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ROUNDABOUT
BICYCLES
on roundabouts
September 11, 2003
To the Town of Kinderhook Planning
Board:
The enclosed quotes and references
were taken from a search for information concerning cyclists’ safety and the use
of roundabouts.
Since there has been little use of
this highway design in the United States two of the references are from the
United Kingdom, England and Ireland. These countries have seen the extensive use
of the roundabout as a traffic management device for many years. Thus, objective
research data is abundantly available. It indicates there are serious safety
issues associated with bicycle traffic in roundabouts.
From the Dublin
Cycling Campaign information sheet on multilane roundabouts is this
quote:
Despite the existence of serious reservations the character and
fabric of many Irish towns has been drastically altered, some say systematically destroyed,
by the use of multilane roundabouts or a design that is demonstrably hostile,
dangerous and inappropriate. For pedestrians, cyclists and many motorists, these junctions
are the most loathed and feared locations on the road network. On
multilane roundabouts of the design specified by Irish guidance manuals cyclists have an injury
rate that is 14-16 times that of motorists.
Motorcycle/scooter
users are only marginally better off at 10-13 times the injury rate. Roundabouts
represent one of the major deterrents to increased cycle use in Ireland. They
are also a major obstacle to the development of a modern integrated
transportation infrastructure.
http://www.connect.ie/dcc/docs/stats/round.html
Another quote is from The Bike Zone, Cyclists and Roundabouts
by Howard Peel:
Roundabouts are one of the most cyclist unfriendly features to be found
on the public road. Although driver behavior at ‘pinch points’ and at contraflow
gateways give many cyclists cause for concern, they are at greater actual risk
when using a roundabout. Cyclists are 14-16 times more likely to be involved in
a crash on a roundabout than a car driver (Maycock and Hall, 1984) and a full
50% of these collisions are due to the driver entering a roundabout and hitting
a cyclist who is already circulating and supposedly has ‘right of way’. A
further 10% of collisions are due to drivers exiting a roundabout cutting across
the path of a cyclist and an additional 10% are due to a cyclist being run down
from behind. (Layfield and Maycock 1986) The best available evidence suggests
that as many as 20% of all cycle crashes occur at roundabouts, though for
reported ‘accidents’ the figure is nearer 10%Roundabouts are 4-8 times more
dangerous for cyclists than traffic signal controlled junctions.
Roundabout safety can
be improved by adopting ‘continental’ styled roundabouts. However, no treatment
is as effective as replacing a roundabout with a properly designed signal
controlled junction with advance stop lines for cyclists. No cycle specific facilities have been identified that
improve the attractiveness or safety of roundabouts for cyclists and many,
including cycle lanes marked around the periphery of a roundabout, may actually
increase the hazards faced by cyclists.
http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/roundabouts.html
The Florida Department of
Transportation in a Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations at Roundabouts report
stated:
When used appropriately,
roundabouts can have a significant, positive effect on safety, decreasing
traffic speed by 85% and reducing accidents. Several studies have shown,
however, that unlike motorists, bicyclists do not receive the same safety
benefits from utilizing roundabouts. Surveys taken from bicyclists indicated
that they found roundabout treatment significantly more stressful to negotiate
that other forms of treatment, particularly on roads with heavy traffic.
Researchers have found that roundabouts affect bicyclists’ choice of routes on
regular journeys.
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/Summary_SF/FDOT-824.pdf-10.0KB
During your considerations of the
Widewaters development project we hope that the safety of bicyclists and
pedestrians in our community will be considered.
Respectfully
submitted,
Frank Rhyner &
Deirdre Leland
Valatie, NY 12184
Cycle
Warning sign on Roundabout entry
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| A UK LETTER AND REPLY FORUM
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Near me there
is a roundabout which has an area intended for cyclists marked with a
different colour surface and white line border around part of its
periphery. Today I seen one of the entrance roads has gained a new
electronic sign, positioned adjacent to the Give way line to the right of
a joining vehicle.
