Friday, July 20, 2012

Waterloo


A commuter outpost of Brussels and the scene of the famous battle in 1815, this French-speaking town, like Bayeux, has very few people riding bicycles.  There are some bike facilities on the back streets, but they seem opportunistic rather than well planned (like much of Sydney, really).

Like elsewhere in civilised Europe, contra-flow provision on one-way streets is pretty standard.
No entry, bicycles excepted

Pavement markings.  Note parking on both sides, so some would cross bike flow.
More intense markings at intersection, to highlight it for turning drivers
Special stop line for bikes at the main road
And stop sign just for bikes


This set of cycle tracks seem to have been part of a newer medium density housing area, though on quieter streets where it is seems less necessary than the important connector streets.  Not great standard, and I didn't see them used, but probably a step in the right direction.
Footpath near the property line and one-way cycle track on each side next to the road or parking


Intersection treatment is minimal





This seemed to be the standard treatment on back street connector roads you'd most need to use - a shared bike/parking lane, with strong parking demand.  A treatment with which we are all too familiar.




The main shopping street is also the main thoroughfare to Brussels - nothing for bikes and too busy for comfort.  A nearby highway-type road, though, had some provision.
One way cycle tracks (or lanes behind parking, at least) on a highway


Cars are definitely the priority in Waterloo.  Here in the main shopping street the road surface is nice smooth asphalt, but the footpath is uneven cobbles.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  The footpath here is wide, unusually - for the rest of the shopping street it is so narrow that it is hard to pass someone walking the other way without overhanging the road.
 


The most notable thing in Waterloo was to find that residents here actually DO seem to own the parking spot outside their house - something that would be popular in Sydney.  Many of the houses in streets where parking demand was high had this sign/sticker on their fence - "no parking - except for me".

No Parking - except for me





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