Roundabouts that separate cars from cyclists could be introduced in London as early as next year, the city’s cycling commissioner has said (BBC News).
Trials of the ‘Dutch-style’ roundabouts are taking place at the TRL research laboratory in Berkshire. The roundabouts do not conform to DfT regulations as they stand, but Andrew Gilligan said if the trials continued to go well they could be seen in 2014.
The layout gives cyclists priority and means they are in the line of sight of drivers when vehicles exit the roundabout.
Campaigners have called for a number of London junctions to be made safer following cyclists’ deaths. In 2011 two cyclists died in the space of three weeks at the Bow roundabout in east London.
The roundabout trial, which has been going for six weeks and will end in July, forms part of the mayor of London’s ‘Vision for Cycling’. More than 600 people have been involved so far and the effects on safety and capacity will be studied.
The impact on lorry, van and car drivers, as well as pedestrians, will also be monitored. Other ideas being tested include traffic lights with separate signals for cyclists.
Mr Gilligan said: “We’ve got a cycling budget of £913m over 10 years and it includes £100m to refit junctions.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing this [roundabout] on the road. I think it’s going to be fantastic for cyclists.”
Subject to the outcome of the trials, TfL will work with the DfT to try the roundabouts on the public highway.
Click here to read the full BBC News report.
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