Cycling junction so ‘confusing’ council bosses make guide on how to use it
A cycling road junction in Cambridge is so confusing that council bosses have made a video guide explaining how to use it.
The junction, where the city’s Histon Road meets Gilbert Road and Warwick Road, is based on Dutch intersections where there are far more cyclists than in the UK.
So baffling to some is the layout that the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), made up of the local councils covering the area, has now uploaded a video explainer to YouTube ahead of a similar junction being created nearby.
The “Cycling Optimised Protected Signals” (Cyclops) junction includes four pedestrian islands, four miniature zebra crossings and eight sets of traffic lights for cyclists and pedestrians. The arrangement creates a circular path for cyclists around a crossroads for cars.
It was installed as part of a £24 million road upgrade project which was supposed to make the area safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike by separating them from one another.
On a more sombre note, this is yet another glimpse into the deranged world of bureaucracy in permanent pursuit of their perfect world. Fanatically detailed control over every aspect of life and it is just that - fanatical.
7 comments:
In honour of "smart motorways" we could call it a "smart junction".
It's not a million miles from us: maybe we should visit it in the small hours to see if we can work it out.
I've tried the youtube but can hardly make out a word the girl says.
In the days when I cycled everywhere I had a standard strategy for complicated junctions or even busy crossings. I'd dismount and push across. No accidents ensued, minor or major.
I hardly ever go into the City near me (Leicester). It is riddled with cycle lanes but I have rarely seen any cyclists use them - they prefer to use the ordinary road or footpaths.
So inquiring minds want to know - if little use is made of the cycle lanes are there any plans to remove them and ease traffic flow? No prizes for guessing the answer.
Of course the cyclists won't look at the video; rules are for other people, they'll just ride straight through the islands, the crossings, the red lights and everything else, and if they kill somebody, well that's hard luck - should have got out of their way quicker.
"Alternatively, cyclists can choose to stay on the road and follow the route directly ahead - or you can make a left or right turn across the junction, following the road markings."
So you can just ignore the £24 million project if you can't be bothered to decipher it.
On a more sombre note? This WAS a sombre note:
“Let us hope that cyclists are not tempted to watch the video while cycling. They could hit a pothole.”
dearieme - a "smart junction" would be a useful reminder of not so bright ideas. Dismount and push would be my approach.
DJ - there is a cycle lane near us which must be several miles long and we've never seen a cyclist use it. I doubt if anyone responsible for it checks if it is needed though.
Peter - we saw a cyclist cross a red light only recently. Many are a danger to themselves, relying on other road users to a greater extent than they seem to realise.
Sam - I'd probably get off and push.
James - I have a suspicion that numerous potholes are discouraging cycling on certain roads.
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