How it could be done!

From Tim Alburn, who writes: These are some cycle lanes in France and the NL.
Yes, even France is years ahead of us as well as every other
northwestern European country it seems.

I was not able to stop to get pictures of the cycle infrastructure outside of French schools
due to time pressures, but every school I saw had 100m plus of segregated cyclepath
leading away in both directions from the school,
to get cyclists away from the school entrance and on their way safely.

001 France, two-way cycle lane on a quiet road.
Driving or parking on the cycle lane is not permitted.

002 Cycle laning across a complex, although not very busy, road junction.
Bikes are given complete separation, where the cycle path crosses the road
signage warns vehicles to be looking for bikes.

003 Part of the same crossing.
The road splits in two, the two carriageways are also separated
meaning four single lanes to cross, so very easy to cross safely.
Note cyclists are expected to ride across.

004 The above junction the segregated cycleway
approaches that junction from both directions, from both sides.

005 Where further on this segregated cycle way enters an old town
where the roads are very narrow and cobbled,
the traffic-free cycleway leads the cyclist to the town wall
where there are gates in and out and motor vehicles are excluded.
Here is an after-school club going somewhere on their bikes.
There were two members of staff and about 20 young cyclists,
I missed most of them whilst getting the camera out of my pocket.
Do any Worcs schools have the viable option of taking an after-school club
to see something on their bikes?

008 Traffic-free properly surfaced cycleway, France.

009 Another mirage – according to Worcs Highways, cycle-friendly traffic islands don't exist.
This French one is quite different to the NL, but works very well all the same.
Vehicular traffic is signed to watch out for bikes, and whilst bikes are signed to stop,
in practice when I was cycling the local drivers slowed down to let cyclists cross mostly.

010 Err, very traffic-free cycle way.
Part of a 30km route which when not passing near to towns and villages
takes bikes well out of the way and onto forest tracks
which have been properly surfaced so as to be an easy ride.
Which it is. I did 77km that day checking these out,
and I am a committed motor vehicle driver,
but know that if you put in real cycle infrastructure it is really enjoyable to cycle,
and I get a free workout while going somewhere and achieving something.

012 Segregated cycle route next to a busy road, but separated by an enjoyable margin.

More from Tim >>

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