Awfully designed cycle lane

[Matthew_T]

During todays 50 mile ride, I popped into McD's for a muffin (dont start!). As I continued on my way, upon leaving a roundabout I noticed a narrow cycle lane to the left.
The road was a smooth bridge with double white lines in the middle. However, it was a busy road and was wide enough to allow safe overtakes.

So after quickly pondering whether to take primary, I decided on giving the cycle lane a go. The main reason being that there are no cycle lanes in NW so I thought I would see how good the council's attempt at one was.
The lane hugged the gutter so I opted to stay in secondary near the solid white line that bordered the lane. All was going well until I noticed it didnt continue around the roundabout ahead. So I signaled and waited for the car behind to let me out.

Now, what I then saw just appalled me. The white line which had bordered the lane, just dived into the kerb. There were no "Lane Ends" signs, or "Cyclists Dismount" signs or even a dropped kerb to allow cyclists to join the path (which would have been illegal at this point).

It takes some explaining to show how badly designed the cycle lane was so here is the video of it:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLFb8t8VNzg

 

[Profpointy]

to be fair, nearly all are badly designed, and as a rule worse than useless.

 

[gaz]

tl;dr - cycle lane is crap.

 

[G3CWI]

Waste of money = that one, not all

 

[theFire]

Reminds me a bit of this cycle lane:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp0LQ7WlJQ0


(it is a cycle lane, prior to where I join it there are cycle markings and signs saying this)

 

[Matthew_T]

Reminds me a bit of this cycle lane:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp0LQ7WlJQ0


(it is a cycle lane, prior to where I join it there are cycle markings and signs saying this)

Its very similar!

No wonder there are no cycle lanes in NW. The council is just awful at making them.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

plenty of them like that around here as well. thankfully the vehicle drivers around here seem to understand a cyclist has to go somewhere (unlike the road planners) and accept it.

 

[derrick]

That's how they are everywhere i have been, saying that the one's in Chingford cannot be used because all the cars park in them,

 

[addictfreak]

Most of the on road cycle lanes I come across end abruptly with no warning. A lot of work still required I'm afraid.

 

[Amanda P]

Both of those look like what are (apparently) called flank lanes - not officially part of the carriageway at all, just a margin left at the edge to catch rubbish and so that vehicles don't drive right up on the edge of the tarmac and squish it over the edge of its foundations. In the first case, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to put a little bike icon on it, but didn't think it through.

 

[theFire]

Both of those look like what are (apparently) called flank lanes - not officially part of the carriageway at all, just a margin left at the edge to catch rubbish and so that vehicles don't drive right up on the edge of the tarmac and squish it over the edge of its foundations. In the first case, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to put a little bike icon on it, but didn't think it through.

Sounds about right, use it as a cycle lane as an after thought. There are bike icons painted on the road further back on the video I posted, Street view link:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ch...d=UUqysZrz4Yrk9X-xiAnD5Q&cbp=12,88.36,,1,8.63

What I should also point out is where it ends is pretty much exactly where the council border is and changes from Surrey to Kingston-upon-Thames, which I expect has something to do with it.

 

[Birchy]

That's how they are everywhere i have been, saying that the one's in Chingford cannot be used because all the cars park in them,

Sounds like the ones near me. Cycle lanes both sides, and cars parked nose to tail all the way along

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I've come across those sort of lanes too, not exclusive to North Wales I'm afraid

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I've come across those sort of lanes too, not exclusive to North Wales I'm afraid

or to the UK.

 

[snapper_37]

This is one of Wolverhampton's efforts at a cycle lane - used by me every day. Designers obviously were aware of the door zone (not). Surprisingly enough, I don't use them.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=sil...panoid=JLd66RKhl-sEtzGi0R6Qcg&cbp=12,135,,0,0