jgurney wrote:Vorpal wrote:irc wrote:A plan to build an on road segregated facility in my area was rejected. Rightly so in my opinion. The road is currently safe to cycle.
This argument has been used for yonks to avoid building cycle-friendly infrastructure.
But what is the point of building cycle infrastructure if that particular road is already safe to cycle on? It wastes resources which could go into more useful cycle facilities where they are needed.
I suspect putting cycle facilities in roads that don't need it also helps give motorists the idea that they are entitled to cyclist-free carriageways, rather then accepting that most roads will contain some cyclists and that separate facilities will only be found occasionally (as realistically will be the case as no-one is planning to duplicate the entire carriageway network with cycle paths).
By what criteria are certain roads deemed safe?
If new or timid cyclists and potential cyclists think it unsafe then cycling numbers will remain static to those who are willing to take the risk,whether that risk is percieved or actual.
It comes down to what society wants to achieve,does it wish to carry on as is, or change things for the better for he whole,sometimes to achieve that change needs to be radical.
The problem in the UK,like many developed countries around the world,the default transport has become the private car to such an exetent in many ways the tail is wagging the dog,pollution of the air and noise to the detriment of people's health and wellbing,clogged up streets with parked vehicles and roads with too much traffic on the move.Our answer to the problem so far has been to build more roads and so far it hasn't worked because the roads we've built demand has outstripped supply,we can carry on or have a rethink,like some countries around the world are doing.
Motoring is a two edged sword,in large towns and cities it's becoming a burden to such an extent it's damaging health and wellbeing,there are other cheaper and healthier ways to move people around those towns and cities but its a radical step for the UK to make.
My 2d's worth