Cycle Safety at Intersections 2

         
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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.

Intergrated Transport Update

One of Bicycle Canberra's many problems about our cycling infrastructure and policies is the need for better cycling integration with public transport. While there were a few bicycle lockers at the bus interchanges there was virtually nothing along the major corridor routes or at local group centre's.

Though this is common site in the Netherlands,Germany ,Sweden, Denmark and many other cities around the world, with bike parking facilities at bus stops and at major train stations.

Malmo, Sweden

Holland

Holland

Holland

Well this is a good news story for the TAMS transport department with the unveiling of the Bike park & ride sites. I have been a big critic of car park and rides, as they are expensive (up to $10 000 per car park space),they take up too much room and do nothing for active transport.

Mawson Park & Ride

The Mawson Park and Ride is a great example of this, while there are some bike lockers ,which are under utilized according to TAMS, the car parks are full. To encourage more bicycle use you have to restrict car use particularly in areas like this along major transport routes.

So to Transport for Canberra's New Bike > Park > Ride. I posted the need for better infrastructure along bus stops before and the department has been listening to the Community and have completed some of the new stops with some more to come.

Bike rails and secure Bike cage @ bus stop

Bike rails

As winter approaches this will test some of the fair weather riders but given the spread of the city this is definitely a good policy. What is needed is now some decent lighting along the cycle paths to and from these stops to make them more safe.

Groningen, Netherlands