The Algarve’s infamous EN125 road – known for its alarming number of car accidents – has also been flagged as “unsafe for cyclists or pedestrians”.
So says transportation specialist Vasco Colaço, just a few weeks after a 47-year-old mother was killed after being hit by a car as she rode her bicycle on the road to work. (click here)
Colaço said measures exist “that don’t cost a lot of money” but which could make the EN125 a lot safer.
For example, lanes could be reduced “to force drivers to slow down”, while also making more space on the side of the road for pedestrians and cyclists.
As Colaço put: “It is dangerous to keep things as they are as a lot of people use their bicycles to get to work.”
The road as it is now – the only alternative to the tolled A22 – enables cars to pick up speeds of up to 90kph, creating many “risky situations” for cyclists, he explained.
José Caetano, the head of Portugal’s bicycle users’ federation, claims the Algarve in general lacks conditions for cyclists.
“Tourists see riding a bike in the Algarve, especially on the EN125, as a form of Russian roulette,” he told Lusa, adding that riders also complain that drivers don’t respect the minimum distances they should keep from cyclists.
However, some good examples of bicycle-friendly routes were highlighted, such as Vilamoura and São Brás de Alportel, which in January launched a 5km route of “disabled-friendly” paths that can also be used by cyclists.
Providing more bicycle-friendly routes is something the Algarve is apparently committed to doing, after announcing plans last month to become a “top cycling destination” as part of a “full-on attack on seasonality”. (click here)
Article by kind permission of http://portugalresident.com
Comments
Because the A22 concession contract is far too lucrative for the corporations involved. Common sense and public opinion just don't matter as long as they can get away with it.
Why don't they concentrate on getting the tolls removed? There is a huge empty 4-lane highway waiting to be used.
Can we assume that he too is a secret Algarve Daily News reader - and if he is - will he admit it ? His suggestions for traffic calming chicanes, speed bumps, speed cameras etc have all been aired repeatedly at ADN.
According to UK Transportation Specialists just setting a mandatory top speed of say 60kms an hour would apparently mean everyone getting to their destination safer.
OK - maybe the difference is that other species of human do not have the unerring ability to shoot themselves in the foot as regularly as the Portuguese. Either in breeding wannabe F1 aces like Hamilton or that money set aside for road improvements here so often gets corruptly spent or banked elsewhere.