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Bristol cyclists call for more time to get across new junction

Quite a distance to cross from a standing start

Bristol cyclists say that new cycle crossing points across the A4174 Avon Ring Road at Hambrook do not allow enough time to get across the seven lanes of traffic.

The Bristol Post reports that the new road layout at one of Bristol's busiest junctions has traffic going in 12 different directions. Each is controlled by traffic lights, but it seems the time allocated to let cyclists cross may be insufficient.

Cyclist Claude Lane told the newspaper: "It's on a 50mph road with lots of 44-tonne lorries that can't stop. It's not long when you get to the middle of the road and the green bike is red. Every crossing on the ring road is the same. I think bleepers are easier to use, because you just ride your bike not looking for green light."

Another cyclist, Dave Martin, said he was quick off the blocks (surely no great advantage in employing those when you’re on a bike?) but only just managed to cross in the time allowed for cyclists.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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8 comments

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oldmixte | 7 years ago
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Push the pedestrian button next to the path, it gives you longer to cross, what is annoying SGlos says it is promoting cycling but like most of the traffic lights in SGlos you have to wait a full cycle of the lights before you can cross instead of giving cyclists priority over traffic.

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
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"Bristol cyclists call for more time to get across new junction"

Call me pedantic, but this is South Gloucestershire.  SGlos council has had the same pro-cycling policies for twenty years, but despite endlessly repeated requests, demands and threats, they still haven't started carrying them out.  Precisely the opposite in fact.

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cdamian | 7 years ago
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In Barcelona they are now reviewing all the timings of stop lights to make them better for cyclists and pedestrians.

It might slow down the faster cyclists (and cars), but it will help everyone else.

Currently there are some pedestrian stop light crossings, that will turn red before I manage to cross. And I am reasonably fit. Often I see older people standing in the middle of a five lane street when their light turns red and the cars and scooters start racing at them.

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therevokid | 7 years ago
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luckily I've only one side of that to cross but that's bad enough ..... wouldn't fancy

Frenchay to Hambrook at all .....

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drjohn | 7 years ago
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Mwaha. You can sneak across here before the lights change, it's survival of the fittest and sneakiest.

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balmybaldwin | 7 years ago
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^^^^ Comments pages on local papers are lovely aren't they!

This is a big problem especially at road works. I remember being on the road up to Traveller's rest a mile long section of road works single carriage controlled by traffic lights. needless to say I found myself against on coming traffic despite passing the lights as they turned green

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brooksby replied to balmybaldwin | 7 years ago
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balmybaldwin wrote:

I remember being on the road up to Traveller's rest a mile long section of road works single carriage controlled by traffic lights. needless to say I found myself against on coming traffic despite passing the lights as they turned green

But problems on detectors and timing in temporary traffic lights, on roadworks, is a world away from these and well known.

This crossing is an actual designed permanent feature and the culmination of a million pound redesign of this whole junction, to (supposedly) get cyclists safely across between two sections of shared-use path.

(Hey-Ho: South Glos council ticks a few more boxes...)

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brooksby | 7 years ago
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The Bristol Post below-the-line is full of bl**dy cyclists can't be bothered to get off their bikes and walk across, and now complaining about this instead, bl**dy tax dodgers. You don't get to cross the road safely until you contribute to its upkeep.  Or something close to that.

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