Carefully considered communication of the road work leading up to and during the establishment of a cycle superhighway can ensure a better user experience during the construction period. Depending on the scope and duration of the build, road work communication may include:
The municipalities in the Cycle Superhighway Collaboration in the Capital Region are always encouraged to provide notice in advance of upcoming construction work to supercykelstier@tmf.kk.dk. The office will ensure that the information is shared through the collaboration’s channels, such as news on road work on the website and via the Cycle Superhighways’ social media profiles.
Road work communication on cycle superhighways
Road work communication in connection with construction work provides an opportunity to inform users about upcoming cycle superhighways and the cycle superhighway concept already during the build. Below are examples of four different types of signs related to road work communication.
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The small and easy sign
Material: PVC-free foil print on aluminum plate
Size: 80 x 100 cm
Advantages: Easy to read, easy to produce and easy to implement.
Disadvantages: Do not communicate the details of the road work, lacks context and is not directed at any target group in particular.
The example sign reads:
“We are building the Ishøj route here.
Until summer 2016.
The route is a future cycle superhighway.
THANK YOU for cycling”
The informative sign
Material: PVC-free foil print on aluminum plate
Size: 80 x 100 cm
Advantages: Informative, good user feedback, understandable, concrete and illustrative, targets a specific user group.
Disadvantages: Requires information about the construction work, requires more graphic design time, cyclist must stop to view the individual measures.
The example sign reads:
Hello Cyclist!
We hope you are enjoying the new route network. We are working on it till it becomes super!
The big informative sign
Material: PVC-free foil print on aluminum plate
Size: 110 x 90 cm
Advantages: Informative, good user feedback on illustration, readable, concrete, targets a specific group.
Disadvantages: Requires information about the construction work, requires more graphic design time, cyclist must stop to view the individual measures, requires a concrete block for installment, difficult to transport.
The example sign reads:
Hello cyclist!
We are building a part of the cycle superhighway Allerødruten.
The route will launch in the fall of 2016
The customized sign
Materiale: PVC-free foil print on aluminum plate
Size: 80 x 100 cm
Advantages: Captivating, informative, good user feedback, readable, concrete and illustrative, targets a specific group.
Disadvantages: Requires information about the construction work, requires more graphic design time, cyclist must stop to view the individual measures. The reflection is an additional cost.
The example sign reads:
Hello cyclist!
We are building Farum-Allerødruten.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.
How to design the sign
It is important, of course, that the sign is informative. But it is just as important that cyclists can read the information as they pass by. Therefore, there needs to be a balance between the size, format, content, and placement of the sign.
11 recommendations for road work signs
Target the sign
Make it easy for the cyclist to see who the sign is addressing. Start with something like Hello cyclist.
Put the most important first
Cyclists are typically in motion, so it has to be easy to read the most important information without needing to stop, fe.g.: “We are constructing Lyngbyruten until June 2024”.
Specify the route name
Specify which route is being constructed. This improves users’ knowledge of the route and cycle superhighways in general, making the construction work more relevant for individuals as the route is named.
Include the date of the construction work and/or launch
Always include the expected construction period or end date of the road work, so the cyclist knows how long the work will last. E.g. construction will last until October 2023. If the launch date is fixed, you can add: We will launch the route in spring 2024.
Use an active voice
Use active, personal sentences, such as Here we are constructing Ishøjruten. It indicates a personal sender. Ishøjruten is being constructed here is a passive and impersonal sentence.
Provide information that everyone can understand
Avoid using exclusively technical terms. Not all cyclists know what a 2-minus-1 road is. Replace or supplement with information about the effect of the road work, e.g. Here we are creating a 2-minus-1 road to create better space for everyone.
If possible, include a picture of what it will look like.
Show where and what is happening
Illustrate the build and show what is happening and where with a map, an illustration or an easily readable construction drawing. If traffic is redirected, the alternative route should also be shown on a map.
Keep it simple
Focus on the most important and drop the rest, but also be careful not to provide too little information. Too little information, such as We are building a cycle path, can seem insignificant and annoying.
Focus on the positive narrative
Avoid using apologetic expressions, as they draw attention to the negative experience of the road work. Instead, focus on how the road work will improve the cyclist’s experience in the future.
Check if the sign can be read in the dark
Consider using reflective features during the winter period, so it lights up in the dark and/or if light is a significant part of the construction work.
Provide contact information
Make it easy for the cyclist to seek more information or ask questions. Include a contact organisation or person, or create a QR code linking to a relevant website.
Placing the sign
The placement of the sign is crucial for whether users can see and read the sign in time. It is recommended that the sign be placed:
- Immediately before the road work
- As close to the construction as possible, without disrupting operations or users
- On the right side of the cycle path, as close to the cycle path as possible
Here the signs are placed correctly.
Here the signs are places incorrectly.
Check list for signs
Examine
- Where should the sign be placed?
- What type of sign and stand are being used?
- What format and size does the stand accommodate?
- Who designs the sign?
- Who sets up and removes the sign?
- Should the sign be usable throughout the construction phase?
- Who pays for the signage?
Inform about
- Route name and construction period
- What is being built
- What are the consequences of the road work for users
- What is the effect of the road work
- Map of the construction and any redirections
- Where users can find more information or direct their questions
Road work communication in media
For larger or long-term construction projects, it’s a good idea to communicate about the road work in relevant media, such as on the municipality’s website, on social media, in local media, or through targeted public participation processes.
Similar to the road work sign, there are several important pieces of information to remember in the road work news. Unlike the sign, there is room for a more detailed description of the construction, its effects, possible phases of construction, visualizations, etc.
If the construction news is online, a QR code on the sign along the route can link directly to it.
Checklist for road work communication in media
Website
- Thorough description of what is to be built and any construction phases
- Thorough explanation of the consequences of the road work for users:
- What is required of users during the road work? E.g. redirection.
- What is the expected effect of the construction? E.g. shorter travel time or improved traffic safety.
- Map of the road work and any redirections
- Illustration of the construction
Social media
- A brief summary of the website news:
- Short description of the construction
- Any consequences, such as redirection or effects
- Link to detailed road work news
Remeber: Write the most important information in the headline, e.g. the route name and construction period.
Remember: Make a map of road work and possible redirections. Use it as an image for the post, making it easy for readers to quickly decode if the post is relevant for them.
Dialogue with citizens
- A printed version of the website news, e.g. for distribution to households affected by the cycle superhighway. Consider whether more details should be added regarding access, noise, disturbances or expropriation.
- Information articles in local newspapers with the same information as the website news and preferably with contact information.
- Citizen involvement, e.g. through a citizen meeting or a citizen hearing, if the project has significant local importance.
Before and after photos for documentation
To support route communication both before and after construction, it is important to take before and after photos of the road work and upgrades on the routes. The before photos should be taken before road work begins. After photos can be taken immediately after the completion of construction or possibly after the launch. It is important that the after photos are comparable to the before photos, taken from the same location, and clearly show the construction/upgrading. Before and after photos do not need to be taken by a professional photographer.
In the Cycle Superhighway Collaboration in the Capital Region of Denmark, before and after photos will eventually be available on the route pages on the website, along with descriptions of the upgrades performed on the route.
