Cycle Super-Highways

[Origamist]

Not good news:

Cycle superhighways

Question No: 891 / 2010

Jenny Jones

A constituent has noticed that in recent publications on cycle superhighways, a picture of a bus lane was featured of which half was the blue cycle superhighway, which effectively cuts the space cyclists currently have in half. Can the Mayor either explain in what way this benefits cyclists or confirm that the artists impression is an error end these features won't be introduced?

Answer from the Mayor:

Where a 3m bus lane exists on the route of a Cycle Superhighway, a 1.5m wide band of blue colour will be located on the inside of the lane to provide recognition and continuity. This will not prohibit cyclists from using other parts of the bus lane should they prefer to do so. Customer research showed this approach to be preferable in terms of safety, way finding and attractiveness.

Where the width of a bus lane allows (4m or wider) a dedicated cycle lane will be provided within the bus lane to separate cyclists from buses.

 

[Origamist]

Not really a cycling revolution:

Cycling Super Highways

Question No: 1179 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

A constituent of mine has a number of questions about the proposed Cycling Super
Highways

(a) Will they be shared with buses?

( Will they operate 24 hours?

(c) Are there any parking restrictions?

(d) What happens when you get into central London?

(e) Will there be cameras similar to bus lane cameras to stop cars from driving
in them?

(f) Who gets priority when they cross a road or junction?

Answer from the Mayor:

a. Cyclists are currently permitted to use bus lanes, and this arrangement will not change with the introduction of Cycle Superhighways. Where space exists, a dedicated cycle lane will be included within the bus lane to separate cyclists from buses.

b. Cycle Superhighways will operate 24 hours. However, they are targeted at commuter cyclists, so where there is off-peak parking and loading, in general this will continue to be permissible.

c. No new parking restrictions are being introduced as a result of Cycle
Superhighways. More than 80% of the first two routes will operate on TLRN red routes, or segregated cycle track, where parking and loading are already either removed or strictly controlled. Where it exists, some parking and loading is being moved off carriageway to provide a clearer route for cyclists.

d. The Cycle Superhighways aim to bring cyclists from commuter hubs into
dispersal "work end" destinations in the central zone. Here cyclists can join existing cycling and road infrastructure to continue their journey. The routes will be clearly signed from central London.

e. No additional CCTV is being introduced as part of the Cycle Superhighways project, although a proportion of the routes are already covered by CCTV. Plans for increased enforcement are being prepared for the launch of the Cycle Superhighway pilot routes.

f. Cyclists and general traffic must continue to obey traffic regulations at
junctions, and give way to each other as appropriate. The blue lanes marked through junctions will provide a clear space for cyclists and raise awareness of their presence in the general traffic.

 

[Origamist]

Better news on ASL enforcement:

Cycling Superhighways 2

Question No: 1180 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

A constituent asks me to ask you ' Q Cycling Superhighways. "Will motorbikes use the Cycle Superhighways as they currently do with cycle lanes, and illegally with ASLs? How will this be enforced?"

Answer from the Mayor:

Cycle Superhighways are not designed to be used by motorbikes. However, I am not planning to take any decisions on whether to amend road traffic regulations for bus lanes to allow permament use by motorcycles (including bus lanes on planned or proposed cycle superhighways) until the results of the motorcycle in bus lanetrial study become available. With regard to ASL's, plans for increased enforcement are being prepared for the launch of the Cycle superhighways pilot routes.

 

[Origamist]

A few hints on changes to Oval and Stockwell:

The Cycle Superhighway through the Oval 2

Question No: 1187 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

The Oval junction is notorious for cycle casualties. Given that many experienced cyclists find the area intimidating what works will be carried out as part of the Cycle Super Highway scheme to address safety and encourage new cyclists?

Answer from the Mayor:

At Kennington and Oval, Cycle Superhighways proposals include a realignment of traffic lanes and bus lanes to allow for safer cyclist movement southbound, particularly in relation to reducing conflict with left turning vehicles at Brixton Road.

Northbound proposals include a cycle lane which will feed into the Advanced Stop Line at the Oval Junction and the cycle lane will be marked through the junction to feed directly into a further cycle lane on the north side.

