Not just London thats had a rise in Cyclists!

[downfader]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8979754.City_s_cycling_rise_bucks_trend/

Very proud. I have seen a fair few extra cyclists (even through the winter). People are seeing the benefits, just this morning I got a wave and a fair few nods off other cyclists. People are looking happy.

 

[HLaB]

They obviously haven't looked far, according to the now defunct Cycling England in their 6 demonstration towns cycling rose by 27%, Ok it was from a low base but it was still a rise. Further afield for you, closer to home for me cycling has risen in Edinburgh (2,000 Edinburgh residents commuted by bike (1.4% of the population) in 1981 and it is currently estimated that 7,250 (4.9%) cycle to work, CEC ATAP 2010). I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of other examples too.

 

[downfader]

They obviously haven't looked far, according to the now defunct Cycling England in their 6 demonstration towns cycling rose by 27%, Ok it was from a low base but it was still a rise. Further afield for you, closer to home for me cycling has risen in Edinburgh (2,000 Edinburgh residents commuted by bike (1.4% of the population) in 1981 and it is currently estimated that 7,250 (4.9%) cycle to work, CEC ATAP 2010). I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of other examples too.

London has had the biggest rise. I forget the numbers but I think its doubled in the past couple of years. I've seen lots of footage and pictures of London and its close to critical mass. Boris has made a mistake by not sorting out one or two of the Cycle Superhighways as cycle only imo. It would free up the surrounding roads for motor traffic, too.

I still think 15% has been a great increase for us though.

 

[HLaB]

I still think 15% has been a great increase for us though.

Like most cycling stats it'll be from a low base but compared to the national average of 2% staying stable (or a 15% decline from 1957) thats a great achievement Southampton.

 

[gaz]

Boris has made a mistake by not sorting out one or two of the Cycle Superhighways as cycle only imo. It would free up the surrounding roads for motor traffic, too.

Boris has very little to do with the actual planning of the superhighways.
It's basically a war within TFL, those who are cycling pro vs those who are car pro. And we are ending up with a compromise from the two, which is basically a cycle lane on the left, some blue paint in the bus lane and increased ASL's which are ignored at the same level by motorists. What the superhighways don't do is challenge any of the common issues that cyclists face e.g. left hooks.
Ok there are a few places where there have been a compromise for motorised vehicles, stockwell for example and along clapham common the lanes have been reduced. But in both cases the cyclists have been moved to the side i.e out of the way of the motorised vehicles.

As i recently said we are being sold a fairytale

[/rant]

 

[downfader]

Boris has very little to do with the actual planning of the superhighways.
It's basically a war within TFL, those who are cycling pro vs those who are car pro. And we are ending up with a compromise from the two, which is basically a cycle lane on the left, some blue paint in the bus lane and increased ASL's which are ignored at the same level by motorists. What the superhighways don't do is challenge any of the common issues that cyclists face e.g. left hooks.
Ok there are a few places where there have been a compromise for motorised vehicles, stockwell for example and along clapham common the lanes have been reduced. But in both cases the cyclists have been moved to the side i.e out of the way of the motorised vehicles.

As i recently said we are being sold a fairytale

[/rant]

I caught myself wtching the Wright Stuff on c5 the other day (throws up!) and even they said the same. Its not working. I think planners have to realise that when cyclists are over a certain volume then things flow better and safer with proper segregation.

 

[gaz]

How to design junctions with segregation - an interesting watch.
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlApbxLz6pA[/media]

 

[dellzeqq]

How to design junctions with segregation - an interesting watch.
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlApbxLz6pA[/media]

I think that's bonkers, Gaz - and not a little uncivilised. Bonkers because nobody would use it, and uncivilised because it cuts up public space. There's something like it on the outskirts of Chichester, and it's widely disregarded.

The clever thing to do is to civilise the entire junction, slowing every vehicle (including cyclists) down to 12mph and giving pedestrians a light that enables them to cross diagonally. Removing the traffic lights and giving pedestrians complete priority would be even better. Stockwell and Kennington would be changed as places if pedestrians had priority (and the triangular one way system removed from Stockwell)

CS7, which, when all is said and done, was making political capital out of an pre-existing, unplanned, success has won me round. Sort of. There are now so many cyclists on it that it's become distinctly uncomfortable in the peak hour.

By the way - according to that David Hembrow chap, cycling deaths in Holland are way higher than cycling deaths in the UK, despite Holland having a quarter of the population.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I think that's bonkers, Gaz - and not a little uncivilised. Bonkers because nobody would use it, and uncivilised because it cuts up public space. There's something like it on the outskirts of Chichester, and it's widely disregarded.

