Britain's First 'Dutch-Style' Roundabout Closed 10 Days After Opening When Car Ploughed Into Beacon

PP100

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Feb 28, 2020
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This thread is a fascinating read. Where I live (in Walthamstow, London), we've had a lot of investment in cycling infrastructure lately as part of the mini-Holland scheme. It's put many people's backs up. There have been protests and petitions aplenty. But ultimately, it's been done and it's being extended to other areas of the borough. As well as segregated cycle lanes, modal filters have been installed on a lot of side roads, meaning they become no through routes except for pedestrians and cyclists. Debates very similar to the one between Swizz & flecc (though much less polite and well-reasoned) have raged across Facebook for years and still continue.

Advocates of the scheme have tried to persuade motorists that it's a boon for them too, because the streets they live on (by which they really mean the relatively few streets that now have modal filters) will become quieter and less polluted. Opponents of it have argued that forcing the same amount of traffic onto fewer streets will cause more congestion and more pollution overall. The comeback has always been 'build it and they will come' or, sometimes, 'YOU are the traffic, YOU are causing the pollution, GET OUT OF YOUR CAR!!!'

As a driver and a cyclist, I was a bit of a fence sitter. I wanted to be able to cycle safely but I also didn't want to see a huge increase in traffic jams. Now it's all been built, I think the overall impact has been positive... but I still definitely have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Some of the new infrastructure is brilliant. There are whole neighbourhoods that I can cycle through without meeting a car. Walthamstow Village has a totally different feel to it since they pedestrianised the high street. But other bits are ill-considered. Some of the new segregated cycle lanes have been built where there just isn't enough space for them. There's a mile or so on Forest Road where the cycle lane has been built by essentially just splitting the pavement in half. This means that there isn't enough room in places for pedestrians to walk two abreast, so pedestrians walk in the cycle lane, MAMIL-type cyclists use the road, and the cyclists who do use the bike lanes are having to dodge pedestrians. It doesn't work well for anyone but pedestrians have suffered the most. Has the 'build it and they will come' mantra stood up to scrutiny? I think to some extent it has. My perception is that there are many more people on bikes than there were before the scheme started (discounting the Covid effect - there were more even before lockdown).

So anyway, my point is that I think you're both right to some extent, flecc & Swizz. There are councils that are prepared to force through cycling infrastructure projects even in the face of huge opposition from motorists. I think it's true that if you build it, they will come... but I don't know how many of them. There is definitely an issue with space in this country; I think it's better not to have any segregation than to have half-baked segregation that puts pedestrians and cyclists on top of each other. And I also have little faith that our council is representative of the UK - I think it's true that the majority (drivers) will be prioritised in most infrastructure projects. It's definitely an interesting time to be on two wheels though!
I'm in Walthamstow as well. I think one of the issues with the new cycle infrastructure is also the (probably unavoidable) fragmented nature of it on main roads especially . All very well up to a point (if pedestrians learnt not to step/walk into them) then it too often suddenly stops and you are back to a tiny painted lane on the left gutter , or nothing, mixing with the motor traffic. As a late to cycling and not confident rider I avoid big main roads mostly anyway but I can't see the bitty nature of some of the lanes helping less confident riders out into those main roads. It would probably be better to establish more cycle friendly "quiet routes" between areas.
 
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PP100

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Feb 28, 2020
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The difference in example Holland , is the fact that the great majority of car drivers also have bikes !
In England , for example in one survey , 83% of cyclists also have cars - (that's also a high majority) the difference is the number of Car owners who actually regularly cycle.
 
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Nealh

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Aug 7, 2014
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Problem now a days are that drivers are going to fast and not taking enough care, I see this at roundabouts and junctions most days. Give way signs or stops signs often get scant attention.
 

RetiredAndRolling

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Mar 30, 2019
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I sense a wind of change in the country, and much rain ;). I don’t recall a time when there has been so much general acceptance of the need to break with the past when it comes to saving our environment and living more healthily. The Attenborough effect - you can feel it.

A new roundabout trial is one of the ways to drive change in attitude and practice. I’d really like it to succeed, either through tweaking or through experience, patience and tolerance. With this in mind I called a Dutch pal. I’d not spoken with him for eleven months so it was a good excuse to reconnect. Seeking to make him happy, I proudly informed him how we are trialling one of his country’s novel roundabouts. “I can’t stand them“, he declared, from his viewpoint of being a driver and a cyclist. Oh well.

As we try to shift our transport habits to a greener lifestyle, I’d really like to see electric scooter riding become legal. I confess that I also like riding on pavements, either when they are designated cycle paths or when they are empty. How do we achieve this safely? Isn’t it all about instilling a courteous and considerate attitude to fellow travellers as you take your journey using your favourite mode of transport? This new style roundabout could be a catalyst, small but it’s a start, to a world where everyone gets along respectfully.
 

Nealh

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Aug 7, 2014
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There is a feel of a change of wind in the air regarding environmental issues and the planet, but is is enough ? Drivers and people in general need to seriously act on it once covid is over, could be another year or 18 months yet. Issue is people have short minds and all the good will, will at some time be simply swept under the carpet.
I would though like to be disproved.
 
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Scorpio

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Apr 13, 2020
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Portugal Algarve (temporary)
Northumberland have got £2.3M funding for cycle route upgrades including (maybe) a Dutch style roundabout https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-easts-first-dutch-style-20704777

As someone who has spent many years cycling in that area this sounds like a huge waste of money and reminds me of the cycletracks they installed around Newcastle & Northumberland - poor design, layout & obstacles (kerbs in places not dropped kerbs, some tracks detour around trees in the way!), and poor road surface means I avoid them at all costs and use the roads instead. High traffic volumes make the roads dangerous for casual cyclists. Frequent problems with antisocial behaviour including damage to / theft of unattended bikes means commuting or shopping by bike is risky unless you have secure bike parking at both ends of your journey. I used to work in Newcastle city centre and seeing newly vandalised cycles secured to railings on the way to work after a weekend was very common (left secure by owners - then vandalised as they couldn't be stolen).

Conditions in the North East are cold, wet and dark for many months of the year, and most routes include several large hills. As a result cycling is not a popular mode of transport, I suspect this will be another "tickbox PR excercise" that gets very little use.

The propsals include changes around the very congested Four Lane Ends area of Newcastle to improve bus & cycle access. Sounds good but this will make an driving to Newcastle by car even more difficult.
 
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richtea99

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May 8, 2020
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I have to plead ignorance (I have lived longer in Germany now than anywhere else on this planet, 39 years!), what is Barnard Castle?
I only found this:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnard_Castle
Is this exactly what you were referring to? If yes, why?
Andy
Don't let them fool you, it's just a fancy cockney haircut - a Barnet castle, but it's got bastardised* over the years.

*hence the connection to Cummings.