But I am only going one way officer!!

[summerdays]

When I'm a pedestrian I always look 2 ways when I cross the road anyway... you never know when someone is reversing/going the wrong way etc...

Honestly I haven't had a problem with the roads I can think of in Bristol ... apart from one up in Filton/Patchway... (where they have no markings and parked cars down both sides) and St Marks in Easton (road is too narrow really). I can think of at least 7 in Bristol.

 

[LLB]

If it's a one-way street, pedestrians are probably only going to be looking in one direction before crossing the road.

Also, because this is only going to be in force in a few streets and won't be the norm, cyclists are going to be seen by most other road users as breaking the law, or someone's going to get "confused" (I'm being kind here) and ride the wrong way up all one way streets.

£45k to spend? How about some more bike parking, some low-level signage reminding cyclists they need lights at night or a campaign to increase driver awareness of cyclists?

Edit: I'm actually surprised that LCC are backing this. I was considering writing a mail to the City of London (I must be getting old) about this but since the LCC (i.e. a recognised cycling body) support it, it kind of cuts your argument short. In fact, I wrote the mail to the LCC instead, would like to hear their thoughts on this.

Agree with this 100%, It raises the risk with peds enormously. We have this on our high st where some cyclists ride the wrong way on the one way road and with buses coming the one way. A cycle increases mobility so, they should follow the one way system or get off and walk, it is just down to laziness at the end of the day. It is IMO a bad idea.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Agree with this 100%, It raises the risk with peds enormously. We have this on our high st where some cyclists ride the wrong way on the one way road and with buses coming the one way. A cycle increases mobility so, they should follow the one way system or get off and walk, it is just down to laziness at the end of the day. It is IMO a bad idea.

See, now I agree with you.

 

[snorri]

I cannot understand the concerns expressed about motor vehicle drivers being antagonised by cyclists going the "wrong" way in One Way streets, a system that greatly improves mobility and convenience for cyclists. Is it not long past the time for drivers to realise that roads are for everyone?
The exception for cyclist to One Way working appears to work well in other European countries including The Netherlands, although in that country cyclists tend to not be in such a rush as many of their UK counterparts.
http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/get...Safety/Photos--Amsterdam-Bike-Safety.--0_.htm

 

[LLB]

I cannot understand the concerns expressed about motor vehicle drivers being antagonised by cyclists going the "wrong" way in One Way streets, a system that greatly improves mobility and convenience for cyclists. Is it not long past the time for drivers to realise that roads are for everyone?
The exception for cyclist to One Way working appears to work well in the Netherlands, although in that country cyclists tend to not be in such a rush as many of their UK counterparts.
http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/get...Safety/Photos--Amsterdam-Bike-Safety.--0_.htm

For a system to work safely, whoever or whatever uses the roads must behave in a way which is consistent with the rules which others adhere to everyone knows what to expect.

Any deviation from this is a recipe for disaster and will just encourage the smidsy attitude.

 

[BentMikey]

I used to be against this idea, like Wafflycat, but I think I'm convinced that it probably is a good idea and I was wrong. More permeability is a good thing for cycling.

I don't buy the "it antagonises motorists" argument.

 

[LLB]

I used to be against this idea, like Wafflycat, but I think I'm convinced that it probably is a good idea and I was wrong. More permeability is a good thing for cycling.

I don't buy the "it antagonises motorists" argument.

When the regular rules of the road are bent in this manner, then the cyclists will suffer if they connect with the motorised vehicles. If cyclist connect with peds, then both cyclists and peds will suffer.

 

[John the Monkey]

It can be part of providing a better environment for bikes, but it's only part. In the absence of motorists accepting (rather than tolerating) our presence on the roads, and keeping their own knowledge of traffic law &c up to date, even reading the signs applying to the exemption. This is the sort of thing you bring in once proper enforcement of traffic law (for everyone) and driver education are in place (imo).

 

[theboytaylor]

It can be part of providing a better environment for bikes, but it's only part. In the absence of motorists accepting (rather than tolerating) our presence on the roads, and keeping their own knowledge of traffic law &c up to date, even reading the signs applying to the exemption. This is the sort of thing you bring in once proper enforcement of traffic law (for everyone) and driver education are in place (imo).

Quite. While I don't necessarily think that all motorists are knuckle draggers who resent anyone else being on their patch, a lot of people seem to just get in their cars and turn the key and just trundle off to work and don't necessarily notice/appreciate/respect the changes in road environment they go through. As with a lot of things it's much easier to remember the bad experiences than the good and I think that these encounters will generate a bad experience on all sides. Another one to add to "you all RLJ/ride on the pavement", etc, etc, etc.