*

The Cycle Superhighway through the Oval 3

Question No: 1188 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

The Department For Transport has stated that gyratories like the one at
Stockwell Triangle cannot be made safe for cycling. How will the Cycle Super Highway tackle this?

Answer from the Mayor:

The Cycle Superhighways proposal at Stockwell Gyratory involves the two lanes heading northbound for the A3 being reduced to one lane for motor traffic, to reduce potential conflict between motorists and cyclists. Cyclists will continue onto a new 1.5m blue lane separated from general traffic on one side by a barrier; a further protected cycle lane is proposed at the junction parallel to Stockwell Terrace.

 

[HJ]

These Cycle Superhighways are a great way to make London a laughing stock around the world, see here and here, well done Boris!!

 

[style over speed]

A few hints on changes to Oval and Stockwell:Question No: 1188 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

The Department For Transport has stated that gyratories like the one at
Stockwell Triangle cannot be made safe for cycling. How will the Cycle Super Highway tackle this?

Answer from the Mayor:

The Cycle Superhighways proposal at Stockwell Gyratory involves the two lanes heading northbound for the A3 being reduced to one lane for motor traffic, to reduce potential conflict between motorists and cyclists. Cyclists will continue onto a new 1.5m blue lane separated from general traffic on one side by a barrier; a further protected cycle lane is proposed at the junction parallel to Stockwell Terrace.

a raised barrier and narrow lane sounds really bad... is stockwell that grim? I don't have any problems with it unlike the Oval junction which is really terrible from all approaches.

Anyway Stockwell could easily be made safe for cyclists with extra large ASLs some way in front of the traffic and a dedicated cyclists green phase of the lights a few seconds before the green light for motorised traffic.

Of course the DoT cannot see this because they have neither the capability or intelligence to do so.

 

[Origamist]

a raised barrier and narrow lane sounds really bad... is stockwell that grim? I don't have any problems with it unlike the Oval junction which is really terrible from all approaches.

Anyway Stockwell could easily be made safe for cyclists with extra large ASLs some way in front of the traffic and a dedicated cyclists green phase of the lights a few seconds before the green light for motorised traffic.

Of course the DoT cannot see this because they have neither the capability or intelligence to do so.

I'm having problems visualising what they have planned for Stockwell.

Multi-lane mayhem and swiping are fundamental problems with Stockwell gyratory, particulalrly going south where you have to negotiate out of the Brixton lane into Clapham lane if you want to go straight ahead. Oval is indeed a nightmare for cyclists, and worse than Stockwell...

A dedicated green phase has its benefits, but it does not help cyclists who miss it. That said, I used a dedicated green phase with no problem in NY earlier this month:

 

[gaz]

New video.. most of the route 7 southbound -
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQDNIalvoqQ

 

[style over speed]

New video.. most of the route 7 southbound -
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQDNIalvoqQ

its such a shame... those bits of blue paint are so obviously crap, and there seems to be no mechanism for suggesting improvements to them.

 

[BentMikey]

Can't believe how narrow they are and they try to claim this is a super highway? It's not even a 'kin footpath, much less a highway or a SUPER one. Completely to the left through junctions, teaching cyclists to ride in the most dangerous bit instead of taking the lane through each and every junction.

 

[ianrauk]

I can't believe the amount of pavement cyclists?

New video.. most of the route 7 southbound -
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQDNIalvoqQ

 

[gaz]

I can't believe the amount of pavement cyclists?

Oh yes, it's very busy around here with traffic and plenty of cyclists, the junction needs a complete re-design if the pavement cycling is to stop.

 

[Origamist]

Gaz's vid is now here too:

http://road.cc/content/news/16685-v...ndonMayorBoristriestopuzzleitoutwithbluepaint

 

[gaz]

Gaz's vid is now here too:

http://road.cc/content/news/16685-v...ndonMayorBoristriestopuzzleitoutwithbluepaint

It's certainly getting exposure... 1600 views in 1 week.

 

[gaz]

More paint layed down last night in tooting. With some wider sections in parking spaces. Will get some footage up tonight