Visiting family in Bedford over the bank holiday weekend I noticed the "cycle lane" on the A421 which is a feeder road for the M1.
Crap Cycle Lanes http://wcc.crankfoot.xyz/facility-of-the-month/index.htm is one of my favourite web sites, I think it should be compulsory viewing for all road planners along with daily readings from the Dutch "CROW" https://www.crow.nl/publicaties/design-manual-for-bicycle-traffic manual.
The A421 has a "cycle lane" which looks to be (I couldn't stop to measure it) barely 1m wide, with either the Armco or a drainage channel to the left and motorway speed traffic to the right separated only by a dab of "Magic Paint". I don't think anyone apart from a certified lunatic would ride a bicycle along that road.
Surely on a road like that there should be a completely separate cycle lane, at least 2m wide and protected by a kerb and a 1m grass strip?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.1219302,-0.4229292,3a,45y,236.03h,90.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCNoqRxtnmVmhq8JvZs4ZKg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
What were the "planners" smoking the morning they "designed" that? Answers on a postcard please!
A421 cycle lane
A421 cycle lane
Derek - The enlightened petrolhead 
Re: A421 cycle lane
They weren't smoking anything.
They have clearly made ample provision for cyclists who can now shut up and go away.
They have clearly made ample provision for cyclists who can now shut up and go away.
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Re: A421 cycle lane
GrumpyGit wrote:https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.1219302,-0.4229292,3a,45y,236.03h,90.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCNoqRxtnmVmhq8JvZs4ZKg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
What were the "planners" smoking the morning they "designed" that? Answers on a postcard please!
I doubt it was designed. Someone just though painting a bicycle on the shoulder would make it a cycle lane. Then they have a cycling facility (job done).
If that was any place on the continent, I'd look for signs that it was graffiti, done for a joke.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Re: A421 cycle lane
[XAP]Bob wrote:They weren't smoking anything.
They have clearly made ample provision for cyclists who can now shut up and go away.
Thank you for participating Mr Grayling.
Derek - The enlightened petrolhead
-
thirdcrank
- Posts: 36780
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Re: A421 cycle lane
That appalling example isn't a cycle lane "as such." Apart from anything else, it has no signs to indicate where it starts or finishes.
Here's the aerial view which explains the thinking.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.12185 ... !1e3?hl=en
A rider approaching this entry slip on the A421 ie on the main drag will see this:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.12301 ... 6656?hl=en
That's intended to get riders to take the line at right angles across the entry slip pretty much as recommended in Cyclecraft pp145 to 147 in my 2007 edition. Directing riders to ride to the left of the "edge of carriageway" marking like this seems dodgy because it isn't a cycle lane - no matter what some drivers may think.
The main conclusion is that while they are prepared to tolerate cyclists to avoid the complications of a ban, they hope to frighten them away as the cheapest option.
Here's the aerial view which explains the thinking.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.12185 ... !1e3?hl=en
A rider approaching this entry slip on the A421 ie on the main drag will see this:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.12301 ... 6656?hl=en
That's intended to get riders to take the line at right angles across the entry slip pretty much as recommended in Cyclecraft pp145 to 147 in my 2007 edition. Directing riders to ride to the left of the "edge of carriageway" marking like this seems dodgy because it isn't a cycle lane - no matter what some drivers may think.
The main conclusion is that while they are prepared to tolerate cyclists to avoid the complications of a ban, they hope to frighten them away as the cheapest option.
Re: A421 cycle lane
thirdcrank wrote:https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.1230169,-0.4214236,3a,37.5y,185.2h,75.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sufln4UbxiFoa0BzcrZrKAQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
That's intended to get riders to take the line at right angles across the entry slip pretty much as recommended in Cyclecraft pp145 to 147 in my 2007 edition. Directing riders to ride to the left of the "edge of carriageway" marking like this seems dodgy because it isn't a cycle lane - no matter what some drivers may think.
I 'looked' around a bit, but I didn't go far enough to find that. It's obvious
when you include that link.“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Re: A421 cycle lane
I don't think we're getting the message.We're not wanted 
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: A421 cycle lane
That was the standard Highways England cycling provision on major roads at the time the A421 was built, as it was for the Highways Agency before it. I feel it came from decades of CTC and others saying only fast cyclists who can cope with hostile roads would be riding on such unattractive roads, but then the Highways Agency being persuaded they must do something to encourage them out of the 70mph flow - and this was something therefore they must do this
It was definitely changed in 2016 but I fear it may have survived right up until then. It is particularly common in the West Anglia / East Midlands area, also appearing on dualled sections of A5 and A43.
If you want to ride to places along but not on the current A421, I suggest some combination of National Route 51 Bedford-Gt Barford-Blunham-Sandy (a former railway so pretty direct), NR 12 Gt Barford-Roxton-St Neots and National Byway Blunham-Foxton (for Cambridge).
It was definitely changed in 2016 but I fear it may have survived right up until then. It is particularly common in the West Anglia / East Midlands area, also appearing on dualled sections of A5 and A43.
If you want to ride to places along but not on the current A421, I suggest some combination of National Route 51 Bedford-Gt Barford-Blunham-Sandy (a former railway so pretty direct), NR 12 Gt Barford-Roxton-St Neots and National Byway Blunham-Foxton (for Cambridge).
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: A421 cycle lane
mjr wrote:If you want to ride to places along but not on the current A421, I suggest some combination of National Route 51 Bedford-Gt Barford-Blunham-Sandy (a former railway so pretty direct), NR 12 Gt Barford-Roxton-St Neots and National Byway Blunham-Foxton (for Cambridge).
We've ridden the stretch between Bedford & Sandy many times.
The mountain bike is my "weapon of choice" for the varied terrain as sections of our route are bridleways so can get chewed up by horses hooves when the weather is moist.
Derek - The enlightened petrolhead