Derestricted urban roads.

[WHBM]

Let’s spend a shed load of cash on new cycle lanes and the associated infrastructure, only for cyclists to ignore them and use the road anyway.

This even happens on the multi-million shedload, beautifully resurfaced, special cycle priority signalled, Cycle Superhighway on The Embankment in London, notably on the restricted single lane eastbound side through The City, with grinning Lycra Militants sometimes riding parallel with their mates on the cycleway, while giving V-signs to cars held up behind.

[A9NWIL]

Let’s spend a shed load of cash on new cycle lanes and the associated infrastructure, only for cyclists to ignore them and use the road anyway.

This even happens on the multi-million shedload, beautifully resurfaced, special cycle priority signalled, Cycle Superhighway on The Embankment in London, notably on the restricted single lane eastbound side through The City, with grinning Lycra Militants sometimes riding parallel with their mates on the cycleway, while giving V-signs to cars held up behind.

Sounds like if there is a cycle path built alongside a road then a 'no cycling' sign is needed on the main carriageway!

[tipsynurse]

Let’s spend a shed load of cash on new cycle lanes and the associated infrastructure, only for cyclists to ignore them and use the road anyway.

Brilliant!

That would be very pithy except that I have made the point it is better to not put them in at all rather than spend money on rubbish ones.

I note drivers are more than happy to complain if speed limits are cut, traffic calming is put in, and say they can use rat runs because they are entitled to use any road they like. But cyclists should just use whatever unsuitable route there is.



WHBM are those the same Lycra militants going at 30mph? If so they're better on the road, as they're going twice as fast as the other cyclists and motor vehicles. Or are there different cyclists, which are moulded to suit your point at the moment?

[Bryn666]

Now why aren't cyclists using this? Let's think...

1. Is it the gully, that traps cycle wheels and causes a skid, possibly landing head first in a traffic lane?
2. Is it the sudden left turn required to get into it, which at any speed will likely result in clipping that kerb, possibly landing head first near the tree?
3. Is it that it is full of mud, and likely to be slippery, resulting in possibly landing head first on the ground?

Yes, we should force cyclists to use this infrastructure, because clearly it's safer than just going through the narrowing when they can see it to be clear.

I think some people on here could benefit immeasurably from inclusive engineering courses.

[tipsynurse]

Bryn I'm sure so but you know I was using that as an example of poor infrastructure I'd never use or advise anyone else to use? not advocating it.

[Bryn666]

Yes, I know. I had my sarky head on for those who insist that cycle provision MUST be used even when it is blatantly a worse and more dangerous option for the cyclist.

[Chris Bertram]

1. Is it the gully, that traps cycle wheels and causes a skid, possibly landing head first in a traffic lane?
2. Is it the sudden left turn required to get into it, which at any speed will likely result in clipping that kerb, possibly landing head first near the tree?
3. Is it that it is full of mud, and likely to be slippery, resulting in possibly landing head first on the ground?

The drainage gully is not ideally placed, but I don't actually see much if any mud in there (in fact due to a gentle rise and fall, it may drain quite well). And photographic perspective will exaggerate the severity of the turn, which will be quite gentle on the ground.

All the same, it's not optimal. It looks narrow, and the green tarmac finish is flaking off already. It could do with kerbs to keep cyclists off the (actually slippery) grass surface. 5/10 at best.

[tipsynurse]

All the same, it's not optimal. It looks narrow, and the green tarmac finish is flaking off already. It could do with kerbs to keep cyclists off the (actually slippery) grass surface. 5/10 at best.

The photo was taken in the summer, the problem with all of these "chicane bypasses" is that in the winter all the muck is washed off the road into them.

I think the weirdest one with that is - the cycle lane is (just about) wide enough either side... why did they go to the effort of putting the curve in rather than straight through? Unless it was cyclist traffic calming too!

