Cyclops - unique breakthrough in junction safety

CYCLOPS, a unique road junction design which segregates cyclists and pedestrians from traffic was launched in Hulme, South Manchester last Thursday.

It will allow cyclists to approach from four ‘arms’ which converge onto an orbital cycle track completely encircling the junction.

Depending upon signal timings, it will be possible for cyclists to make a right turn at the junction in one manoeuvre. They can also filter left without signal control.

It is the first ever junction in the UK designed with the safety of vulnerable road users in mind, with separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians. And it was designed by Transport for Greater Manchester engineers.

A key element so far as motor traffic is concerned is that drivers experience less delay at Cyclops than at many other conventional junctions. 

Cyclops?  -It stands for “Cycle Optimised Protected Signals”   not the one-eyed monster of Greek and later Roman legend –the Cyclopes!

I must admit to feeling a little excited by this breakthrough in road infrastructure.

The junction before...

The junction now

Could this kick start the long overdue cycling transport revolution in Britain? I like to think so. There will be as many of 30 Cyclops junctions across Greater Manchester in the quest to become the first UK city with a cycling and pedestrian network across all 10 boroughs.  
This is the 1,800-mile Bee Network, the brainchild of Manchester Cycling Czar, the Olympic champion Chris Boardman, and Mayor Andy Burnham.

Designers of the Cyclops junction, TfGM Engineers Richard Butler and Jonathan Salter, were tasked with overcoming the flaws in existing UK junction designs, to consider how to make the junction work for all modes.
 “The main difference between this junction and traditional UK junction designs is that cyclists are offered an alternative safer route around the junction,” Butler and Salter explained.

Transport for Greater Manchester engineers Richard Butler, Jonathan Salter and Project Manager Dave Stevens.

With the Cyclops design …“They are no longer required to position themselves on the nearside of the lane, allowing vehicles to pass on their offside which is often the cause of so-called ‘left hook’ incidents, where cyclists going ahead are struck by a vehicle turning left from the same lane.”

The design has been applauded by experts nationally and internationally, with the approach being adopted in Cambridge, Lancashire and even Ottawa in Canada.

The next CYCLOPS will be at Newport Street by Bolton Station.  Chris Boardman, cycling and walking commissioner for Greater Manchester said, “Crossing busy junctions on foot or by bike can be a complicated and scary experience and is often a huge barrier for people travelling by foot or bike, and having to navigate a number of these can make them opt for the car.

“Particularly right now, as we’ve seen cycling trips up by 34% and cycling and walking trips now counting for 33% of all journeys in Greater Manchester, this junction design will make journeys easier and smoother for those doing their bit by cycling or walking, without impacting negatively on any other modes. This design is simply genius and I’m not surprised to see other places already adopting the approach.”

*Manchester last week received £21m government funding to put in the temporary measures to make cycling and walking safer, as called for  by government to get people moving again as the Coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Comment………..

The brilliance of Cyclops is that it puts vulnerable road users on an equal footing with motor transport, without causing additional delay to precious drivers!

Don’t delay drivers! That has been the golden rule of transport planning since the 60s when private car ownership began to soar.  To encourage this government ministers decided that drivers must be able to drive where they want, when they want to, and without delay.

So it was that roads were laid out with one thought only, to process motor traffic quickly. There was rarely a thought for pedestrians and cyclists. Which is why, for instance, on those few cycle tracks built alongside main roads, there is no right of way across side roads or provision at junctions. And why more recently, sharp turnings into side roads have been pared back so vehicles do not have to slow down too much, putting pedestrians at greater risk.

Roundabouts were designed to process traffic speedily, creating a potential nightmare for cyclists. There must only be minimum delay to motor traffic,  it was decided.  which is why to this day pedestrians using traffic light controlled crossings on high streets see the green man turn red often before they are three quarters the way across.  

This is the way it has always been and most likely why getting the needs of cyclists included in transport plans has proved so difficult. Which is why Cyclops could be a winner, an equalizer, you could say.