You are in: Home » Cycling 2020 » Good design in cycle crossings
TEN.. Good design in cycle crossings
Equal treatment for cyclists at junctions
Every cycle crossing in Cambridge should be wide, detect cyclists, and give plenty of crossing time
The Lyndewode Rd junction in Cambridge is an excellent example of a cycle route facility that has been designed to the same principles as a normal traffic junction. There are no buttons to push and cyclists flow freely.
Cyclists approaching a junction require the same warnings and notifications as a motorist would. This means being able to see clearly as they approach whether they can cross the junction or whether they need to stop, so that they can adjust their speed accordingly.
Traffic lights for cars are positioned so that drivers can look straight ahead in the direction they are going and the same should be true for cyclists.
Equally, it is inappropriate to ‘box in’ cyclists or make them undertake a crossing in two stages. ‘Cages’ such as the ones on King’s Hedges Road by Arbury Park make life difficult for pedestrians and cyclists alike and almost impossible if the bike has a trailer attached.
We believe the ban on cyclists turning at parallel crossings like Gonville Place is inappropriate. Turning is considered to be acceptable at toucan crossings so we see no logical reason why the same should not be so at parallel crossings. A trial removal would confirm that this outdated regulation could be scrapped.
Crossings in the Netherlands and Belgium are much more cycle-sympathetic and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t replicate their approach here.
Top of page