Though I have not
seen it operate yet it would appear to illuminate showing a Bicycle symbol
within a warning triangle and possibly some flashing lights as well.
Presumably the Cycle "lane" has a sensor Sensitive enough to activate the
sign. Have these been put up Anywhere else?
At first sight it
looks quite well thought as regards positioning . Will have to observe it
for a while and see how well it works. A foreseeable snag would be if a
cyclist takes a line through the roundabout without using the marked
route,which they are quite entitled to do especially when there are no
other vehicles forcing them to the periphery.
A SMIDNSY's
Lawyer might argue that not taking the recommended route and gaining any
protection afforded by it was contributory negligence etc. I have not
approached the roundabout from the other direction so I do not know if
there is any information to let a cyclist know about the sign and suggest
they use the cycle lane .
The Location is at the end of the Itchen
Bridge in Southampton at the city end. Those who know it will appreciate
that the down gradient off the bridge means that cycles can easily
maintain a good speed matching or exceeding the limit for motor vehicles.
This does mean that they can "surprise" joining traffic, however a rider
doing that speed will not want to slow into the cycle lane. Bit of a
Dilemma for the highway
engineer.
G.Harman |
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G
Harman tells us:
"Near me there is a roundabout which has an
area intended for cyclists marked with a different colour
surface and white line border around part of its periphery. Today I
seen one of the entrance roads has gained a new electronic
sign,positioned adjacent to the Give way line to the right of a
joining vehicle."
Hmm. Interesting. Do keep us posted on
further news.
My cynical view is that they wouldn't have
spent the money for the sign unless there was a "real" safety
problem. safety problems only become "real" if there are actual dead
and/or injured cyclists (or motorists ete.).
I think that
improvements only get installed if the money saved in dead etc.
cyclists is likely (according to the knowledge in cycling matters
of those who installed the sign) to be "repaid" in just a year or
so. I think a dead cyclist counts as about 1.2 million pounds
nowadays, a seriously injured cyclist as about 1/10 a dead
cyclist, and a slightly injured cyclist as about 1/80 a
dead cyclist. Adults and children count the same, as far as I
know.
I wonder how much the sign cost.
The
line-round-the-edge-route round a roundabout is described in rule 62
of the Highway Code, which contrasts it to what rule 61 calls the
"correct" procedure for cyclists to use a roundabout.
It
would be interesting to know what turns the signs on, and how many
seconds warning it gives motorists to take action.
Jeremy
Parker
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http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/roundabouts.html
The Bike Zone
By Howard Peel. Contact howard at www.thebikezone.org.uk Cyclists and Roundabouts
Introduction Roundabouts are one of the most cyclist unfriendly features to be
found on the public road. Although driver behaviour at 'pinch points' and at
contraflow gateways gives many cyclists cause for concern, they are at
greater actual risk when using a roundabout.
Cyclists are 14-16 times more
likely to be involved in a crash on a roundabout than a car driver (Maycock and
Hall, 1984) and a full 50% of these collisions are due to a driver entering a
roundabout and hitting a cyclist who is already circulating and supposedly has
'right of way'. A further 10 % of collisions are due to drivers exiting a
roundabout cutting across the path of a cyclist and an additional 10% are due to
a cyclist being run down from behind. (Layfield and Maycock 1986). The best
available evidence suggests that as many as 20% of all cycle crashes occur
at roundabouts, though for reported 'accidents' the figure is nearer
10%.
Roundabouts are 4 - 8 times more dangerous for cyclists then traffic
signal controlled junctions. Roundabout safety can be improved by adopting
'continental' styled roundabouts. However, no treatment is as effective as
replacing a roundabout with a properly designed signal controlled junction with
advanced stop lines for cyclists. No cycle specific facilities have been
identified that improve the attractiveness or safety of roundabouts for cyclists
and many, including cycle lanes marked around the periphery of a roundabout, may
actually increase the hazards faced by cyclists.
