Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album
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Some interesting bits from the new cycle design manual
Those involved in setting up infrastructure should know and understand what its like to use said infrastructure
Promoters of cycle facilities should cycle
To have a greater understanding and appreciation of the main needs of cyclists, it is strongly recommended that everyone involved in the promotion and delivery of cycle infrastructure should have recent experience of utility cycling, i.e. cycling for transport purposes, on various types of infrastructure in Ireland. This includes engineers, technicians, planners, senior management in Local Authorities and elected representatives.
Designers of cycle facilities should also cycle each route they are designing to experience the cycling environment first-hand and gain an appreciation for how the route fits in to the overall cycle network.
It is also recommended that designers gain first-hand experience of the new types of cycle infrastructure promoted in this manual e.g. protected junctions, as the infrastructure is rolled out across the country. As many of the new design elements in the manual stem from international best practice, particularly from The Netherlands, Denmark and the UK, designers are also encouraged where possible to gain user experience of such facilities abroad.
UD being incorporated right from the start is very welcome
Universal Design and Inclusive Mobility Cycle
Facilities should be designed to be useable by people of all ages and abilities using a variety of different types of cycles and wheeling equipment. It is worth noting that there has been a noticeable increase in recent years in the use of non-standard cycle equipment such as cargo bikes, tricycles, electric bicycles etc. and it is anticipated that their popularity will continue to increase as our cycle networks become more developed.
The use of motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters is also permitted on cycle tracks and it would be similarly anticipated that as our cycle networks are developed further, more people using wheelchairs and mobility devices will be encouraged and enabled to use the networks as is commonly seen in other countries with more mature cycle networks
The various types of bikes should all be able to use the facilities without issue
It details the various types of bike lanes from just paint all the way to greenways and then indicates the suitability of each for the road in question. Importantly it seems to say that regardless of what the limit it, the results of a traffic survey showing higher than limit speeds may indicate a higher classification of facility is required
It goes into great detail, in many sections, on the importance of the "network" and connectivity.
It also gives very limited options in using the regular type of painted bike lanes in the future
Nevermind cycling, how much nicer would it be as a pedestrian if kerbs were done like this rather than the up/down sh1te we have now
It gives many examples of protected junctions and crossings, both controlled and uncontrolled
It also covers the many surface type options, when to use each, when not to and so on.
It even talks about drainage options
It covers the various options for bike parking/storage and the various facilities that come with this depending on the journey type
There's some amount of stuff in it
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Average speed cameras won't make a jot of difference to road fatalities. They only really work for enforcement on motorways or dual carriageways which have limited entrance and exit points. Certainly have their merits in terms of managing traffic flows and in trying to reduce emmissions via speed management, but won't make much impact on fatalities.
What's needed is a targeted approach with fixed cameras and regular garda presence at known "black spots", combined with proper mobile speed cameras - not manned vans that need a designated safe area to be set up in, and need to be manned - that can be (and are) set up on any road. Lets be honest - everyone knows the speed trap locations on roads they commonly travel and equally knows the parts that they're unlikely to ever be pulled for speeding on. Something like the below - but smaller again - should be able to be developed to allow roads that normally see little to no policing be targetted. Put a bit of unpredictibility back into our roads policing.
Ultimately the only way for a difference to be made is significant beefing up of the Roads Policing Unit, with big increases in the number of unmarked garda cars (and more variety in makes - not just a fleet of easily identified base-spec Hyundais). Have Gardaí in unmarked cars simply patrolling at random, and pulling people over when they see poor driving; be it speeding, dangerous passes, amber-gambling, etc. I've reached the point of not even being surprised when I see someone run a red light in front of a squad car, and nothing happens.
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