Dr. Lawrence Harrell in Bournemouth, tel +44 (0)1202 299519, mobile: +44
(0)7941 302801.
Freelance Transport Planner, Economist, Demand & Consumer Behaviour Analyst
http://www.demandanalysis.co.uk, [log in to unmask] writes;
I have recently heard suggestions that levels of illegal behaviour by
cyclists are increasing. For example, cyclists using
footpaths/footways, cycling the wrong way up one way streets, jumping
red lights etc.. This seems to be generating a perception amongst
non-cyclists that cyclists are a bunch of law breaking hooligans,
which could make it more difficult to get cycling schemes approved.
There certainly seem to be areas where there are significant conflicts
between cyclists and pedestrians and this is reinforced by reports and
letters in the local paper.
I would imagine that, to some extent, this illegal behaviour is a
reaction to highway designs that force cyclists to make significant
detours around pedestrianised areas and one way systems; and also
because cyclists using the roads often have to travel uncomfortably
close to high speed motor vehicles.
There is a counter argument that cyclists are just poorly educated,
with regard to the rules of the road and all that is needed is greater
enforcement and some form of training to teach them the error of their
ways.
Does anyone know of any evidence on the factors that cause illegal
cycling? Has anyone, for example, interviewed cyclists carrying out
(or admitting to carrying out) illegal acts to understand their
motivation?
My thoughts -
The perception from those who are regular cyclists is that the increase in
footway cycling is largely from the 'born again cyclists' who are reacting to
traffic congestion, trying urban cycling after doing it on holiday, or simply
finding it the only practical way to get around. I see some really stupid
behaviour which only avoids tragic outcomes by sheer luck.
However it is worth noting that cycling contra-flow in a 1-way street is
accepted as the normal condition for much of Europe, and only in exceptional
cases, is this banned, with appropriate signage. It might just be that we are
doing it wrong? Likewise in the US and many other countries a regime of Turn
Right (Left) on Red is a recognised practice, and in York at least one set of
traffic signals permits cyclists to pass a red light, by omitting the stop line
across the cycle lane. Stop walking and your average speed plummets and journey
time rockets upwards in relative terms, to stop when cycling has a similar
effect, and yet when pedestrians act to resolve this inequity by jay walking it
gets far fewer complaints.
Observing footway riders will normally reveal cycles poorly adjusted, and
near universal helmet wearing (which is possibly sensible when riding on a
footway as you will be up to 8 times more likely to crash and far more likely to
bang your head on a sharp edged wall, railings, or kerb stone than if you crash
on the road) however the purpose and performance of such helmets is often
degraded by the fact that straps are either loose or not done up, or the helmet is
worn over a woolly hat or balaclava helmet) The bikes will also quite likely
be inappropriate and badly adjusted. Eventually it may dawn on these riders
that they will be faster, and safer travelling on the road in most
circumstances.
This behaviour is reinforced by the provision of cycle routes by roads
authorities on footways where a serious safety audit would clearly show that the
cyclists should be on the carriageway - hazards on such footway conversions
include dark poles in the centre of the line of travel where illumination is
provided by light spill from carriageway lighting, and sub-standard widths - even
for a basic footway to pass pedestrians. At least 2 footway cycle route schemes
have now been removed by the persistent work from Living Streets and cyclists
concerned at the poor and dangerous 'design'(?).
The debate is regularly aired on cycling fora and you might perhaps look at
cycle campaigning websites and the Cycling England Bike for All portal
www.bikeforall.net . Cyclecraft by John Franklin is the officially endorsed
equivalent of Roadcraft for cyclists.
The Oxcam survey carried out earlier this year covered much of the detail you
are writing about - it is on Oxfordshire CC website
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/index/travel/cycle/cyclingsurvey.htm and as downloadable file.
Post this if you dare on a web-based forum such as those run on CTC
www.ctc.org.uk and Cycling Plus www.cyclingplus.co.uk websites and you'll soon find out
what cyclists think of footway cycling.
Remember too that far more drivers break the law (Highways Act 1835 s.72) by
driving a carriage on the footway than cyclists do, after all how do they
manage to park with wheels on the footway? This is further borne out by the fact
that cars driven on the footway, including a disturbingly high report of
Police cars involved, kill around 40 pedestrians per year. Most years we learn
that only one death has occurred in a pedestrian-cyclist crash.
Finally in an urban area the best cycling scheme is a 20mph blanket speed
limit enforced by design (ie horizontal deflections and visual signals - like
removal of road markings to force all road users to negotiate their priority of
passage), and the second measure is secure cycle parking or facilities to keep
the bike with you when shopping.
Dave Holladay
Glasgow
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