Can't say I agree with all their ideas of painted on cycle lanes - some look decidedly suspect given the attitude of some drivers....
Are there any safety statistics regarding on-road cycle lanes and ASLs.
<RANT>
IMO, on-road painted cycle lanes are almost always dangerous for a variety of reasons (in no particular order):
1) They are often too narrow and encourage drivers to overtake even closer
2) Often too short to be of any use.
3) Often double up as parking/loading etc.
4) They are often poorly surfaced with a variety of hazards including pot-holes, iron work etc
5) They are often on the left approaching junctions and encourage cyclists to dangerously undertake lorrys and buses.
6) They often cause drivers to be less aware of cyclists.
7) Often placed in the door-zone.
8 ) When they are well designed (wide and clear of the door zone) they coincide with the natural road position for drivers, making them especially susceptible to being driven in.
9 ) Mandoratory lanes (solid lines) are rarely (if ever) enforced, meaning that there is little/no deterrant to driving/parking in them. Advisory lanes (dashed lines) are even worse.
10) Often end short of junctions or pinch points causing a dangerous reintergration of traffic.
11) ASLs encourage cyclists to overtake/undertake through narrow gaps, leaving them in dangerous position if the lights change prior to reaching the ASL.
12) ASLs are often blocked by drivers and rarely (if ever) enforced.
13) They encourage the view that cyclists should be segregated and not mix with other traffic.
14) They cause significant increase in conflict and agression when either:
a) cyclist chooses to not use them (for any of above reasons)
b) drivers block them by driving/parking in them
Over the last couple of weeks I have had 2 near misses involving drivers, unnecesarily swerving at me into a cycle lane. On both occasions I had anticipated the possibility and had enough room to escape collision. On both ocasions my complaints were returned with abuse and dangerous driving.
I have also had several drivers gradually push me out of cycle lanes into the door-zone.
So far this week, my commute has been delayed every morning by drivers unnecesarily blocking or partially blocking a mandoratory (solid white line) cycle lane.
I have lost count to the number of drivers I have seen blocking or partially blocking advisory cycle lanes (dashed lines) or ASLs.
IMO Most roads would be a lot safer without cycle lanes, thereby encouraging traffic to share rather than fight for road space.
</RANT>
