What to do in this situation? - contra flow cycle lane ends

Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the

Quoted message said:

traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Can be, I'm told, if it it permissable to enter the road in that direction
in the first place, and there is no countermanding sign. Check with yr local
council.

Nick

Quoted message said:

James Shugg said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

I think the best course of action is

1) Don't use this farcility

2) Write to the council

James Shugg said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Are you sure Newton Street is actually a one-way street? Just because
it has a one-way exit onto High Holborn doesn't mean the whole street is
one way. There are several streets like this around the area I live,
where to discourage rat-running motor traffic can only exit or enter at
the ends of the street in one direction, but traffic within the street
can travel in both directions. I would assume if there is a contraflow
bypass lane at the exit, it is not dumping you the wrong way into a 'one
way' street. Perhaps I'll have a look for myself if I remember, next
time I go past.

Rich

[email hidden] (James Shugg)typed

Quoted message said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Quoted message said:

Cheers, James

I have taken the liberty of forwarding this post to the Camden Cycling
Campaign email list of which I am a member.
([email hidden])

I don't know the road myself. I'm fairly sure it's within Camden.

Hopefully, someone who knows will reply.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

James Shugg said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Are you sure Newton Street is actually a one-way street? Just because
it has a one-way exit onto High Holborn doesn't mean the whole street is
one way. There are several streets like this around the area I live,
where to discourage rat-running motor traffic can only exit or enter at
the ends of the street in one direction, but traffic within the street
can travel in both directions. I would assume if there is a contraflow
bypass lane at the exit, it is not dumping you the wrong way into a 'one
way' street. Perhaps I'll have a look for myself if I remember, next
time I go past.

Rich

[email hidden] (James Shugg)typed

Quoted message said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Quoted message said:

Cheers, James

----------------

Jean Dollimore (joint co-ordinator, Camden Cycling Campaign) has sent
this reply:-

James

This is the end of the north-south route through Camden. The work has
progressed only as far as the short segregated cycle lane. You are
intended to continue down Newton Street as follows:

Newton Street, continue past the 'No Entry' sign then right into Gt
Queen Street, then in Westminster:

1. Southbound:

It then goes into Long Acre, Bow Street and Wellington Street

2. Northbound:

Coming up Wellington Street from Waterloo Bridge, you turn right into
Tavistock Street (east), left into Drury Lane, right into Great Queen
Street and left into Newton Street.

I hope this clears up the mystery.

Jean Dollimore

------------------------

Hope this helps.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

"Helen Deborah Vecht" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This is the end of the north-south route through Camden. The work has
progressed only as far as the short segregated cycle lane. You are
intended to continue down Newton Street as follows:

Newton Street, continue past the 'No Entry' sign then right into Gt
Queen Street, then in Westminster:

Aha, but this doesn't answer the question as to whether Newton St. is
actually a one way street or not. I tend to suspect it isn't.

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

Aha, but this doesn't answer the question as to whether Newton St. is
actually a one way street or not. I tend to suspect it isn't.

In Oxford, Little Clarendon Street is exactly this: for motor vehicles, a
one-way street with a contraflow bicycle entrance facility that dumps one
into the carriageway. At the exit there is also a bicycle lane marked.

Only occasionally does one have to argue with the cars.

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 16:55:42 +0100 someone who may be Helen Deborah
Vecht <[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Jean Dollimore (joint co-ordinator, Camden Cycling Campaign) has sent
this reply:-

Quoted message said:

continue past the 'No Entry' sign then right into Gt
Queen Street, then in Westminster:

Interesting advice. Is there an exemption for cyclists?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 17:35:41 +0100 someone who may be Henry T F
Braun <[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

In Oxford, Little Clarendon Street is exactly this: for motor vehicles, a
one-way street with a contraflow bicycle entrance facility that dumps one
into the carriageway. At the exit there is also a bicycle lane marked.

Only occasionally does one have to argue with the cars.

