[bikeqld] Miskin St/ Milton Road Roundabout crossing

[Michael Yeates]

Hi Bob and all ...

Good question ... similar questions are often asked AFTER we get to 
see the facilities that are quite deliberately (and expertly?) 
planned for us ... at great cost ...!

[ Another recent and relevant example is the poor connection of the 
multi-million dollar Kurilpa Bridge into the road system on the 
northern side. ]

In fact, quite a few cyclists do continue cycling on Milton Road from 
Sylvan intersection ... either up Miskin or stay on the road (Mt 
Coot-tha Road) to Dean Street ... so the more that do it, the better ...

Although congested at peaks, this is probably Milton Road and the 
roundabout at their safest ... if proper care is taken ... BUT watch 
out for motorbikes getting through the congested traffic.

As ALWAYS, crossing the path of possible left turning vehicles (as 
they exit into Miskin) ALWAYS requires care ... and they won't be 
looking for cyclists ...!

However once in the traffic stream why not continue through past the 
main squeeze and threat points which are in the roundabout and 
continue on Mt Coot-tha Road ... it is probably just as "easy" 
perhaps easier to go through to Dean Street to access the crossing 
into the bikepath ...

This avoids the awkward climb up Miskin AND crossing across the 
two-into-one traffic lane ... AND more importantly, there is likely 
to be much less through traffic on Dean than on Miskin.

BUT as neither of the crossings is designed (as arguably they should 
all be) to provide a sheltered right turn slot (ie same principle as 
is provided for right turning cars) care is needed if oncoming cars 
... or buses ...!

And the refuges are certainly not designed for a sharp right turn 
through the refuge ...

The refuges do provide some "shelter" from oncoming traffic as well 
as a spot to stop if necessary without blocking following traffic ... 
but the concrete islands also mean a short distance of "wrong way" 
cycling ... not that that stops it happening here or most other 
places where the facility isn't appropriate ...!

Another alternative/compromise is to go past Miskin on the road .... 
but then turn left and travel through the Park'n'Ride to the Dean 
Street crossing ...

MY.................

At 06:09 PM 17/11/2009, Bob Wagner wrote:

>I am wondering if there is a simple solution to this intersection.
>Could bikes coming from Sylvan road stay on the road on milton road
>then swing up miskin Street and across into the bike/bus green lane?
>
>It is a pretty poor excuse for a crossing so close to the entry of the
>western bike way and Mt Cootha.
>
>Who do we contact with ideas?
>
>
>Bob Wagner
>b.wagner at ozemail.com.au
>b.wagner at staidan.qld.edu.au
>
>
>
>
>
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