The evidence for contra-flow cycling

Adelaide City Council has had a strategic objective of implementing contra-flow cycle facilities for over fifteen years. However, Council has been constrained from achieving this by carriageway width requirements for contra-flow lanes and a demand for on-street parking that makes these lanes politically difficult to achieve. A recent attempt to tackle this issue acknowledged from the outset that formal contra-flow lanes were problematic to achieve. Instead, a brief review of international research was undertaken as the basis of understanding and addressing the risk associated with enabling contra-flow cycling without contraflow bicycle lanes. The results may be surprising. The most significant study undertaken found that enabling contra-flow cycling in quiet one-way streets, using ‘bicycles excepted’ signage and without formal contra-flow lanes, reduces rather than increases the overall crash risk for cyclists. Other studies were hampered by very low crash numbers in quiet one-way streets but found no evidence of increased crash risk. This paper presents the evidence for a simple, inexpensive means of improving cycling convenience and safety in urban conditions where traffic speeds are low (85th percentile speeds no higher than 40 km/h). Noting the difficulty or reluctance of European municipalities in adopting this measure – experience that has led to cyclist contra-flow using ‘bicycles excepted’ signage becoming mandatory in 30 km/h and 50 km/h zones in Belgium and in 30 km/h zones in France – this paper further discusses the role of a risk management methodology in applying new and innovative treatments to Australia conditions. This paper does not present design practice and guidance, but all proposed contra-flow locations should be reviewed and any site-specific safety issues addressed. The list of references includes document sources for the reference of readers seeking design guidance.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/26087078
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper is adapted from a paper that was presented at the 5th Australian Cycling Conference, held in Adelaide 21-22 January, 2013
• Authors:
  • Patterson, F
• Publication Date: 2013-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 51-61
• Serial:
  • Road and Transport Research
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: ARRB
  • ISSN: 1037-5783

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycling; Contraflow lanes; Highway safety; Highway traffic control; Planning; Planning by facility or land use; Safety; Traffic lanes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (roads)
• Geographic Terms: Adelaide (Australia); Australia
• ATRI Terms: Bicycle planning; Contraflow traffic; Road safety; Traffic lane; Traffic management
• ITRD Terms: 608: Contraflow traffic
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01485915
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 9 2013 10:24AM