Daft cycle lane cut offs

Bunneh

One of the most dangerous roads I've been on is one called Manchester Road. The cycle lane stops and turns left into very fast traffic from a motorway/duel carriageway. Google Stree View doesn't do it justice; it's downright terrifying when you have to stop in the middle of the road to get into the cycle lane on the left.



Any bad lane ends you can think of?

bompington

There are whole websites out there devoted to cycle lane horror porn, just go googling

Bunneh

Why? I'm trying to start a topic. I'll google if I want porn, not if I want to chat with people who like cycling.

:roll:

spen666

Bunneh wrote:

Why? I'm trying to start a topic. I'll google if I want porn, not if I want to chat with people who like cycling.

:roll:

Straight over the head

Bunneh

Oi I'm still half a sleep from yesterday's partying!

...and I did a search and found plenty-o-sites, should keep me giggling for a while

Ben6899

Where's that cycle lane with "Cyclists Dismount" signs every 20m or so!? As someone who gets involved in public realm planning/design I despair at that one!

deptfordmarmoset

Ben6899 wrote:

Where's that cycle lane with "Cyclists Dismount" signs every 20m or so!? As someone who gets involved in public realm planning/design I despair at that one!

Is this the one? You might be thinking of a particularly daft one in London, though, but I can't remember where that one is.



It's on the http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/ site - their cycle facility of the month is always good for a combined laugh and weep.

freehub

Don't see the point in that cycle lane cut off in the first image tbh, if you're in that cycle lane, at the side of that lane, you should be able to carry on instead of having to cross a road, and then ride along that bit of road, that merges with the lane you've just come off!

Ben6899

That's the one! It's a beauty.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Bikerbaboon

both good nap D but this one takes the p1ss




or poop if needs be.

crumbschief

I had a little browse earlier and laughed,there are some crackers on there.

_Brun_

If you don't understand the point of the cycle lane arrangement in that first image you probably need to think a bit more carefully about your own safety.

Traffic coming down the sliproad at up to 70mph (guessing, by the apparent lack of signs saying otherwise) is going to have a hard time merging with cyclists doing ~20mph. The safest option therefore, inconvenient as it may be, is to get the bikes to stop and give way to other traffic. I can appreciate not feeling particularly secure while you're waiting, but it sure as hell sounds better than the alternative.

Haven't read Cycle Craft meself, but I'm pretty sure it advocates a similar strategy when dealing with fast filter lanes.

Bikerbaboon

_Brun_ wrote:

If you don't understand the point of the cycle lane arrangement in that first image you probably need to think a bit more carefully about your own safety.

Traffic coming down the sliproad at up to 70mph (guessing, by the apparent lack of signs saying otherwise) is going to have a hard time merging with cyclists doing ~20mph. The safest option therefore, inconvenient as it may be, is to get the bikes to stop and give way to other traffic. I can appreciate not feeling particularly secure while you're waiting, but it sure as hell sounds better than the alternative.

Haven't read Cycle Craft meself, but I'm pretty sure it advocates a similar strategy when dealing with fast filter lanes.

They should not be doing 70 at all down a slip road as for how that road is laid out slowing to a stop and sitting between 2 lanes of trafic is never nice or safe. I would also have though that there could well be a better layout than the one the OP has shown.

Bunneh

It's genuinely scary when I have to stop there. There's usually a good amount of cars whizzing behind and past me to the right, and then I have to slow to check what's coming from the left. I have got used to it but any novice cyclist would be advised to stay to the footpath which just over the fence nearby. I always start to slow just as I reach the crest of the hill behind, hitting around 10mph and checking for oncoming vehicles on the left. Even if there's nothing coming I stop because they come up that side road like oiled up fat guys down a waterslide.

Nearby there's a small subway that goes under the road and around over behind the fence shown. If traffic is very heavy I skip the road and use the subway, walking up and around to get past that lane. It's not a viable cycle lane due to it being too narrow and full glass, grit, drunk scallies and heavily pregnant 18 yr olds pushing 5 prams.

Lillywhite

Most of these cycling lanes and/or shared cycle and pedestrian arrangements appear to have been designed by someone who has no knowledge of cycling.
Many years ago when I in a local cycling club we were sent details of a proposed cycle path scheme and asked to comment. I had a long discussion with the County Council's Cycling Officer on the problems with their proposals. He accepted all the shortcomings but said we've only x pounds to spend and something is better than nothing. The scheme was built as designed and it's a complete waste of tax payers money. :evil:

iain_j

There's this pointless little effort on the A50 into Warrington:




These were countless last time I rode down the A6 round Disley - New Mills:




A591 into Ambleside, white van ahead demonstrating the problem...




