Dutch roads authorities

[snorri]

These people annoy me, they're just so darned sensible.
http://popupcity.net/rotterdam-traffic-light-prioritizes-cyclists-when-it-rains/

 

[sidevalve]

Nice idea - but over here ? How long before some muppet decides to use a squeegee of water and starts trying to 'cheat' the system. A fine game for the kiddies too. No like many other ideas it wont work here because we are seemingly unable to just do it right.

 

[steveindenmark]

Thats funny.

We have an excellent cycling structure in Denmark, just as the Dutch have.

But when it comes to weather the Danes national motto could be " there is no bad weather, just bad clothes".

The wind and rain doesnt bother them when it comes to cycling. It has been grim here today but there are plenty of cyclists past the window. When I say 'cyclists', I mean people on bikes and not the lycra clad brigade. Just people going about their normal days on bikes.

 

[mjr]

Lots of UK infrastructure is eminently playable, but people mostly only bother when something isn't working properly. I don't see why this would be any different.

 

[Dayvo]

That's all well and good, but if you have lights at a crossroads and there are cyclist waiting at all four sets, how would it work then?

 

[steveindenmark]

That's all well and good, but if you have lights at a crossroads and there are cyclist waiting at all four sets, how would it work then?

And they all spray the sensors with water bottles at the same time.

 

[snorri]

Nice idea - but over here ? How long before some muppet decides to use a squeegee of water and starts trying to 'cheat' the system. A fine game for the kiddies too. No like many other ideas it wont work here because we are seemingly unable to just do it right.

O ye of little faith .

 

[annedonnelly]

I think it's a nice idea @snorri and there should be similar for pedestrians. It's much kinder to let the people who are actually getting wet to hurry on their way rather than those sitting in tin boxes and spraying water everywhere as they fly through puddles.

 

[totallyfixed]

The first time we cycled through Nijmegen we came across several sets of lights that very fortunately turned green just as we got there, it was only later that our friends who we were staying with explained that there was a sensor that changed the cyclist lights to green as you approached. Lovely.
The reason none of these brilliant ideas will work in the UK is because people say they won't. Sigh.

 

[summerdays]

The first time we cycled through Nijmegen we came across several sets of lights that very fortunately turned green just as we got there, it was only later that our friends who we were staying with explained that there was a sensor that changed the cyclist lights to green as you approached. Lovely.
The reason none of these brilliant ideas will work in the UK is because people say they won't. Sigh.

I have a set on my commute that were changed this year to detect cyclists and they seem to be green for the cycle path most of the time.

They supposedly did the same at the next set of lights so they detect the cyclist too but I've yet to notice them helping, but it has a large car flow, and I'm not convinced they have set the sequencing correctly.

 

[sidevalve]

I have a set on my commute that were changed this year to detect cyclists and they seem to be green for the cycle path most of the time.

They supposedly did the same at the next set of lights so they detect the cyclist too but I've yet to notice them helping, but it has a large car flow, and I'm not convinced they have set the sequencing correctly.

They will have done a study of the number of cyclists / number of other vehicles and set the timings accordingly. 5 - 6 cyclists vs 1-200 vehicles. It is not some anti cyclist thing simply catering for the greater need [of course if you are so held up for so long why not just hop off and walk over the junction anyhow ? If it's quicker to wait then the delay can't all that long can it ?]

 

[mjr]

They will have done a study of the number of cyclists / number of other vehicles and set the timings accordingly. 5 - 6 cyclists vs 1-200 vehicles. It is not some anti cyclist thing simply catering for the greater need

But it is anti cyclist to prioritise motorists over cyclists always. Even weighting them the same debatably is.

[of course if you are so held up for so long why not just hop off and walk over the junction anyhow ? If it's quicker to wait then the delay can't all that long can it ?]

Firstly, you may not know how long you have to wait and incorrectly decide to do so. Secondly, there may be the small matter of motorists on a conflicting movement speeding past a green light. Thirdly, not all cyclists can push their cycles easily. And finally, "hop off and walk" indicates anti cycling: imagine the ranting if you tell motorists to get out and push!

 

[summerdays]

They will have done a study of the number of cyclists / number of other vehicles and set the timings accordingly. 5 - 6 cyclists vs 1-200 vehicles. It is not some anti cyclist thing simply catering for the greater need [of course if you are so held up for so long why not just hop off and walk over the junction anyhow ? If it's quicker to wait then the delay can't all that long can it ?]

It's a motorway slip road so I tend to wait , sometimes there are up to about 8 or 10 waiting to cross in the morning. The reason I say the timings appear wrong as you will see cars held back on the roundabout when the waiting cyclists don't get a corresponding green light. End result cyclists carry on as they did before, going for the gap between different green lights for the cars.

The other set is lovely now I'm getting used to it, so often set to red for the cars, but it does have far fewer cars going along that lane of the cross roads.

It would be nice to see that rolled out to more junctions where appropriate.