Comments on: Are painted cycle lanes dangerous?

By: Koen van Leeuwen

Koen van Leeuwen — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:55:08 +0000

Cycle lanes by themselves are ok provided they are in the proper location and properly designed. Not on a high volume road, high speed road, a road with a lot of heavy vehicles like busses or trucks. (the 3 reasons for separating cycles from traffic in The Netherlands) or heavily used on road parking.
The more traffic, the higher the change of an accident. Heavy traffic, more chance of fatalities, etc.
The aim with decent cycle infrastructure is to create a safe environment (objective and subjective).
So you want to minimise the conflicts. But it is the art of finding the balance with the constraints. My opinion: do it right, not half-hearted.
Something else:
Everybody knows that most of the accidents happen at intersections. So the question is more how are we dealing with a cycle lane approaching an intersection. (but that is another chapter).

By: Stephen J

Stephen J — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 23:24:43 +0000

In reply to LennyBoy. So one place painted lanes aren't working well is Moorhouse, especially the bit between Deans Ave and Lincoln Rd where drivers are going really quite fast. Too narrow, and scary. On Papanui Road I regularly notice delivery vehicles parked on the cycle lane, despite the yellow lines on their left. Quite annoying to have to swing out into car traffic to avoid them. I'm going to start photographing them and complaining to the council, I think.

By: Darren Tatom

Darren Tatom — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:37:47 +0000

I generally agree with the provision of painted cycle lanes. My objection is that there has been little driver education on their use. Speaking with a number of reasonably sensible motorists brings a number of unexpected responses. 1. 1 person lauded cycle lanes as a means of corralling cyclists so that she could go faster and not have to think about cyclists 2. 2 drivers thought that the white lines on open roads were cycle lanes and were appalled that cyclists were riding outside thm (they denote the edge of the roadway). 3. 1 driver thought you could park in them e.g to take a cell phone call

By: LennyBoy

LennyBoy — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 03:35:54 +0000

In reply to Ross Mackintosh. Yep, seen, and a response being considered. Some valid points made but also some I'd challenge.

By: Ross Mackintosh

Ross Mackintosh — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 01:06:45 +0000

I’m wondering if those leading the design of the new cycleways have seen this: http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2014/02/christchurch-new-zealand-cycle-design.html
Perhaps someone could pass it on.

By: Colin Stokes

Colin Stokes — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 02:32:01 +0000

It’s a no-brainer that cycle lanes are safer than merging cyclists into vehicle (truck / bus / car) lanes. As Rich says, painting a cycle lane requires vehicles to move toward the center of the road leaving more space and safety margin for vulnerable cyclists. CCC has Infrastructure Design Standards (IDS2010) that requires precisely this but CCC staff are refusing to implement it as was revealed at the new Yaldhurst Living G zone subdivision. The safety audit has now revealed these serious dangers.

Staff not only eliminated the required cycle lanes but they reduced the carriageway width such that cyclists can not be safely passed at all (3.2m is the width to be shared by cyclists, public transport, trucks and cars on this busy commercial & residential collector road.

Thank you “Cycling in Christchurch/LennyBoy” for keeping us informed.

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 20:45:21 +0000

I don’t see how painted cycle lanes can hurt. They definitely will never be as good as a proper separated cycleway, but they must be better than nothing. As a car driver, you tend to position your car around the middle of the painted lane. If the cars are naturally half a metre to a metre further to the right than they’d otherwise be, that has to help. Plus it just creates the impression in the mind of the driver that this is a space for cyclists. The main danger is if painted lanes start being called and thought of as cycleways or cycle infrastructure, but based on what this article says, that isn’t the case.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 03:07:02 +0000

The painted lines on Manchester St heading north toward Bealey Avenue feel safe enough , traffic is often light and there aren’t many areas where cars continually pull in and out of parks . By continuing them through to Edgeware Road T intersection would improve the whole journey, city to Edgewqare. Of course following through to treat Edgeware Road in the same manner may have a traffic calming effect that residents and shoppers have been hoping for the 29 years that I have been living in the area

By: Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 22:43:38 +0000

I think it depends whether they are safe or unsafe. I feel safe on most cycle lanes in town but there is no way I will have our six year old biking on them. Most people who cycle frequently will might feel reasonable safe on them because they are aware of the risks (opening car doors, encroaching traffic etc.) However for a quite few people cycle lanes might not offer the protection they need which means they will not consider cycling as a serious means of transport. It would be great we could offer infrastructure that also would accommodate people who are not confident riders: kids, people with slight disabilities, older people or just more risk adverse people. Cycling lanes might be still adequate when used in low volume traffic environments.