HW4 Delft Sammy Alshawabkeh

HW4 Delft Sammy Alshawabkeh

Bike Lanes

Bike lanes are the most common lanes for cyclists in the US. The bike lanes we visited were on Martinus Nijhoflaan, Nassaulaan and Julianalaan. The roads are divided into two motor vehicle travel lanes with a grass median in between, as well as a bike lane on both sides, marked by a dash line. The straight alignment of the motor vehicle lanes provide easy predictability of how the vehicles will be driving, providing a form of comfort and safety to the cyclist. The narrow lane width for the vehicles are also a factor that controls their speed, to the extent that cyclists are not afraid of vehicles going at fast speeds next to them. Although the lanes provide comfort to the cyclist, there is one drawback, which are the right turn lanes. On an intersection at Martinus Nijhoflaan, there is a travel lane to the left of the bike lane, and there is a right turn lane to the right of the bike lane. If a vehicle is turning right, it will need to cross over the bike lane from behind the cyclist, which can add some intensity to the cyclist. Overall, these lanes are very cheap to install as they only require a specific lane width if provided.

Site 4

Site 4: Buitenhofdree, Martinus Nijhoflaan

Site 9

Site 9: Nassaulaan

Site 10

Site 10: Julianalaan

Bike Boulevards

Bike boulevards are roads that are generally unmarked with no centerline and require cyclists and vehicles to share the road. The bike boulevards we visited were on Abtswoude Path and Buitenwatersloot. These roads are generally low-volume as vehicles can safely pass the cyclists on the road. Cyclists can travel down the middle of the road on both directions, but when a vehicle is approaching they commonly move to the side to let the vehicle pass. The road is wide enough to provide safety to the cyclist when a vehicle is passing by them, as the driver is typically driving at a slow speed. Vehicles are also traveling at a slow speed due to a speed controlling device known as speed humps. Speed humps are tiny gradual increases in the elevation of the road that are easy to pass over as a cyclist, however require a driver to slow down as they could launch the vehicle at a high speed. Historically, the roads look to be originally designed for only motor vehicle use, however with the rise of cycling the roads have converted easily. The cost to convert a road into a boulevard is low and cycling on them was overall safe and more comfortable than bike lanes.

Cycle Tracks

Cycle tracks are the most common form of lanes to find in the Netherlands and are generally the most comfortable for cyclists. These are tracks that serve cyclists only with no interference from vehicles or pedestrians. We visited the cycle tracks on Papsouwselaan, Voorhofdreef, and Ruys de Beerenbrouckstraat. When traveling on the cycle tracks, it provided a safe, easy and enjoyable experience. Cycle tracks provide a physical separation from the road, they are the most expensive to install. However, it is necessary to provide safety and easiness of riding on a non-residential area. The area of most conflict for cyclists on cycle tracks is at intersections, as crossing the street with vehicles and pedestrians could impede on the safety of the cyclist. The intersections are designed to be safe, however at high volumes it could provide an uncomfortable feeling for new cyclists, such as myself. At intersections with vehicles, pedestrians and other cyclists, it can burden new cyclists but are still safe as everyone follows the right-of-way rule. Overall, cycle tracks are extremely safe and comfortable to cycle on, however are expensive in cost to build.

Site 3

Site 3: Voorhofdreef

Site 8

Site 8: Ruys de Beerenbrouckstraat

Advisory Lanes

Advisory lanes are a unique form of roadwork that provides a safe experience to a cyclist. It provides vehicles to drive in the center of the road, with no centerline, and bike lanes on both sides of the road, marked with a dashed line. The road is not wide enough to provides two-way vehicle traffic, however the advisory lanes allows drivers to go into the bike lanes to pass. Advisory lanes provide enough space to either let a vehicle pass a cyclist, or a vehicle pass another vehicle, despite the narrow travel lane. The advisory lanes we visited are Hugo de Grootstraat, Adriaan Pauwstraat, and Schimmelpennick van der Oyeweg. Riding on the advisory lanes provided a similar feeling as to riding on a bike lane. Drivers pass cyclists at a slow speed, which provides an extra feeling of safety and protection to the cyclist. However, if there is a high volume of cycling traffic on the advisory roads, the vehicles tend to remain idle, such as at Schimmelpennick van der Oyeweg. Advisory lanes appear to be cheap and easy to install, as well as safe and comfortable to the cyclist.

Site 6

Site 6: Hugo de Grootstraat

Site 7

Site 7: Adriaan Pauwstraat, Westplantsoen

Site 11

Site 11: Schimmelpenninck van der Oyeweg (Delfgauw)

Service Roads

Service roads provide access to residential areas that also helps prevent congestion on roads. The design features include providing a separated space to allow residential parking without congesting the main roads. The only service road we visited was on Zuidpoldersingel. Vehicles can travel along these roads to park their vehicles, as well as cyclists traveling on a separated lane from the main travel road. To protect cyclists, vehicles traveling on these roads are typically moving at slow speeds as drivers are driving on a different material than on the travel lane, as well as looking for parking. To prevent drivers from using these roads as a secondary travel lane, connecting roads are installed to disrupt the flow of travel. These roads are typically linked by cycle tracks, so they provide a safe and easy mode of travel for cyclists.

Site 12

Site 12: Zuidpoldersingel (Delfgauw)

Bike Highways

Bike highways provide many of the same features as regular highways: limited access, long and straight alignment that allows cyclists to travel at high speeds, and limited stops along the path. The only highway we visited was on N470 bike highway, Delfgauw. Riding on this highway was my favorite experience, as I got to travel fast while also looking at the surrounding nature without the fear of a vehicle approaching me. The regular motor vehicle highway was approximately 26 feet away from bike highway, as well as being 5 feet lower, to provide safety to the cyclist if a vehicle goes off-road. Bike highways provide the fastest, safest and in my opinion the most enjoyable experience when cycling on it.

Site 13

Site 13: N470 Bicycle Highway (Delfgauw)