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<Sidelines home » Archives » November 2005

stripes
In Scotland, the parliament issued guidance in 2002 that speed cameras should be red and yellow striped to make them more visible, and they certainly can be seen a mile off to help those who speed then slow down for cameras. How did we manage to get so out of step with the rest of the developed world on this? Where else in the world could you suggest deliberately making any speed enforcement measure as visible as possible and not have people think you were joking?
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princess diana
It was fascinating to watch the Bashir interview with Princess Diana again after 10 years. It was also a reminder of what we lost: there's nobody saying anything remotely like "I lead from the heart, not the head" in any position of authority any more.

However: "I would like a monarchy that has more contact with its people - and I don't mean by riding round bicycles and things like that..." What did she mean by this? That she wanted more contact with people only in organised, publicised photo-opportunities? A monarch on a bike is exactly what we do need. The Danish model of the monarch riding to the shop to buy a cabbage sets a superb example; the British model of the heir in a big car or a private jet looks bad beside his other contributions.
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calma eh?
The report for the Department for Transport on the success of adjusting roads to "trick" drivers into slowing down is generating a lot of interest and looks set to filter into local planning sooner rather than later. Cyclists will be particularly interested in the use of small areas 'built out' into the road with trees, shrubs or wooden posts to slow motorists down. This narrowing of their space might slow down drivers an mph or 2, however cyclists whose regular routes involve the pinch points created by traffic islands, which are increasingly part of urban planning and no doubt help road applications look friendly, will be sceptical. For whatever reason (concentration on narrowing road? unable to judge relative arrival times at pinch point? irritation at being encouraged to slow under "false" pretences?) a significant minority of drivers end up inches away from cyclists as they go through these pinch points. If stuff is to be built out into the road, cycle bypass lanes must be provided kerbside. Cyclists must not be overlooked.
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