Good Cycling Facility of the Week: 3rd April 2014

This week we are featuring a new cycle track, on Southgates, in Leicester.

It is not perfect, by any means. A two-way track like this should have lane markings. Also the track dips to road level at the (minor) side roads, rather than continuing at a raised level.

However several important details have been done well. The surface is machine-laid red tarmac, which is much smoother than the paint coating that - for instance - Transport for London have applied on the Superhighway 2 extension. It will also last much longer than a painted surface. 

In addition, while we would perhaps like to see slightly more physical separation from the carriageway , the separation from the footway is very good, with a slight level difference (by means of a forgiving, shallow 45° kerb), and colour differentiation. The full width of the track is available for cycling, unlike tracks which have sharp, high kerbs.

Leicester have shown that cycle tracks can be properly constructed in Britain!