Suffolk County Council is
responsible for installing and maintaining cycle routes and
facilities.
Cycle routes and facilities are indicated by signs
and markings. They may be either marked on the road (cycle
lanes), beside the road and shared with pedestrians (cycle tracks),
or away from the road (cycle track that may or may not be shared
with pedestrians). A range of cycle facilities are provided. A
few of these are described here.
Cycle route signs
A full catalogue of traffic signage
and road markings can be found in the
Highway
Code , which includes those that are applicable to
cyclists.
How Suffolk County Council seeks to encourage cycling as a
sustainable means of transport:
- contributing to design advice and requesting cycle facilities
to be included in new developments and highway schemes where
appropriate;
- promoting cycling as a valuable part of a sustainable
integrated transport system;
- publishing free cycle route maps for Ipswich Bury St Edmunds
and Lowestoft;
- supporting cycling events e.g. national bike week;
- where funds allow, providing 'missing links' in the strategic
cycle route network: By design and construction of specific cycle
facilities, eg cycle lanes, cycle tracks (shared-use paths)
signalled crossings and cycle parking; and
- working with colleagues to provide a more 'cycle-friendly'
street environment e.g. speed reductions (esp. 20mph zones), 'home
zones', safe routes to school etc.
Toucan signals
These are special traffic signals,
similar to pelican crossings - they have a red man and green man to
show when it is safe to cross - but they also have an extra signal,
a green cycle. This means that cyclists need not dismount, but can
cross over at the same time as pedestrians.
Advanced cycle stop lines
Within ordinary traffic signalled
junctions, there are two sets of stop lines on each approach. The
first one is for general traffic, and the second one is
for cyclists. This is to allow cyclists to reach the front of the
queueing traffic, making it safer and easier for them to turn right
at the junction.
Contra-flow cycle lanes
A one-way street gives
little inconvenience for motorists, but can mean that cyclists have
to travel much further. A contra-flow cycle lane lets a cyclist
travel against the direction of flow of the one-way street in
safety and offers a more convenient and direct route.
The problem is that for a safe contra flow lane, the cyclists must
be segregated at each end from the oncoming traffic by a traffic
island. This can only be done if the road is wide enough. It may
also need to have a parking ban throughout the length of the contra
flow lane. This can be difficult in some residential areas with
limited off-street parking.
"Plug" no entry
This is where a road is two way
throughout its length except for a short length of one-way working
at one end. This means that entry into the road is banned at one
end and traffic is only allowed to exit. To assist cyclists, a
short gap allows cyclist to travel past the no-entry
signs.