Squeezing / Lane Width Dangers

The pictures below are the first in a series we will be reporting. Here they demonstrate the lane sqeezing and the clear danger to cyclists and pedestrians. There is no margin for error here due to the lack of space. Before the changes traffic travelled further away from the pavement. Now it is forced towards the edges on the northbound side where the pavements are narrow (approx 1.6 metres) and with no wide grass verges etc. Here we can see the bus traveling over the double yellow lines. This shows how terrifyingly close big vehicles are to pedestrians and the lack of room for cyclists.

 

 

 

 

What no space!!

This is another series of video clips stills. Here a cyclist runs out of room completely and has to stop. While taking this footage the wing mirror from a passing van is inches from my left ear.

 

 

 

 

Overtaking cyclists

Smaller vehicles can only just squeeze past cyclists however as they slow down they cause congestion and tailbacks. Larger vehicles such as vans, buses and especially HGV's are simply unable to pass due to the lack of space. This happens most at peak times. As a result vehicles travel at cyclist speed (approx 10mph). At Saint Benedicts School there is a lay by this allows the cyclists to tuck in so vehicles can overtake. Very scary experience for cyclists. Footage taken at 8am Tuesday 6th March. Good weather, early peak time. Second picture shows tailback behind. As the traffic moves out slightly to squeeze past the cyclist it gives pedestrians the correct level of protection and space required, given their closeness to kerb. However in this picture there are no buses or HGV's as previous pictures demonstrate these vehicles would still be too close in this scenario. As cars sqeeze past we have noticed that they are very close to traffic on the other lane.

 

 

Buses overtaking buses!!

On the northbound side buses are overtaking buses at the Broadway Pub bus stop. Although this may have happened for many years relatively safely this is now extremely dangerous as buses are overtaking in to the oncoming traffic turning right using the new right hand lane. When cars and buses wait at peak times unable to overtake congestion builds up severely. The 6:4 Belper Estates bus at approx 8.25am is a real problem often stopping for over five minutes.

 

 

HGV's

We are told by Chris Wynn at DCC that HGV use only accounts for 3% of traffic on Duffield Road. However at peak times when the new road layout is most lethal we suspect the percentage could be almost 20%. As a result the road widths are now completely insufficient to support these vehicles safely. As the picture illustrates buses and other HGVs are inches apart. We have seen huge lorries using this road and will see a large increase when the Saint Benedict's land is developed. The Broadway house building is also adding to the problem. It also illustrates the problems they cause. Police assist. 8.30am Wednesday 7th

 

 

 

Now that parking restictions are in place cars have started to park on grass verges. This car was for visitors for a house on the northbound stretch. On the northbound stretch some residents have little or no drive space available and don't have the luxury of wide pavements etc.

 

Buses not using bus lane

This picture demonstrates the problems when cars use the bus lane. This car was dropping someone off outside their house when the bus was forced to overtake. We have noticed Saint Benedict's school buses turning right at the Broadway pub island this means that lots of buses aren't even using the bus lane instead they use the middle/normal citybound traffic lane then turn right. At peak time this means we have buses using all three lanes simultaneously.