Roundabouts and the 'Highway Code' Although the public
roads system is supposedly provided for the benefit for all road users, it
is very apparent that in the case of roundabouts the convenience of motor
vehicle users is given precedence over the safety of cyclists (and indeed motor
cyclists). The 'Highway Code' rovides further evidence that roundabouts do
little more than undermine the cyclists right to use the public
road.
The 'Code states: Rule 61.
..'Roundabouts can be hazardous and should be approached with care.
Rule
62. 'You may feel safer keeping to the left on the roundabout or dismounting and
walking your cycle round on the pavement or verge'. One is drawn to wonder
whether highway engineers would get away with installing features that
necessitated advice to the effect that drivers would be advised to avoid
using the highway...
The 'advice' given with regards cyclists 'keeping
to the left' is possibly one of the most dangerous pieces of 'safety'
advice given in the 'Code. All other vehicles executing a right turn are
advised to approach and circulate on the right hand side and staying on
the left increases the chance that a driver leaving the roundabout will cut
across your path. In general, the best approach when riding on a
roundabout is to claim ones road space, keep to the right if turning right
and to avoid riding near to the entry points in case a driver enters the
roundabout into your path.
Research on Roundabouts and Cyclists One of the best
sources of information on cyclists and roundabouts is still the report
'Cyclists and Roundabouts. A review of Literature' commissioned by the
Cyclists Touring Club in 1990 and compiled by the Consulting Engineers Allott
and Lomax. This report conclusions and recommendations
include:
'Greater awareness of the serious safety problems
for cyclists and motor cyclists at roundabouts is needed.'
'Current
roundabout design advice and practice gives insufficient weight to safety
factors, particularly for cyclists and motor cyclists. Standards should
be improved. In some cases roundabouts will be inappropriate.
'A
substantial programme of remedial measures to improve safety at roundabouts
is justified. This should include speed reducing traffic
calming techniques.'
'In general roundabouts pose very
considerable accident risks to cyclists both in absolute terms and when
compared to other junction types. The decision to install a roundabout
instead of traffic signals is based on criteria which give insufficient
weight to the needs of cyclists, motor cyclists, pedestrians and bus
users.'
'Vehicle entering/cyclist circulating accidents are by far the
most common type of cyclist accident at roundabouts. Given that circulating
traffic has priority over entering vehicles, it would appear that drivers
are predominantly at fault.'
'The cycle facilities introduced at
roundabouts to date do not suggest that a widespread 'solution' in terms
of a specific facility is possible...'
Other items of interest in the
report include the following;
Small roundabouts (5-40m in diameter)
with flared entries are the most dangerous for cyclists.
Large
roundabouts (up to 70 m in diameter) are most feared by cyclists but the
statistical evidence is not available to show the nature of the
relationship between the type and occurrence of accidents and roundabout
size. The report notes that such a lack of data is unsatisfactory and that
further research should be done to show the precise relationship between
accidents and the geometry of a roundabout including its size.
'Mini'
roundabouts are 'safer' then other roundabouts having a similar recorded
accident rates to 4 arm traffic signal junctions. (However, see the
statistics section and the section on mini roundabouts
below.*)
Roundabouts affect the safety, enjoyment and route choice of
cyclists with 28% of cyclists reporting having avoided using a route because
it involved using a roundabout. (Watkins 1984) Roundabouts may also deter
cyclists from choosing to travel by cycle at all.
Cycle specific
facilities at roundabouts 'may have site specific benefits but do not provide
a generally applicable solution'. For example, segregated left turn lanes
increase the hazards faced by cyclists wishing to go straight ahead or make a
right turn.
'No satisfactory method has been found for reducing the
risk to cyclists once they have entered the circulatory
system.'
