Roundabouts for cyclists could spread across country
Dutch-style roundabouts, which prioritise cyclists over cars, could become standard in Britain, with more applications being sent for approval.
Essex county council has submitted proposals to the Department for Transport for the roundabouts in Braintree and Colchester, following the opening of Britain’s first Dutch-style junction in Cambridge. The format, used in Holland since 2010, has cyclists using an outer ring, with cycle crossings at each of the approach roads in a contrasting red surface. Pedestrians have their own pavement and zebra crossings.
Motorists will find the carriage width narrows at the approach, a feature designed to force slower approaches and departures.
In July, the Government set out its plans in a “vision for cycling and walking” document, stating: “We will create more ‘Mini-hollands’” as part of a £2 billion scheme to promote greener travel.
“We expect a large number of proposals, from which we will choose up to 12 non-london local authority areas to benefit from intensive investment in mini-holland schemes,” it said. “The focus will be on replacing short car trips.”
However, the scheme has not got off to a good start. The £2.3million Fendon Road roundabout in Cambridge was forced to close before it was officially opened after a car crashed into a beacon during construction. Sam Davies, chairman of the neighbourhood group Queen Edith’s Community Forum, said the closure was down not to a design issue but to sheer “bad luck”.
Speaking about the new bids in Essex, Kevin Bentley, the deputy leader of Essex council, said: “We want to encourage people to think how they make their local journeys in safer, greener, and healthier ways.”
Nicholas Lyes, of the RAC, said: “It is important that efforts are made to end the ‘us versus them’ narrative, where drivers are pitted against cyclists and vice versa.”