SECURE CITY CYCLE SOLUTIONS
If you have cycled around Dublin city you will inevitably be ‘street hardened’ to the dips, potholes, drains, debris… but the greater issue can be vehicles and on occasion, the pedestrian.
With this design solution, the cyclist is channeled along their own path separate to the vehicle lanes with a protective, raised edging on one side and the footpath on the other. The design clearly defines the different channels and keeps the various modes independent of each other providing additional safety to all commuters.
At junctions and corners, the design element of the elliptical islands provide additional safety, encouraging cars to take a wider angle and steering them away from the cyclists stopping areas. The incorporation of the protective safety edge adds an additional benefit to the motorist, defining a safe stopping area and indeed does not detract from attractive urban landscaping. In addition, whilst preventing vehicles from stopping on the cycle lane, it can help avoid additional safety issues for the cyclist (who currently has to swerve to avoid stopped vans or other vehicles) it provides a safe disembarkation zone for the vehicle users.
The pedestrian is protected ever more by the footpath being positioned even further away from the vehicle lanes and can assist in making city streets ever safer for young children and the elderly alike.
Such a concept could work spectacularly along the Quays of Dublin city and indeed other cities and provide a ‘true’ cycling lane to upgrade from the current general system.
©Michael Ó Mara
