Cycling on higher speed roads – Austroads research report

[Aushiker]

Austroads, has recently published Austroads Research Report AP-R410-2, “Cycling on higher speed roads. This Austroads report explores how best to provide facilities for cyclists on roads where the speed limit is 70 km/h or greater (referred to as high speed roads in the report) both in urban and rural contexts. The report notes that current practice varies across Australia and New Zealand in how, and whether, provision is made for bicycle riders on high speed roads. If you so wish you can read more on my blog posting or download the report directly.

Andrew

[zero]

saw it on another forum, is a very good report, obviously written by a cyclist.

[sogood]

...obviously written by a cyclist.

Why "obviously"?

[jules21]

make the roads wide enough?

[il padrone]

Hmm.... sealed shoulders ??

In my opinion (based on our riding of the Princes Hwy along The Coorong) the best place to ride where there are sealed shoulders is usually here:




Far enough out to persuade motorists and trucks to overtake clear and wide. Suitably to the left, with the sealed shoulder available as a stop-gap if there is a burst of heavy traffic. That white line delineates the official road edge. There is nothing in the road rules that requires cyclists to ride off the road

[trailgumby]

...obviously written by a cyclist.

Why "obviously"?

So you can post and use the roll your eyes smiley?

Having read Andrew's synopsis, I think the easy familiarity and the level of detail applied to things which would normally slip under non-cyclists radar, such as the recommendation to use a smaller aggregate size for the bitumen in cycle lanes indicates to me cyclists either worked directly on the report or were consulted closely.

[il padrone]

Yes. Seems such consultation was not in process in SA. Note the sealed surface in contrast to the road in my photo above. That sealed shoulder was awful to ride on, but the road surface was very nice

[jules21]

Yes. Seems such consultation was not in process in SA. Note the sealed surface in contrast to the road in my photo above. That sealed shoulder was awful to ride on, but the road surface was very nice

that's a shocker as the road is smooth after being having resurfaced, but they've skimped on costs by omitting to resurface the shoulder as well. to be fair, one reason is possibly to enhance drainage.

[il padrone]

No, I think that sealed shoulder has been added on after the main surface (as is often the case) but they have omitted the sold road-base, leaving it all lumpy; and the tarmac is a course aggregate chip-seal.

[rustychisel]

yes, and yes, as il Padrone explained. It's common on SA country roads, since it leaves a coarse edge to alert sleepy drivers they're running off the edges of the road through change in tyre noise and feel.

Of course, if you're a long distance country cyclist this is not exactly heartening news.