Unhelpful example of cycle path signage

[661-Pete]

This:

The point is, this comes at the end of a new section of shared-use cycle path, only built within the past 6 months. So cyclists are advised to re-join the carriageway here. How, exactly? There is not even a dropped kerb. Jump down the kerb, cross two lanes of busy traffic (yes it can get a lot busier at peak times)? So is this merely misleading - or actually dangerous? Especially to the inexperienced cyclist who might wander onto this path. I'd even have preferred the hated CYCLISTS DISMOUNT sign at this point.

Behind me there is about 200 yards of this path, emerging onto a busy roundabout. Its purpose is, I suppose, to provide access to the new DIY store over to the right (you can see the curved roof of their cycle stands at extreme right of photo). But it's signed as if it were a path alongside the busy A273 road.

If this is part of West Sussex CC's plan to provide joined-up cycling infarcestructure .... words fail me.

Incidentally, if the intent of the sign is to advise cyclists to make their way through the B&Q car park and then come out at the main entrance which you can see a bit further on - that's not going to work either, because the exit from the car park is turn-left-only (note the bollarded island in the road). So the hapless cyclist will find himself directed back the way he came....

[mjr]

Groan! That's bonkers! Ask the council officer in charge of the development to raise the sign combined with lack of dropped kerb and crossing in the next safety audit. If things work as they should (big IF), it should kick off remedial work...

Oh well at least it's not CYCLISTS DISMOUNT. That's slight progress.

[Pete Owens]

Oh well at least it's not CYCLISTS DISMOUNT. That's slight progress.

No it isn't - CYCLISTS DISMOUNT is the only sensible advice for any cyclist unfortunate enough to have been lured to that location.

We complain far too much about CYCLISTS DISMOUNT signs - it is not the sign itself that is the problem but the facility design that makes it nescessary in the first place.

[Mark1978]

A good example of the bad way of doing things. It's simply another Cycling Provision: TICK. Which we have been suffering from for decades.

[661-Pete]

No it isn't - CYCLISTS DISMOUNT is the only sensible advice for any cyclist unfortunate enough to have been lured to that location.

I'm inclined to agree - sadly!

Two more views of the same locality.



The irksome thing is, this is a brand-new development, on greenfield land. This is what the site looked like a few years ago, courtesy of Google Streetview.

You'd have thought, they might have learnt a few lessons by now....

[jezer]

No, nothing has been learnt. This is why I ignore so called cycle paths and use the roads. We are part of normal traffic

[snibgo]

Yes, the sign is wrong. We don't want cyclists hopping off the kerb here.

The fundamental problem is that nobody sat down and thought about how cyclists would get around here. It's a common problem, and easily fixable, in theory. After all, they rarely foul-up road design sufficiently that cars can't get around. They could actually design infrastructure for getting around by bike, if they wanted.

[Mark1978]

Yes, the sign is wrong. We don't want cyclists hopping off the kerb here.

The fundamental problem is that nobody sat down and thought about how cyclists would get around here. It's a common problem, and easily fixable, in theory. After all, they rarely foul-up road design sufficiently that cars can't get around. They could actually design infrastructure for getting around by bike, if they wanted.

It's just the half hearted approach, they were tasked with making a cycle path here, so they did. If it's practical or useable or anything else they don't give a scooby.

[661-Pete]

Although B&Q here have been gracious enough to provide a row of sheltered cycle stands (as in the pics - sort of low-sheffield design, but OK) in the corner of the car park, I reckon the mindset at work here is: 'no-one in their right mind would visit a DIY by bike'. Well, Mr B and Mr Q, Mr Homebase, Mr Wickes, Mr Screwfix, and everyone else in the business! I'd be only too happy to prove you wrong! Not everything one buys at the DIY is a hulking great kitchen sink or plank of wood! Last visit I paid to the DIY was to buy a door latch. That easily fit in a rucksack, let alone a pannier.

And another irksome thing about this development (I know the area well, seeing as I used to work in a building adjacent to the B&Q), is that there's a perfectly good right-of-way leading onto the site from another direction, which they upgraded a bit as part of the development, but it's still at 'footpath' designation and not useable by cyclists. If widened and raised to bridlepath status, it would take cyclists well away from the by-pass and onto relatively quiet roads. The same roads that, in fact, lead to a nearby supermarket which has provided much better access for cyclists. Opportunity missed.

