Cycle Facilities on Shields Road

Shields Road is a main road connecting Pollokshields to Kingston and is difficult to avoid since it uses the only bridge across a main railway line for about a mile on either side. It is quite a busy road but cyclists still need to use it due to the lack of a reasonable alternative nearby. Cycle lanes were recently installed along the main section.

Southbound cyclists get to go straight through a junction, into the quieter residential section of Shields Road. It's a shame no such provision was made at the other point where Shields Road is closed, further south. Providing a cycle track there would link up a much wider area, including creating a link to the popular Shawlands area.

Northbound cyclists don't get the same treatment. Here there are right-angled corners to negotiate. It is also illegal to cycle on the pedestrian crossing, although there has been provision in law for a number of years now to convert it to a Toucan crossing, which cyclists can use.

Shields Road features a weak railway bridge with lane restrictions across it, with portable barriers used to restrict traffic to one lane each way. Again southbound cyclists receive preferential treatment, getting to go behind the barrier over the bridge.

Northbound cyclists are told the route ends and they just have to fight for roadspace when merging with the motorised traffic.

Since funding has been supplied by the green-wash from an underground railway station park and ride scheme, signing is provided for the underground station. However, it neglects established British signing practice by using arrowhead-shaped signs on the approach to a junction, rather than the proper rectangular signs with arrows. The sign shown here should be used only at the actual junction.

After the junction the route stops on an odd kink in the road, immediately outside the station.

Cyclists are told to dismount, irrespective of whether or not they are actually going to the underground station. Tough for anyone just passing by on a bike!

A solitary cycle parking stand has been provided for all the cyclists expected to use the new cycle route. Does this represent good value for money? All this money spent for, at most, two cyclists' benefit?

Meanwhile a huge car park is being build to hold hundreds of cars. One motorist can't wait to use it!

Back at the junction, there is another option for cyclists - straight on. But look carefully - there's a kerb across the far side of the junction.

In order to miss the kerb and use the recently installed dropped kerb, cyclists going straight on in the last photo need to take the right-hand lane, pass to the right of the traffic island, then cross straight across to the kerb visible in the right foreground here. Not signed of course! Cyclists exiting the underpass and going towards the underground station are directed onto the carriageway without any restraints. There is no need for a cyclist coming from the underpass to give way to another cyclist already on the roadway, who will have received a green 'proceed' signal at the junction. This cyclist would have to stay out of the cycle lane until it was safe to enter! Cyclists exiting the underpass and going down Shields Road have to turn right at a signal-controlled junction without the aid of any traffic signal to guide their entry. Should they give way to traffic, cross when the pedestrian phase is on, or proceed regardless? The choice is yours!

The underpass is standard motorway underpass fare. Not particularly pleasant!

The path leads to an abandoned cobbled road. A narrow strip has been resurfaced, presumably for cyclists!

The resurfaced strip has lighting poles mounted in it. Was it really resurfaced for cyclists or was this just the cable trenching? Either way it is a tight fit to get past!

At the end of the abandoned cobbled street is a new un-dropped kerb. What design standard allows for this to be included in a cycle route?

Finally, southbound cyclists have a very unusual treat on Seaward Street - a triangular cycle lane.

If you have a cycle route that needs looked at then tell me all about it!