There is a location in Edinburgh where the contraflow cycle lane is
distinctively marked with white paint, red surfacing, direction
arrows and road signs.

Some motorists still seem to think that cyclists are wrong to cycle
along it.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Richard Goodman <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:1098885432.N0tX21e0xwGdXgTRLGn1Vg@teranews:

Quoted message said:

Are you sure Newton Street is actually a one-way street? Just because
it has a one-way exit onto High Holborn doesn't mean the whole street is
one way. There are several streets like this around the area I live,
where to discourage rat-running motor traffic can only exit or enter at
the ends of the street in one direction, but traffic within the street
can travel in both directions. I would assume if there is a contraflow
bypass lane at the exit, it is not dumping you the wrong way into a 'one
way' street. Perhaps I'll have a look for myself if I remember, next
time I go past.

The bit where you turn off from High Holborn is one way as far down as Parker
Street. The marked mandatory cycle lane is much shorter than the one-way bit.

--
Chris

David Hansen <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 16:55:42 +0100 someone who may be Helen Deborah
Vecht <[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Jean Dollimore (joint co-ordinator, Camden Cycling Campaign) has sent
this reply:-

Quoted message said:

continue past the 'No Entry' sign then right into Gt
Queen Street, then in Westminster:

Interesting advice. Is there an exemption for cyclists?

I'm not aware of one at the moment.

--
Chris

[email hidden] (James Shugg) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

Indeed, you're right. The marked cycle path is much shorter than the one-way
street. It would be illegal to ride between the end of the path and the
junction with Parker Street. I walk along it every day.

That's not all. Quite a few times I've seen cars parked on this cycle lane
illegally.

--
Chris

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Aha, but this doesn't answer the question as to whether Newton St. is
actually a one way street or not. I tend to suspect it isn't.

Ok, I take it all back. My suspicions were wrong, and it is indicated as a
one way street all along except for a small section between Parker St and
Gt. Queen St., which you can't enter going South anyway because of the
aforementioned 'No Entry' signs you are supposed to go past.

So.. they will have to do change the signage or extend the segregated lane
if they want to implement that route, otherwise the contraflow lane is not a
lot of use! You don't need a piddling little bit of lane to become a ped!

Rich

Geraint Jones said:

( On Wed, 27 Oct 2004, Richard Goodman wrote:
) In Oxford, Little Clarendon Street is exactly this: for motor vehicles, a
( one-way street with a contraflow bicycle entrance facility that dumps one
) into the carriageway. At the exit there is also a bicycle lane marked.

Is it a one-way street, or only a street with no non-cycle entry at one end?
I don't remember any "one-way" signs.

It's a one-way street, except for bicycles. There is, or was, a sign
screwed to the wall of Tumi telling this to vehicles emerging from behind
Dartington House.

In article said:

Newton Street, WC2, is a one way street leading into High Holborn in
central London. At that junction they have recently installed a left
turn off High Holborn for cycles only, into Newton St. The cycle lane
is separated from the rest of Newton St by a raised kerb for a few
feet, then by a solid white line, with a directional arrow in the
cycle lane. But after say 40 feet, the cycle lane becomes a marked car
park space, and nothing else. No cycle lane, no signs indicating the
cycle lane has ended, no other road to turn into. Is that a common
arrangement? Is it legit to keep riding against the direction of the
traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane?

In Cambridge there are a number of streets which aren't one way, but are
either "no entry to motor vehicles" at one end, or "no entry" with a
cycles only bypass around it. Not all of them have marked cycle lanes.

And one that, according to a local councillor, is actually one way except
to cycles although the signs don't show that. While it's unlikely that many
motorcyclists would want to do a U-turn there, apparently they are expected
to know the actual legal status of the road by telepathy or something.

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Aha, but this doesn't answer the question as to whether Newton St. is
actually a one way street or not. I tend to suspect it isn't.

