Britain’s first junction specifically designed to prevent cyclists from being run over by left-turning traffic was unveiled yesterday on a notorious blackspot route.
Drivers who fail to look for or spot cyclists on their inside as they turn left pose one of the greatest dangers to cycling commuters on Britain’s roads. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that most cycle lanes ask cyclists to ride close to the left-hand side of the traffic lane, placing them in the most dangerous position at junctions, where 85 per cent of collisions take place.
A new design has been unveiled to address this problem on a crossroads in east London along the CS2 cycle superhighway, which has seen six deaths since its inception in 2011, including 20-year-old French student Philippine de Gerin-Ricard and Olympic site worker Brian Dorling, 58.
In the east-west direction - the line of the cycle superhighway - the design at the junction of Cambridge Heath Road and Whitechapel Road now separates traffic travelling straight on from traffic wanting to turn left and gives them separate signal phases, with another set of lights for cyclists in the cycle lane.
Drivers waiting to turn left are held at a red signal while cyclists and other drivers are allowed to progress through the junction. When the light turns green for left-turning traffic, cyclists in the bike lane are held at a red signal, to ensure there is no conflict.
Advertisement
The junction also includes “early release” signals, giving cyclists coming from the north or south a two to four-second headstart on other traffic to ensure they can clear the junction before coming into conflict with motor vehicles.
Another innovation sees the introduction of a “two-stage right turn” for cyclists. To avoid the danger of a cyclist having to traverse across two lanes of traffic to make a right turn, there are four special waiting areas for cyclists.
Instead of turning right immediately, the cyclist is asked to ride into the waiting area, effectively placing them at the front of the queue of traffic waiting to cross the crossroads in the other direction. When those lights go green, they can then cross the junction as planned with the traffic flow.
A total of 5,146 cyclists were injured in London in 2014, the highest figure for 26 years. Most of the new CS2 cycle route is due to be separated from motor traffic by a kerb or by flexible poles.
Safety campaigners welcomed the design, but raised concerns that cyclists were given only short green spells.
Advertisement
“It is a notoriously problematic route and we were promised upgrades by the mayor,” said Rosie Downes of the London Cycling Campaign. “We do welcome the left-turn treatment, but do still have concerns about the fact there are more delays for cyclists and they don’t have as much green time as other traffic.
“That is a real safety hazard as it makes them more likely to join the main carriageway, which wouldn’t then give them the safety benefits.”
The Times’s Cities Fit for Cycling campaign has been calling for more protected cycle networks to be built in Britain’s towns and cities as a means of boosting safety and public health and reducing congestion. The government is now legally obliged through the Infrastructure Act to set out a five-year strategy, with a dedicated budget, for boosting cycle safety.
The Times and groups including the AA and British Cycling are calling on the government to dedicate the equivalent to £10 per capita - around £400 million per year for England outside London - to cycle provision.