Aylesbury is to become the first place in the country to introduce ‘tiger crossings’ to provide easy routes across roads for cyclists.
~Buckinghamshire County Council~ is planning to install three of the crossings in the town, which are zebra crossings adapted to take both pedestrians and cyclists.
Aylesbury was one of six local authorities to share an £8.4M windfall for cycling investment as ‘cycle demonstration towns’. Other demonstration towns are planning to follow suit.
The crossing will be painted yellow, as opposed to the traditional white zebra, and cyclists will be able to cross without dismounting in the middle of two pedestrian crossings.
Cycling officer, Darren Divall, said: ‘The design is based on those used on the Continent, where cycling is more a part of daily life. There the cyclists cross on the outside of the pedestrians which works better – but until cycling is more a part of daily life here, we think it is safer for them to be on the inside.’
The first tiger is due to be unleashed on 17 July and will cross the Weedon Road. The next two are planned to be built later in the summer or early autumn, and will cost an estimated £6,000 to £8,000 each.
Divall adds: ‘Once they are in, we are going to start monitoring them and work to inform residents of how they should be used. Then, if they are successful, we hope to install more in the town.’
Work is also progressing in the other five cycle demonstration towns of Lancaster, Derby, Exeter, Brighton and Hove, and Darlington.
~Lancaster City Council~ for example, is pressing ahead with improvements to its canal towpaths to make it a more pleasant place to cycle than the congested town centre.