Good Cycling Facility of the Week: 16th October 2014

This junction in Amsterdam (actually a busy roundabout, with trams running through it) has a countdown timer built into the cycling traffic signals, showing the time remaining until the next green signal.

The signals, with timer, are displayed at both low level, and the high (main) level.

This duplication is important. The low level signals are convenient for people waiting, like this gentleman – they can see how much time is remaining, and what the signals are doing, without craning their heads.

But the high signals are equally important – they show people cycling up to this junction, from some distance away, how long is remaining until the next green, and consequently they can gauge their effort. With 12 seconds remaining – as in this case – there's no rush to pedal up to the lights.

Small details like this are the icing on the cake, making cycling even more attractive and convenient.