Pathetic Dual Carriageways.

[Chris Bertram]

Annoying but understandable unlike the illogical continuation to a bus build out, featuring added conflict between passing cyclists and passengers boarding or alighting. But we've got to find something to prevent a four-lane highway.

'Kinell, that's awful!

Isn't that a standard layout for a cycle lane at a bus stop? It's not exactly unique.

Not round here it isn't.

[jervi]

Sort of moving off topic here.
But about 12 bus stops on the A270 have had their laybys cuts out and replaced with a bus stop island with the cycle lane going around the rear.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.85431 ... 312!8i6656
Although here, the A270 does need 4 lanes (D2) of traffic ever since the bypass was completed in the early 1990s. At least in this situation they are suitable and safe. One issue is they have the "Route for use by pedal cycles only" being on the rear of the bollards at the start of the island. Ultimately saying that the carriageway is for pedal cycles only, going the wrong way. Really should have a no-entry sign on it.

[Johnathan404]

Isn't that a standard layout for a cycle lane at a bus stop? It's not exactly unique.

Not round here it isn't.

It just sounds like the cycle lanes around your way aren't built to modern standards! ("Modern" as in in-keeping with other new-builds, not necessarily better or worse.)

I recall Southampton city council's fanfare when this one was introduced. Despite the predictable moans from all corners, I'm not actually aware of any issues arising in practice. It did take passengers and bus drivers some time to get used to the fact the shelter is positioned far from the road, but that's not unique.

[vlad]

Really? Seems to have been adopted in central Manchester at what I know is a particularly busy pair of stops. I certainly wish it had been in place here when I was driving buses on this route!

Oxford Street/Road is pretty much bus-only for its entire length - you've linked to one of the few places other traffic is allowed - so naturally buses are going to want to keep priority.

I've no idea what cyclists think of it, however.

[Owain]

Here's a befuddler: the N78's only stretch of dual-carriageway.

It begins at a mini-roundabout heading out of Athy. Separated by a stone wall as a central reservation, traffic on each carriageway is allowed to flow in both directions! Only at the other end heading into Athy does it look remotely normal.

[Burns]

Here's a befuddler: the N78's only stretch of dual-carriageway.

It begins at a mini-roundabout heading out of Athy. Separated by a stone wall as a central reservation, traffic on each carriageway is allowed to flow in both directions! Only at the other end heading into Athy does it look remotely normal.

I'm more concerned about what this guy's up to.

[Owain]

Here's a befuddler: the N78's only stretch of dual-carriageway.

It begins at a mini-roundabout heading out of Athy. Separated by a stone wall as a central reservation, traffic on each carriageway is allowed to flow in both directions! Only at the other end heading into Athy does it look remotely normal.

I'm more concerned about what this guy's up to.

Coping with the stress of the confusing road layout?

[JohnnyMo]

Here's a befuddler: the N78's only stretch of dual-carriageway.

It begins at a mini-roundabout heading out of Athy. Separated by a stone wall as a central reservation, traffic on each carriageway is allowed to flow in both directions! Only at the other end heading into Athy does it look remotely normal.

My guess is the lower road is the original, the wall looked like it belonged to a railway so I guess the land behind it used to be sidings for Athy Station.

The vertical separation was too much for a normal layout using the old N78 so an access road was needed and the N78 was split.

[Big Nick]

Here's a befuddler: the N78's only stretch of dual-carriageway.

It begins at a mini-roundabout heading out of Athy. Separated by a stone wall as a central reservation, traffic on each carriageway is allowed to flow in both directions! Only at the other end heading into Athy does it look remotely normal.

My guess is the lower road is the original, the wall looked like it belonged to a railway so I guess the land behind it used to be sidings for Athy Station.

The vertical separation was too much for a normal layout using the old N78 so an access road was needed and the N78 was split.

Looking at an old OS map it was never part of the railway but has always been two levels there. The higher section of road was merely an entry for the station and park. The railway sidings and goods shed were to the south of the road and on the other side where the modern houses are now.
https://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/we ... 7088a100c4

[jervi]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.03971 ... 312!8i6656
It's a private access road, but still a dual carriageway (albeit signed incorrectly)

[trickstat]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.03971 ... 312!8i6656
It's a private access road, but still a dual carriageway (albeit signed incorrectly)

The single no-entry sign with no white lines anywhere are as clear as mud!

