What single piece of road design does most to put people off cycling? For us, it might be the traffic island pinch point.
The problem with the traffic island (also known as a pedestrian refuge or ‘Death Island’!) for cyclists is that faced with a bicycle ahead of them, many drivers will race ahead to squeeze through the small gap creating a dangerous situation for the cyclist. Cycle training teaches riders to think ahead in these situations and ride in the middle of the lane – a technique which requires experience, skill and bravery when traffic speeds are high.
In practice, refuge islands are second best for both cyclists and pedestrians. They are car-oriented infrastructure as they encourage pedestrians to wait their turn. Either too few vehicles use a stretch of road to warrant a crossing or there’s enough traffic to mean pedestrians need help and a zebra or puffin should be installed.
What single piece of road design do you think does most to put people off cycling?
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What single piece of road design does most to put people off cycling?
For us, it might be the traffic island pinch point… pic.twitter.com/Tz9kFw5Fae
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Russ Taylor
I agree with the pinch-point statement having been hit by a car in such circumstances. Miraculously I wasn’t badly hurt and even stayed on my bike, but the car that sped off had its LH mirror dangling by a wire after the encounter!
Jen
Agreed on this. We have two pinch points near a school around the corner from me. They are on quite a steep hill just past a busy junction. A lot of parents park on double yellows on the same stretch making it quite scary for pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers can and do speed up on the hill, not do much cyclists! I take the lane but feel the wrath of some drivers who speed up angrily as soon as they can… thankfully most drivers do act with courtesy and safety…..
Chris Beazer
“Pedestrian refuges” are a very dangerous piece of road furniture and, where I live, several new ones are being planned. As a member of the local cycling organisation I receive design plans for comment – the recent ones have no dimensions indicated on them so it’s impossible to be constructive or otherwise. This is the usual standard of “consultation” that we get from the local highways department. When approaching such a “facility” I invariably move into the centre of my lane and frequently experience the hostility of motorists who cannot see beyond what’s just in front of their noses.