Studies conducted in Hertfordshire showed that the outer 1.5m
of a roundabout were most hazardous for cyclists. This study suggested
hatching out the outer areas of a roundabout so as to encourage cyclists
to ride away from these areas. (A recommendation which those 'traffic
engineers' who think peripheral cycle lanes are a good idea seem to have
overlooked...).
Roundabouts may be created by developers
purely because of the 'image' they convey. 'Roundabouts imply freedom for
drivers whereas traffic signals imply control of drivers and delay, even
though this perception may be untrue when objectively measured.' A very
important point as it goes a long way to explain the attraction of
roundabouts to drivers and car orientated highway engineers.
(That
roundabouts aid traffic flow is often a fallacy is well illustrated by the
installation of traffic lights on heavily used roundabouts. Where the
traffic flow is dominantly in a single direction other feeder roads may
find it very hard to get access to a roundabout without signalised control.
In addition, as traffic speeds on roundabouts tend to be high
their capacity may be surprisingly low as vehicles cannot risk entering
the roundabout until a large gap in the traffic appears. In comparison,
traffic signals allow large 'blocks' of vehicles to be moved in turn.
The report itself notes that roundabouts do not give any control over
traffic flow whilst linked traffic signals that respond to changes in traffic
patters and demand can be used to maximise traffic flows.)
Roundabouts
generally do not cater for pedestrian movements.
Design features
intended to maximise vehicle flows and speeds are directly responsible for
increasing the hazards faced by cyclists. These include the use of flared
entries, having excessive entry capacity, having wide circulatory
carriageways and the use of large roundabouts. The use of low entry angles
(ie. below 40 degrees) also forces drivers to attempt to merge by looking
over their right shoulders or even by looking in their mirrors. This again
increases the risk of 'not seeing' a cyclist already circulating
the roundabout.
With regards off-carriageway cycle lanes the
report notes:
'Cyclists travelling straight ahead are less likely
to divert from the main carriageway due to the number of stops and give
way manoeuvred necessary....the need to give way when crossing entry and exit
arms poses problems when motor vehicle flows and speeds are
high. Furthermore, peripheral cycle tracks are unlikely to be suitable for
urban sites where frontage development and high pedestrian flows
exist.'
Roundabouts and accident
frequencies As has already been noted the risks to cyclists
posed by driver behaviour at roundabouts is undeniable. Maycock and Hall,
(1984) showed that cyclists are 14-16 times more likely to be involved in a
crash on a roundabout than a car driver. Layfield and Maycock (1986)
showed that a full 50% of these collisions are due to a driver entering a
roundabout and hitting a cyclist who is already circulating and supposedly
has 'right of way'. A further 10 % of collisions are due to drivers
exiting a roundabout cutting across the path of a cyclist and an other 10%
are due to a cyclist being run down from behind.
Downing (1985) states
that 8% of reported cycle 'accidents' occurred at roundabouts. The DETR
Traffic Advisory leaflet 'Cyclists at roundabouts: Continental Design
geometry (9/97) gives a figure of 10% of all reported accidents with 11% of
these involving fatal or serious injuries to the cyclist. However,
other studies show that the actual number of cycle accidents occurring at
roundabouts is higher then this. This reflects the gross under-reporting of
cycle crashes, especially those involving slight injuries.
(Pedder et al [1981] reports that as many as 87% of minor cycle crashes go
unreported.)
Lawson (1989) found that 22% of accidents involving
a cyclist occurred at roundabouts. Watkins (1984) conducted a survey of
2000 C.T.C. members who had been involved in a crash and found that 13.8% of
accidents had occurred at 'normal' roundabouts and a further 5.2% at mini
roundabouts, figures in line with Lawson's study. (Quoted in the C.T.C.
report 'Cyclists and Roundabouts, second edition, 1993).
