Advanced cycle stop lines, good idea?
Discussion
When on a bike, If there is an advanced stop line I'll use it.
If there isn't one then I'll stop behind the vehicle which is first in the queue so if they turn left without indicating I don't get splatted.
If they get removed cyclists will still try and get to the front, some being sensible and doing what I do, many not and the argument that says removing them will reduce overtakes doesn't really work becuase cyclist will always 're-take' stationary traffic queues on approach to lights.
On balance I think they work well.
If there isn't one then I'll stop behind the vehicle which is first in the queue so if they turn left without indicating I don't get splatted.
If they get removed cyclists will still try and get to the front, some being sensible and doing what I do, many not and the argument that says removing them will reduce overtakes doesn't really work becuase cyclist will always 're-take' stationary traffic queues on approach to lights.
On balance I think they work well.
gavsdavs said:
The visible thing makes sense - I hadn't considered that.
Unfortunately they do end up being used by bicycles who want to get to the front and to block cars getting past them (probably for their own safety considerations), but cars accelerate faster than bicycles from a standstill.
I'm sure it's not being done to favour the bicycle over the car, but that's what the net effect is. Cars are forced to travel at the speed of the bicycle until they all get out of the main lane. When there are 5-6 of them abreast in front of you, that takes a while.
I would put bigger left hand lanes in wherever possible, even by sacrificing a car lane if that's possible - permit bikes to get to the front by their passage to it being free, but I do object to a bicycle coming down my left, then swinging out to being slap bang in front of me because there is a slower cyclist on the left they want to pass.
A single car lane (without parked cars or cyclists in it) with a bike lane beside it - will move better than a tight, dual lane road in the same space. Safer for cyclists. Keeps cars and bikes more separated. No jostling in and out of lanes by people wanting to game the inside lane to lights.
With regards to the speed thing- I travel from Forest Hill to Marylebone and back each day, at rush hour, at an average speed of around 15mph.Unfortunately they do end up being used by bicycles who want to get to the front and to block cars getting past them (probably for their own safety considerations), but cars accelerate faster than bicycles from a standstill.
I'm sure it's not being done to favour the bicycle over the car, but that's what the net effect is. Cars are forced to travel at the speed of the bicycle until they all get out of the main lane. When there are 5-6 of them abreast in front of you, that takes a while.
I would put bigger left hand lanes in wherever possible, even by sacrificing a car lane if that's possible - permit bikes to get to the front by their passage to it being free, but I do object to a bicycle coming down my left, then swinging out to being slap bang in front of me because there is a slower cyclist on the left they want to pass.
A single car lane (without parked cars or cyclists in it) with a bike lane beside it - will move better than a tight, dual lane road in the same space. Safer for cyclists. Keeps cars and bikes more separated. No jostling in and out of lanes by people wanting to game the inside lane to lights.
That's significantly faster than a car could do it - which means that in general I'm passing cars for most of my commute (bar drag strip sections like some of Brixton Road).
Therefore the net effect of cars following bikes would probably be to increase the cars average speed, as it'd reduce the peaks and increase the flow of traffic.
7mike said:
HertsBiker said:
One of the joys of cycling is when I can wave a car past, when I can see round a corner that they can't. Makes me feel good to help the traffic flow. I have nothing to gain from misleading them, yet all benefit.
Just another pov; I'm 100% responsible for my actions therefore I'll hang back until I decide it's safe to overtake. No offence to the cyclist (or horse rider) who means well but tbh, I don't know you or what you can see ahead & I'll make my own decisions thanks.Good idea or bad idea depends on perspective.
They are designed to reduce traffic flow, slow down and delay traffic to act as a discouragement to motorists. They are another form of traffic 'gate'. For none road tax paying cyclist they are good. Therefore as motorists they are bad, they also increase road pollution so are bad for residents.
Martin4x4 said:
Good idea or bad idea depends on perspective.
They are designed to reduce traffic flow, slow down and delay traffic to act as a discouragement to motorists. They are another form of traffic 'gate'. For none road tax paying cyclist they are good. Therefore as motorists they are bad, they also increase road pollution so are bad for residents.
Don't be an idiot.They are designed to reduce traffic flow, slow down and delay traffic to act as a discouragement to motorists. They are another form of traffic 'gate'. For none road tax paying cyclist they are good. Therefore as motorists they are bad, they also increase road pollution so are bad for residents.
Mr Gear said:
If you're overtaking a cyclist and then getting stopped at a set of lights, what was the point in overtaking in the first place?
er, perhaps because they're going a good deal slower?You don't always know if the next lights are going to stop you, do you?
Or perhaps they do always stop you - but then in that case isn't that the very problem?
Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 26th July 22:51
Dammit said:
With regards to the speed thing- I travel from Forest Hill to Marylebone and back each day, at rush hour, at an average speed of around 15mph.
That's significantly faster than a car could do it - which means that in general I'm passing cars for most of my commute (bar drag strip sections like some of Brixton Road).
Therefore the net effect of cars following bikes would probably be to increase the cars average speed, as it'd reduce the peaks and increase the flow of traffic.
Firstly, you are very brave That's significantly faster than a car could do it - which means that in general I'm passing cars for most of my commute (bar drag strip sections like some of Brixton Road).
Therefore the net effect of cars following bikes would probably be to increase the cars average speed, as it'd reduce the peaks and increase the flow of traffic.
Secondly - this kind of suggests we agree. We are not talking about 'average speed', though. Cars can accelerate to 30mph much quicker than a bike. Bikes can benefit from getting through smaller gaps which cars cannot use to hold a higher average speed. Any car turning right to cross a lane of traffic impacts a car waitig to go straight on, but not a bike.
I would rather they allocate better, wider lanes to bikes and fewer, better lanes to cars so the two don't have to mix. This isn't so cars can go faster, but because it's safer for bikes and less frustrating for cars to have bikes in their way.
I've no problem with the cycle stop zones for the reasons they are designed to meet (as a car driver and cyclist etc)
The trouble is, in Bristol at least, an education issue. The zones at a red seem to fill instantly with 49cc scooters who are nowhere near as brisk as the fartcan exhausts suggest, who proceed to do cyclists no favours - and (one-foot-out, fast stylee) then hold up the rest of the traffic to the next stop, having weaved and bounced between the streams to get to the front.
(Must add, I've no problem with bikers filtering - I would - and happily move left in advance to support them do so)
The trouble is, in Bristol at least, an education issue. The zones at a red seem to fill instantly with 49cc scooters who are nowhere near as brisk as the fartcan exhausts suggest, who proceed to do cyclists no favours - and (one-foot-out, fast stylee) then hold up the rest of the traffic to the next stop, having weaved and bounced between the streams to get to the front.
(Must add, I've no problem with bikers filtering - I would - and happily move left in advance to support them do so)
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