SMH: Stay in Touch blog - Urban journeys: Cyclists, cars poles apart

Cyclists have reasoning powers superior to normal human beings, but we suspect even they would have trouble with Waverley Council’s latest attempt to make life easier for them.

Riders heading down Martins Avenue’s hill from Penkivil Street, Bondi, are directed straight into the street sign pictured above. Further down the hill, little bike logos have been thoughtfully painted on the road into one-way oncoming traffic. We gave the above photo to a Waverley Council spokesman and asked him if it seemed a little dangerous.

He replied: “This is not unusual and is the best result given the unsafe alternatives. Due to the narrow width of Martins Avenue and as a result of council’s decision to retain the parking lane in Martins Avenue there is a combined bike-pedestrian route on the southern footpath area and a combined traffic and bike travelling lane. The bike and pedestrian logos have been installed together with the parking signs.”

So car parking is more important than pedestrian and cycling safety and the placement of the bike logo and arrow into the street sign was planned? “Council and the Waverley traffic committee considered various alternative schemes and advertised the current scheme widely,” the spokesman said.

“We received many responses and decided to construct the current scheme after making minor amendments.” We’d love to hear of other creative traffic solutions.