I think the comparisons with other European cities, especially Amsterdam, are misleading - most European countries have this strange thing called an integrated transport system which means that all forms of travel are considered when implementing plans (plus I've seen many, many, morons cycling and driving in several cities - it's not just London). In the UK it's a dog's breakfast of plans, often on old routes, which means that you are always having to act to the detriment of one set of road users to "benefit" another set.

Finally, I don't know off-hand all of the roads that are in the trial but I can't imagine riding up Creechurch Lane the wrong way when there's a van/truck parked up delivering or actually heading towards me . There are some pretty nasty, narrow thoroughfares in the City.

 

[John the Monkey]

I think the comparisons with other European cities, especially Amsterdam, are misleading - most European countries have this strange thing called an integrated transport system which means that all forms of travel are considered when implementing plans (plus I've seen many, many, morons cycling and driving in several cities - it's not just London). In the UK it's a dog's breakfast of plans, often on old routes, which means that you are always having to act to the detriment of one set of road users to "benefit" another set.

This is true about European cities, although it wasn't always so. One of the interesting things about the Netherlands and Denmark (Amsterdam and Copenhagen being the prime examples) is that city planners made hugely unpopular decisions in the 1970s and had the will to stick to them. It's talked about in one of the early Bike to Work book podcasts, as I recall.

Exemptions like this (the "Sauf Cyclistes" signs you see in some cities in France, for example) work because they have a good environment for cycling (in terms of respect on the road &c), they aren't, I think, the cause of that. And given the stated aim of this proposal, I think the lack of that environment is what puts people off cycling to work, not that they can't ride down one way streets.

 

[Origamist]

Exemptions like this (the "Sauf Cyclistes" signs you see in some cities in France, for example) work because they have a good environment for cycling (in terms of respect on the road &c), they aren't, I think, the cause of that. And given the stated aim of this proposal, I think the lack of that environment is what puts people off cycling to work, not that they can't ride down one way streets.

Quite. It's the fear of traffic that deters many people from cycling. Even a lot of us who do cycle are not immune from the insidious belief that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity - hence why we take certain measures, be it: helmet use, Hi-Viz, cameras, 500 lumen front lights, etc - all of these are alien to the vast majority of cyclists in the Netherlands who simply do not feel threatened when they hop on a 3 speed hub roadster. It is this cultural /attitudinal difference to autocentricity/risk that we have to overcome in the UK. This can only be achieved with a hefty stick and juicy carrot...

 

[BentMikey]

Quite. It's the fear of traffic that deters many people from cycling. Even a lot of us who do cycle are not immune from the insidious belief that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity - hence why we take certain measures, be it: helmet use, Hi-Viz, cameras, 500 lumen front lights, etc - all of these are alien to the vast majority of cyclists in the Netherlands who simply do not feel threatened when they hop on a 3 speed hub roadster. It is this cultural /attitudinal difference to autocentricity/risk that we have to overcome in the UK. This can only be achieved with a hefty stick and juicy carrot...

I thought I'd highlight this - it's actually a very good post. I certainly feel intimidated by traffic, which is why I put a lot of effort into my cyclecraft (and still often get it wrong).

I'm not sure if my light counts, since I normally run it at 12 or 53 lumens, or the camera, but being on a recumbent definitely does. I love riding it because of the very noticeable effect it has on drivers. What do you think?

 

[Arch]

I cannot understand the concerns expressed about motor vehicle drivers being antagonised by cyclists going the "wrong" way in One Way streets, a system that greatly improves mobility and convenience for cyclists. Is it not long past the time for drivers to realise that roads are for everyone?
The exception for cyclist to One Way working appears to work well in other European countries including The Netherlands, although in that country cyclists tend to not be in such a rush as many of their UK counterparts.
http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/get...Safety/Photos--Amsterdam-Bike-Safety.--0_.htm

Ah, you are making the mistake of comparing this godforsaken (in cycling terms) country to somewhere like the Netherlands.

I'm not fussed about being able to cycle the wrong way - most of the streets in York that are one way are pretty narrow, and I wouldn't want to meet anything oncoming, and it's not much trouble to cycle round, or get off and walk. I agree it will lead to confusion at best, and yet more media cyclist bashing at worst.

 

[snorri]

Ah, you are making the mistake of comparing this godforsaken (in cycling terms) country to somewhere like the Netherlands.

I am aware of many of the differences and mentioned cyclist speed for starters.
Contraflow is not the answer for everywhere, but it has its uses in certain locations.

 

[Origamist]

Average speeds in the Netherlands are actually similar to this country at around 12mph. I know CycleChat commuters are a speedy bunch (EMD hit 35mph only this week) but not everyone who cycles is a wannabe Cancellara...