The clever thing to do is to civilise the entire junction, slowing every vehicle (including cyclists) down to 12mph and giving pedestrians a light that enables them to cross diagonally. Removing the traffic lights and giving pedestrians complete priority would be even better. Stockwell and Kennington would be changed as places if pedestrians had priority (and the triangular one way system removed from Stockwell)

CS7, which, when all is said and done, was making political capital out of an pre-existing, unplanned, success has won me round. Sort of. There are now so many cyclists on it that it's become distinctly uncomfortable in the peak hour.

By the way - according to that David Hembrow chap, cycling deaths in Holland are way higher than cycling deaths in the UK, despite Holland having a quarter of the population.

Couldn't agree more.

I worked for a Dutch company for 2 years and rented a bike whenever I was in town. They started to change the roundabouts to the scheme above and they were just scary to use frankly, far more hazardous than without the modifications. They had also added a semi-segregated lane on the main roads that was about a metre wide and raised-up by a low kerb to differentiate it to the road. Again a nightmare, like the roundabout it was another obstacle to be aware of and avoud. It also meant thet when there was a peleton from the station it had to be single file at the speed of the slowest rider. Plain stupid. It worked perfectly well before, in fact much better for no cost.

I completely agree with dell's point about slowing cars and prioritising pedestrians. It could improve many places and lives.
Transport works best when everything can move together at a similar pace and in the same direction. It all becomes more predictable, you either need proper segregation or allow mixed transport modes to move together more effectively.

Halfway house schemes are neither fish nor fowl, problem is that some cyclists will use them and some will not, this causes extra confusion especially when the cycle facility is poor. Drivers will expect (nay demand) that cyclist use the farcility provided when it may be safer to use the road. There are several instances of this in Oxford where I'll refuse to use the 'cycle-lane' provided because it is more dangerous than keeping with the traffic. I know dell will know Martin Way in Morden, any cyclist that uses the cycle diversion provided around the traffic calming IMO is suicidal, some will, but the sensible do not. Drivers though have the expectation that the cyclist will use the diversion, if they don't then all of a sudden they have a cyclist in front of them when they didn't expect one as they are trying an negotiate a narrow chicane and not loose their wheels.

 

[BentMikey]

I feel Dell has it right too, as a dutchman myself.

 

[gaz]

I'm not saying that we should do it that way. It's something i probably wouldn't use if it was provided. Much like i often see cyclists not using the filter lane at stockwell (well traveling north) when traffic is free flowing as it's no faster and often more dangerous with large amounts of pushy cyclists!

 

[dellzeqq]

I know dell will know Martin Way in Morden, any cyclist that uses the cycle diversion provided around the traffic calming IMO is suicidal, some will, but the sensible do not.

A favbourite Cheam and Morden CTC trick. I usually just close my eyes and hope.........

 

[gaz]

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1NN9oUnghg[/media]

 

[Davidc]

Not so sure about trends, but in Taunton at present we have total chaos owing to the redesigning & rebuilding of a critical road junction. This means that it's taking about 3/4 hour to travel 1/2 mile through the centre by motor vehicle.

The result seems to be a massive increase in 2 wheeled traffic, pedal and motor cycles. Helped of course by the amazing weather.

It's now almost impossible to get a bike parking place anywhere in town. The Sheffield stands (and there are quite a lot of them) are full, and every suitable piece of street furniture has a bike locked to it, along with unsuitable pieces like bollards.

Whether this carries on when the junction is finished I don't know, but it's nice to see so many bikes being used, even if it does make parking difficult.

I don't normally use the car much for local trips, but at present it's down to zero. Do I really need the car? Would it be cheaper to hire one when necessary? These questions may have to be addressed.

 

[downfader]

Just got back from a quick 7 mile pootle about an hour back. Rode up through to netley, down portsmouth road and back home. Just basically checking the lubricant is working on the bike as it gunked again.

Counted 3 yoofs on bikes, but about 10 people just racing about like me on drops which was cool.

That junction in the video (havent had time to watch the full thing yet) looks mad to me. If it works then fine. I've just noticed a new layout at a junction around the corner from me. They've put buildouts to try and force traffic to turn right on to the main road it seems. It looks a little odd, no signs saying "no left turn" so to cross the road I had to turn left at an angle and sit on the main road until safe to turn right off that.

Stupid design.