Hull City Council is installing smart technology at three junctions on a multi-million pound road project to alert motorists that cyclists are approaching.
The works, part of the A1033 Stoneferry Corridor project, will see intelligent road studs deployed where a shared use path running alongside the main road crosses Maxwell Street, Woodhall Street and Morley Street.
The studs will illuminate once they detect cyclists approaching, thereby providing a warning to drivers.
Raised tables will also be placed at each of the three junctions as part of the works, which are due to start this weekend, to underline that pedestrians and cyclists have priority at the junctions.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic investment, regeneration and planning, commented: “Installing smart technology will not only help improve safety, but we hope that it will also encourage more commuters to take up walking and cycling as an active form of transport.
“In order to do this work we are undertaking these road closures during the evening to try and minimise disruption to motorists, and we ask that you bear with us for these short-term closures, as we aim to improve the road network for the long-term benefits.
“Businesses and residents in the area have been informed and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” he added.
The Stoneferry Corridor project is due to be completed in spring next year.
14 thoughts on “Hull City Council deploys smart technology to improve cyclist safety”
It is amazing, truly amazing,
It is amazing, truly amazing, to see the lengths local authorities will go to, and the money that they will spend, in order to install very expensive yet utterly useless infrastructure rather than create proper infrastructure, just to avoid reallocating road space from motor traffic.
In reality it is a project to
In reality it is a project to widened several lanes for motor traffic whilst pretending to project the image that it is to encourage active travel. The double speak and dis-honesty is frustrating and shows how removed the people who shape our towns and cities are from acknowledging any pollution, climate and obesity crisis. Yes some people do not care or think about others and drive regardless of need or want but most people could be persuaded to undertake short journeys by bicycle or walking then benefit themselves and society but will not do so until functional and proper facilities are provided. The seperation in thinking between those who are charged with providing such facilities and those who use or would use them is massive, this scheme seems to highlight the poor design on offer and that disconnect.
“Intelligent studs”? Heh-heh
“Intelligent studs”? Heh-heh-heh…
Well, things can only get
Well, things can only get better, but I’m sceptical about these studs. I think we need a driving culture change rather than technological solutions, but it’d be great if they do work.
Edit: just found this old Twitter thread that has nothing to do with Hull or cycling: https://twitter.com/ProfBrianCox/status/1142962082155024386
Most cyclist already provide
Most cyclist already provide their own illuminated “stud” to provide warning of their approach, and yet it seems to make little difference.
It ain’t the way to go, look
It ain’t the way to go, look at what happened after air bags were introduced.
This is how it should work – folk supposed to be there, don’t hit em. Hit em, take away licence and put in barey place.
Well I’m prepared to see what
Well I’m prepared to see what they roll out before judgement. Not all places have room for dedicated infrastructure.
hirsute wrote:
Yes they do; if they take it from cars.
eburtthebike wrote:
Like the authorities in Leeds have done recently. Their shiny new (as yet unfinished) cycling infrastructure looks absolutely spot on. They have taken road space from cars to install kerb protected cycle lanes wide enough for two way traffic.
It has been a nightmare of congestion as the infra has gone in (I drive in Leeds for a living) but the end result, when it is completed will make the city of Leeds a cycling Nirvana.
I am instantly cynical about
I am instantly cynical about this, but I could be wrong. For instance, it could be a genuine attempt to help cyclists as opposed to something where you can just blame them for being hit by motorists who will claim that the ‘warning studs’ weren’t working and they can’t be expected to watch the studs and watch out for cyclists at the same time, and the police deem that cyclist video showing them working seconds before and the cyclist being hit from behind/ the side is inadmissible because it isn’t 4k video from an overhead drone showing both the cyclist and the vehicle for 2 minutes before and after the incident. A stupid comment? Not as stupid as the Lancashire Constabulary insistence on having confirmatory video from the offending vehicle! We’ll have to see some video of this revolutionary new stud technology in action!
Dunno whether to laugh or cry
Dunno whether to laugh or cry?
Hull are proposing to instal “intelligent road studs” that will “detect cyclists approaching”.
So drivers in Hull are … thicker than f*cking road studs?
[Some of my riding experiences of Hull suggests some of the drivers are thicker than the ordinary road studs … but that’s another story.]
Quote:
As far as I am concerned pedestrians following the main road and cyclists on cycle lanes should have priority over those turning in or out of all side roads.
This statement suggests these junctions are different from the born in some way.
Prediction: In a few months
Prediction: In a few months they will fail, and then the council will take 3 years to find a company that is willing to fix them, then the company looks at them and finds that spare parts are no longer being produced. And cyclists are left with nothing again.
This is not helpful. It is a
This is not helpful. It is a distraction and a potential excuse when (not if) it’s not working.
A driver’s full concentration on reading the road and traffic is what is needed. Nothing else will do