I've been exchanging e-mails with the council this week about the bollards on the Bath-Bristol cyclepath that I mentioned recently. My hopes of getting them removed are not high (although the chap I'm dealing with is at least receptive to the idea, unlike the last two cycling officers). I am more optimistic about getting a more cycle friendly arrangement of bollards. By my measurements, it should be possible to position 3 bollards across the path in a straight line in such a way that the gaps between them are 120-130cm.
I'm arguing that a bike towing a trailer should be able to pass through without deviating from a straight line, and that the minimum gap should be 100cm. I'm basing that distance on the typical 2-child trailer being about 85cm wide and the widest trike that I know of (the Greenspeed GTT) having a track of 90cm.
Is there anything wider that I should be taking into consideration?
I'm arguing that a bike towing a trailer should be able to pass through without deviating from a straight line, and that the minimum gap should be 100cm. I'm basing that distance on the typical 2-child trailer being about 85cm wide and the widest trike that I know of (the Greenspeed GTT) having a track of 90cm.
The widest child-trailer I've heard of is also 90cm (outside width of trailer, track width would be somewhat less). It'd be interesting to see how fast you could cycle through a 100cm gap with just 10cm clearance to play with...
The widest child-trailer I've heard of is also 90cm (outside width of trailer, track width would be somewhat less). It'd be interesting to see how fast you could cycle through a 100cm gap with just 10cm clearance to play with...
Not that fast with a trailer, pretty much full speed on a trike if you're feeling brave I suspect.
The main thing isn't the speed though, but not having to get of the bike and heave the trailer. I bought a one wheeled trailer (BoB YaK) just becuase I knew it would be easier to use on some of my routes round town, even though a two wheeled trailer would have let me carry more.
The widest child-trailer I've heard of is also 90cm (outside width of trailer, track width would be somewhat less). It'd be interesting to see how fast you could cycle through a 100cm gap with just 10cm clearance to play with...
"Not very", but at least that's a better answer than "okay kids, out you get so Daddy can lift the trailer over the bollards the Nice Council People put in to make us 'safe', oh sorry Jimmy, I forgot you're only 1 and can't do that yourself yet..."
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Is there anything wider that I should be taking into consideration?
Yup, the Disability Discrimination Act.
Somewhere on the DfT site I once found the recommendations for the minimum widths between barriers, and the recommended layout. I've posted something about thsi recently, but for the life of me I couldn't find the reference again. It came about as barriers were put up on the dockside near me. I came out the next day with a tapemeasure, and found the barriers where legal.
The shape is, looking from above:
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Off the top of my head, I don't know the minimum width but it is well over 100cm.
Is there anything wider that I should be taking into consideration?
Yup, the Disability Discrimination Act.
I seem to remeber seeing some ECF recommedations on this as well, but can't find it: I found this Canadian recommendation, which seems comprehensive:
The average multi-speed bicycle is 0.6 metres wide, 1.75 metres long and stands up to 1.2 metres in height. Mountain bike handlebars can be up to 0.8 metres wide. Adult tricycles and trailers used to tow children are about 0.8 metres wide. If mirrors or a side mount safety flag is added, the vehicle can be approximately 1.0 metre wide. The bicycle does not travel in a straight line, but in order to balance moves from side to side. Another 0.3 metres are needed at each side for clearance. This gives a design width of 1.6 metres.
I've been exchanging e-mails with the council this week about the bollards on the Bath-Bristol cyclepath that I mentioned recently. My hopes of getting them removed are not high (although the chap I'm dealing with is at least receptive to the idea, unlike the last two cycling officers). I am more optimistic about getting a more cycle friendly arrangement of bollards. By my measurements, it should be possible to position 3 bollards across the path in a straight line in such a way that the gaps between them are 120-130cm.
I'm arguing that a bike towing a trailer should be able to pass through without deviating from a straight line, and that the minimum gap should be 100cm. I'm basing that distance on the typical 2-child trailer being about 85cm wide and the widest trike that I know of (the Greenspeed GTT) having a track of 90cm.
Is there anything wider that I should be taking into consideration?
Had a lot of dealings with this sort of thing up here in Sheffield. We have a bunch of freight-carrying HPV riders for whom anything below 1.5 metres is a problem, and anything below 1.2 is impossible (without getting off and manhandling it, not so easy when you've got half a ton of re-cycling on the back. The council riposte is that a smart car could get through 1.5 metres, but I don't think the sort of people who drive smart cars are really interested in cycle tracks - motorbikes are far more of a problem, but they always seem to find a way on anyway (normally through use of angle-grinders as far as I can tell)
I've been exchanging e-mails with the council this week about the bollards on the Bath-Bristol cyclepath that I mentioned recently. My hopes of getting them removed are not high (although the chap I'm dealing with is at least receptive to the idea, unlike the last two cycling officers). I am more optimistic about getting a more cycle friendly arrangement of bollards. By my measurements, it should be possible to position 3 bollards across the path in a straight line in such a way that the gaps between them are 120-130cm.
I'm arguing that a bike towing a trailer should be able to pass through without deviating from a straight line, and that the minimum gap should be 100cm. I'm basing that distance on the typical 2-child trailer being about 85cm wide and the widest trike that I know of (the Greenspeed GTT) having a track of 90cm.
Is there anything wider that I should be taking into consideration?
Dear Danny,
I found that using our Pashley U+2 (a sort of double trike tag along) on the Bristol - Bath cyclepath was completely impossible. The bollards and other restrictions meant that I had to get the children off the U+2 and disconnect it from the bike on many occasions.
If you are looking for support in your campaign I would be happy to add my voice.
The widest child-trailer I've heard of is also 90cm (outside width of trailer, track width would be somewhat less).
Mine has an overall width of 85 cm and the same track. The wheels are angled inwards and suspended.
I have been known to use the rounded front as ameans to ensure I do get through such gaps. This technique doesn't work with my freight trailer as it has sharp right angles and these come to an abrupt halt (as does the rider a few seconds later.)
Quoted message said:
It'd be interesting to
Quoted message said:
see how fast you could cycle through a 100cm gap with just 10cm clearance to play with...
"Not very", but at least that's a better answer than "okay kids, out you get so Daddy can lift the trailer over the bollards the Nice Council People put in to make us 'safe', oh sorry Jimmy, I forgot you're only 1 and can't do that yourself yet..."
Thanks for the suggestion. I got the RADAR gates refurbished last year by citing the DDA, but I don't remember seeing anything in it that would help in this case. I'll take another look, though.
There's only one access point between the bollards and the railway crossing, and it's one that cyclists probably shouldn't be using anyway (given that reaching it would involve riding on footpaths).
I found that using our Pashley U+2 (a sort of double trike tag along) on the Bristol - Bath cyclepath was completely impossible. The bollards and other restrictions meant that I had to get the children off the U+2 and disconnect it from the bike on many occasions.
If you are looking for support in your campaign I would be happy to add my voice.
I'll certainly mention it, thanks. Out of interest, how wide is the U+2?
Apart from the bollards, I can think of 3 barriers that you wouldn't have a hope of getting it through without disconnecting it. All are in South Gloucestershire, and I've asked repeatedly for them to be removed. The noises that I've been hearing recently, both from the council and from a meeting that I attended in December with the Avon Valley Partnership about the cyclepath, are more encouraging than they have been in the past.
Thanks David. I didn't even have to click on the link - I've got a copy of that document on my hard drive. It suggests 1.2m, which seems reasonable to me. I shall forward it to the chap at the council.
In December I handed a copy of the same document to the Avon Valley Development Officer, with reference to getting rid of the RADAR gates. She seemed very receptive to the idea.
