Cycle Safety at Intersections 2

         
View Larger Map

Another Cyclist was seriously injured on Northbourne Ave in January at the Swindon intersection, this poses  the question again about safety at intersections in the ACT , and whether we have the best design for bicycle safety.
Because of our free left turn slip lanes for motor vehicles, the bicycle lane  continues between the car traffic and the motor vehicle has to cross the green marked bicycle lane to turn left.

Here is our lame TV advertisement regarding the green lanes a few years ago , which for 'added safety' the lanes are painted green for better visibility:


         

Launceston Street, Woden

 Even at intersections where there is not left turn slip lanes the through bike lane treatment is employed.

So what is the better solution,well as always Mark Wagenbuur has an excellent video pointing out the Dutch solution, and that they stopped building this type of treatments a long time ago.







To update you on the Hindmarsh/ Melrose drive intersection proposal  for safer intersection design, as expected ACT Roads have dismissed the safer solution as it would cause increase congestion apparently.Well we wouldn't want safer cycle facilities to impose on possible car congestion problems now would we.

With the construction of on road cycle lanes on 'high speed high volume roads' there certainly has been a marked increase in the number of serious accidents in the ACT since 2001. That's according to the Aus. Institute of Heath and Welfare report issued last week

For pedal cyclists, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia recorded the highest average annual rates of increase in serious injury.

Overall cyclist on road are certainly having a tough time in terms of serious injury.

So the call for sharing the road is too simplistic and needs an infrastructure overhaul to make the situation more safer particularly if we want to encourage more people to cycle.