Good Cycling Facility of the Week: 14th January 2016

This week's Good Facility is a section of the north-south Superhighway, on Blackfriars Road in London.

This is a bi-directional cycleway, which has some advantages and disadvantages compared uni-directional cycleways. The disadvantages are that there is greater potential for conflict at minor junctions, as drivers have to look in two directions, and also that turning on and off the cycleway can be more complex. The advantage is that it takes up less room, and may cope more easily with tidal flows.

This cycleway is 4m wide, which meets the Dutch standard for bi-directional flow in busier locations. It also has low (but not forgiving) kerbing on either side, meaning the effective width is maximised. 

Priority is clear across this minor junction, with a semi-continuous footway too. There is a waiting area for motor traffic before joining the main carriageway, so that drivers can deal with the cycleway and then the road in two separate stages.

Not quite perfect - but a very good effort!