a threat to cyclist and local authorities can be made to change them to make them more cycle friendly. I know that Midlothian Council was taken to court over this issue was forced to change them so that cyclist are explicitly given priority where there is a restriction.

Hm. And I bet it did no good at all.

Drivers still speed, yack on their phones, run red lights, and kill and maim.

All illegal, but what the hell, we don't want a "war on the hard pressed motorist"!

Hairy Jock

CarKiller wrote:

Hairy Jock wrote:

Traffic islands are defiantly a threat to cyclist and local authorities can be made to change them to make them more cycle friendly. I know that Midlothian Council was taken to court over this issue was forced to change them so that cyclist are explicitly given priority where there is a restriction.

Hm. And I bet it did no good at all.

Drivers still speed, yack on their phones, run red lights, and kill and maim.

All illegal, but what the hell, we don't want a "war on the hard pressed motorist"!

Actually it has made the road a lot safer for cyclists, which was a surprise as Midlothian is a very car friendly Council. It was only by concerted lobbying that they were forced to change, but when the change was made it did have an effect.

llanberispass

I have just had an 'incident' at a traffic island (which I could also have posted in WVM).

Coming out of Lymm towards Warrington there is a traffic island (with barriers to form a refuge), which reduces the road substantially. Preceding it is a right turn (with own lane). Several motorists have in the past gone head on into this refuge. Being Warrington it remains in a bent state for some time.

This morning I was approaching it, looked over shoulder and saw WVM in right turn lane. Got to island and realised he was actually going straight on. Somewhow he got past me before the island and thro. I saluted him for his courage. He slowed down and shouted 'get off the road you nob'. Wonderful.

Why are our islands inhabited by so many lower order primates.

These devices should all have signs before stating give way to cyclists, horses and whatever. We have signs for everything else after all.

Eat My Dust

llanberispass wrote:

These devices should all have signs before stating give way to cyclists, horses and whatever. We have signs for everything else after all.

lol, I'm sure half of the people driving out there can't even read!! What difference would a sign make anyway? I see loads of signs that say "30" on them, these appear to be invisible to all but a few motorists!

AndyGates

What's the problem? Get in the middle of the lane early and block the driver. If he wants to crash into the barrier, that's his problem.

They don't run up your arse. Don't be initmidated. Take the lane.

PrettyBoyTim

Given the choice between hitting the barrier and the bike, I imagine many would choose the bike.

llanberispass

I was in the middle of the lane and he did nearly crash into the barrier! I think thats why he called me a nob.

Eat My Dust

AndyGates wrote:

What's the problem? Get in the middle of the lane early and block the driver. If he wants to crash into the barrier, that's his problem.

They don't run up your ars*. Don't be initmidated. Take the lane.

As I previous posted this is what I did. Ended up with death threat from the driver, lots of slamming on of brakes, wheelspinning, swerving about the road!!! Just your general fanny behaviour!!

adifiddler

I would like to make a point about any new road schemes and often old ones.

The local authority's by law can only add a new traffic scheme after a period of public consultation many authority's do not do this so if a new scheme dose appear and you find it at all dangerous complain and ask to see the results of the public consultation for that scheme. If there is not one you can complain to the ombudsman and often the scheam will be removed very quickly.

This goes for cycle paths as well.

AndyGates

PrettyBoyTim wrote:

Given the choice between hitting the barrier and the bike, I imagine many would choose the bike.

They hit the BRAKES.

Really, they do. Hitting you would scratch their paint.

Tough it out. Stare 'em down. Don't be scared.

Gilbs

That's right, for all the threats & brave talk most of the idiots don't want their paint scratched! Beware shabby looking cars though. I was once dragged along by one when he squeezed me against the kerb & hooked my 'bar with a door handle.