Whilst
working within the Traffic Management section of the East Riding of Yorkshire
Council I was very concerned that approval was being given to the creation
of new roundabouts without any consideration being given to the danger this
would create for cyclists. As all the available research was effectively
dismissed out of hand (one officer doing so on the basis that the research
wasn't done in the East Riding of Yorkshire!) I was forced to look
at the authorities own accident figured for support.
I found that
there were 38 traffic controlled junctions in the East Riding with a similar
number of 'urban' roundabouts. Naturally, there were also a number of
roundabouts on main rural roads but my main concern was with those
roundabouts found in built up areas as cyclists had little choice but to use
these when making utility journeys.
I collected data from the KEY
police accident computer for the 3 years preceding 19 January 2001 and
found the following:
Total number of cycle
casualties.
406. Fatal 6, Serious
61, Slight 348.
'Non junction' cycle
casualties.
144. Fatal 5, Serious
27, Slight 116.
All 'junction' cycle
casualties
262. Fatal
1, Serious 34, Slight 232.
'Junction'
casualties (Roundabouts and traffic signal controlled junctions
excepted) 216. Fatal
1, Serious 29, Slight 186.
Cycle
casualties occurring on a roundabout.
46. Fatal 0, Serious
5, Slight 44.
Cycle casualties occurring at
a traffic signal controlled
junction.
2. Fatal
0, Serious 0. Slight 2.
A
closer analysis of the data for the 'fatals' shows that the most common cause
of a cyclist fatality was a driver running down a rider from behind whilst
they were cycling on a rural road, with 4 of the fatalities being due to
this. This is perhaps to be expected the large rural area the authority
covers, the high speeds drivers travel at on rural roads and the fact
that many drive far above any speed which would enable them to stop within
the distance they could see to be clear.
As is to be expected the
majority of cycle crashes occur at junctions. However, it needs to be borne
in mind just how many 'T' junctions, Cross Roads and so on there are in an
area the size of the East Riding and its constituent town such as
Beverley, Bridlington, and Goole. Given this it is immediately apparent
that roundabouts account for a disproportionately large number of casualties.
It is also clear that the 'roundabout' and 'signalised junction' data
contrasts strongly.
Practically every urban roundabout in the
whole authority had a recorded injury accident within the previous 3
years. (One can only wonder as to the number of unrecorded crashes). One
roundabout had 4 cycle casualties, one 3 cycle casualties and four had 2
cycle casualties. Where further data was recorded it was apparent that the
actual cause of these crashes followed national trends with the largest
number of crashes being due to drivers entering a roundabout
and hitting a cyclist who was already circulating.
Although the 35
roundabouts constituted a very small minority of all the junctions in the
county, they accounted for 11.3% of all cycle casualties. (A figure in
line with Downings 1985 figures for reported cycle crashes). With a total of
46 casualties the injury frequency per roundabout was 0.43 cycle casualties
per junction per year.
Eleven
(24%) of the reported 'accidents' occurred at mini roundabouts In
stark contrast the authorities 38 traffic controlled junctions accounted for
only 2 slight injuries, both the result of a driver skidding their car at
the junction on a wet road. With 2 casualties the injury frequency per signal
controlled junction was 0.02 cycle casualties per junction per year.
This means that the accident frequency for roundabouts was 26 times higher
then for traffic signal controlled junctions. In addition, 5 serious injuries
occurred on a roundabout but not one at a traffic signal controlled
junction. Even if all the authorities roundabouts were included in the
figures it is very apparent that cyclists are far more likely to
be injured whilst using a roundabout then they are when using a traffic
signal controlled junction.
It is also the case that many of the
available comparative statistics for roundabouts and traffic signals
(including those above) relate to 'old style' traffic signals which do not
have features such as advanced stop lines for cyclists. As such features
can make signalised junctions even safer for cyclists then they already
are it is obvious that the size of the 'safety gap' between roundabouts and
signalised junctions is often understated as the effect of ASL's and so
are are often missing from the data. (And of course, no design feature has
been shown to improve the appalling casualty rates for cyclists
at roundabouts.)
