Good Afternoon

Thank you for raising your concerns about this intersection. The City of Sydney will be reviewing the location and will investigate the feasibility of,
• Setting back the STOP line and zebra crossing on Mountain Street
• Extending the cycle lane on Kelly Street across Mountain Street intersection and installing green surfacing
• Installing bicycle warning signage on Mountain Street approach to Kelly Street.

With regards to Bike Leichhardt’s suggestion to remove the southern islands of the Kelly Street zebra – we would not support this. The islands are a physical deterrent to a westbound vehicle on Kelly Street continuing westwards past Mountain Street. This is important given the zebra’s location outside the International Grammar School and high number of pedestrians in the area.

If you would like to ask me any further questions about the City's response, please contact our Road Safety Officer via our customer service centre.

Regards

Peter

Chris, I take your point on board. It is hoped that the addition of a buffer between the stop line and a green bike lane will aid drivers to note oncoming cyclists. We would also have warning signs indicating that bicycles would be present. Some of the issues here are caused by poor driver behaviour with people not stopping at the stop lines. We have raised this before with NSW Police and I will do so again. Once I have further detailed design I would be happy to get your comments.

Peter

Hmm. I don't think it's possible to enforce a stop line without having a cop standing at the corner 24/7. I think we have to accept that most drivers (and riders) are going to treat it is a give way, but that they will look before proceeding.

That being the case, I'd say the priority should be to make it as easy as possible for drivers to be able to see bicycles approaching from their right (i.e., improve the sightline).

One approach would be to leave the stop line where it is, and encouraging bicycle riders on Kelly St to ride as far right as practicable - not hugging the kerb as the current lane marking encourages. (Bicycle rider safety courses teach people to take the lane when approaching a side road, to prevent drivers from 'left-hooking' them, and to help drivers on the side road to see them.)

I haven't seen any evidence that warning signs reduce the risk of drivers failing to see bikes, and would doubt their effectiveness in an area with a forest of other signage.

I look forward to seeing the detailed design, but would urge you to think of how the design would affect driver behaviour in practice. Actual behaviour and design behaviour are often very different.