Bike lane width

 

hello!

does anyone know the regulated width of a bicycle lane on the road?

also, I am currently analysing Gouger Street for a uni assignment, does anyone know why there is no bike lane on Gouger Street between King William Street and Morphett street?

cheers,

elyse :)

Tags: lanes

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Permalink Reply by Chris Russell on April 24, 2012 at 19:58

I've had a really good experience with Onkaparinga Council and DTEI in responding to tree encroachment and other issues.  There are also some great smartphone applications like "snap send solve" which allow you to photograph the issue, record GPS location, and figure out which Council to email the request to.

Permalink Reply by Sophia MacRae on April 24, 2012 at 21:46

We should publicise this... but also make sure that the staff on all the Councils are prepped and have the capacity to deal with these issues as they come in. What was that word..."partnerships?"... um, "integrated?" Lets work on this. Tree/foliage encroachment is a big issue for pedestrians too, especially mums with strollers, and the elderly. Sometimes the tree/foliage encroachment is from private properties - so we need to have an effective process to deal with that. Something for the LGA? 

Permalink Reply by heather on April 24, 2012 at 23:01

Tree foliage can also be a hazard for the vision impaired. Unable to see foliage, scratch an eye and get an infection -- learnt this from a blind person.

I report offending foliage (council and private) to the pertinent council. The council can request that private trees and shrubs be trimmed. Last year I reported 450 items, so experienced in these matters.

Permalink Reply by Chris Russell on April 26, 2012 at 23:22

Ditto heather, up until my request to Onka and DTEI I took the view that I was busy and someone else would complain. My experience tells me no-one else took the time to tell them there were issues given clearly they responded when they were made aware. I've also had my own Council put a request in my letterbox to trim a tree I had overhanging the footpath (which I dutifully did). I think smartphone technology presents the best hope if the main problem is lack of reporting of problems.

Permalink Reply by Norm on April 25, 2012 at 13:11

the engineering/design considerations can be found here

https://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/items/AP-G88-11

just create an account and click on the link again. you will then get a pdf document that is free.

Permalink Reply by heather on April 25, 2012 at 15:32

I posted on Monday that Transport will accept bicycle lane widths down to 1 metre and named some locations. The following is my hazard report. It was rejected because the bicycle lane width is not less than 1 metre. Take care when cycling here.

West Torrens, Mile End, James Congdon Drive (East Terrace). Cycling hazard of road design. In one place the bicycle lane is only 1.08m wide. Less than the 1.5m width recommended by Austroads. Note that the bicycle envelope design is 1m. On 5-May-2011 I was startled here when a truck overtook me. The truckie did not have the courtesy to compensate for the bad design and change lanes (little traffic) to give me the 1m clearance as stated in The Driver's Handbook and Austroads. But how does a truck give a cyclist the 1m clearance when the travel lanes are congested? A cyclist could easily be killed by a truck on such a commuter route. On 14-May-2011 emailed to Minister for Transport, Member for Adelaide, OCW & DTEI.

Permalink Reply by Edward @bikeadelaide on April 25, 2012 at 15:44

Absolute disgrace. It is obvious the road design allowed that to happen but your report is simply rejected as if you are imagining it. What's worse is that James Congdon Drive is a relatively new road. It is on the path of the old railway line to Glenelg. There is plenty of space to give cyclists proper treatment but the usual afterthought line is painted in the gutter as if that makes a difference.

Permalink Reply by heather on April 25, 2012 at 18:21

Edward, I put East Terrace in brackets. The location is towards the older section of the road, towards East Terrace. I would need to cycle there again and take measurements to get the exact spot. Visually obvious that some under 1.5m width, but need tape measure to find spot that is only 1.08m wide. I was extremely startled when a truck overtook me so closely. Then observed that the travel lane is not that wide, especially when used by a truck 2.5m wide, plus mandatory 2 exterior mirrors making total width 2.8m. I would need to be there at an odd hour with a person as safety lookout to measure the travel lane.

My report refers to guidelines, but still cyclist safety ignored by authorities. Disappointing. Edward, with your encouragement will take bicycle lane measurements in the daylight and photographs. Perhaps we could do this together and aim for a quiet period when we could measure the travel lane. Unfortunately no traffic lights which would make it easy to measure when lights red.

Permalink Reply by Chris Russell on April 26, 2012 at 23:17

So it seems to me that if the spec allows 1m minimum - reality is that where there is competition for space or cost pressures that is what will be provided. If this is unsafe (and in my view it is) how can we best develop a consensus and begin a lobbying campaign? Does BikeSA or any other group have a technical working group or someone who can manage a debate and align around a simple message? Maybe it should be 1.5m should be the minimum for new lanes and any upgrades? At least that sets a benchmark. Does anyone have resources or contacts to get someone with technical consulting skills in this area to do some research? Anyone know a Minister who cycles?

Permalink Reply by heather on April 27, 2012 at 0:43

I do not like 1m wide bike lanes -- last I knew this was the width on the northern side of Anzac Highway, west of Greenhill Road. However, it is worse when overtaken by wide trucks or buses.

Patrick Conlon, Minister for Transport, cycles but I understand only in a (protective) group. He appeared prepared to accept removal of portions of the Prospect Road bicycle lane, although that did not meet his government's Cycling Strategy and an arterial road under the control of State Government. Some of this detail is on AC at the Prospect BUG web page.

So I think cyclists must find another approach. For example, taking photos of these narrow bicycle lanes while bus or truck passing -- include a ruler in the photo. Then lobby through AC and the media. Not a quick approach.

The State Government did bring international road safety expert Prof Fred Wegman to Australia when working on Road Safety Strategy 2020 -- Towards Zero Together. Wegman is a cyclist and does not like how Australia places cyclists close to fast moving traffic. Among other things he recommended a good bike network. I have just finished a submission on the CTP Green Paper 2012 (due Friday before 5pm) and raised some of the things Wegman said at two public meetings. Also asked how the Road Safety Strategy is progressing.

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