Cyclist being abused for refusing to use dangerous new cycle lane

There's no way that's safe for two-way cycling. It's only just passable for one way cycling.

To be fair to the council I actually like what they did in the town centre of Bradford on Avon; I can now cycle up Mason's Lane without a line of impatient cars behind me; they can easily overtake as hardly any cars come down there now.  

I used to commute along here, and recently rode along it, not knowing about the lane.  I rode westbound, so on the opposite side of the road to the lane.  It never occurred to me that this was a 2-lane facility. I have gone back to the website to check, and sure enough, it is described as a 2-way cycle route.  That is truly insane. Having used it I wrote to the council to suggest that they had put it on the "wrong" side of the road.  Assuming it was a 1-way facility they should, in my opinion, have put it on the uphill side.  Cyclists are on it for longer, speed differentials are greater between slow cyclist and 40mph(?) cars, and for inexperienced cyclists an uphill lane is much better.  The council did the same thing on the A420 in Chippenham, but made it a 1-way lane.  However, again they put it on the downhill side probably because there are few houses on that side.

The result of both schemes is that they have made the road slightly more dangerous for cyclists.  Overtaking cars come closer, not a great feeling.  In the case of the A420 one they have made one of the safest parts of the road slightly more dangerous whilst completely ignoring the dangerous bits - the roundabouts at either end.

My fear with all these ill-thought out pop-up schemes is that everyone hates them (motorists, cyclists and residents), so the conclusion of the councils will be that they shouldn't provide better cycle facilities.  Which would be the wrong conclusion; we shouldn't provide s**t facilities, but instead provide good ones.  

They should look at the new A1000/Great North Rd lanes through Finchley, wide enough to park a car in. We know this because they're filled with parked cars in each direction

anytime people abuse me for cycle lanes or paths, i put their reg and face on rate driver and try to get up to their window, then yell get on the bus! or ''pay road tax!   or'' get a job' at them.    Everyone of my points there is valid and a parrelel argument to theirs but theyre dumb so they end up confused as fuck. 

https://rate-driver.co.uk/JT54DEC
if anyone can answer my query as to how a road can be full up at three on a friday if everybody works full time, feel free to join in. Gets more hits on his plate anyway. No way can every single car on the road at all hours of the day be being driven by someone who works full time, else theyd all be at work. 
 

Well done Caroline for sticking to your guns.
I am a road cyclist and I like to use the road anyway. I can see how dangerous that is and posts can be accident prone.

As part of the covid "Active Travel" scheme - Birmingham have extended the pavements on some high streets into the road to allow pedesterians to give each other room, especially where there are queues outside shops etc. They are protected from the road by bollards. This is good.
It does mean that the road is narrow and there is no room for vehicles to pass a cyclist - no problem: I just ride in the primary position. I have been hooted (once by a bus driver). I can only think it is because the drivers want me to ride the other side of the bollards - but I can't as it is pavement: and not a cycle lane.

This is how the wiltshire times covered it :

[ Residents have given a mixed response over the pop up cycle lane from Bradford on Avon to Winsley.

Winsley resident, Bruce Moss, raised concerns over the safety of cyclists who use the scheme.

His said the bollards, similar to those seen on the Trowbridge scheme, make the road and cycle lane not wide enough for use.

Mr Moss asserts that for drivers it would be hazardous when passing or overtaking as he says the scheme has made the route ‘narrow and quite dangerous’ but added that without the bollards ‘it would probably be alright’.

Cllr Johnny Kidney put the scheme forward to Wiltshire Council to promote safer active travel on commuter and school routes. He said: “I suggested a scheme on this stretch to improve the environment for walking and cycling on the B3108 between Winsley and Downs View which was previously very intimidating with fast-moving traffic alongside a narrow footpath.

“Improving the environment for walking and cycling will be a huge benefit to the many young people from the village who use this route to get to secondary school at St Laurence, or would do so if a segregated walking and cycling space was in place.

“It should also have the added benefit of reducing car use on the school run.”

He added that from the start he was clear about the narrowing of the road and that a speed reduction – from 50 to 40mph – was successfully requested on the road.

While lighting was also brought up as a concern, Cllr Kidney said that the bollards are highly reflective which he hopes will improve safety for pupils as evenings draw in.

Pete Jobson, has praised the scheme saying that not only has it made the road safer, but it has encouraged him to ditch his car in favour of a bike.

He said: "It's actually made me use my bike a lot more often than I have done."It is a change, people have to reduce the speed in their cars and it does feel different. You can no longer get in the car drive on the road and switch your mind off, you have to think about your driving, which I personally think is a good thing.

"My daughter walks that way to school and she said just the fact that the buses and vans are separated from the pavement; she and her friends all say it's much nicer walking to school."

Mr Jobson added that when he travelled on the route at dusk he felt safe on the journey.

Parvis Khansari, director of Highways, said: “The temporary scheme on B3108 between Winsley and Bradford on Avon is part of the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund and encourages people who would usually make short commuter trips to cycle instead.“We have received several requests for cycling facilities along this route, both before and during the lockdown period.

“This is a pop-up scheme that will be in place for a minimum of six months, and we are closely monitoring its usage and traffic behaviour throughout this period. At the end of the six months, we will make a decision on the scheme’s future, based on our monitoring and feedback from all road users.

“The scheme was checked by a road safety auditor prior to installation and will be again once it is fully implemented. If any changes are recommended, we will make them to improve safety for both cyclists and motorists.

“Signs are in place at each end of the route to advise drivers of the new road layout, but we all need to be alert to what is happening around us and considerate of others at all times when using Wiltshire’s roads, including paying particular attention to any changes to the road layout on our everyday routes.”

“Drivers of motor vehicles have a particular responsibility to protect more vulnerable road users such as cyclists from harm, so please pay attention when approaching cycle lanes.” ]

My takes from the article:

The bit about having to think when you get in your car provides an insight into the mind set of some drivers.

I like the bit where someone says it makes his daughter feel safer on the pavement. I think it should be kept for this reason alone.

It is also interesting to see the protection the workers installing the scheme got compared to what cyclists get.

Recent study in London concluded that:

Mandatory painted lanes did not lead to any risk reduction and advisory lanes (which motor vehicles are legally permitted to enter) increased injury odds by over 30%.

https://findingspress.org/article/18226-cycling-injury-risk-in-london-im...

Quote:

The scheme also came with a speed [limit] reduction from 50mph to 40mph.

It's not the speed of the road, it's the maximum allowed. And whether it's actually reduced speeds at all is probably unknown.

Here's the actual bike lane (not the one in the picture in the article)

Seriously - 2 way ??

Leaves does look a potential issue that would need avoiding.

We could have done with a better photo of both sides of the bike lane, but this appears to be another worse-than-nothing bike lane which should be promptly removed. The council planning should be criticised.