A community group has criticised the dangers caused by the inadequacy of a stepped cycle track at a T-junction on part of major road infrastructure around Waterford City and County Council’s North Quays scheme in Ferrybank.
Stepped cycle tracks are a type of light segregation of cycling infrastructure. In Copenhagen, where stepped cycle tracks are commonly used, the design on major roads includes a kerb which is usually higher and thus clearer. At T-junctions in the Danish capital, cycle tracks also often feature wider buffer areas, usually also with vertical features like traffic lights.
Local residents have complained about the visibility of the new cycle track, and a local group is calling for an urgent review of the layout and signage at the new junction between Abbey Road and Fountain Street, which is partly an urban dual carriageway with shops and other businesses on one side.
Drone footage (view below) by the council also shows that the only planned fully-protected cycle path as part of the North Quays project, located on the opposite side of the road to the cycle track, has been replaced with a wide shared footpath (pictured in the bottom right of the image above).
The North Quays project is branded as being focused on sustainable transport because of a new train station linked by a walking and cycling bridge to the city centre.
But — as this website has reported before — the project also includes convoluted cycle routes and no cycling space along the renewal and widening of the dual carriageway which separates the development site from the existing Ferrybank area.
Major widening of Abbey Road, to the east of the North Quays site, will separate the new development area from existing schools, and also includes a large slip road into the schools. Slip roads are recommended against in national guidance as they add to speed and create extra danger and inconvenience for pedestrians and people cycling.
The shared paths included in the project are focused on linking to the South East Greenway, between Waterford and New Ross, rather than more direct connections.
National guidance on cycle route design outlines that shared paths in urban areas are disliked by many people on foot and bicycle because they create more conflict between both types of road users. The greenway and cycle route into the city is routed via a shared footpath-like surface in front of the new train station.
The part of the new road infrastructure, which is now being criticised, is the only dedicated cycling space planned for the major urban development.
John Hayes, chairperson of the Ferrybank Community Development Residents Group, said: “We want to inform residents that, due to ongoing concerns raised by the community, we have contacted Waterford City and County Council regarding the dangerous conditions at the cycle lane outside the Briar Rose Bar (opposite the turn-off to Abbey Road).”
In a post on Facebook, Hayes said: “Several serious issues have been highlighted: Vehicles are often unaware of the cycle lane until the last moment, creating a risk for cyclists and drivers alike; Trucks turning from Abbey Road towards the grotto are frequently forced to drive onto the cycle lane because of tight space, adding to the danger.”
He said a newly installed warning bollard has already been badly damaged after being hit by motorists. He said that the group has submitted photographs of the damage to the council.
He added: “We have asked the council to urgently review the layout and signage at this location, repair the damaged infrastructure, and consider improvements to make the area safer for everyone. As always, we’ll keep you updated on any developments.”
Asked for comment on the issues raised, a spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council said: “Stage 1 and 2 road safety audits were carried out at preliminary design stage and detailed design stage respectively. An interim Stage 3 road safety audit is scheduled to be carried out next week at the Fountain Street / Abbey Road junction by an independent qualified audit team.”
The spokesperson added: “A full Stage 3 road safety audit of the new Ferrybank road infrastructure will be carried out upon completion of construction.”
On the Ferrybank Community Newsletter group on Facebook, there were different views regarding drivers mounting the cycle track.
One said: “People need to open their eyes cause it’s not that hard to miss.” Another replied: “When you know it’s there … I agree. But those who don’t know the area can easily be confused.”
A person who cycles the road said: “My bike wheel clipped the lip on the lane 2 weeks ago, [it] sent me flying. Luckily, I landed inwards and not back out into the following cars. It’s not fit for purpose”
Another person commented: “Not only is it hazardous, but it is totally useless and gives cyclists a false impression of safety. Like so many cycle paths in Waterford, it starts where there is space, disappears when space is not available and reappears later. To be effective it needs to be consistent.”
The drone shot says it all – enormous giant junction for a suburban location, curved road meeting another curving road with curved arms to the junction. All designed to focus on “flow” of motorists and to heck with pedestrians or people on bikes. The distance to cross between the two giant shared surfaces either side of the road is ridiculous. How long is the pedestrian light signal? Must be huge to allow people to walk across it.
In other countries, this would be a 90o junction with right angle arms to the junction, and if a dual carriageway, often with a bike and pedestrian underpass, not this utter, cheap, ugly carbage.
That truck drivers are “forced” onto the bike track – is that really the attitude, as opposed to why do truck drivers feel that they can illegally mount a bike track to just cut the line of waiting traffic? Hellsbells. The bias to motordom is sad. Utterly sad.
Don’t even get me started on the shared spaces… grrr.