From the pages of the Scotsman
news.scotsman.comscotland.cfmOpen ↗
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Cyclists put at risk from road safety schemes, claims group
ALASTAIR DALTON TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT
ROAD-SAFETY measures designed to protect cyclists are
putting them at greater risk from other traffic, according
to a new Scotland-wide body.
Cycling Scotland said the shortcomings of some traffic-
calming and road "improvements" had increased the danger of
cyclists being hit by vehicles or colliding with
pedestrians.
The group said, despite such schemes being funded by
Scottish Executive grants to make streets safer for cyclists
and pedestrians, local-authority officials had failed to
follow design guidelines.
Cycling Scotland said they include slippery rubber "speed
cushions" in Ayrshire, cycle lanes being introduced against
the flow of traffic in Glasgow city centre, and awkwardly
positioned cycle lanes near roundabouts elsewhere. "Pinch
points" that narrow crossings for pedestrians also funnelled
cyclists into traffic, it said.
Michael Addiscott, a spokesman for the group, said: "There
are many places where cyclists get squeezed into the traffic
flow, are directed into pedestrian crossings or are faced
with pedestrians walking off pavements on to contraflow
cycle lanes. Unfortunately, the engineers who are
responsible for installing these treatments do not often
understand the needs of the intended user. They are
discouraging those they are meant to be helping, and in many
instances putting them at real risk."
For example, Mr Addiscott said cycle lanes on the left
side of roads approaching roundabouts forced cyclists
turning right or going straight ahead to cut across
traffic turning left.
He claimed the problem lay with local-authority roads
officials failing to consult relevant design manuals when
constructing such schemes.
However, he said he hoped the official launch of Cycling
Scotland as the country’s first national umbrella body would
improve the co-ordination and planning of future projects.
The organisation, which is funded by the Executive, aims to
help ministers meet their target of quadrupling cycling
between 1996 and 2012.
Mr Addiscott said cycling could help tackle child
obesity, with the pursuit more popular among youngsters
than football. However, while surveys have shown 46 per
cent of children would like to cycle to school, just 2
per cent do so.
Cycling Scotland said 80 per cent of households had access
to a bike, and twice as many bikes as cars were sold in
Scotland every year.
--
Wallace Shackleton,
Kinross, Scotland.
Cycling in Kinross-shire www.cyclekinross.org.uk
Perth & Kinross Cycle Campaign www.bycycle.org.uk