[Vorpal]

Although B&Q here have been gracious enough to provide a row of sheltered cycle stands (as in the pics - sort of low-sheffield design, but OK) in the corner of the car park, I reckon the mindset at work here is: 'no-one in their right mind would visit a DIY by bike'. Well, Mr B and Mr Q, Mr Homebase, Mr Wickes, Mr Screwfix, and everyone else in the business! I'd be only too happy to prove you wrong! Not everything one buys at the DIY is a hulking great kitchen sink or plank of wood! Last visit I paid to the DIY was to buy a door latch. That easily fit in a rucksack, let alone a pannier.

I have gone to the DIY shop with my trailer & loaded it up a time or two with things, including tiles and planks of wood (for shelving). I don't think I'd try to carry a sink, though.

And another irksome thing about this development (I know the area well, seeing as I used to work in a building adjacent to the B&Q), is that there's a perfectly good right-of-way leading onto the site from another direction, which they upgraded a bit as part of the development, but it's still at 'footpath' designation and not useable by cyclists. It would take cyclists well away from the by-pass and onto relatively quiet roads. The same roads that, in fact, lead to a nearby supermarket which has provided much better access for cyclists. Opportunity missed.

I saw that on Google earth and wondered. I don't like footpath & pavement conversions in general, but if they serve a purpose, and cyclists actually want to use it, they should jump at the opportunity.

[AlaninWales]

Been there, done that:
Cycle to DIY store, buy sink, place (boxed) sink on handlebars & seat, bungee around top tube, walk home: Simples

[karlt]

Although B&Q here have been gracious enough to provide a row of sheltered cycle stands (as in the pics - sort of low-sheffield design, but OK) in the corner of the car park, I reckon the mindset at work here is: 'no-one in their right mind would visit a DIY by bike'. Well, Mr B and Mr Q, Mr Homebase, Mr Wickes, Mr Screwfix, and everyone else in the business! I'd be only too happy to prove you wrong! Not everything one buys at the DIY is a hulking great kitchen sink or plank of wood! Last visit I paid to the DIY was to buy a door latch. That easily fit in a rucksack, let alone a pannier.

And another irksome thing about this development (I know the area well, seeing as I used to work in a building adjacent to the B&Q), is that there's a perfectly good right-of-way leading onto the site from another direction, which they upgraded a bit as part of the development, but it's still at 'footpath' designation and not useable by cyclists. If widened and raised to bridlepath status, it would take cyclists well away from the by-pass and onto relatively quiet roads. The same roads that, in fact, lead to a nearby supermarket which has provided much better access for cyclists. Opportunity missed.

Not sure about that - the only thing it's good for is going to B&Q by the look of it.

[mjr]

I have gone to the DIY shop with my trailer & loaded it up a time or two with things, including tiles and planks of wood (for shelving). I don't think I'd try to carry a sink, though.

I'll match your planks and raise you a 2m threaded rod, 40 litres of specialist compost and a 2x3m ladder (not at the same time, I hasten to add!), all with just the bike with its rear rack, although the ladder did make the bike into an unrideable glorified trolley.

I'd much rather shop at the small DIY stores but I think the big boxes have driven them out. Although B+Q's bike park (more often trolley park) and checkouts (self-checkout with almost as many staff as active checkouts) are awful, they're better than the competitors like Homebase - I do not want the bike in a Velopa wheelbender (why do they even sell them any more?) while loading heavy stuff onto it!

[SilverBadge]

Groan! That's bonkers! Ask the council officer in charge of the development to raise the sign combined with lack of dropped kerb and crossing in the next safety audit. If things work as they should (big IF), it should kick off remedial work...

Ask the council who drew up the scheme, who signed it off, and who should have sacked the people responsible for wasting taxpayers money an such a farcility.

[Vorpal]

I have gone to the DIY shop with my trailer & loaded it up a time or two with things, including tiles and planks of wood (for shelving). I don't think I'd try to carry a sink, though.

I'll match your planks and raise you a 2m threaded rod, 40 litres of specialist compost and a 2x3m ladder (not at the same time, I hasten to add!), all with just the bike with its rear rack, although the ladder did make the bike into an unrideable glorified trolley.

I started to reply, then decided I should start another thread viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81141 Put your bragging rights there.