Wigman Road and Trowell Road, Nottingham June 2013

Unlike its county council neighbour, Nottingham City Council has been one of the better local authorities when it comes to cycling provisions. But even councils with good intentions can get things wrong.

“Some of my local cycling friends and I are concerned about a number of highway 'improvements' being funded by Nottingham City Council that involve installing Pelican crossings with build-outs in the vicinity of cycle lanes,” Mr Easley said.

“I'm sure the pelican crossing build-outs are installed with the best of intentions but they create a hazard for cyclists, particularly when the build-outs clash with cycle lanes. 

“Very often the width of the build-outs is similar to the width of the cycle lane they interrupt. In this situation motorists can all too easily get used to thinking that cyclists are safely out of the way, in the cycle lane. As a motor vehicle approaches the pinch point, the lane they are in remains unchanged. They might not be aware that a cyclist just ahead of them is about to veer out into what they have come to think of as 'their lane',”

Mr Easley said “Before the construction of the Pelican crossing and build-outs on Trowell Road, there was a simple pedestrian refuge in the centre of the carriageway at the same spot. This also narrowed the road, but in this case, because the narrowing was from the middle of the carriageway rather than the sides, cyclists didn't have to move out. The onus was more on the motor traffic to slow down and alter course if a cyclist happened to be passing the refuge at the same time.”

Nottingham City Council has bid for a £6.1 million share of the £30 million Cycling City budget the government has made available (the winning councils were due to be announced after CW went to press). If it is successful perhaps it’ll divert some funds to rethink the design of its Pelican crossings.

David, a cyclist said about the situation there:

"To summarise my feelings on the pelican crossing buildouts we looked at (which are typical of many in the area). I'm sure these pelican crossing buildouts are being created with the best of intentions but they often create a hazard for cyclists, particularly when the buildouts clash with cycle lanes. Very often the width of the buildouts is pretty much the same as the width of the cycle lane they interrupt. In this situation motorists can all too easily get used to thinking that cyclists are safely out of the way, in the cycle lane. As a motor vehicle approaches the pinch point, the lane they are in remains unchanged. They might not be aware that a cyclist just ahead of them is about to veer out into what they have come to think of as 'their lane'."

"The cycle lane also makes matters worse because, unfortunately  many cyclists feel they should be careful to remain in a cycle lane where one is provided. If there were no cycle lane, I imagine less confident cyclists would be more likely to move out into a defensive position much earlier."

"I remember, prior to the construction of the Pelican crossing and buildouts on Trowell Rd, there was a simple pedestrian refuge in the centre of the carriageway at the same spot. This also narrowed the road and so presumably had an effect in reducing traffic speed. But in this case the narrowing was from the middle of the carriageway rather than the sides. So cyclists didn't have to move out and the onus was more on the motor traffic to slow down and alter course if a cyclist happened to be passing the refuge in the same direction at the same time."

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ALAN LODGE 

Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham.  UK

Email:                 tash@indymedia.org

Web:                   http://digitaljournalist.eu

Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]

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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.

                                   It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"

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