Bedford "Turbo" Roundabout

I had the pleasure of a visit to Bedford this week and took the time out to have a look at this scheme - one of the "cycle safety" schemes that were intended to improve conditions for existing cyclists. This was a flawed process - councils had to submit schemes, and a committee from cycling organisations evaluate them, in a very short timescale. The final decision was that it should be be funded but that the shortcomings to the scheme should be made clear.

Traffic lanes are separated out as you approach an exit making lane switching impossible - this was identified as a reason for collisions with cyclists. Less confident cyclists can use the shared use pavements and cycle lanes alongside zebra crossings as well as linking into the cycle lanes on adjacent roads which are advisory but mostly of a reasonable width.

Criticisms of this scheme seemed to be based on the following:-

It's not what the Dutch would call a turbo roundabout. True, but the rest of the cycle network in Bedford isn't very Dutch either, with the possible exception of the riverside routes.

Cycling Safety money was spend on a scheme for motor traffic - but it's hard to see how you can create space for cycling without re-arranging the flow of other traffic. The intention was to make the road safer for both on and off-road cyclists.  

It promotes the concept of a 'dual network" - the Dutch have a network of bike routes that is suitable for all. This is where we want to get to but one roundabout isn't going to achieve that. 

Motorcyclists complained that the original design was hazardous for them and the final design has been modified as a result of that.

(This is taken from a traffic island - the Belisha beacon isn't blocking anyone's route)

The first cyclist I saw using the scheme used this non-cyclised ped crossing to access the road opposite - clearly a trick was missed here.

Using the crossings,traffic which was moving pretty slowly stopped immediately. The ares was pretty congested it being around 5:30 and a lot of traffic coming out of the station car parks which are not far away. There seemed to a lot of scope to increase cycling in the area.

Bedford does seem to have a mixed economy as far as cycling goes  - roughly equally balanced between pavement cyclists who were generally moving pretty slowly and not causing a problem and faster roadie types. So the roundabout seemed to fit in with the existing cycling culture.

All in all there was a feeling of calm about the area and I came away wondering what the fuss was all about. Elsewhere in Bedford the main roads had advisory cycle lanes that were a decent width - I didn't have my tape measure on me - and it seemed like it would be a fairly pleasant place to cycle although as I had a puncture I spent the rest of my stay pushing the Brompton around. May I also say that I found the people of Bedford very helpful and friendly, in sharp contrast to the folk of North London mentioned in my last post.

It's grim up North London...

Had the opportunity to cycle around North London this weekend so of course I took it.  Having been dropped off at Cockfosters, went through Hadley Common, past the fishing lake with instructions on how to get a fishing licence in many languages. Down into East Barnet for a coffee and then along Dollis Brook to Totteridge and Whetstone crossing over to Pymmes Brook. These were great bike routes through the parks but nothing to link them other than some yellow lines on the London Cycle Map. Every crossing of a main road seemed difficult for a cyclist and with no bike route signs on the back streets you were left to find your own way.

At Southgate, I made my way over the North Circular with some difficulty and found a route to Muswell Hill  - my only previous acquaintance being via the Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies.It was certainly a climb on the Brompton and I was pleased to be on the downhill through Highgate and Archway. I found this main road to be OK for cycling with wide bus lanes the only pinch points being where there were road works.

Getting down to the horrible mess that is Highbury Corner was a little different though and  I was reminded of classic London rudeness when as I negotiated my way into the cashpoint queue a young woman just stepped in front of me. It's every man and woman for yourself up North London and you have to like the sound of your own voice.

Passing through hipster-land I made it down to the Hertford Union canal - this was a great bike route back in the '80s when it had just been paved, but now with all the new developments in the area there are too many pedestrians and it is no longer viable

I let Google Maps guide me in to the Directory of Social Change where LCC was holding it's AGM and Campaigner's Conference. As a non-member I didn't go to the AGM and I thought it would be more instructive to see what cycling  conditions were like in the boroughs for myself, but I gather a lot of business had been covered including a controversial motion suggesting that the expansion in the number of buses in London was no longer helpful to cycling.

I attended a couple of workshops on forming a campaign strategy and one on taking your bike on public transport. What was more exciting though was the campaginer awards, and in particular the effort that has been made to persuade businesses in London to support the "Crossrail for bikes" proposals. This has the potential to transform cycling in central London but is meeting resistance from a handful of old men in limos who are anonymously briefing against it, but represent the vested interests of Canary Wharf and the Corporation of London. Through a massive leafletting campaign they had got workers to put pressure on their employers to support the proposals with much success. Since then we've learnt that an executive from Canary Wharf is set to chair the committee that will decide whether the bike routes will be built - an appalling situation.

Mark Ames' presentation on campaigning with social media is well worth watching:- 

http://ibikelondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/my-top-5-tips-for-cycle-campaigning.html

I left the LCC who were off to celebrate their achievement in a nearby pub and set off to meet by brother at the Market Porter at Kings Cross before setting off to see Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes in the Islington (there's a clue in the name where that is) Despite being throughly ripped off for mediocre Brooklyn lager and having to ask members of the audience to stop talking so we could enjoy the music, a great gig and I would recommend seeing him if you get the chance, if you're a fan of that country-rock style.

On Sunday I was able to take the Stealth Bomber for a ride around the lanes on the Herts and Essex border, circumnavigating Stansted Airport - about 45 miles - before heading back to the real grim North, with a fantastic sunset as I arrived back in Sheffield.