A quick search for more info on the London Road facility has thrown up the FoE web site "Love Your Bike".
It has a few pieces of potentially interesting source material on the Quality of cycle lanes and facilities and Junctions.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Monday, 13 December 2010
The Unreachable Cycle Lane - London Road
Ever wondered how magical cycling can be? Look no further than London Road by Piccadilly Station, here you will find a cycle lane built for the magical appearing cyclist...
I just couldn't work out how any cyclist could legally reach the beginning of this lane, it just appears, going northbound on a crossing island between the southbound one-way traffic and the tram tracks. I couldn't even see the traditional Cyclists Dismount sign in the area.
If you aren't walking past you just wouldn't know it was there.
The pavement lane just appears on the island, turns into a short piece of segregated track,
before turning into a contraflow cycle lane, alongside a car parking bay, though some drivers prefer the pavement.
After the road becomes two-way at a car park exit the facility ends in a reasonable advanced stop bay, but not before the lane is squeezed down to barely more than the width of the double yellow lines.
Still, since it is so difficult to get to, I don't suppose many people use this route.
View Larger Map
I just couldn't work out how any cyclist could legally reach the beginning of this lane, it just appears, going northbound on a crossing island between the southbound one-way traffic and the tram tracks. I couldn't even see the traditional Cyclists Dismount sign in the area.
If you aren't walking past you just wouldn't know it was there.
The pavement lane just appears on the island, turns into a short piece of segregated track,
before turning into a contraflow cycle lane, alongside a car parking bay, though some drivers prefer the pavement.
After the road becomes two-way at a car park exit the facility ends in a reasonable advanced stop bay, but not before the lane is squeezed down to barely more than the width of the double yellow lines.
Still, since it is so difficult to get to, I don't suppose many people use this route.
View Larger Map
Monday, 6 December 2010
Great Ancoats Street
Heading Northwest along
is a cycle lane that's got a split personality...
It gets off to a start in the most useful of places, a bus stop, just after the road crosses the Rochdale Canal.
At this point it is definitely an advisory on-road cycle lane, but it then vanishes to fit in a pedestrian crossing...
it resumes as a cycle lane,
but then swerves onto the pavement for just a few meters
before forcing the cyclist out into the path of the moving traffic at the lights.
Then after the junction it is back onto the pavement for an obstacle course round the poles,
a dangerous squeeze between a sign and the oncoming buses,
and a dubious side road crossing,
more squeezing between the traffic and the poles,
before the next set of lights
where the route just disappears!
Nasty piece of work this, if it isn't dangerous, then that's because no sane cyclist would mount the pavement to use it.
View Larger Map
is a cycle lane that's got a split personality...
It gets off to a start in the most useful of places, a bus stop, just after the road crosses the Rochdale Canal.
At this point it is definitely an advisory on-road cycle lane, but it then vanishes to fit in a pedestrian crossing...
it resumes as a cycle lane,
but then swerves onto the pavement for just a few meters
before forcing the cyclist out into the path of the moving traffic at the lights.
Then after the junction it is back onto the pavement for an obstacle course round the poles,
a dangerous squeeze between a sign and the oncoming buses,
and a dubious side road crossing,
more squeezing between the traffic and the poles,
before the next set of lights
where the route just disappears!
Nasty piece of work this, if it isn't dangerous, then that's because no sane cyclist would mount the pavement to use it.
View Larger Map
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Too Short...
Just along from the height limit in Grosvenor Street is this ridiculously short section of pavement cycle path.
There is no way you could fit a bicycle in that.
It is of course one of those stupid sets of markings that only a bureaucrat could design as it achieves nothing for the path user whilst covering the designer's back...
View Larger Map
There is no way you could fit a bicycle in that.
It is of course one of those stupid sets of markings that only a bureaucrat could design as it achieves nothing for the path user whilst covering the designer's back...
View Larger Map
Height Limit....
The idea of a height limit sign on a cycle path amuses me for some reason,
perhaps it's the thought that the cycling officer who designed it owned a tall bike?
View Larger Map
perhaps it's the thought that the cycling officer who designed it owned a tall bike?
View Larger Map
Monday, 15 November 2010
November Critical Mass
Bright lights critical mass
"Come twinkling along on some blinging bright lit up bicycling beauties. There will be a workshop in lantern making in the week up to critical mass so keep your eyes peeled for more info on that."
Friday 26th November, 6pm Central Library
"Come twinkling along on some blinging bright lit up bicycling beauties. There will be a workshop in lantern making in the week up to critical mass so keep your eyes peeled for more info on that."
Friday 26th November, 6pm Central Library
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Another Bad Sign - Princess Street Roadworks
If anything there should be a sign saying Cycle Lane suspended, but that's if someone bothered to get out the traffic order suspending the mandatory cycle lane...
Update 27/11/2010
The roadworks have cleared and this junction is back to three lanes + mandatory cycle lane.
Update 27/11/2010
The roadworks have cleared and this junction is back to three lanes + mandatory cycle lane.
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