[andy_birkett]

Unrelated, but would question the arrangement of lights a tad up the road by the fire station. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.77289 ... 384!8i8192
I'd imagine both sets of lights are controlled by the same controller. However, if the second set goes to red, you have to stop in the yellow box since that set of lights also has a stop line, seems very odd especially since there is no ped crossing located there so the second set of lights achieves nothing (except if you are a cyclist)

The lights are coordinated so that traffic heading towards Leeds doesn't get stuck in the box - assuming of course the drivers obey it when traffic is stop-start and don't proceed beyond the first stop line until the road ahead is clear... But yes, the second set of lights is utterly pointless. The real issue at that junction is the banned right turn from Dewsbury Road northbound into Parkside Lane. The ban is routinely ignored, so traffic in the right hand lane expecting to just keep moving on its right turn green filter into Garnet Road (a heavily used rat-run) often finds itself unexpectedly having to stop behind someone trying to turn right into Parkside Lane across traffic coming out of Parkside Lane. And they never seem to realise what they've done wrong. Anyway, we're off topic now

[AlexBr967]

I know this thread is basically dead but I found this one on the A6: https://goo.gl/maps/mR1wzcwRuZVDhWAZ9 . Think it must have been D2 at one point but the second lane was made into a cycle lane. Similar setup on the A61 and former A61 here: https://goo.gl/maps/4oTXHWsrScm2UWZb8 , here: https://goo.gl/maps/XhpUqgd4MPsyvB9y9 and here: https://goo.gl/maps/YpCPhJSRAMVQXjWU6 . In the third example a cycle lane was not built in the space.

[Worcestershire Wolf]

I always think the stretch of unclassified D1 on the Western side of Banbury is pretty pathetic and always wonder if greater things were meant for it. It links the A361, the B4035, and B4100, of which the latter used to be the A41.

Then there is a short gap along the Warwick Road before the dual carriageway begins again now classified as part of the A422, although this again was unclassified for many decades from construction.

Certainly this side of Banbury lacks an avoiding route away from the town centre and a D2 signed relief road would be useful. Of course with this now being fronted by residential development it will never happen now.

From South to North, the section between the A361 and B4035 is Queensway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0560795 ... 312!8i6656

Then between the B4035 and B4100 (former A41) it is Woodgreen Avenue then Orchard Way:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0587802 ... 312!8i6656

Then there is a very short gap where we join the S2 B4100 Warwick Road:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0662996 ... 312!8i6656

Before the dual carriageway recommences as the A422 Ruscote Avenue:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0675616 ... 312!8i6656

Before the dual carriageway section ends although with service roads:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0689586 ... 312!8i6656

[booshank]

There's a pathetic dual carriageway on the A39 just south of Keynsham. Could be useful for overtaking but there's no obvious reason for it.

[jervi]

More odd dualing on the A6 - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.25750 ... 312!8i6656

Also this bit of the A6 dual carriageway had two-way traffic on the would-be southbound carriageway last weekend when I went through, I tried to find out if they were removing the dual carriageway due to the low & narrow bridge on the northbound carriageway and just have two-way traffic on the single carriageway instead.

[danfw194]

More odd dualing on the A6 - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.25750 ... 312!8i6656

I like that! It's attractive.

[Glenn A]

There is the oddity that is the B6324, which is a reasonable quality D2 from the A191 to the A1, but then suddenly becomes a suburban 30 mph road through Westerhope and becomes a typical country road with no road markings as it enters Northumberland. I've never found out why this was dualled in the sixties as this was long before the Newcastle western by pass was built, which increased traffic on the D2 section, and it is in isolation as the roundabout in Blakelaw where the B6324 starts is accessed by S2 roads with housing on either side. I wonder if something bigger was planned at the time.

[Roavin]

The A1079 has two pathetic sections of dual carriageway outside of the cities of York and Hull. The one near Beverley does have a purpose though (to allow for a GSJ with the A164), but the one at Hayton seems to have no real reason, and in the latter case the central reservation also gets extremely wide in sections for seemingly no real reason.

[ryzzey]

There's a pathetic dual carriageway on the A39 just south of Keynsham. Could be useful for overtaking but there's no obvious reason for it.

I've often wondered what the point of this dual carriageway is, it's really only useful for overtaking a tractor or lorry. The speed limit changes just before and after it so there's not really enough time to get up to enough speed to overtake cars.