Effectiveness of Cycle Lanes at Priority Junction - Dissertation Example

Nowadays, cycling is seen to be a serious and important part of national and local transport policy. An increase in the demand for cycling and specifically a growth in cycling as a leisure activity and the increase of cycling as a real alternative mode instead of the car gives a clear message for a need for more and better facilities for cyclists.
Some people believe that cycling is a cheap and independent way to our school, shop; universities or work. On the other hand, some others prefer cycling as a transport mode for health reasons, social activity or leisure. Whatever the reasons that some people prefer cycling, this has many direct and indirect benefits to both individuals and our society.
In Britain and some other countries, the percentage of people that use the cycle as a transport mode is still low compared with its benefits from cycling.

The most important parameters in the design of cycle facilities are the provision into the cyclists of safety, comfortable, directness, and attractive routes and also a coherent network as it provided in most types of other transportation modes. To achieve safety in cycle facilities, some significant changes should be done to improve and increase the quality of cycling infrastructure. Therefore, with some technical changes to the current cycling infrastructure and the existing condition of the road network can be achieved an increase in the use of bicycles and cycling.

The most important problem for the cyclists is when the cycle lane is attained across major/minor junctions or in signalized junctions. According to Morgan (2012), it is scandalous that with so many new road designs, until now fail to protect the safety of the cyclists (Morgan, H., 2012). Conflicts and injuries are very commonly observed in major/minor and signalized junctions due to vehicles priority.

To solve this problem a study following a qualitative case study is needed. Video surveys and audits with own observation on-site (dimension, pavement quality, etc.) are commonly conducted in a busy area to observe the cyclists' and drivers' behavior in the advance cycle lane and the impact at signalized junctions. The role of the video camera in this survey is to recognize the impact of cycle facilities at A T-Junction junctions and as well any factors that influence the safety of the cyclists. From the own observation on-site, any problems according to design standards can be observed. A statistical analysis from the data collected combined with recommendations for possible improvements where is necessary is also documented in this dissertation.

The first chapter provides a brief introduction to the dissertation. Furthermore addresses the aims and objectives of this work that had been set out to achieve the study purpose.
The second chapter provides a literature review and related theory about the dissertation topic. Generally provide information that is very useful for route planners, engineers, and designers with aims to make highway infrastructure suitable for cyclists and safer provisions of intersections about cyclists. This chapter provides first of all the levels of use and cycling in our days.