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Home > Cycle network improvements > Completed schemes > Contra flow cycling on one way streets

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Contra flow cycling on one way streets

As part of the Cycle Shrewsbury programme, we are committed to making Shrewsbury's town centre more 'permeable' for cyclists and therefore more convenient to cycle around the town. This has led to a review of one way streets and we have now identified a number of streets which are suitable for contra-flow cycling.

 

February 2012

In February 2012 new cycle contra-flows were added in Shrewsbury town centre. Download this leaflet to find out more about the locations of and information on how to use the new contraflows.

 

For more information, read the press release about the new contraflows.

 

Background

For many years, people in Shrewsbury have been saying that they would like to cycle on more direct and continuous routes to get to the shops and workplaces in the town centre.  We have also observed that some cyclists are currently travelling the wrong way on one-way streets or taking to the pavements instead, which causes conflict with pedestrians. Both of these actions are illegal.

 

Cycle Shrewsbury has reviewed the one-way streets in and around the town centre, and has worked with John Grimshaw, advisor to Sustrans and Cycling England, to propose a number of on-road cycle contra flow facilities.

 

To view the plan showing the streets with proposals for either contra flow facilities or additional cycle route signing and markings, please click here.

 

Contra flow cycling – some examples

In some UK towns and cities, and throughout Europe, contra flow cycling on one-way streets is the norm. 

 

Cycle contra-flow mandatory (solid white line) lanes: Cambridge

 

Cycle contra-flow advisory (dashed white line) lanes: Cambridge

 

Cycle contra-flow advisory lanes: Brussels

 

 

Cycle contra-flow (no marked lanes): Brussels

 

Cycle contra-flow (no marked lanes): Cambridge and Bristol

 

Entry points to contra flow cycle lanes: Oxford and Stoke-on-Trent

Contra flow cycling – how does it work?

Government guidelines set out three types of contra flow cycling facilities, all of which are shown in the previous photos:

•  Mandatory contra flow cycle lanes – solid white line

A mandatory contra flow lane provides protected space for cyclists at all times, and highlights to motorists the need to anticipate cyclists travelling in the contra flow direction. Waiting and loading is prohibited in a mandatory contra flow lane, and the remaining width for all vehicles (in the with-flow direction) must be sufficient to allow vehicles to proceed without entering the contra flow cycle lane. None of this type are proposed in Shrewsbury.

• Advisory contra flow lanes – dashed white line

These highlight to motorists the need to anticipate cyclists travelling in the contra flow direction. They might be considered where:

Either 85th percentile speeds are less than 25mph or vehicle flows are less than 1,000 vehicles per day

• No cycle lane

It is possible to dispense with the contra flow cycle lane altogether, if other site conditions allow:

Either 85th percentile speeds are less than 25mph and vehicle flows are less than 1,000 vehicles per day Or the street forms part of a 20mph zone.