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Pop-up to Permanent: Sustainable Solutions for Cycle Lane Schemes

Glasdon Cyclemaster™ installed on cycle lane route

With the first tranche of Emergency Active Travel Funding now allocated and applications for the second tranche underway, we take a look at some of the key considerations for the swift implementation of pop-up measures and the safety solutions that can be easily adapted for temporary to permanent schemes.

Pop-up Cycle Lanes

When reallocating road space by enhancing existing shared routes, widening existing cycle lanes or converting traffic lanes to create temporary cycle facilities, physical measures should be used to segregate cycle lane users from other traffic, as far as possible.*

So in order to meet current demand, quickly and safely, what are the key considerations when installing physical measures for temporary to permanent schemes?

a. Groundworks

For temporary schemes, fixed physical safety measures may need to be installed quickly, requiring no or minimal groundworks.

However, there may also be the opportunity to think long term. The best value, most sustainable solutions will offer versatility of application with efficient install and seamless uninstall so they can be re-located if / when a scheme requires.

Simple bolt-down cycle lane bollards and delineators can be installed onto existing concrete surfaces in under 8 minutes. The flush ground finish also then eliminates trip hazards when / if the bollard or marker is uninstalled or relocated.

Cyclemaster™ Cycle Bollard demonstrating the bolt-down fixing option available for a temporary / pop-up cycle lane scheme

If a temporary scheme requires adaptation and relocation of a safety measure or following a trial it is to be converted to a permanent scheme, best value, sustainable solutions will also offer longer term benefits such as the option to simply switch the ground fixing to suit the new application.

Learn more about ground fixing options for bollards and marker posts.

b. Who are the Cycle Lane Users of Today and Tomorrow?

The release of the DfT’s first statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in 2017, heralded a vision of a healthier, greener life in 2040 where cycling and walking would be the natural choices for short journeys and a key part of longer journeys too.

Fast forward just 3 years to the COVID-19 world of 2020. Could any of us have imagined that a combination of social distancing, permitted daily exercise and a new appreciation of life at a slower pace was to be the gear shift needed, to significantly accelerate the levels of walking, cycling and greener modes of urban mobility?

And so with new e-scooter trials and increasing awareness about getting further on EAPCs, cycle lane usage is beginning to look quite different.

We know communicating and demonstrating the possibilities will be the key to long term adoption and the success of schemes. Therefore physical safety measures that integrate highway signs and communications now, with the flexibility to respond to changes in the future, may be one simple way to start.

Sign carrying cycle bollards positioned at the start and end of schemes are an ideal solution, helping to communicate lane segregation, while promoting the type of cycle lane use permitted to other road and footpath users.

Standard cycle lane signs demonstrate to users who is permitted to access the lane

Coupled with bolt-down ground fixings, they can be easily uninstalled, re-located and re-purposed using different sign faces.

The Cyclemaster™ Bollard offers the ultimate versatility of application and communication with the option to carry up to 6 sign faces. Standard sign face options as shown above (1 - 7) with 8 & 9 demonstrating examples of personalised graphics.

c. Highly Visible Delineation without Illumination

Where road markings alone are insufficient, physical measures with retroreflective panels built-in provide an efficient solution to increasing the visibility of segregated lanes to all users and in all applications, day and night.

Hazard marker posts are ideal for providing continuous delineation where existing road traffic lanes are to be converted to cycle lanes. When used together the repetition of the black and white body and highly visibility reflectors creates a barrier effect - as depicted in photograph below of a scheme in Kent which utilises the Vergemaster RX Marker Post to create a physical barrier.

Cycle Lane in Kent utilising the Vergemaster RX Marker Post as a physical barrier

Alternatively, specifically designed cycle lane bollards should feature recesses for retroreflective patches on all sides of the bollard body to provide 360 degree visibility to highlight the scheme.

Cyclemaster™ Cycle Lane Bollard at night demonstrating high visibility of retroreflective panels.

d. Additional Safety Considerations for Permanent Schemes

When introducing new schemes along high speed or heavy traffic routes with higher risks, passively safe, self-righting bollards and added illumination may be required to improve the safety of delineation devices and provide sufficient visibility.

Permanent Cycle Lane Schemes:

Since the launch of the ‘Cycle Ambition Cities’ investment programme, there has been great progress with cycling volumes increasing between 12% - 69% on key routes across eight cities*. Evidence enough that changes to road infrastructure and increased safety measures can boost confidence and active travel for all users.

Find out more about Manchester City Council’s ambitious ‘Dutch-style’ Cycle City scheme which specified the Glasdon Illuminated Mini-Ensign™ Bollard.

Greater Manchester has also recently seen the launch of the UK's first CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) junction, designed to fully segregate cyclists from general traffic while greatly improving the safety for pedestrians too. In this scheme the Glasdon Signmaster™ Ultra has been specified as the self-righting, non-illuminated keep-right bollard solution to direct all road users.

Sustainable Solutions for Cycle Lane Schemes

Here's a selection of Glasdon bollards and delineators that can be easily adapted to meet the temporary to permanent requirements of the diverse spectrum of cycle lane schemes.