Of course all this data had no effect whatsoever
on the desire of the Highways section to build yet more roundabouts. Even
less was it going to persuade anyone to remove any roundabouts removed in
order to replaced them with traffic signal controlled
junctions. Thankfully, at least Hull City Council was pressing ahead with
replacing some of its roundabouts with properly designed traffic signal
controlled junctions...
Roundabout Design This section considers roundabout
design in greater depth in order to understand just why they have such
a poor safety record for cyclists. (Other than drivers failing to drive in
a manner that gives due regard to cyclists safety of
course!). Features of
a UK roundabout Primary design consideration is to maximise
vehicle speeds and capacity of roundabout. This is done by:
1) Having
multiple entry and exit lanes.
2) Having multiple circulatory lanes
(which may or may not be marked out).
3) Vehicles approach the
roundabout at a low angle of deflection. This means they do not have to
'turn' onto the roundabout.
The above design considerations create the
following problems:
1) Vehicle speeds through the roundabout are high,
so reducing the margin for error and increasing the severity of any crash
that does occur. (Naturally, this is of particular significance for
vulnerable road users such as cyclists.)
2) The multiple entry, exit
and circulatory lanes mean that there is the potential for vehicles to come
into conflict, either through changing lanes or encroaching on the path
being used by another vehicle. Many vehicles will use the full width of the
circulatory carriageway in order to straighten their path through the
roundabout and maximise their speed.
3) The low entry angle makes it
difficult for drivers to make and adequate observation to the right prior
to entry and encourages a high entry speed.
4) The use of
multiple entry lanes creates the possibility that the view of a vehicle
in the 'inside' lane may be obscured by one in the 'outside' lane. (In the
diagram above the yellow car is obstructing the view of the red
car).
5) Cyclists are especially at risk when making a right turn as
they must either remain towards the outside of the roundabout, and so risk
being cut up by drivers leaving the roundabout, or remain towards the
centre of the roundabout and risk being struck by vehicles coming up from
behind at a higher speed.
Continental' roundabout design The diagram above shows a
much improved roundabout layout which has been shown to markedly improve
the safety of cycle users, albeit at a 'cost' of reducing the capacity of
the roundabout. The significant features are as follows:
The inner
kerbs have been built out (marked in black - 4), the central island has been
moved forward (2) and hatching laid in the centre of each lane (3) .
In addition the size of the central island has been increased (1). These
changes have the following effects.
1) The roundabout now has only a
single entry lane (5) and a single circulatory lane. This reduces
the possible number of different paths that can be taken on the approach
to and through the roundabout.
2) The single entry lane means that a
cyclist wishing to make a right turn can position themselves more easily
and will also be well over to the right before they enter the
roundabout.
3) The single entry lane means that the view of a vehicle
waiting to enter the roundabout cannot be obscured by another
vehicle.
4) The buildouts and hatching have increased the entry
angle markedly so that vehicles must slow and 'turn onto' the roundabout.
vehicles also are in a much better position to make an effective
rightwards observation. Note position of the red 'car' (6).
The image
below shows such a modified roundabout to be found on Kingston Road/ Willerby
road in Hull. a fine scheme this saw injury accidents fall from 59 in
3 years to 1 in 18 months. And it was the work of the East Riding of
Yorkshire Council's Highways section! The drivers complained of course but,
for once, a job well done...
On-Highway Cycle Facilities Generally speaking, no on
(or indeed off) road cycle facility has been shown to be effective in
reducing cycle casualties at roundabouts. They may well increase the risks
posed by cyclists. However, it is often necessary to integrate a
roundabout into a scheme which includes cycle lanes. Although
each situation is likely to be unique due to local conditions the
following general 'rules' apply.