Ok, I take it all back. My suspicions were wrong, and it is indicated as a
one way street all along except for a small section between Parker St and
Gt. Queen St., which you can't enter going South anyway because of the
aforementioned 'No Entry' signs you are supposed to go past.

So.. they will have to do change the signage or extend the segregated lane
if they want to implement that route, otherwise the contraflow lane is not a
lot of use! You don't need a piddling little bit of lane to become a ped!

Rich

I spoke to Camden Council about this today. It seems that the
Camden/Westminster boundary crosses Newton St at exactly the point
where the cycle lane stops (I checked a streetmap, and it's true!), so
Camden stopped building the cycle lane there and we have to wait until
Westminster does their bit to complete the contra-flow lane down
Newton St. The guy I spoke to at Camden wasn't sure what the legal
position of cyclists was there, so he said he would get someone back
to me.

James

[email hidden] (James Shugg) wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I spoke to Camden Council about this today. It seems that the
Camden/Westminster boundary crosses Newton St at exactly the point
where the cycle lane stops (I checked a streetmap, and it's true!), so
Camden stopped building the cycle lane there and we have to wait until
Westminster does their bit to complete the contra-flow lane down
Newton St. The guy I spoke to at Camden wasn't sure what the legal
position of cyclists was there, so he said he would get someone back
to me.

And someone did get back to me from the Council. It turns out Newton
St is entirely in Camden, it's just that the budget did not allow them
to finish the cycle lane, but it will be done before too long (ie end
of fiscal year, next March).

Meanwhile, Camden "does not recommend" that cyclists rise against the
one way traffic beyond the end of the cycle lane in Newton St.

Oh, the street maps show that Newton St is within Camden, however
there is a post code boundary that croses the street, which I mistook
for a council boundary.

Alan Braggins said:

In Cambridge there are a number of streets which aren't one way, but are
either "no entry to motor vehicles" at one end, or "no entry" with a
cycles only bypass around it. Not all of them have marked cycle lanes.

And one that, according to a local councillor, is actually one way except
to cycles although the signs don't show that. While it's unlikely that many
motorcyclists would want to do a U-turn there, apparently they are expected
to know the actual legal status of the road by telepathy or something.

I'm trying to implement some of these, so the thread is interesting
for me. You all seem to confirm that signing is critical. There are
essentially 3 options:

2-way street with a no entry plug with a cycle exemption at one end -
effectively one way for motor vehicles unless there are junctions.
This is cheapest and easiest to do, but engineers worry about drivers
flouting the no entry and having to be caught at that one point.
Operates similarly to option 3 but the occasional contraflow motor
vehicle makes contraflow cyclists less unexpected.

One way with contraflow cycle lane. Engineers and many cyclists prefer
this to the next option, but it's the most expensive (end-to-end
paint), and is problematic on narrow streets or ones with parking both
sides. The lane is too narrow, or too close to parked cars, or the
rest of the road is too narrow, or drivers may feel that if they can
stay out of the cycle lane they don't need to slow down when meeting a
cyclist.

One way with cycle exemption. Marked lanes and preferably splitter
islands only at the ends. Signing very important. These roads should
operate in the same way as similar two-way roads, except that in one
direction there will only be cyclists. DfT guidance says this is OK
below certain traffic volumes / speeds (see Traffic Advisory Leaflet
6/98). Engineers find it hard to envisage cyclists and motorists in
opposite directions negotiating their way past each other. With parked
cars both sides, the cyclist stays well out until the motorist slows
down, unless there's a convenient gap on the cyclist's side to let the
motorist past. Similarly the motorist should pull in if there's a gap
in the parked cars on his side. If there are no gaps in the parked
cars, both slow down and squeeze past each other. Usually this only
exposes the cyclist to the door danger from one parked car.

At present I'm being forced to do option 2, but I prefer both the others.

Colin McKenzie

--
The great advantage of not trusting statistics is that
it leaves you free to believe the damned lies instead!