Thursday, 12 December 2013

Buses Block Bike Lanes

An ironic photo from North America Credit: Grist
Eastern Cyclists recently made the news when they called for bus drivers to stop blocking bike lanes for up to 10 minutes at a time.

"You take your life into your own hands when you pull into heavy trafic to get around them," Cyclist Shane Sody told the local newspaper

Cyclists have taken several photos and videos and uploaded them to the popular Adelaide Cyclists' Forum, which has provoked many interesting responses. 

So what's the solution? 

Ideally, it would great to see buses arriving on time so there's no need to block up bicycle lanes. But there's no doubt the answer lies in infrastructure. 

Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox has said the government would create an 'indent' on Portrush Rd to stop buses from blocking the cycle lane. 

Indeed, Cyclists and buses aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It might be worth drooling over Dutch style treatment of bikes and buses in this Video, by popular bicycle Blogger, David Hembrow. 




What do you think would be the best solution? Let us know in the comments below. 

5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Buses and bikes in the city? OMG! Try the combination on the narrow, blind twisty sections of upper Greenhill Road and Norton Summit Road. A seriously dangerous mix.

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  3. I cross the city twice a day on Grenfell St/ Currie St and use the bus lane riding in the middle of the lane. Bus drivers have never given me grief on this route and often wave me through in front of them. Today I wrote a Christmas card to the bus drivers thanking them for their courtesy, professionalism and safety when it comes to sharing the road with cyclists. They do a great job. Just don't get me started on car drivers in the city!

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  4. Blocking bike lanes by buses is not only the eastern suburbs problem, it happens also in south where I ride, South Road, Darlington.

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  5. There is no doubt it is an exceptionally dangerous practice for a cyclist to merge right into motorised traffic travelling at three times their speed, just to be able to pass a parked bus. Having the bus park off road makes much more sense. After all, if a pedestrian has to alter direction slightly to allow for this, the inconvenience pales into insignificance when compared with risking your life on a bicycle.
    Also Glen Osmond Road and Portrush Road, which carry a significant volume of cyclists every day, have no stopping zones between 8am and 6pm weekdays. This allows semi trailers and B-Doubles etc to park on these busy thoroughfares at one second past six at night when there is still heavy traffic, including many cyclists. The truck drivers need to park outside fast food shops puts many cyclists and other road users at serious risk of accident, let alone a cyclist's death. This time zone should immediately be extended to 7pm.

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