The new kerbs and traffic setup in Marvell Street, Byron Bay, are a horror story for cyclists. I am talking about where Marvell meets Jonson Street.
The dashed white line that determines how far cars can edge out of Marvell before turning into Jonson is set two metres too deep. It is way too far into Jonson Street!
A lazy driver coming from Marvell Street could easily hit a cyclist before they come to a stop at the white line.
Cars can now move out so far (and still be behind the dashed line) that they intimidate and intrude into the road space cyclists use.
Because their lane disappears, due to the Marvell Street incursion, cyclists now have to veer into the vehicle traffic lane at great risk, or stop and wait.
If they wait it will put them in the direct path of cars turning out of Jonson Street into Marvell Street, particularly those travelling into town. Sitting ducks.
No other dashed line in Byron is set so far into the oncoming traffic. See one block up at Carlyle Street. No extra-deep dashed white line, no problem for cyclists.
The stupidity of the line marking comes into stark relief when you consider that the car drivers gain nothing from this, in fact those turning left into Jonson from Marvell actually suffer!
The cars turning right from Marvell could see all the way down to the pedestrian crossing at Fundies before the new line, so going an extra two metres adds nothing material to their line of sight.
But the cars on the outside of these trying to turn left won’t be able to see anything because the car looking to turn right blocks their line of sight. The only safe thing for them to do is wait till the offending car turns, more delay, or push even further into the traffic, again endangering cyclists.
The setup is dumb. There are no winners; it is bad government. A lot of people will get hurt.
Repaint the line in the right place immediately, before it is stained with blood.
Ross Kendall, Byron Bay
