This is an
opportunity for critical examination of the hazards and compare and contrast
with similar situations in the Netherlands.
John
Meudell, an experienced engineer, designer, former CTC director and long-time
resident of the Netherlands, revisited Kingston upon Thames last week. He
reckons that PR played a big part in the decision to install two-way cycle paths
running straight through bus stops!
One of these
sits on Portsmouth Road which runs alongside the River Thames and it is likely
that provision of a pretty, traffic free, cycle path was the aim, with little
thought given to practicalities and safety implications of the design.
This despite the
availability of a perfectly nice leisure cycle route along the opposite bank of
the river.
The idea people
might want a convenient, quick and safe utility cycle route to get people into
and out of Kingston seem not to figure in their thinking.
Unaware of the
danger created at the bus stops, in Portsmouth Road engineers have now had to botch
a new “installation” in an attempt to warn cyclists of a potential conflict the
designers created, pictured below.
Meudell reports that two short bright yellow poles have been inserted into the kerb where the cycle lane borders the road. And on the cycle lane surface itself the following message has appeared in bright white lettering - “Slow down”.
Clearly this is
intended as a warning to cyclists because the two posts are at either end of
the area where buses stop to disgorge passengers - straight into the path of
riders.
Whereas the
original was a bit like opening a door and stepping straight onto the M25, this
is the addition of “smart” lanes where you’re not really sure what they are for
until the accident happens.
“Unfortunately their effectiveness is likely to be marginal,”
says Meudell, who goes on to say “they will only add to the confusion caused by
Kingston positioning the bus stop at the entrance to the segregated section, right
in the manoeuvring area for cyclists entering and leaving the shared use
section.”
“If you look at all
four bus stops it’s as if the designers and engineers have just thrown up their
hands and said ‘we don’t know how to do this so we’ll just do a selection of
ideas and you’ll just have to work it out for yourself’.”
“The fact that these bus stops got through independent safety
audits, presumably without any questions being raised, suggests a system that
is not interested in the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers.”
“After
many years of high profile committees on cycling, if someone has an explanation
as to why highways engineers are still poking around in the dark in this way……!?
Given the government’s recent announcement that sub-standard
cycle lanes will no longer be tolerated, it will be interesting to see what
Transport Secretary Grant Schapps has to say about the Kingston cock up.
“The
problem, says Meudell, is that, in the UK, it’s a question of the political vs the
professional approach.”
The
political solution is to decide the answer that suits you, politically and PR
wise, and then force it through.
The
professional approach is to consider and consult on all the issues, then screen
a range of solutions before determining the most effective and cost-effective
solution that improves safety and convenience for everyone.
The
British don’t do it that way…the Dutch do.
In the Next
Episode
What
if Kingston had gone real Dutch?
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