Area Surveyor
Area North Office
Motorway Compound
Hook

24^thMay 2002

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request a change to the geometry of the roundabout at the junction of the A287 (Odiham Road) and the B3013 (Beacon Hill Road) near Ewshot, in the Hart District. The request is made because this roundabout is of strategic importance for cyclists and is particularly hazardous.

Importance for cyclists

The heath and army lands to the north of Farnham are not crossed north- south by any roads between the B3013 and the A325, 3km to the east. The A287 and B3013 therefore provide the only utility route for cyclists to travel between Farnham / Upper Hale and the Hampshire towns of Ewshot, Church Crookham and Fleet. This has been recognised by Surrey County Council (SCC) which has incorporated this route into its Strategic Cycle Network. This network is a core element of the SCC plan to meet government targets for quadrupling relative cycle use by 2012¹. The Cycle Rights Network (Farnham) has also adopted this as part of the Farnham Cycle Network (see the 'Routes' page at http:\\farnhamcycle-network.org.uk).

Hazard to cyclists

The biggest hazard to cyclists on this route is the roundabout where cyclists travelling in the Fleet direction have to make a right turn from the A287 to join the B3013. Three specific hazards are commonly encountered by cyclists making this manoeuvre as detailed in Figures 1-3 however the basic problem is that motor vehicles are able to approach and travel round the roundabout too fast. Two of the roundabout approach arms widen to two lanes and all three exit arms are flared. This presents cyclists with two hazards which increase both the risk and the severity of an accident:

1. Many vehicles use the extra width to minimise their deflection and avoid slowing down. Indeed, travelling west on the A287 it is possible to travel through the roundabout comfortably at 35mph in a family car.

2. Cyclists manoeuvring from left to right approaching the roundabout have to cross not one but two lanes of traffic. This is also an issue for pedestrians crossing to and from the adjacent residential home and housing.

Roundabouts represent the single biggest concentration of cycle accidents on British roads with 10% of all reported accidents of which 11% involve serious or fatal injury to the cyclist². Given the location of this roundabout on derestricted roads and the lack of alternative routes for cyclists, it is essential that improvements to the roundabout geometry be made to avoid a serious / fatal accident whilst encouraging cycle use.

Proposed improvement

Conversion of the A287 / B3013 roundabout to a continental geometry^2,3 would have a dramatic improvement on its safety and reduce the intimidation felt by cyclists. A similar conversion was carried out to the roundabout junction of the B3013 with the Aldershot Road in Church Crookham two years ago and Hampshire County Council is to be congratulated. The measures introduced, widening of the central island with a low-lying apron, narrowing and realignment of the entry and exit arms, have been most effective. Driver behaviour is much improved, vehicle speeds have dropped to safer levels and the diversion of vehicles to the outside of the roundabout has markedly improved visibility for cyclists and drivers alike.

The improved safety (particularly for cyclists and pedestrians) and reduced intimidation that result from continental design roundabouts does have a price. Vehicle flow rates can be reduced. Nevertheless, this design is appropriate for roundabouts with up to 2500-3000^2,3 vehicles per hour. The A287 / B3013 roundabout should also be considered in the context of the dominant flow directions (see Figure 4). Of the two busiest arms (A287), the westerly entry arm is already restricted to one lane. The easterly entry arm is less than 1 km from the A287 / A3016 traffic lights which already impose considerable restriction on traffic causing rush hour tailbacks of several hundred metres to develop. By comparison, tailbacks rarely exceed a few tens of metres at the A287 / B3013 roundabout. The A287 / B3013 roundabout can therefore be converted to a continental geometry without significantly reducing traffic flow in the area.

Yours faithfully

Thomas Lankester, PhD

For and on behalf of Cycle Rights Network (Farnham)

cc Alan Fordham, Cycle Support Officer, Surrey County Council

The Cycle Rights (aka Right to Ride) Network is the campaign wing of the Cycle Touring Club. The local Farnham group aims to canvas opinions from all interested cycling clubs and groups. Currently Cycle Rights Network (Farnham) includes official representatives from Friends of the Earth Farnham, Farnham LA21, the Farnham Road Club and Farnham Cycles.