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Roadworks sign - Cyclists have priorityCyclists dismount? No thanks, says rider who persuaded contractor to change signs
Say, while riding your bike, you see something that gets your goat – a sign telling you to dismount due to roadworks, for example. You have several options. You could comply with it. You could ignore it. Or, like Peter Salter, you could get in touch with the contractors to tell them why the sign is wrong, and have the satisfaction of it being changed.
Peter took action after spotting this sign on long-term roadworks outside the Royal Courts of Justice on London’s Strand:
He told us: “I emailed the contractor, Murphy, and Westminster to say I thought these signs were all wrong. They implied cyclists had no right to be on the road.
“If a cyclist ignored the sign, a driver who hit them would point and use the sign to deny responsibility. Further, pedestrians do not like cyclists walking with their bikes on the pavement.”
As it happens these signs are not recommended by the Department for Transport either.
Peter continued: “Within 48 hours, I got a positive response and the following signs now appear on sites within Westminster:
“A good result I feel.”
We agree wholeheartedly – and while many of us might have just accepted the signs, Peter may just have changed attitudes towards cycling within what is, after all, a major firm of contractors.
While the likes of British Cycling, CTC and the London Cycling Campaign are all lobbying for better provision for cyclists in the capital and elsewhere, it shows that one person can make a difference.
So if you see something that needs changing to make life better for fellow cyclists, perhaps it’s worth taking it up with the parties concerned? As Peter’s story shows, it can sometimes bring about a positive change.
The regulations
For those who are fond of Department for Transport guidelines, here's what Safety at Street Works
and Road Works: A Code of Practice says about 'Cyclists dismount' signs at roadworks:
You must ensure suitable provisions are made for the safety of cyclists passing or crossing the works. Particular care is needed where cycle lanes or cycle tracks are affected by street works or road works because these routes may be especially popular with cyclists.
Cyclists might have to use other parts of the carriageway, a temporary cycle track, or an alternative route. You should consider whether access on the carriageway can be preserved for cyclists, even if it needs to be closed to motor vehicles. See page 70. Where the carriageway is closed but the footway remains open, a ‘Cyclists dismount and use footway’ white-on-red temporary sign can be used.
So contractors are required by the rules to keep the road open for cyclists if at all possible, and especially if it's also open to cars. Handy to know.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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19 comments
Come on councils! Why are cyclists having to contact contractors?
And can we have some of London's armed police to enforce the sign, please?
I thought this sign had been there for a while? There was certainly one outside the courts about a month ago. Anyway, the sign is there and I saw about 60% of drivers obeying it while I waited to cross as a pedestrian.
The others didn't, and one mini cab (I'd say the company if it had been liveried but it wasn't) hustled and bustled a clearly scared cyclist by driving inches from his back wheel.
Worryingly, the sign is dented. Yeh - someone has run it over.
I don't know if the top picture is from the same worksite, but Skanska used to (still does?) sponsor a local amature cycling team in the Washington, D.C. area, so the company may have a higher level of reasonable responsiveness when it comes to cycling issues.
Either way, it's an impressive result. One would almost surely expect a "follow the signs so I can not be bothered with you" response in most of this type of situation.
I must say, I've been a bit surprised by the Skanska love on this story. They are involved in a number of projects in Cambridge, and you would have thought that if there was anywhere in the country they could really push the boat out for cycling, it would be where over 50% of the adult population cycles at least once a week.
Sadly I have found that their designs for completely new developments, unconstrained by the existing road network, are as disappointingly car-centric as all the others. Maybe there is the hand of the county council blocking them in this, maybe not. In any case, their being internally pro-cycling doesn't seem to have made much of a difference to what's on the ground.
Skanska will do whatever makes them the most money, it is for councils to push back and governments to enact legislation to force D&B/contractors/Architects to build what works for the wider community.
Skanska are involved in designing the Huntingdon Road raised cycle lanes, one of Cambridge's Cycle City Ambition projects.
On the council side the project is lead by the county's cycling projects team. All cyclists, many behind a dutch-style principle, and includes at least one former campaigner.
They were having to stop Skanska putting in excess road hatching at the expense of the cycle lane and smoothing the route of motor traffic.
This could be a rogue designer, but who are they choosing to put on a cycling project that the council, their client, has to push back on it? Money simply doesn't seem to explain it.
Though no doubt Skanska will take the project, add it to their corporate CV and position themselves as a go-to firm for cycling projects nationwide. Campaigners beware: you still need to scrutinise their proposals.
Motivational and pleasant to see. Good on both Mr. Salter and the contractors.
"Narrow Lanes. Drivers, do not pass cyclists" should be writ large on all UK roads.
The draft cycling standards for London, published in June has a whole section on roadworks including signs. The overall message is that contractors should not be telling cyclists to dismount and the sign used in this case is very similar to those they recommend. It's quite probable the contractor spoke to TfL before changing the sign.
TfL's Cyclists at Roadworks Guidance (Draft):
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/cycling/draft-london-cycling-design-sta...
Road CC's article on the draft standards:
http://road.cc/content/news/121162-tfl-aims-save-dozens-lives-london-new...
action man. that's super
This one works well:
'Cycle Lane Closed. Cyclists Merging From the Left'
http://www.cyclestreets.net/location/53108/
Whao, well done Peter.
I cycled through there this morning and noticed the sign. Great to see.
yay
There were similar "narrow lanes, drivers stay behind cyclists" signs in Brixton last year when the road was being dug up.
You would kind of hope it was obvious that there wasn't enough space and that drivers would hang back, but as it frequently isn't, it's good to see people who are in a position to positively influence driver behaviour actually doing so. It's great, in fact.
Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of silly anti-cycling attitudes in the UK?
If there isn't enough space, take the lane, whatever the signs say.
Well done Mr Salter and the contractor. Great result!
I sort of agree, but you can't really ignore signs because they appear inappropriate or don't suit you.
Changing the sign is the right thing to do - that way everyone knows what is supposed to happen.
Hmmm, I'd quite like a copy of the email sent to use as a template for other companies...! Might come in handy
Result.
But I can't help thinking that a sweary tirade that was videoed (Is that even a word?) and posted on YouTube would have got a better result.
Good work that man, nice to see a positive response from the contractors too.