Vorpal wrote:Many people posting on this thread sound as if we either campaign for segregation everywhere, or not at all.
To me, it's not an either/or question. It's a matter of creating a good environment for vulnerable users.
In some places that means segregation. In some place that means sharing, but limiting permeability of motorists and making it clear that they are guests. In some places it means banning motor vehicles either for some periods of the day, or altogether.
Eventually, I think we will have to rid ourselves of individually operated moto cars, but I expect that is decades from now, unless there is a revolution.
I do agree that we need different solutions in different places. The other difficulty is that 'cyclists' are such a broad group. I was driving in Buckinghamshire last week and noticed a nice new wide separated path along a main road south of Buckingham. It would have been great for me as a tourist, commuter or when out with the family. But then I came up behind a queue of cars with one going irate because they were stuck behind a 'chain gang' of six club cyclists. I estimate they were moving 20-25 mph. Clearly the drivers thought they should be ion the path (especially as space was taken out of the road), but if they had it would have been dangerous for pedestrians and slower cyclists. I think we should plan for the most vulnerable first but we also need to change driving cultures.