Traffic calming on cycle routes

[PK99]

Police and councils are mounting pressure on Sustrans to allow speed calming measures, such as chicanes, on shared paths where racing cyclists are becoming a safety hazard.
Last week, the charity urged fast riders to slow down or use the road. Sustrans believe Strava racing is fuelling spiralling speeds on traffic-free paths, and have requested that the ride sharing site disables sections where conflict between path users, particularly walkers and cyclists, is emerging.

http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/...ing-speed-demons-off-shared-bike-paths-37940/

http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/...could-be-installed-on-shared-use-paths-38018/

 

[HLaB]

Its actually pre Strava but Ediburgh Council installed rediculous speed bumps on the canal bank (took them too fast and you'd end up in the drink )

 

[ufkacbln]

Sustrans design parameters were alongthe lines of an environment safe for a competent 12 year old on a cycle.

There was also the DfT "Code of Conduct" that suggested that at 18 kph the cyclist should not be on a path, butthe orad.

The problem is (as always) perception.of the difference in speed. A speed differential of a couple of times (say pedestrian at 3 mph and a cyclist at 6mph) is always going to feel safer than w cyclist passing at 8 times the spped (24 mph)

They would be unwelcome additions, but as with speed bumps on roads, they are only needed if the users theough stupidity or arrogance are unable to slow down themselves

 

[Poacher]

There was also the DfT "Code of Conduct" that suggested that at 18 kph the cyclist should not be on a path, but the road.

The DafT code of conduct suggests that if you want to cycle quickly (18 mph / 30 kph ) you should be on the road.

Some of the cycle farcilities round here would be unsafe at half that speed!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Traffic 'calming' devices, such as chicanes, seem to have the opposite effect here: motorists try to beat each other (and especially cyclists) to the chicanes, and make a game out of driving through them as quickly as possible without actually colliding with the curbs. In other words, thanks to motorist attitudes, these are anti-calming devices and are dangerous to cyclists.

 

[the_mikey]

The problem is, I don't think any of these measures work to do the things the people who put them there say they do. A-frames designed to keep motorcyclists off a path, keeps pretty much everyone off the path. A small steel frame you're meant to lift your bike over, keeps the disabled away and single parents with prams, it won't stop someone pretending to be in a cyclocross race however.

 

[the_mikey]

They would be unwelcome additions, but as with speed bumps on roads, they are only needed if the users theough stupidity or arrogance are unable to slow down themselves

There will always be a group of users who will see the speed bumps as a technical feature that can get them some air, or provide a brief opportunity for extreme urban riding.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Good idea - much safer for the dogs.

 

[summerdays]

Won't the cyclists just speed from one set of calming measures to the next? I've seen cyclists overtake me on the Bristol and Bath path or the ring road path who are cycling at a reasonable amount above 18 mph I would guess and I know there is one downhill bit where I can be going at about 22 mph on the ring road path (nothing like my normal speed on the path) but the pedestrians are few and far between and so you can adjust your speed long before you pass them.

Where it becomes more problematic is in the inner part of the Bristol and Bath path. In the morning commuting time you get so many cyclists that they become little trains and the number of pedestrians are far greater. The number of people (pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, school children) trying to use it means that everyone is sharing quite a small space. Mostly it is fine but you do still get some cyclists weaving through the crowds. I prefer that section at any other time of day when it is more laid back! I do like meeting all the different types of people on the path and wouldn't want any group to be excluded.

(As for speed bumps ... aren't they called tree roots).

 

[sidevalve]

Traffic 'calming' devices, such as chicanes, seem to have the opposite effect here: motorists try to beat each other (and especially cyclists) to the chicanes, and make a game out of driving through them as quickly as possible without actually colliding with the curbs. In other words, thanks to motorist attitudes, these are anti-calming devices and are dangerous to cyclists.

Irrellevant, read the OP, it apears to be refering to shared paths not roads.
As usual the problem is caused by the stupid minority. If you want to ride fast, fine, beef up and use the road like the big girls and boys.
Sorry but I've said it before, the more we defend stupid riders the more the rest of us will suffer in the end.

 

[PK99]

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3829734.ece

Bike path needs speed limit, say cyclists after hit-and-run crash

Cyclists are calling for speed limits on a busy bike path where a woman commuter was left unconscious after a hit and run collision with another rider.
Anne Tuffney, a mother of two, broke her collar bone in the crash that happened when the other cyclist clipped her front wheel as he overtook at speed. He rode on without stoppingand police are appealing for witnesses to the accident on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path on July 19.
The accident is the latest in a series of incidents on the same cycle path and an online petition has now been launched calling for a 10mph speed limit during rush hour
snip
“In my experience it is not yobs in baggy jeans that are the cause, it is people on their racing bikes on the way to work. Most cyclists are careful and considerate but there are a few using cycle paths like race tracks.”.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Traffic 'calming' devices, such as chicanes, seem to have the opposite effect here: motorists try to beat each other (and especially cyclists) to the chicanes, and make a game out of driving through them as quickly as possible without actually colliding with the curbs. In other words, thanks to motorist attitudes, these are anti-calming devices and are dangerous to cyclists.

Irrellevant, read the OP, it apears to be refering to shared paths not roads.
As usual the problem is caused by the stupid minority. If you want to ride fast, fine, beef up and use the road like the big girls and boys.
Sorry but I've said it before, the more we defend stupid riders the more the rest of us will suffer in the end.

Perhaps my comment wasn't so irrelevant, then. If the cyclists in the UK are similar to many here, the chicanes on shared paths will just make things worse. I can't believe how many cyclists over here can't understand the simple concept of slowing down to give way, when there's a combination of traffic in front and oncoming traffic which creates a temporary pinch point. Some cyclists here just push on through regardless of the consequences.

 

[summerdays]

Perhaps my comment wasn't so irrelevant, then. If the cyclists in the UK are similar to many here, the chicanes on shared paths will just make things worse. I can't believe how many cyclists over here can't understand the simple concept of slowing down to give way, when there's a combination of traffic in front and oncoming traffic which creates a temporary pinch point. Some cyclists here just push on through regardless of the consequences.

Unfortunately I think that's the ones that are causing all the problems!!!

 

[fossyant]

Well, there are ruddy Strava Segments all up and down the NCN5 in North Wales - bloody crazy !

 

[on the road]

“In my experience it is not yobs in baggy jeans that are the cause, it is people on their racing bikes on the way to work.

Does she mean mamils?

In any case they won't be able to enforce speed limits on cycle paths.