A small, odd traffic island was recently installed in the middle of the cycling lane that runs along the north side of Adelaide Street West, at the northwest corner of York Street.
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The implementation of traffic islands like this is used for “road calming” and intended as good design in protecting pedestrian traffic both on foot and cycling.
Road island like these are sometimes referred to a “cycle banana’s” or more commonly “refuge islands”. Their designs are very common in Dutch towns and cities as a example.
Here are a few images in how these types of “refuge islands” are positioned, and how they are used to “protect and separate” both pedestrian foot traffic and cycling traffic form vehicles using the street.
The function of the island allows vehicles turning right to achive a clear line of sight. It also, if implemented well, allows a right turning vehicle to clear the first pedestrian crossing and have a “standing zone” to clear the second pedestrian crossing (see image 2 & 3). All while not blocking the first crossing and obstructing views at the same time. A secondary vehicle turning right at the same time would wait behind the white line.
Every image with bikes in it portray a rider about to be hit by a car turning right.