Very first design guidelines! AT LAST!

Just thought I'd pop in to let you guys know that FINALLY the first set of official highway design guidelines for motorcycles has been published by the Institute of Highway Engineers. It's way overdue, but now at least us traffic/highway engineers have something concrete to work with and refer to. None of it yet constitutes law, but the research upon which a lot of it is based has prompted moves to change some traffic laws, although the guidelines will for the time being represent best practice. The book was produced with full consultation with REAL motorcyclists! (shock horror!) taking account of bike design and behaviour, rider behaviour and perceptions, other road users' perceptions and behaviour, including their attitudes to bikers.

The guidelines cover everything from high speed rural road design (especially bends), barriers, road surfacing and placement of white lining and utility covers, parking provision (very detailed), crossfall (camber), urban design (especially at junctions), traffic calming, road maintenance (winter and summer) and addresses the role of safety campaigns.

I haven't read the whole thing as yet (only got it yesterday!) but so far the possible changes to the law I've spotted that may arise from the research include permitting motorcycles to legally use advance stop lines and bus lanes.

Well, it's a start eh?

Sounds very encouraging. Is this in the public domain yet and can it be downloaded anywere?

[timwilky]

Mavellous

Does this mean an end to grids on the apex of bends and 6 ft walls at T junctions. and an end to that nasty white/red stuff they slop all over the road.

Oh silly me guidlines. as in if we do everything it tells us not to, then we will stop those nasty noisy bikers from speeding on this road

Whilst this is definately good news, I believe these are guidelines (ie 'to be considered' rather than rules). Sadly, it is part of these guidelines (which on the whole, sound very good) that recommend the roundabout view obstruction described in rubberduckofdeath's thread.

Still, it's definately a start... I'd also like to see more incentives for commuting by motorcycle (free designated parking bays etc.). More people on bikes (especially commuter machines rather than sportsbikes)= better 'cager awareness' of bikes, less anti-biker attitudes at pubs/restaurants, less congestion in general.

Originally Posted by Cronos

Sounds very encouraging. Is this in the public domain yet and can it be downloaded anywere?

Yes, it is in the public domain, but unfortunately (at least for now) comes at a price - my copy was £49 and that included a membership reduction

Originally Posted by timwilky

Mavellous

Does this mean an end to grids on the apex of bends and 6 ft walls at T junctions. and an end to that nasty white/red stuff they slop all over the road.

Basically, yes. Or at least, as the book is recognised as the epitome of best practice (the ONLY tome of best practice!) you can be pretty sure that once aware of it, local authorities will not permit any design that doesn't accord with it.

Incidentally, 6 foot walls are not permitted at unsignalised T-junctions anyway - only old junctions will have them. All new junctions are (and have been for some years) designed using strict visibility guidelines.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Still, it's definately a start... I'd also like to see more incentives for commuting by motorcycle (free designated parking bays etc.). More people on bikes (especially commuter machines rather than sportsbikes)= better 'cager awareness' of bikes, less anti-biker attitudes at pubs/restaurants, less congestion in general.

I write Travel Plans as part of my job, and always include incentives such as you describe to encourage the use of bikes (powered and non-powered) - not only making parking free but also secure, and under cover wherever possible. This is becoming more usual now, as Travel Plans are compulsory to obtain planning consent for larger developments. Many Travel Plan specialists STILL treat PTWs as an afterthought tho

Where I work, loads of ppl use motorbikes to commute, ever since we installed designated parking spaces under the building. Result

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by Cat

I write Travel Plans as part of my job, and always include incentives such as you describe to encourage the use of bikes (powered and non-powered) - not only making parking free but also secure, and under cover wherever possible. This is becoming more usual now, as Travel Plans are compulsory to obtain planning consent for larger developments. Many Travel Plan specialists STILL treat PTWs as an afterthought tho

Where I work, loads of ppl use motorbikes to commute, ever since we installed designated parking spaces under the building. Result

Where I work there is a designated area of a 2000 plus space car park for bikes. Behind a hedge with no visability. I have a reserved parking spot and used to park the bike in it when I did occassionally ride to work but after noticing someone trying to pull into my space and hitting their brakes when they found a bike in what they thought was a gap I stopped. and now park in front of the camera by the front door.

Our security cameras are networked which means I can bring up a window on my workstation to monitor my bike from the office and to sound the alarm/record should movement be detected

Isn't one of the big changes going to be that the right hand overtaking lane is going to be only for bikes, which will be allowed to travel at up to 30mph over the posted limit?

:P

Originally Posted by SVeeedy Gonzales

Isn't one of the big changes going to be that the right hand overtaking lane is going to be only for bikes, which will be allowed to travel at up to 30mph over the posted limit?

:P

NO!!!

Nice try! :P