tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post2717192553036436579..comments2024-03-29T04:56:21.385+00:00Comments on The Ranty Highwayman: If you go back to the woods today (again!)The Ranty Highwaymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-24726627961948874272016-09-23T07:03:01.660+01:002016-09-23T07:03:01.660+01:00Hi!
The tails are on the right regardless of traf...Hi!<br /><br />The tails are on the right regardless of traffic direction so they are always consistent for visually impaired users - the tactiles are not aimed at sighted people, although I understand why it seems counter-intuitive!The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-68987674289538887712016-09-13T15:13:43.490+01:002016-09-13T15:13:43.490+01:00or the tactile tails means where the traffic is co...or the tactile tails means where the traffic is coming from?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-4326616665863471742016-09-13T15:09:31.894+01:002016-09-13T15:09:31.894+01:00when you say:"The zebra crossing. I am pedant...when you say:"The zebra crossing. I am pedantic, but the Belisha beacon post<br />and tactile paving on the far side should mirror the layout on the<br />near side as the track is one-way. I am so sad!"...<br />What is the reason for that? should not be always on the right? I have been researching about the tactile tail or belisha but not luck. <br />Congrats for your blog<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-19929821882957927262016-03-13T14:36:57.373+00:002016-03-13T14:36:57.373+00:00Could there also be more trials to see how drivers...Could there also be more trials to see how drivers respond to a zebra crossing that didn't have belishas (perhaps instead using the continental zebra crossing sign instead), but did have a short crossing of a single lane/direction, variations with median refuges, and both of these with raised tables, and did anyone see how cyclists might have responded in the case of a zebra crossing consisting of just a sign and the black and white stripes? <br /><br />Also interesting to me is how well people respond to intersections where cyclists can bypass a signalized pedestrian crossing and pedestrians had a zebra and an uncontrolled cycle priority over pedestrian crossing to see how that worked? <br /><br />And finally, how about the roundabout design with non annular cycle paths and median refuges for cyclists and about 1500 PCU/h on the busiest arm, with the cycle crossings about 10 metres away? That would be all interesting experiments. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-51222538105043060212016-03-13T14:32:45.379+00:002016-03-13T14:32:45.379+00:00Has anyone in the Uk tried doing experiments with ...Has anyone in the Uk tried doing experiments with red (and amber) shaped arrows for motor vehicles? I would imagine that it would be very intuitive. Also a possibility would be countdown to green timers for pedestrians and cyclists, with different options for the countdown (a ring of slowly extinguishing white dots, a numerical timer in seconds, etc) in the amber signal heads of the full size and minihead. The minisignals could also be used for drivers for their own signals, and this can be combined with arrows for the designated turn lanes. <br /><br />Another option we have for drivers is seeing what happens if someone introduces eye level lights but gets rid of all the traffic signals affecting them ahead of the stopping line or at least all but the first ones after it. <br /><br />Also, has anyone trialed the protected intersection or simultaneous green yet? Those two would be especially useful, especially trialing how satisfied with the wait times, how to make a right turn (UK right), even in a bakfiets or trailer bike, trucks making left and right turns, how likely a car is to yield to cyclists (assuming that those little sharks teeth, elephants feet and some coloured surfaces for the cycle crossings are used) if there are not separate signal cycles. <br /><br />Trixie mirrors might do some good at protected intersections in some cases, but they aren't really a solution to the problem, more a symptom of the problem in most cases by my reckoning. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-45766094502104248422013-12-13T20:11:21.815+00:002013-12-13T20:11:21.815+00:00Good News! The low level cycle signals have now be...Good News! The low level cycle signals have now been approved for use. Now to use them in real life (but not in any of the half-baked ways TRL seem to have been lumped with trying out).<br /><br />https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-approves-low-level-lights-to-boost-cyclists-safety<br /><br />ARAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-71896382841377518642013-12-04T20:16:00.648+00:002013-12-04T20:16:00.648+00:00The point is, if that picture had no explanation o...The point is, if that picture had no explanation of where it was from, many would cite it as representing the worst aspects of some unreconstructed, 'car-centric' nation. Certainly not the Netherlands.<br /><br />The obvious fact is the Dutch transport system is exactly that, a system, and where British engineers are often criticised for picking out one aspect of it, misinterpreting it, and then trying to implement it in some unrecognisable, bastardised form, I would suggest there are many 'activists' who do the same when solely focusing on the cycling aspect of that system.<br /><br />I balk at using the phrase 'third way' but surely the centre ground, town centres and residential areas taken back from their rule by the internal combustion engine and returned to people, but recognising both that 90% of this nation do not live in London with its transport infrastructure, and that long distance strategic road routes are actually required, is the way ahead?<br /><br />ARAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-13667314098713963952013-12-04T17:34:34.813+00:002013-12-04T17:34:34.813+00:00The TRL work has quite a narrow focus, but seeks t...The TRL work has quite a narrow focus, but seeks to convince the DfT (i.e, the Government) to release some extra tools we can use which will go a little way to catch up with international practice. DfT have hoops to jump through and I am afraid we are stuck with it.