1) Cycle lanes running around the
periphery of the roundabout are A VERY BAD IDEA. They encourage cyclists
to use the most dangerous part of the roundabout and cause particular
problems for cyclists wishing to make a right turn on the safest part of
the roundabout (ie. the right hand lane) as drivers may resent cyclists
who fail to use the 'facilities' as provided.
Where it is
felt necessary to link on road cycle lanes or to mark a coloured surface
cycle lane through the roundabout (for example, to signal to drivers
that cyclists might be encountered), the lane should be laid along the
line actually used by cyclists. This may mean leaving a 1.5 m or greater gap
between the 'Give way' line and the inside edge of the cycle lane so as to
move cyclists away from the danger posed by vehicles entering the roundabout
and in order to give the cyclists the straightest possible run though
the roundabout.
2) Where cycle lanes are laid on the approach to
a roundabout 2 strategies, neither ideal, may be adopted.
a)
Discontinue the lane prior to the roundabout so legitimising the cyclists use
of the whole approach lane and so making it easier for cyclists wishing
to make a right turn (potentially the most hazardous manoeuvre) to
position themselves correctly.
b) Continue the lane up to the roundabout
so that cyclists going left or straight ahead have a clearly delineated
area of the road which is to some degree protected from encroachment by
vehicles. This will also allow a wider entry so preventing cyclists
from being 'squeezed' by any vehicles alongside them whilst at the same
time ensuring that drivers are encouraged to enter the roundabout at a high
angle.
Off-Highway cycle
paths It may be recalled that the report 'Cyclists and Roundabouts'
(1993) had the following to say of off-carriageway cycle lanes:
'Cyclists travelling straight ahead are less likely to divert from
the main carriageway due to the number of stops and give way manoeuvred
necessary....the need to give way when crossing entry and exit arms
poses problems when motor vehicle flows and speeds are high. Furthermore,
peripheral cycle tracks are unlikely to be suitable for urban sites where
frontage development and high pedestrian flows exist.'
Of course,
Traffic management 'experts' often see no need to follow such advice. The
following highlights the shortcomings of a typical roundabout off
highway cycle 'facility'. The roundabout concerned is to be found on
Springfield Way in Anlaby, just to the west of Hull. The cycle path is filled
with turns so tight one cannot negotiate them without running over
onto the grass. A large section of it is also marked as being a cycle path
only. (Not that this dissuades all the local pedestrians from using
it...)
To make matters even worse the off highway cycle path on this
roundabout was laid using non approved hazard warning tiles which have
closely spaced round ribs rather then the low widely spaced and flat ribs
found on approved cycle path tactile paving slabs. These non approved
tiles are very slippery to ride over, especially in the wet and are
unfortunately common on cycle routes. Despite repeated requests to
replace these tiles with the approved type no action has been forthcoming
from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. However 'Deaf Eric' has show its
concern for the safety of cyclists by producing a leaflet that pointed out
all the locations where cyclists had to give way to motor
vehicles...
Haltemprice roundabout
cycle path The ERYC leaflet points out the 10 locations
where cyclists must give way to motor vehicles whilst using the off-road
cycle path. (In reality there are another 5 locations where one must give way
as one must also give way at the points where the cycle path runs out and
you have to return to the road). A cyclist simply going straight ahead has to
give way at 5 points. A cyclist making a right turn would have to give way
at 7 locations. Then again you could just stay on the road and give way
just the once...
Such is the concern of the ERYC for the safety
of cyclists at this roundabout that the leaflet even make it clear to
cyclists who has priority. (And in so doing makes the fatal flaw of such off-
highway paths very clear).
Mini
roundabouts Although it is sometimes claimed that a
mini roundabout is 'safer' then a traditional roundabout, it might be more
accurate to say they are less dangerous overall than normal roundabouts and
that accidents occurring on a mini roundabout are less likely to be fatal.
As the statistics section above shows between one third and one quarter of
all 'roundabout' crashes occur at mini roundabouts.
