Tram superstops

[Bentnose]

The Age have an article [url]http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cyclists-rail-against-new-northcote-tram-super-stops-20111218-1p0tf.html][/url] . Is the road network going backwards or something? I doubt whether this will improve tram travel travel times, I thought we were meant to be embracing sustainable travel for the enviroment or something, I love how the Darebin director of city works says that cyclists have to give way to pedestrians on the ramp, as it is a shared ramp. It would pretty much never be safe to ride over the ramp and at peak hour it could jammed full of pedestrians, remind me to avoid that road in the future. I'm guessing thats what they want anyway, why not ban all vehicles except trams, that would speed up tram travel times or better yet build more train lines and provide people a real alternative, trams are useless. It takes 3 times longer to get to the city by tram from my house than a train.

[jules21]

i just use the tramlines to negotiate these. i like these - the real purpose of them is to slow down traffic, which is a good thing, as:
a. speeding on congested metro roads doesn't get anyone anywhere faster, and
b. it's dangerous for vulnerable road users, i.e. cyclists.

the ones on whitehorse road have a shared path around the back of the stop - these are handy on the uphill side, on the downhill i just ride along the tracks.

the more of these traffic calming devices we have, the friendlier our roads will be for cyclists.

[toholio]

What jules21 said.

I don't think the design of the stops is perfect but I like what the stops will do for traffic overall. There are enough cyclists on High Street that it should still be navigable as pedestrians there are somewhat aware.

Sucks if you're a "go fast" kind of cyclist though.

[dude18]

i just use the tramlines to negotiate these. i like these.

Except when your thin road bike tyre gets stuck in them and you faceplant...

[jules21]

i just use the tramlines to negotiate these. i like these.

Except when your thin road bike tyre gets stuck in them and you faceplant...

learn how to negotiate tram tracks and that should never happen

[Mulger bill]

I used one of the new ones in the CBD a few days back, was really surprised noone walked out in front of me.
Interesting concept... Passenger area, lane, tram track. Wonder what old 'Arold thinks?

[DavidS]

As far as I can tell, and detail was very thin in that article, these are tram stops. Not to be confused with safety zones. As such, all vehicles need to stop if the tram either has the doors open or someone is trying to get on or off. Bikes are vehicles.

So, what is the issue? You travel down a road which has a tram line then you have to stop at tram stops if passengers are getting on or off.

What I don't get is this idea that pedestrians and cyclists have to share part of the road. Just treat the superstops like any other tram stop and it should be fine, as long as people abide by the laws.

DS

[dude18]

Pedestrians stand on the bike 'lane' part of the raised platforms. People don't tend to stand on the road when the bike lane shares the road.

[DavidS]

I'll have to see what it's like when I can get up Swanston St again. Sounds like there needs to be some education of peds and cyclists on what you are supposed to do around these new stops.

DS

[KenGS]

Maybe they should hire some actors for a period of time, dressed up to attract everyone's attention, and direct people as to what they should and should not be doing around these stops

[dude18]

They did at some point. There was a band dressed in all yellow attire. But that was only for a weekend or so.

[DavidS]

I ride through town everyday but it sure is going to be hard this week.

I understand the need to remodel Swanston and the superstops are a good idea, there were too many stops in Swanston St and the whole street was a joke with the trucks, police cars, buses, hell, private cars treated it like a normal street.

So this morning I went my usual way, turn at Flinders Lane and go up Elizabeth St. What do I find? They're now ripping up Elizabeth St. Really, do they ever think maybe these things could be coordinated? I know the tram tracks at Elizabeth and LaTrobe were stuffed but how about some consideration that, given Swanston is currently blocked, we need Elizabeth St. I suppose it's either William St or Russell St now. What a mess.

DS