Freeway Bike Path re-entry point

As far as I can tell almost everyone re-entering the bike path from the old highway just before Devils Elbow goes against the line markings and signage. The proper entry point is just before the freeway bridge / underpass but most riders enter further up the hill which is for entry to a property there.

A number of years ago I tried do it 'properly' and was almost hit by a car flying around through the underpass. It is clearly an unsafe option. So I was quite surprised recently to find that all the line markings have been freshly painted to reflect a design which doesn't seem to reflect how things do or should operate.

What does everyone else think ?

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Permalink Reply by Matt Sandercock on April 11, 2012 at 15:41

Yes sort of, but your red line is one the wrong side of the concrete strip, there is a break in it just to the left of where your picutre stops that most people go through.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Champion on April 11, 2012 at 15:42

Snap.   Matt.

Permalink Reply by greg looyestyn on April 11, 2012 at 15:45

Same for me. Much better visibility up higher.

Permalink Reply by Michael G on April 11, 2012 at 15:49

Most people I see actually enter a little further up than you have indicated Mike. The green 'proper' line is correct and the birdseye view shows clearly how bad a design it is.

It seems there is general agreement that the safer option is to enter further up the road and, whilst most of the time this all works ok, I think it would make sense and be safer to have the line markings reflect the way it is used. Does anyone know who to contact about trying to get this changed or at least have it noted for any future changes?

Permalink Reply by Bekster on April 11, 2012 at 17:42

I never enter at that point just before the DE bridge, too dangerous with ppl fanging it off the freeway around the bend imho. I always enter at that little opening just a bit further up when you can see what's coming ahead... I actually thought you could do either, even before the new lines were marked.

Permalink Reply by Bekster on April 11, 2012 at 17:47

While I'm on it, I hate the dog's breakfast which is the crossing over the fwy at the Tollgate in peak hour - from the end of the bike track to get over to go down Glen Osmond Rd towards town.

Patience is the key but I always have my heart in my throat when trucks whizz past in that outer lane to turn onto Portrush...

I can't see that there's an easy solution there...

Permalink Reply by Paul Inglis on April 11, 2012 at 17:53

How strange this is. I almost always use the proper way. When I did try the shortcut I found I had too much speed going through the tunnel. It may be faster overall to use the shortcut it also means using the brakes a lot heading into the tunnel whereas the proper way has a slight uphill that makes it easy to wash off speed, slow down to check for cars then cross over. Further up the road I also usually use the slip lane that says no entry to get onto the actual road earlier. I do this mainly because I would rather descend at 50+km/h on a good quality 6m wide road than a then crappy 1m wide bike path where a lot of cyclists like to ride 2 or 3 abreast. I always check for cars or motorbikes when entering the road and as far as I can remember I've had to stop only once or twice in the past 2 years.

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on April 11, 2012 at 19:48

So when I an struggling up the hill and some crazy comes flying down the wrong side on the bike path I can think it is "safer".

I must admit I have never thought of going the wrong way down the bike path.

I would agree that you would be pushing your luck not to check for cars while crossing the road there.

Permalink Reply by Michael G on April 12, 2012 at 14:24

It is interesting to hear that some people follow the designated path as I have never seen it. In anycase I would still say that 95%+ go the other way.

It looks to me as though the whole thing was designed by a non-cyclist and it doesn't make sense to leave it the way it is. There's plenty of room to make that extra section two way (more in fact than further down the track). It would take relatively little effort to fix it and then at least everyone would be following the same rules.

Permalink Reply by Tim B on April 12, 2012 at 15:22

yes, they should fix it, however, at the moment, there is only one rule people "should" be following....

Considering how quick people are to jump on crazy drivers and cyclists doing silly things, it seems that it's ok to break the rules if you feel like it suits you better

Permalink Reply by Dahondude on April 12, 2012 at 15:35

Tim there isnt a sign at the "illegal" entry point saying "No Entry" and the bike lane painting is sufficiently ambiguous (there is a dotted white line painted down the middle of the bike lane, suggesting tow lanes rather than a single uptrack) that it would be a brave person to fine cyclists for riding illegally down that 200m stretch of bike lane.

In fact Google Maps shows just how easy it is for riders to pass along there and how ambiguous the line markings are.

PS who is that guy who managed to get his photo taken by Google multiple times up the road?

Permalink Reply by Tim B on April 12, 2012 at 15:43

no, no signs, but there are several painted bike markings with arrows pointing up the hill marked in the bike lane there and at the bottom near the underpass (have a look in the second photo in this thread)

From this thread, it seems obvious that most people know how it works, but choose to ignore it anyway just like some do further up the path whe there IS a no entry sign, but ignore that too. Sorry, i dont want to come across as the fun police, just observations, probably wouldnt have mentioned it except for having to dodge a few people coming down there recently

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