[WHBM]

WHBM are those the same Lycra militants going at 30mph? If so they're better on the road, as they're going twice as fast as the other cyclists and motor vehicles. Or are there different cyclists, which are moulded to suit your point at the moment?

I get the impression that the high speed lot are not particularly going anywhere, but the cycle track by Lea Bridge Road across the marshes from Hackney to Walthamstow has become a favoured route for weekend high speed bike runs back and forth, comparing each other's results on their Strava App.

[tipsynurse]

WHBM are those the same Lycra militants going at 30mph? If so they're better on the road, as they're going twice as fast as the other cyclists and motor vehicles. Or are there different cyclists, which are moulded to suit your point at the moment?

I get the impression that the high speed lot are not particularly going anywhere, but the cycle track by Lea Bridge Road across the marshes from Hackney to Walthamstow has become a favoured route for weekend high speed bike runs back and forth, comparing each other's results on their Strava App.

It might just be easier to admit you're wrong. I've seen plenty of club rides and I've never seen them going at 30mph. You just don't realise how fast that feels on a pushbike. As has been pointed out it is faster than average pro race pace.

Yet weirdly hundreds of thousands of motorists must get caught breaking the 30mph speed limit every year.

"Assuming the worst" comes to mind.

[Bryn666]

I was on Lea Bridge Road for work related purposes on Wednesday and in 6 hours I didn't see anyone going faster than about 15mph.

The counter near the Princess of Wales showed a good several hundred users too.

[lefthandedspanner]

Most of the ring road in Skelmersdale is NSL, though most of it has no pedestrian access. It also has some absolutely enormous roundabouts.

[tipsynurse]

Most of the ring road in Skelmersdale is NSL, though most of it has no pedestrian access. It also has some absolutely enormous roundabouts.

I think if you count ring roads you would have a fairly long list, but they are not really urban roads in the sense, as you say, you could sensibly walk or cycle their length. There are plenty of NSL urban motorways but I don't think they are what the OP envisaged.

[ajuk]

Here's another suburban NSL. This is on the A461 about a mile north of Walsall town centre.

Hey, don't tell them, they'll slap a 30 limit on it as soon as breathe once they realise it's there.

Too late. It's been 30 for the last 15 years

Talk about one extreme to the other.

[Truvelo]

I drove through this village yesterday which is NSL on an A road with lighting. Sadly I wasn't able to travel at that speed due to a slow Skoda in front

https://goo.gl/maps/PyBnw9cvaFiHmw8K9

[Bryn666]

I have the old pre-Worboys NSL repeaters with glass studs from that length of road in my spare room...

[Berk]

I have the old pre-Worboys NSL repeaters with glass studs from that length of road in my spare room...

Yay... Question, though. Seeing as the NSL sign wasn’t appreciably updated by Worboys, why replace the sign at all??

Unless the TSRGD deprecated all instances of the old-style sign (in which case, I wasn’t aware).

[Bryn666]

I have the old pre-Worboys NSL repeaters with glass studs from that length of road in my spare room...

Yay... Question, though. Seeing as the NSL sign wasn’t appreciably updated by Worboys, why replace the sign at all??

Unless the TSRGD deprecated all instances of the old-style sign (in which case, I wasn’t aware).

60 year old signs that were less than a foot wide with glass beads in them aren't very easy to see.

Plus the lighting columns they were attached to needed replacing.

[Truvelo]

I remember you getting those NSL repeaters many years ago but didn't realise it was from there. I would have expected a 40 limit in this day and age and 50 between there and Bacup.

[Bryn666]

I remember you getting those NSL repeaters many years ago but didn't realise it was from there. I would have expected a 40 limit in this day and age and 50 between there and Bacup.

No Stats19 background to justify doing that. The A681 up there is virtually deserted traffic wise so why bother. So we didn't.

LCC extended the 30 at the Sharneyford end, and introduced a lengthy 40 on their side to cover the last few few houses.