Research and publications

The introduction of bicycle lanes in Toronto and other North American cities over recent years marks an important trend. Perhaps for the first time in North America since the invention of the automobile, road space for motor vehicles is being reallocated to bicycles.

The analysis has shown that there is a real problem of insufficient intergreen timings for cyclists. The graphs included support the need for a treatment of the problem, as 3 to 4 seconds of clearance time is missing at wide intersections.

The proposed treatment is to provide two detection loops within the intersection that can detect slow cyclists. The procedure that has been developed for the placement and timing of the loops ensures that slow cyclists will call an all-red time extension, whereas red light runners will practically not be able to learn how to call the extension. A major benefit is that cyclists do not need to adjust their behaviour to the new technology, as the system works automatically for them. Cycle groups have been consulted and have expressed their favour towards the proposal.

The objective of this study is to consider safety aspects of the New Zealand cycling environment.

Cycling is one of the cheapest and most sustainable forms of transport, and for short distances in congested urban areas it is often the fastest. Cycling has strong potential for improving sustainability in urban transport. It is safe in the sense of presenting a low threat to others but dangerous in the sense of vulnerability to risk imposed by others. The major safety problem is sharing space with motor vehicles on roads designed and used with little or no thought for cyclists' needs.

Axel gave his first presentation to his peers at the 1998 Traffic Management Workshop in Hamilton. The remit concerned cyclists at wide intersections not having enough time to clear the intersection when they enter just before the signals turn yellow.

This seminal study of cycle use and crashes in Christchurch was undertaken with surveys of adult cyclists, school cyclists and medical facilities in 1989. Extensive analysis was done in 1990, with the final report being published in 1991 by Transit New Zealand as Research Report No. 7.

The project was undertaken by Susan Cambridge (Christchurch City Council), Mike Gadd (CCC), Geoff Holland (Ministry of Transport), Dick Huntington (CCC) and Andrew Macbeth (Canterbury Regional Council).

Recorded for posterity - an historic report of a traffic survey of 1988 at 46 locations throughout Christchurch, using the railway lines as a traffic counting screenline.