Cycle Path Design
The quality of cycle path design varies. On this page we look at a few examples of both the good and the 'iffy'.
A major design weakness in cycle paths is when priority is given to traffic or pedestrians entering from the sides. After attaining a good cycling rhythm, riders are then expected to come to a halt for no good reason. There are some quite bizarre examples of cycle path stop lines around the country. In one instance halt signs were placed outside a gate leading into a field. It seems the gate had never been opened for at least fifteen years.
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Here at Dyserth we see cyclist injuries waiting to happen: either when a car comes out from the drive on this fast cycling commuter route, or a cyclist hits the post in the dark, or there is a cyclist pile-up when a novice comes to a dead stop at the lines. |
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We are still trying to make sense of this path at Rhyl where a woman cyclist dismounted to walk around the barriers, tripped on the kerb and injured her ankle. |
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| Here we have two pictures of good practice where the Welsh Assembly's Highways Department have not only improved visibility and safety for cyclists by lowering two walls, but have also painted a halt sign on the path leading from the beach on Route 5 at Penmaenbach. It's not clear however why this path was divided as it's hardly of highway proportions. For a paper on why cyclists are sometimes reluctant to come to a halt, click here. | |
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Well done Conwy CBC and the Harbour Master for this path improvement! But what happened to the paint highlighting the barriers directly ahead? See if you can see them on a gloomy day or after sunset. |
