Poorly designed lanes can pose a serious risk to cyclists
There I was, gently cycling to work through the heart of London, when I came across this wonderful example of dumb road layout. Go on. Take a closer look at it. Ridiculous, isn't it? As Homer Simpson might say: Doh!
Let's be honest. There are many more important things in life than a mild rant about stupid road junctions. But if the devil is in the detail (as the old saying goes), it's stuff like this that perhaps matters most.
Why such outrage at this abomination? Allow me to explain.
I found this work-in-progress shortly after it was added to the roundabout that encircles the Museum of London at the start of the A1. I was coming from the east on the rather impressively named road, London Wall. If you're that interested, click here to see it on Google Maps
What I found impressive was from London Wall there was a new dedicated cycle lane which bypasses having to give way to traffic from the right - as is the norm under Highway Code rule 185. Brilliant! All those on a bike wanting to turn left can now zip round this corner on a bypass slip lane without having to worry about any conflict with cars, buses and lorries. Of course, the zipping can only come after paying attention to the pedestrian crossing on the approach to the roundabout.
As riders exit the roundabout, they have to merge with other traffic, including cyclists.
Now, here's the rub (to quote Shakespeare). How does Transport for London solve this merger of different traffic flows? That's right. It expects cyclists in the bypass slip lane to give way. In one fell swoop a touch of genius has been turned into a disaster waiting to happen. Give way? On the exit from a roundabout? Is TfL mad? Is the Mayor of London crackers?
I've no doubt some people will smugly say: Cyclists? Worry about the Highway Code and give way? Pah!
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| Pay attention: Giving way as you leave a roundabout is not normal |
Why such outrage at this abomination? Allow me to explain.
I found this work-in-progress shortly after it was added to the roundabout that encircles the Museum of London at the start of the A1. I was coming from the east on the rather impressively named road, London Wall. If you're that interested, click here to see it on Google Maps
What I found impressive was from London Wall there was a new dedicated cycle lane which bypasses having to give way to traffic from the right - as is the norm under Highway Code rule 185. Brilliant! All those on a bike wanting to turn left can now zip round this corner on a bypass slip lane without having to worry about any conflict with cars, buses and lorries. Of course, the zipping can only come after paying attention to the pedestrian crossing on the approach to the roundabout.
As riders exit the roundabout, they have to merge with other traffic, including cyclists.
Now, here's the rub (to quote Shakespeare). How does Transport for London solve this merger of different traffic flows? That's right. It expects cyclists in the bypass slip lane to give way. In one fell swoop a touch of genius has been turned into a disaster waiting to happen. Give way? On the exit from a roundabout? Is TfL mad? Is the Mayor of London crackers?
I've no doubt some people will smugly say: Cyclists? Worry about the Highway Code and give way? Pah!
Well, before anyone gets too sanctimonious, bad highway behaviour is not restricted to any single road user. There are plenty of bad car drivers, bus drivers, van drivers and, come to mention it, pedestrians.
The fundamental problem with this slip lane is its ill-thought design. On the one hand, it invites cyclists to ignore one of the Highway Code's basic rules (giving priority to traffic before joining a roundabout) and then just metres later, demands they give way to traffic as they exit the roundabout. I've cycled for most of my life and that seems a very unusual highway instruction to me. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's counterintuitive.
The danger here is when a convoy of cyclists use this lane (and that can happen in busy old London). Anyone behind the lead cyclist has no indication they may be expected to stop unexpectedly. And that means a potential cycling pile-up.
It's as if the road boffins got to this point and suddenly realised they'd run out of ideas. "What we gonna do 'ere? Dunno. Let's just slap down a give way road markin'. That'll sort it."
If this slip lane is meant to genuinely help cyclists, it should be like the one on the northern side of this roundabout. There cyclists are free to carry on their merry right of way unimpeded by crap road markings.
It's no wonder that so many people on bikes ignore highway markings when confronted with this sort of illogical nonsense. Such woolly thinking is rife.
The only way more people will take up their bikes and ride is if road layouts are clear and simple to understand and not like this sorry excuse for highway management that's been vilified here.
The fundamental problem with this slip lane is its ill-thought design. On the one hand, it invites cyclists to ignore one of the Highway Code's basic rules (giving priority to traffic before joining a roundabout) and then just metres later, demands they give way to traffic as they exit the roundabout. I've cycled for most of my life and that seems a very unusual highway instruction to me. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's counterintuitive.
The danger here is when a convoy of cyclists use this lane (and that can happen in busy old London). Anyone behind the lead cyclist has no indication they may be expected to stop unexpectedly. And that means a potential cycling pile-up.
It's as if the road boffins got to this point and suddenly realised they'd run out of ideas. "What we gonna do 'ere? Dunno. Let's just slap down a give way road markin'. That'll sort it."
If this slip lane is meant to genuinely help cyclists, it should be like the one on the northern side of this roundabout. There cyclists are free to carry on their merry right of way unimpeded by crap road markings.
It's no wonder that so many people on bikes ignore highway markings when confronted with this sort of illogical nonsense. Such woolly thinking is rife.
The only way more people will take up their bikes and ride is if road layouts are clear and simple to understand and not like this sorry excuse for highway management that's been vilified here.
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