It can be tricky finding somewhere to park your bike in city centres. So it’s just as well a lot of people come in by bus. This is staff parking at a butchers in the Covered Market.
Crossing side roads
Slight humps at side roads mean that pedestrians can walk along the main road without breaking their stride. The gap in the double-yellows helps give a visual impression of continuity. A hump is cheaper than tightening the radius, because it avoids the need to alter drains. However it operates in the same way, because driving across a hump at an angle is uncomfortable, so cars slow down. Turning vehicles slightly disrupt the flow of traffic on the main road, reducing speed and making it more pleasant to cycle along.
The cycle lane is painted across the side road because this reduces accidents. It also gives a strong impression of continuity to the cyclist.
No Entry Except Cycles
Oxford’s first No Entry Except Cycles sign. About half of Oxford’s one-way streets have little islands to allow two-way cycling. Now two-way cycling can be allowed with just a sign. Experience in many countries is that two-way cycling in one-way streets carries no particular risk, and it should be the norm.
Cycling to Secondary School
Up to age 11, most children walk to school. Some take their bikes, either because they live a little further away, or just for fun. There’s no problem with small children cycling on the pavement (up to age 10). Quiet routes pass close to each school, so older children can start using the road, under adult supervision.
Secondary school means getting up a bit earlier, and meeting your friends so you can cycle together on the quiet route. This was one of three separate groups meeting up in the park. Secondary schools are generally in the suburbs, and served by quiet routes that are mostly separate from the main road routes that adults use to get to the city centre.
Walking along main roads
If side roads have tight corners, and speeds are low, you can walk along the main road without breaking your stride crossing side roads. You hardly bother looking backwards, and a glance tells you there’s no immediate danger. Often people don’t even look.
Quiet Streets
Parents need to be pretty confident that car speeds are low on quiet routes, so they can accompany their children using their own bikes. The children learn that you get the best visibility if you cycle in the middle of the street, safely away from doors opening.
Cycling in Ordinary Clothes
Most cyclists in Oxford just wear ordinary clothes. But some make a bit more effort.
Walking from Park&Ride
Early in the rush hour, there’s a steady stream of people walking from the Park&Ride into the city (2km). It’s good exercise, cheaper than the bus, not subject to congestion, and simpler than cycling. It’s a pity that the cycle track takes half the pavement: it helps if fast cyclists use the bus lane.
20mph is fast enough in towns
On main roads, you can get speeds down by narrowing – there’s enough traffic to help break up sightlines. On residential streets, you can switch parking from side-to-side, or use build-outs on both sides.
On in-between roads, there’s only so many speed cushions you can put in, and sometimes a bit of extra signage is required. Slowly but surely, people are getting the message – 20mph is fast enough in towns.
Parking bays for shops
The short-stay parking outside the shops was put into a bay, cutting into the pavement, to provide a continuous cycle lane. The “official” pavement ends up fairly narrow, but this is acceptable because the shops have open forecourts. It isn’t practical for residential parking.