Fortunately, big cities & diverse countries are part of the new cycling infrastructure creation, above all, cycle routes and bike ways… But what does happen with traffic signs for cyclists?
Even though in some places their implementation is respectively new, exist places where signals have a while installed. And and yet people don’t respect them, or are completely unnoticed for all road users.
In today’s ride, we are going to talk about cycling signals and their main issues. All with the intention of knowing their presence, use and functionality as an invitation to implement and obey them correctly.
Traffic signals for cyclists, what are those and where to place them?
Traffic signals for cyclists are signs which symbols and pictograms provide indications and guides to bike user. Their purpose is to ease the road, providing greater safety to indicate where and how to circulate.
Normally, these are manufactured in sheet & covered by reflective vinyl, depending on the model can be made of other materials. These must be set along cycling infrastructure, above all, bike paths, shared bus bike lanes and cycling lanes to provide necessary indications for correct circulation in this transport.
What indications provide?
The aim of traffic signs for cyclists, is to provide detailed information for the bike circulation. For that, the presence is more common in cycle paths and shared lanes with pedestrians or public transport.
Among the indications that can provide are: the beginning or end of a cycle route, as the presence of the cycle path; wearing helmet, pedestrian preference, bike way name, length, or even the way to circulate on it.
Existing many and diverse of them, exist the question, have you ever seen them, if you, do you respect them? Don’t worry, maybe this isn’t your fault, let’s see what experts say.
Why people don’t respect traffic signals for cyclists?
A study published this year in the Transportation Research magazine performed by Universidad Javeriana and focused in the cycling signals in Bogotá, showed interesting results about the topic.
In order to achieve this, Shyrle Berrio and Lope H. Barrero researchers centered in 80 traffic signs distributed in 10 sectors of high risk for cyclists.
The purpose was to know if signals are adequate, ease the perception of people, if are obeyed and adjust to dimensions, location and functions. Among the main issues indicated the following ones:
- The 55% of signals are in good conditions.
- The 18% isn’t coherent with their environment.
- The 38% don’t comply with appropriate size of board
- The 58.7 % of vertical signs are located in less than 11.8 in of lane border. This don’t comply with national regulations and increase the risk for a cyclist to impact with signal.
According to signal conditions, study revealed that the 36,2% of labels have damages on board; whether people put stickers or make holes on them. Also climate conditions influence.
Talking about clarity in your message, even though some signals indicated that sections weren’t shared among pedestrians and cyclists, it doesn’t exist a delineation that indicate where should walk one and ride the other.
How does a signal in bad conditions affect?
Shyrle Berrío, industrial engineer of Universidad Javeriana indicated that understanding and compliance of traffic regulations for cyclists are affected if signals are in bad conditions.
“It was identified that signal isn’t an appealing element neither perceived by cyclists, we also have to consider the topic of comprehension, due there’s no training of road regulations for these road actors”, explained.
For their part, his partner and expert in mobility, Darío Hidalgo confirmed that “signage has no consistence over time. For example, Gustavo Petro administration demarcated blue cycle routes and the one of Enrique peñalosa was green”, he said,
Even though, Hidalgo informs that compared with old cycle routes, the newest ones have a better delineation and planning, something that, doubtlessly, is a step forward for a better logistic in cycling infrastructure.
We have to mention that… First, experts analyzed if the research areas comply or not with traffic sign manual issued by Ministry of Transport in 2015.
Better signage, better cycling roads
As experts’ comment, the new cycle paths usually have better signage and infrastructure. However, for both elements to work, is required the mutual respect among road authorities, pedestrians and cyclists.
In one hand, is necessary the correct implementation of transit signals for cyclists. Leading from manufacturing with quality materials to their collocation in correct zones for their easy reading, comprehension and visibility.
On the other hand, also require the care of user. Even though if a signal is well placed and manufactured in an optimal way, it won’t matter if user and pedestrian, or even motorist, try to damage them or worse, don’t respect their indications even though are totally visible.
