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How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 05 Feb 2014, 16:38
by Stuart
How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway in three easy steps

Re Cooks River Cycleway
'This, dear reader, is what cyclists have to put up with. Incompetents disguised as cycle infrastructure planners.
And the three steps, in case you missed them

1. Find problem which doesn’t actually exist
2. Fix non-existent problem, introducing additional objective danger in the process
3. Permanently fix second problem, incidentally saving cyclists from the pain of being cyclists, by telling them to get off their bikes'

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 05 Feb 2014, 18:02
by Philip
While I love a good whine as much as the next bloke, and I agree the solution is a pretty crap one. I disagree that there wasn't a problem. Previously if you were traveling downstream you'd hit the road on the wrong side of a narrow road coming out of a blind corner. While regulars are all to familiar with the danger the thought of a kid barreling along, feeling carefree, on a cycle way, and ending up on the wrong side of a narrow road facing oncoming traffic is rather terrifying. It is a quiet road generally but it is still a road. There is a timber yard around the corner so it gets some trucks and I've even seen a bus use this road. If you are a regular user you can still use option c to by pass the barrier. So while it is an inconvenience and it could have had a better solution it is still a safer option for the more vulnerable riders.

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 06 Feb 2014, 11:15
by Karzie
It's actually on a bus route and some of those buses come around the corner at serious speed. I've had a few scares. I don't commute on the cycleway any more because it's too dangerous. It's not a cycleway at all, it's an off-leash dog walking path. People drive there to walk their dog.

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 06 Feb 2014, 18:13
by utopia
I disagree that there wasn't a problem. Previously if you were traveling downstream you'd hit the road on the wrong side of a narrow road coming out of a blind corner. While regulars are all to familiar with the danger the thought of a kid barreling along, feeling carefree, on a cycle way, and ending up on the wrong side of a narrow road facing oncoming traffic is rather terrifying.
I actually campaigned for this because like Philip said heading southward was pretty crap and to be 'legal' a cyclist had to 'cross the road twice'


The original idea (see : http://www.sydneycyclist.com/forum/topi ... t%3A527704 ) was a 2.5m protected path and changing the road area to one-vehicle-at-a-time ,
however this was changed (http://www.sydneycyclist.com/forum/topi ... t%3A542678) to 1.5m ....

and now Cooks River Cycleway signage needs to be changed because it's not a cycleway anymore
( just like drivers wouldn't call a road a road if they have to get out of their car and have to push past a section )

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 06 Feb 2014, 20:44
by mikesbytes
Providing the bus's only use that road in one direction, I really don't see a problem with making the road oneway

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 07 Feb 2014, 14:40
by PatW
Charles/Broughton Street has 5-600 new apartments being built in the next two years. The traffic will be horrendous, and the one-way option wouldn't work. The obvious solution would be to get the developers to fund as part of their DA Contributions the upgrade of the path both at this spot and the Canterbury Road underpass. They both need to cantilever off the bridge pylons over the water like the seabridge on the South Coast. Sounds overwrought but really not that difficult to build. Could all be worked out on the back of a napkin at a Chinese restaurant in Campsie.

Re: How to turn a cycleway into a don’t-cycleway

Posted: 07 Feb 2014, 15:32
by Gowza
I've put in a call to the relevant Council Officer seeking some information on how the current configuration came about. The Developer Contribution (s.94) suggestion is a good idea. It would be worth putting this to Council for consideration in their capital works program. At the very least some proactive suggestions makes for better use of our time...