The Australian state of New South Wales recently legislated that all new traffic lights must have head off pedestrian lights. If you are at traffic lights the green signal for pedestrians will light first and a few seconds later the traffic green light will allow cars to proceed. This causes minimal delay to car drivers and by statistics makes intersections much safer for pedestrians. I thoroughly approve.
This seems to be happening in my state of Victoria too, but I don't know of any legislation.
Our building and our two sister buildings have lost on street parking of about 15 spaces purely because of segregated bike lanes. Personally I don't think it was necessary for us to lose parking, but it is already spilt milk.
There is more than one type of cycling lane in Melbourne but here are a couple of examples.
This one is good but does not offer cyclists any real protection from a swerving car. The green is painted where there could be car and cyclist conflict.
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What an excellent idea. I am distrustful at traffic lights and always watch the oncoming traffic to be sure that they have stopped. Sadly watching phones seems to make some pedestrians think that they are invincible. I do not want to be dead right.
ReplyDeleteEC, I firmly assert my rights as a pedestrian but like you, I am very watchful. Definitely phones down when crossing a road. There are signs in the city to warn pedestrians, but of course if they are looking at their phone screens, they don't see the signs.
DeleteThey are changing the lights here in Toronto to get the pedestrians moving first too. I find that it works really well.
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know Pat. It has been around a while here at certain intersections but now seems to be becoming compulsory.
DeleteBanning international licensees in the state would reduce a lot of driving in the wrong direction
ReplyDeleteRacist and sexist perhaps Roentare but some female mainland Chinese can't drive for nuts. They bribe officials in China to give the multiple dated international licenses and continue to drive here in Australia for years, never having to sit a local driving test.
DeleteThat last one is an excellent bike lane. I haven't seen anything like it in the states. Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteSandra, it is as much protection for cyclists as is practical. More is being done with traffic lights with left turning red arrows at intersections. Think right turning arrows for you.
DeleteAnd the so and sos still ride on the footpath! They are a very entitled group of road users…who by right should really pay their way
ReplyDeleteCathy, our footpath in front of our building has been temporarily narrowed to about 1 metre. I thought that would stop cyclists and scooter riders. Nope.
DeleteGood idea for the lights, must check to see if our lights for walkers come on first. Bike lanes, over here they put them where there isn't enough room as our streets are not wide enough, then the bike land end abruptly so the bikes has to walk somewhere with their bikes. A bit weird if you ask me!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, if they aren't already, they will be. Making really safe bike lanes is hard for local authorities as many people will hate them and argue that they should be paying a registration fee.
DeleteThat's a nice, wide bike lane. Our bike lanes (in my area, anyway) are usually very narrow and don't look at all safe.
ReplyDeleteJB, they can only be installed where there is space. I understand how narrow some English roads are.
DeleteWe have the same bike lanes here but I don't see so many bikes using them. It's possible they're out there when I am not since I stay home a lot.
ReplyDeletePeak travel times are when they are most used River. You will be lazing in bed in the morning and reading terrific blogs during the evening peak.
DeleteWe have just a couple of token bike lanes but our roads are really too narrow for them to work properly. The general traffic just ignores them.
ReplyDeleteYes, I understand that JayCee. There is one particular car lane intersection on Newcastle's West Road that is too narrow for cars. It is a rough guide as to what to do.
DeleteThere are a few bike lanes reasonably segregated in Glasgow but they are few and far between. Most of our roads are too narrow. I have noticed that the new 2 metre rule (a motorist must allow a cyclist 2 metres clearance) is very well adhered to on our Island and on the A9 Scottish trunk road (causing a fair few traffic tailbacks).
ReplyDeleteSt Kilda is a remote and astonishingly rugged and beautiful Island off the coast of the Western Isles where I live. It's interesting to know how such far away places get named.
Graham, our rule is only one metre distance. Even that is hard at times.
DeleteOur St Kilda is named after the ship Lady of St Kilda.
Bike lanes make a huge difference for the cyclist (if they use them.) More people on bikes is fewer cars on the street, and on the rails. The subway system here changed the rules, to allow bikes on trains at anytime, as long as the car is not packed with people. BC - bikes were forbidden at rush hour making it useless for long distance commuters who use the bike for the first and last mile of their commute.
ReplyDeleteAmazing TP. I just read today that your subway restricts bicycles to off peak times. What you describe is common sense.
DeleteGetting "doored" happens a lot in the states, too! I applaud the idea of encouraging bicycling in urban areas but frankly, I'm not sure I'd do it. It's too dangerous for my blood.
ReplyDeleteSteve, this is about making cycling a whole lot safer it really is with no dooring risk.
DeleteOur local bike lanes are a joke. What used to be a legal right turn on red is now illegal if the driver ahead of you plans to go straight through the traffic stop because we're not supposed to drive on the bike lane. I wouldn't mind so much if more cyclists used them. Oh, well. It's just another petty first world problem. Heh... Be well!
ReplyDeleteI think I understand that Darla. Properly separated bike lanes are the way to go. Yep, first world problems overwhelm us.
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