And this stupid one near where my parents live. Two-way cycle lane on the right-hand side of the road. Cyclists going ahead in the direction this photo's taken are expected to cross to the other side of the road into this cycle lane, which only lasts 100 yards just to the other side of the pedestrian crossing (to the 3 white bollards you can just see) then cross back again

chris281192

i ride on the a6 between disley and new mills all the time.

There's a cracker in hazel grove if someone can enlighten me as to how to load up pics?

iain_j

A55 at Conwy, a motorway in all but name, 70mph traffic a few feet away. That little pavement at the side is a 2-way shared cycleway and walkway (see the blue sign) with occasional roadsigns taking up some of its space. Shocking.

iain_j

chris281192 wrote:

i ride on the a6 between disley and new mills all the time.

There's a cracker in hazel grove if someone can enlighten me as to how to load up pics?

I upload mine to flickr.com. Then view your photo on there, click "all sizes", copy the photo URL (below the photo, not from the address bar) and paste it on here between tags.

iain_j

And another :P

In Liverpool, used to be on my commute. Segregated cycle lanes at the traffic lights. The cycle lanes even have their own traffic lights which go green a few seconds before the main lights.

Looks good at first, but it's lethal if a cyclist is going straight on from the cycle lane and traffic turns left. I never use them.

iain_j

Tall riders beware!

Buckled_Rims

The reason there's so many stupid and dangerous cycle lanes is simply because the local council can say " we have xx miles of cycle tracks within our authority" and can probably claim more government money or funding. Even a 20 yard cycle track will count as a route :shock:

It's also the same as the council encouraging bushes near roundabouts. They stop a drivers view of the whole roundabout, presumingly to encourage a slow approach, however the driver cannot see a slow cyclist and pulls out in from of them because he's expecting a car doing 25+mph.

shouldbeinbed

ok I give up trying to post images from Google maps. click this for a nice slalom course

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=battersea+nine+elms+lane&sll=51.483321,-0.13263&sspn=0.002322,0.006968&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Nine+Elms+Ln,+Greater+London+SW8+5,+United+Kingdom&layer=c&cbll=51.483154,-0.133305&panoid=_tySEPerNGkdCLEVEbXKjg&cbp=12,51.76,,0,7.5&ll=51.4832,-0.133166&spn=0.018467,0.055747&z=15



theres similar ones at the bottom end of Broadway near Moston in Manchester where the 40mph signs block the bike lane a couple of yards from where it finishes. works of pure genius :roll:

Lillywhite

Buckled_Rims wrote:

The reason there's so many stupid and dangerous cycle lanes is simply because the local council can say " we have xx miles of cycle tracks within our authority" and can probably claim more government money or funding. Even a 20 yard cycle track will count as a route :shock:

That was the conclusion that I came to in my discussions with the County Council. :twisted:

morstar

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=wigan&sll=51.483154,-0.133305&sspn=0.001209,0.001542&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Wigan,+Lancashire,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.537934,-2.632956&spn=0,359.998458&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.537877,-2.633094&panoid=B43GQj2QdD5nlZAq5Neq9g&cbp=12,236.68,,0,5

This is my personal favourite. Doesn't come across fully on the photo but the cyclist is basically expected to join the road on the apex of the bend. If you scroll back round to the direction from which you've travelled, all the cars are already gunning it as two lanes narrow into one from a set of lights. The idea that you could actually merge with traffic is f**kin mental. As the cycle lane only continues for 10 yards on the road, it should have just ended on the pavement to remove any illusion of safety it may provide.

deptfordmarmoset

And this junction has killed a cyclist and maimed a motorcyclist within the last year. Underneath the silver car, yes, it's a cycle lane. Underneath the white van, you guessed it, it's an ASL. Though you can see a road straight ahead, all traffic is forced into a sharp left and then a right under the overpass before getting there so you've got large vehicles turning left, two abreast, and many not indicating because they're actually intending to reach the straight road up ahead.

Never think cycle lanes are there for cyclists' safety - it's an A&E lane.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=woolwich+road,+SE10&sll=53.537877,-2.633095&sspn=0.001025,0.00169&g=Wigan,+Lancashire,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Woolwich+Rd,+London+SE10,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.486582,0.018646&spn=0.000268,0.000422&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=51.486582,0.018646&panoid=s6Kh20JV6G_isbMdowjTEg&cbp=12,267.09,,0,29.57