Separation between car and cyclist are the key to cyclist safety and encourage cycling. Only off road cycle paths meet this requirement. The report prepared for the ACT Government back in 2012 by Spackman Mossop Michaels makes clear that cycle lanes are a mistake. Furthermore, comparison of the 2011 ACT Strategic Cycle Network Plan shows that very little progress has been made building the cycling network in a decade. Cause for concern.
Tag Archives: Austroads
VicRoads: widths of off-road shared use paths
VicRoads Cycle Notes 21 (August 2013) has advice on the widths of off-road shared use paths. It is not the most recent. Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling (AGRD06A) and the Netherlands CROW publication are more recent. Still, it is worth noting that even back in 2013 VicRoads were aware of what we in Canberra need and still do not have.
Section 4: Safety
This section provides data on the trends, risks, and costs of Canberra car culture, where vulnerable road users have ‘no place on our road’, and the young and the old are particularly at risk. They are disadvantaged not only due to cognitive (or physical) limitations but also due to the lack of options. Some of the best reasons for fixing active travel in Canberra are health, human equity, and safety.
Coding safety into urban design
Active travel will only work if they feel it is safe to be on the streets, particularly when it is dark and/or we are alone. It is important, for many reasons, that we create cities where we feel comfortable. Active travel certainly depends on it.
Gradients in Molonglo 3: cycling from John Gorton Drive Bridge
Bicycles are arguably the most efficient machine ever invented, however, everything has its limits. A 30m section of steep path is all that is required to bring a cyclist to a stop. Pushing a bike up steep paths is not popular amongst cyclists. Better is to build the paths so that they are never so steep to become unrideable. Austroads Standards tell us how. Hilly terrain requires careful route and path design.
Section 4.8 Measuring cycling safety
More needs to be done about cycling safety, and it starts with reporting accidents. For road cyclists, this is how.
John Gorton Drive Bridge 2021 update
The planning for the John Gorton Drive Bridge has come out of the shadows. The funding promised at the ACT Election has been announced and the development application documents released. The construction costs will be about $177 million with an opening expected in 2025.
Aranda CBR Cycle Route C5: falling short of expectations
The ongoing saga of Aranda bike path. Maintenance is sorely needed but despite the newest promises nothing had been done. ACT Labor’s cycling ambition is underwhelming which leaves them on the back foot and it takes years to organise routine maintenance. Here is an example.
National Cycling Participation Survey: ACT related data on cycling
The National Cycling Participation Survey tells us how Canberrans use their bike and what they think about cycling.
Section 4.4 Why speed kills cyclists
Separation of cyclists and motor vehicles is recommended on busy roads or speeds greater than 50km/h.
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