This post is part of this series on learnings from the Dutch CROW design manual for bicycle traffic.

Following on from looking at the junctions between estate access roads, lets look at the right of way junctions between access roads and distributor roads.

If we again look at our road styles and our junction styles tables, we see that access roads can be combined traffic, have cycle lanes or separate tracks, while distributor roads have cycle lanes, separate tracks or a parallel road. So lets look at each of these combinations in turn.

Low volume distributor road junction with access road

This first scenario is that we have a low volume distributor road (something like less than 1500 PCU/hr) intersecting with our access road.

From the north, the access road is a brick surface type road with a junction treatment to suit. The cycle lane continues past the junction undisturbed and unprotected as vehicles entering and exiting the access road have to climb a very steep curb.

On the south side we have an access road that doesn’t have special treatment and presumably has a higher traffic volume, requires regular emergency service access, or at least is deemed in some way unsuitable for traffic calming. Here the cycle lane is briefly converted into a cycleway separated from the roadway by a curb.

Medium volume distributor road junction with access road

With a larger volume distributor road, cycle traffic is moved onto a separate cycleway that runs alongside the roadway separated by a curb.

In the visualisation below, on the north side we have an example of a low volume entranceway. To protect cyclists on the cycleway from turning vehicles, the cycleway is moved close to the roadway to improve visibility of cyclists. The red asphalt and elephant feet markings across the junction provide a visual reminder of bicycle traffic.

On the south side where the amount of turning traffic is greater, an alternative approach is taken. Rather than being directed into view towards the roadway, the cycleway is swerved away from the roadway providing a vehicle sized gap between the roadway junction and the junction of the cycleway. This ensures that cyclists are within the field of view of motor vehicles at the conflict point.

High volume distributor road junction with access road

On a higher volume distributor road where there might be a constant flow of motor vehicles at busy times, a central island can be added to the junction to help with the crossing of pedestrians and cyclists.

Next we will look at using roundabouts at intersections to increase safety of distributor and through routes.