<br /><br />Now, filtered permeability is something else entirely and is a simple and straight-forward process (in theory). We should be rolling this out now. I need to check back what I have posted on this, but I think it is one to add to the list as a topic in its own right.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-57292112070054254312013-12-04T17:26:22.978+00:002013-12-04T17:26:22.978+00:00Well the UK cannot set proper plans, commit to fun...Well the UK cannot set proper plans, commit to funding them or see them through. This has been the case for decades and will not change soon.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-78841502292169687732013-12-04T13:30:55.642+00:002013-12-04T13:30:55.642+00:00Quote: "Some towns in Holland have the same n...Quote: "Some towns in Holland have the same number of motor vehicle journeys today as 40 years ago."<br /><br />And yet, this is the same nation that seems to be unafraid to build this;<br /><br />http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=109401210&postcount=10216<br /><br />ARAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-52463407706520294192013-12-04T08:44:29.020+00:002013-12-04T08:44:29.020+00:001. Surely the Dutch have already run trials and ha...1. Surely the Dutch have already run trials and have data on what works? Why do we have to re-invent their wheel?<br />2. None of this work brings into focus the VERY important work the Dutch have done to protect residential and destination roads from rat-running. The majority of their safe cycling network is normal roads with no special infrastructure that simply have very low traffic volumes brought about by using filtered permeability. This work not only gives cyclists, walkers and residents safe pleasant streets (for kids to play on too) but makes driving less convenient and so less desirable. Some towns in Holland have the same number of motor vehicle journeys today as 40 years ago. This planning with it's reverse of the 'induced demand' principle MUST be applied in the UK in order to achieve any significant modal shift.crapbournemouthcyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07040362064777634431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-38500660533758276202013-12-01T14:44:17.200+00:002013-12-01T14:44:17.200+00:00It seems to take about 2 seconds before anyone on ...It seems to take about 2 seconds before anyone on bikes saw the green, although I guess this will improve. That left hook was worrying because the person on the bike and the person driving the car didn't seem to worry about each other which is a classic issue with junctions like this.<br /><br />Hopefully the little signals will be approved soon and with the red and red/amber, it should mean a bit more help. Of course, if a location is busy, will cycles block the view for others?The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-3915967115860868402013-11-30T17:37:21.734+00:002013-11-30T17:37:21.734+00:00You're probably already familiar with this, bu...You're probably already familiar with this, but Cambridge has the advance green on one arm of one junction, shown here: http://cambridge.cyclestreets.net/location/52454/<br /><br />Although it's just under the main lights, rather than at cyclist level, there haven't been reports of confusion on whose light it is. However you are correct that it offers no protection when lights are green, as the video above happens to catch would could have been a nasty left-hook had the cyclist not been turning too!Hesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01786445447447946710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-32395428239893860232013-11-28T12:59:00.699+00:002013-11-28T12:59:00.699+00:00Just another thing on the cycle lane protection; d...Just another thing on the cycle lane protection; did you get a chance to give the Zicla Zebras the old kick test? Do you know if they would be strong enough to give a warning to HGVs, or do they deform too easily?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-76169808406385614262013-11-28T06:50:25.531+00:002013-11-28T06:50:25.531+00:00Good point. A proper job needs proper maintenance ...Good point. A proper job needs proper maintenance and that includes sweeping. Luckily, we have little sweepers such as:<br /><br />http://www.appliedsweepers.com/636hs.htmThe Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-66758941507488756322013-11-28T00:23:37.300+00:002013-11-28T00:23:37.300+00:00With respect to the cycle lane protection - I woul...With respect to the cycle lane protection - I would suggest that kerbing, whilst the best in terms of perceived and actual safety, would prove a problem when it comes to maintaining the cycle lane, specifically sweeping up the detritus which will end up there, unless it is done by hand which would be time consuming and expensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-3655487362091678902013-11-26T18:19:06.223+00:002013-11-26T18:19:06.223+00:00If you think about from which direction traffic is...If you think about from which direction traffic is coming from, the zebra pole (or push button for a pelican) will always be placed on the traffic side of the crossing point. So, with one-way situations (like this track) they will be directly opposite.<br /><br />With the tactile paving, it is laid in L shaped either side of a one-stage crossing (like this) and the "corner" of the L always goes next to the pole to help blind people align themselves to the crossing. If there is no push button, then they know it is a zebra.<br /><br />Hope this helps.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-68339454315064176972013-11-26T09:17:08.243+00:002013-11-26T09:17:08.243+00:00Wouldn't the non-symmetrical tactile paving on...Wouldn't the non-symmetrical tactile paving on the bus stop crossing help stop blind people crashing into each other? If it were a mirror image they'd be lined up for a collision.Michael Jnoreply@blogger.com