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Motorcyclists will be at risk if cyclists get more space

Leon Mannings, Transport policy advisor, Motorcycle Action Group (UK), London SW16
17 May 2013
 

As a former news and features writer for LTT, and now as a member of the mayor of London’s Roads Task Force and Transport for London’s Design Review Group for the ‘Better Junctions for Cycling’ programme, I was somewhat perplexed by the collection of quotes on the front page of the last issue (‘Bedford plans for Dutch style cyclist-friendly roundabouts provoke social media debate’ LTT 03 May).

To be honest I started to wonder if my mental faculties were starting to fail me at a greater rate than I would like. It also increased an ongoing concern about the massive disparity between the amount of positive attention and resources that are devoted to enhancing the safety of bicycle riders in stark contrast to riders of powered two wheelers (PTWs) – and despite the facts that both are congestion-busting modes of transport – and both groups of vulnerable road users suffer from a regrettably high proportion of killed and serious injuries on UK roads.

Your news item purported to be about Bedford’s plan for a ‘turbo’ roundabout and a “huge discussion” on social media about it. Confusingly, we were diverted from news of the Bedford scheme to remarks about TfL’s plan for another design of roundabout that is currently being trialled by TRL. As it happens I know a little about both schemes, having spoken at some length to the officer in charge of the Bedford proposal, and to some in TfL who are involved with their roundabout proposals and the TRL trial.

The main thrust of the front page story seemed to be that the most burning issue for debate by Tweeters was whether either or both of the schemes were Dutch, and/or originally meant for cars not cyclists. Sadly for me, the comments from cycling campaigner Mark seemed a tad on the incomprehensible side. His first was, that the “cycling provision, with a shared use pavement is not Dutch”, and his next “cycling on zebras to cross roads is a useful way forward” had slightly worrying implications.

Nevertheless, the most puzzling quote for me was from someone called Tommi who added: “UK taking proven designs, ignoring contexts they were designed for? Innovation!”

All of which and much of the rest of the content of that issue of LTT left me wondering three things.

Was my failure to understand much of the front page news evidence of my accelerating mental decline, or the fact that it was actually written in Double Dutch? I am also wondering if there is any truth in rumours that after years of debate at Landor Towers, the title of this most esteemed organ is to be changed to CTT, as in Cycling Transport Today?

Lastly, I wonder if more attention needs to be focused on this: Any proposal to allocate more road space for exclusive use by cyclists may enhance their safety but in most cases it will also reduce the width of carriageway available for PTW riders to manoeuvre in – and this will inevitably have an adverse impact on PTW rider road safety.



Editor’s note: Returning from a fortnight’s holiday last week I was as confused as many readers were about this story. Bedford Borough Council’s plans for a turbo roundabout, accurately reported in our 19 April edition, are quite different to what TRL is testing on behalf of Transport for London. Apologies to all concerned. 

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