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CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE Bike’s got right of way: Coming to a street near you?


Above: The HGV-mounted cycle proximity sensor


The sensor alerts the driver in the cab to nearby two-wheelers


Double Dutch?


There’s long been talk of mimicking the Netherland’s world-renowned cycling infrastructure, but thus far, that’s all it’s been, talk. Mark Sutton met with the people best known for crashing dummies into walls and discovers that roads designed around cyclists are not as far off as we may have thought…


AS YOU may have read on BikeBiz.com during April, Transport for London has commissioned independent transport research group TRL to trial ‘Dutch roundabouts’, among other things at a secluded facility in Bracknell. You’ve probably seen it before in films such


as 28 Days Later and been blissfully unaware that those zombies occupying the ‘M1’ were actually occupying a false motorway loop used by TRL to recreate and analyse scenarios often encountered by those first on the scene in road traffic accidents. That’s what TRL do, they build scenarios


relating to all transport, before proceeding to analyse the data collected over and over until there’s sufficient evidence to present to the Department for Transport. They in turn will pass or dismiss a proposal and go about writing the regulations to make it legal for construction. At TRL’s large scale facility, press were


recently given access to trials of Dutch Roundabouts with both animated and real life simulations in progress, eye-level cycling signals and a nifty little system that tells lorry drivers when they are in danger of snagging a nearby cyclist.


As you’ll see in the pictures, the junctions


are so far mimicking the Netherland’s own designs, but will soon be updated with UK road markings and appropriate ‘give way’ signage. Each of the four dummy junctions had a slightly different layout at entrance and exit points. TRL has been gathering data from each for months and will continue analysis through July before drawing up conclusions and seeing how they can be applied.


18 BIKEBIZ JUNE


“Our budget includes £100m to retrofit junctions... It’s going to be fantastic


for cyclists.” Andrew Gilligan, Cycling


Commissioner Using a pool of members of the public and


some TRL staff, the ‘real life’ tests are the first stage in the road to approval by the Department for Transport. Once the new regulations are in place the infrastructure changes could be rolled out nationwide fairly quickly. The design, we’re told, can be tweaked to work with roundabouts large and small. The same applies to new eye-level road


signals, also shown at the TRL facility. Designed to be easily retrofitable to modern traffic signals, the traffic light system would assist cyclists at junctions and, with any luck, make it clearer to light-dodgers that the same rules apply to cyclists. Inside TRL’s main building, press were also shown a simulator vehicle with dashboard mounted cameras, which faces a screen with projected scenarios. The cameras have so far analysed around 100 members of the public and their reactions to the new junction designs, as well as tracking what details are genuinely missed by the driver. Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan, who


arrived by bike, was among those touring TRL at the time of BikeBiz’s visit and he told the BBC: "We’ve got a cycling budget of £913m over ten years and it includes £100m to refit junctions. I’m really looking forward to seeing this [roundabout] on the road. I think it’s going to be fantastic for cyclists." Press were shown a system for alerting HGV


drivers to the presence of cyclists. The system, also on trial, works on the 433 kHz radio frequency and via three sensors down the offside of a truck, picks up approaching cyclists


who carry a small chip. Discussions are on- going as to how to distribute the chip to cyclists, though retail is likely to be one route. Price and availability is still to be discussed, though one representative of the firm behind the innovation – Cycle Safety Shield – told BikeBiz that he thought free distribution could be an option.


Uptake of the concept by haulage firms is said to be strong with many embracing the technology, which was originally put into practice on the construction site to eliminate accidents with excavators and workers. It was also suggested that the transmitters could be fitted to the Barclays Hire Bikes in London, should the thumbs up be given after the thorough testing period. The proximity within which the device will


be activated is to be decided, as the firm explained it doesn’t want drivers to begin ignoring the devices should it activate when a cyclist is, for example, on the pavement as opposed to in a danger zone. Those behind Cycle Safety Shield have been working closely with haulage firms who to date have tested the system and rejected the use of an in-cab buzzer, which understandably might be more distraction than use in areas where cycling is popular.


When a cyclist comes within a certain


proximity of the truck, a dashboard mounted light system flicks on. A video stream of blind spots, also activated by the approaching cyclist, is another option being trialled. For more on TRL’s work and the current trials, visit www.trl.co.uk


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