Mini roundabouts,
in common with some other traffic calming features such as contraflow
gateways may help reduce vehicle speeds. However, they may also
increase the level of conflict between cyclists and motor vehicles so that
cyclists are forced to adopt their riding style so as to avoid collisions.
For example, many drivers (as high as 49 in every 50) will fail to give
way to a cyclist at a contra flow gateway, even where the cyclists supposedly
has priority. Drivers also frequently fail to give way to an
approaching cyclist at a mini roundabout and consequently
cyclists frequently feel compelled give way to other vehicles even when
they supposedly have priority themselves. Such 'adaptive behaviour' may well
mask the true effect of installing a mini roundabout (or indeed other road
feature). As ever casualty figures only reveal a small part of the impact of
traffic schemes.
One important factor which may mask the true impact
of a feature such as a mini roundabout is the gross under-reporting of
cycle crashes, with as many as 87% of minor cycle crashes going unreported.
(Pedder et al 1981). Given the speed reducing effect of
mini roundabouts it is to be expected that injuries sustained by cyclists
using mini roundabouts are likely to be slight and so less likely to be
reported in any case. A similar situation may well exist for the drivers
of motor vehicles as a low speed collision between two motor vehicles
is most likely to result in vehicle damage only and so will not
be recorded on the official accident statistics which record injury
accidents only.
Very significantly, local design consideration
such the number of arms on a roundabout and the degree of deflection
required to circulate the roundabout have a significant bearing on a given
mini roundabouts 'safety'. In addition a mini roundabout may simply
be poorly designed. For example, at the mini roundabout below vehicles
approaching the roundabout in the same direction as the camera are not
deflected by the central island and may pass though the
'roundabout' without slowing down at all. This may increase the risk to
vehicles (and especially cyclists) approaching from the right who have
priority. In comparison vehicles travelling towards the camera have
the roundabout directly in their path and so may be encouraged to slow
down in order to pass round it.
That traffic calming features
frequently increase the hazards for cyclists seems incontestable. However,
it is often claimed that this is justified because of the speed reduction
that such features supposedly achieve. The problem with this is that drivers
will do almost anything to avoid having to slow down when encountering
traffic calming features.
For example, the East Riding of Yorkshire
Council created some ill conceived traffic cushions though the village of
Melton. However, they left a gap in the middle of the road so large that the
cushions could be avoided by driving down the middle of the road. As
a result drivers travelling in each direction play out a little 'car
ballet', with each vehicle being driven out to the middle of the road and
back over to the left at each cushion. With two oncoming streams
of traffic the effect is quite comical to watch but how the cushions
contribute to road safety is hard to work out.
In the case of a mini
roundabout many drivers simply choose to drive over the roundabout or at
least part of it, especially those in 4x4's. (The manufacturers of some
'Chelsea Tractors' have even gone so far as to advertise their vehicles are
the idea means by which a driver may pass over speed calming features as
though they weren't there). In general, any traffic calming feature needs
to be very carefully thought out if it is not to create an undue hazard for
cyclists and is actually going to reduce traffic speeds.
Although traffic calming schemes may show a reduction in
casualty rates it needs to be remembered that a calming effect is often
achieved by bringing vehicles into potential conflict with one another, for
example, by using contraflow gateways. Given that drivers are unlikely to
give way to cyclists in such situations, even when the cyclist has priority,
it might seem strange that such schemes may reduce casualty rates at all.
In reality any fall in casualty rates is often not due to the skill of the
highway engineer but they reflect the desire of the cyclist to stay alive
and avoid injury. Consequently, the cyclist is compelled to adapt their
behaviour to the hazard created, even when this means giving way in
situations where they supposedly have priority. Unfortunately,
such 'adaptive behaviour' may include the cyclists seeking alternative
routes which may be objectively more dangerous or even ceasing to
cycle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Howard
Peel December 2002
This page. http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/roundabouts.html
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