RickInOz

… but none for execution. The accolades go to Adelaide City Council, and their equivalents around the metropolitan area.

Over the past few years they have been slowly expanding the cycle lane network around the city. On the face of it, the project deserves praise. Cyclists occupy little space on the road, produce a fraction of the pollution of an internal combustion engine. And, most importantly, every bike rider means one less car hence less congestion. The main deterrent is the stark vulnerability and inevitable hospital admission during any tangle with a vehicle.

So, you might have thought that cyclists should be protected from other road traffic. This has clearly also occurred to many city councils around the world, especially in Northern Europe, who have laid out logical and well-designed networks to ensure pedal-pushers can get to work safely in the morning. But, not so here in Adelaide.

The disparity between enthusiasm and competence is exemplified by the hamfisted manner in which cycle lanes are set out. For example, on wide, open roads on which bikes and cars successfully co-existed previously they have helpfully painted in lines pointing out where the cyclists should go. Utterly pointless due to the sheer amount of road-space making the need for separation unnecessary. Then, on narrow roads, or at choke points or junctions, in other words any point at which cyclists need protection the most, these cycle lanes abruptly end. Leaving us with a choice of committing the felony of cycling on the pavement or literally taking your life in your hands by mingling with heavy traffic.

The situation isn’t helped by a sinister prevailing attitude amongst drivers here who see cyclists as a malignant and unwelcome presence, rather than a fellow road-user to be cooperated with.

So, the council’s heart may be in the right place, and I applaud the spirit of their intention, but they really need to get cyclists to design cycle lanes rather than the current crusty civil-servant …. to whom “cycle” is a description of a never-ending bureaucratic exercise …. entrusted with the role. That a steady road-toll mounts should galvanise more effective action more urgently …. as I don’t want to be next.