The road safety expert Diana Rusinova called the "innovations" , shocked the people of Sofia, "denied, illegal and too dangerous". In his post on social networks, the specialist from the European Center for Road Policies also wrote: "I wonder how the SDVR Metropolitan Police agreed and allowed to agree on an illegal project?", quoted by "Focus".
Here is the text of her Facebook post:
"For several days, I have been following the particularly intense dispute regarding the new organization of traffic on "Patriarch Evtimii" Blvd., "Vitosha" Blvd. and St. "Prof. F. Nansen". I will not comment at this stage on the parking methods and other strange things in this project, but today I came across this stop platform, which is a continuation of the bicycle lane on "Patriarch Euthymius" Blvd. The truth is that the people of Sofia are being offered a solution that was totally rejected more than 10 years ago in London and 20 years ago in the Netherlands as dangerous and ineffective.
In fact, we are offered "innovations" which are not only rejected as outdated and unworkable, but are also too dangerous for road users, especially for pedestrians waiting for public transport at the stop platform (at the stop).
Above all, however, it turns out that the "new" and "modern" the decision directly violates the requirements introduced through Appendix No. 9 to Art. 67 of Ordinance No. RD-02-20-2 of December 20, 2017 for planning and designing the communication and transport systems of the urbanized territories.
By the way, the fact that the decision that was imposed on Sofians is non-working, outdated and ineffective, but also dangerous, is not just my opinion. This opinion is apparently shared by the authorities in the Netherlands and Great Britain, as well as by a number of other specialists. But in the end, this is how it happens, as we draw the organization of the movement in pictures without having a basic concept of the rules and norms operating in Bulgaria. Just like that, in spite of everyone, let's impose ours, because now we are the strong of the day. Or, in general, this is the result when graphic designers decide to interfere in the organization of the movement.
I wonder how SDVR Metropolitan Police agreed and allowed to approve an illegal project?
With the examples from London, it would be nice to pay attention to how the cyclists ride - with a helmet and a reflective vest, while here in Bulgaria the authors of the idea for this insane shared stop are the same ones who scream and shout that they do not allow to oblige our cyclists to take basic care of their lives and health.
In the comments you will find a link to a fairly well-argued article, why the proposal that shocked us is more than dangerous"