Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

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jnty
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by jnty »

If the picture at the start of the article is representative, this is one of a growing crop of articles which display performative ignorance in order to denigrate council efforts to accomodate cyclists (and cyclists themselves.)

It should be obvious to anyone with a driving license that the picture shows a divergence in the road where cyclists may wish to go right or left. It is not a 'cycle lane' in its commonly understood sense - it is a left turn lane apparently restricted to cycles. Indeed, given the solid line and chevrons it would arguably be illegal for a cyclist to turn right from the left lane at the last minute - it would certainly be a dangerous maneuverer and no doubt frustrate the quoted Mr. Martin if he were driving behind.

The cycle has presumably been painted so that the hard of thinking understand that cyclists are permitted in and may need to occupy either lane depending on which way they want to go. Unfortunately the designers did not account for the intelligence levels of the journalist writing this article.

(Whether this represents quality cycling infrastructure is of course another matter - but doesn't change the fact that this article is performatively misunderstanding an extremely simple road layout for the purposes of clickbait.)
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RichardA35
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by RichardA35 »

jnty wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:17..Whether this represents quality cycling infrastructure is of course another matter - but doesn't change the fact that this article is performatively misunderstanding an extremely simple road layout for the purposes of clickbait.
Indeed it doesn't appear to have taken very long for their vox pop to whip up another frothing frenzy of motorists.
TS
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by TS »

jnty wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:17 If the picture at the start of the article is representative, this is one of a growing crop of articles which display performative ignorance in order to denigrate council efforts to accomodate cyclists (and cyclists themselves.)

It should be obvious to anyone with a driving license that the picture shows a divergence in the road where cyclists may wish to go right or left. It is not a 'cycle lane' in its commonly understood sense - it is a left turn lane apparently restricted to cycles. Indeed, given the solid line and chevrons it would arguably be illegal for a cyclist to turn right from the left lane at the last minute - it would certainly be a dangerous maneuverer and no doubt frustrate the quoted Mr. Martin if he were driving behind.

The cycle has presumably been painted so that the hard of thinking understand that cyclists are permitted in and may need to occupy either lane depending on which way they want to go. Unfortunately the designers did not account for the intelligence levels of the journalist writing this article.

(Whether this represents quality cycling infrastructure is of course another matter - but doesn't change the fact that this article is performatively misunderstanding an extremely simple road layout for the purposes of clickbait.)
I don't disagree with your sentiment but, in my opinion, they really are stupidly placed.

Nearby at Cemetery Junction, these prominent cycle symbols have appeared in the middle of the left-turn vehicle lane. On first glance, it is very confusing, especially as an edge-of-the-road painted cycle lane has just come to an end here to accommodate the three traffic lanes.
jnty
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by jnty »

TS wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:58
jnty wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:17 If the picture at the start of the article is representative, this is one of a growing crop of articles which display performative ignorance in order to denigrate council efforts to accomodate cyclists (and cyclists themselves.)

It should be obvious to anyone with a driving license that the picture shows a divergence in the road where cyclists may wish to go right or left. It is not a 'cycle lane' in its commonly understood sense - it is a left turn lane apparently restricted to cycles. Indeed, given the solid line and chevrons it would arguably be illegal for a cyclist to turn right from the left lane at the last minute - it would certainly be a dangerous maneuverer and no doubt frustrate the quoted Mr. Martin if he were driving behind.

The cycle has presumably been painted so that the hard of thinking understand that cyclists are permitted in and may need to occupy either lane depending on which way they want to go. Unfortunately the designers did not account for the intelligence levels of the journalist writing this article.

(Whether this represents quality cycling infrastructure is of course another matter - but doesn't change the fact that this article is performatively misunderstanding an extremely simple road layout for the purposes of clickbait.)
I don't disagree with your sentiment but, in my opinion, they really are stupidly placed.

Nearby at Cemetery Junction, these prominent cycle symbols have appeared in the middle of the left-turn vehicle lane. On first glance, it is very confusing, especially as an edge-of-the-road painted cycle lane has just come to an end here to accommodate the three traffic lanes.
Yes - the concept of "sharrows" has attracted international derision and often seems to be - depending on your cynicism levels - a good-natured but usually futile attempt to 'soften' schemes where dedicated bike infrastructure is not provided, or a way of 'laundering' normal road schemes as cycle schemes to access different budgets. But the point of this article is not "gosh I wish our town provided for all road users better" - it's clearly a cynical ploy to attract "hate clicks".
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Bryn666
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by Bryn666 »

RichardA35 wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:54
jnty wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 11:17..Whether this represents quality cycling infrastructure is of course another matter - but doesn't change the fact that this article is performatively misunderstanding an extremely simple road layout for the purposes of clickbait.
Indeed it doesn't appear to have taken very long for their vox pop to whip up another frothing frenzy of motorists.
This is mainly why I supported binning off the requirement to advertise TROs in local rags. These are the people who will take £3k in advertising fees from you and then run an attack ad on your proposal to generate clicks.

Quite frankly the world would be better off without the likes of Reach plc, the best thing to do is not to share their nonsense and let them go bust. They don't report relevant local news often, and the news they do report is usually factually wrong.
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pjr10th
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Re: Council tells cyclists to ignore dedicated cycle lanes it installed

Post by pjr10th »

What the most absolute **** excuse for journalism this is.

To any soul with half a brain it's blatantly obvious that the lanes are a left turn lane to go through the modal filter.

The way this Sabrina Johnson has written the article is very one-sided. Council "accused of" etc. etc. Then they get four poor sods they probably pulled off the street and asked "do you think it's bad the Council did this thing we're claiming they did". Anyone would say "that's terrible" to a Council spending money to install an actual cycle lane then encouraging people to not use it.

It's hilarious the rag then shows a picture of the turn lane... filled up with parked cars. Complete gutter press.
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