snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
A quote from a Galway cycling campaign paper.
What is the function of cycle tracks/lanes?
Modern cycle tracks first began to be constructed on behalf of the car lobby in Germany and Holland in the 1920s. The UK car lobby adopted the idea in the 1930s. Cyclists were to be forced off the roads "for their own good" so that motorists could have high speed routes free of cyclists. At many locations this remains the primary function of cycle lanes and tracks.
So is there a role for cycle tracks/lanes in urban areas?
Yes, but only if they are meticulously designed and intended to solve some clearly defined problem. For instance cycleways (roads dedicated to cyclists) are extremely useful where they provide more direct routes or handy shortcuts. Cycle lanes/hard shouler markings might be useful if used to give cyclists more, rather than less, road space but this might be difficult for motorists to understand. At many locations simply enforcing parking restrictions could provide more space. Any local authority that constructs "cycle facilities" merely for the purpose of constructing 2cycle facilities" is just creating more problems for cyclists and ultimately adding to traffic congestion.
What is the function of cycle tracks/lanes?
Modern cycle tracks first began to be constructed on behalf of the car lobby in Germany and Holland in the 1920s. The UK car lobby adopted the idea in the 1930s. Cyclists were to be forced off the roads "for their own good" so that motorists could have high speed routes free of cyclists. At many locations this remains the primary function of cycle lanes and tracks.
So is there a role for cycle tracks/lanes in urban areas?
Yes, but only if they are meticulously designed and intended to solve some clearly defined problem. For instance cycleways (roads dedicated to cyclists) are extremely useful where they provide more direct routes or handy shortcuts. Cycle lanes/hard shouler markings might be useful if used to give cyclists more, rather than less, road space but this might be difficult for motorists to understand. At many locations simply enforcing parking restrictions could provide more space. Any local authority that constructs "cycle facilities" merely for the purpose of constructing 2cycle facilities" is just creating more problems for cyclists and ultimately adding to traffic congestion.
