Cycle Paths
Comments
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I know Bristol and can well see the merits of cycle routes. Its the vast network not used by cyclists in the countryside that are a waste if time. At Machynlleth they built a special cyclists bridge whilst the delapidated road bridge was not even improved.
To add insult toinjury the cyclists then come back on the roadway despite adedicated path. Just plain stupid waste of monies.0 -
How do you know they are not used Fish? We have been all over country this year, including S Wales, and seen thousands of cyclists out, especially on the National Cycle routes. My OH spent a week in N Yorks on moors cycling a mix of dedicated routes, partially
shared with roads, Dalby Forest routes, then did Hadrian's Wall cycle way, Northumbrian coast and castles routes. We overnighted on sites with lots of other cyclists doing the same, so they are definitely getting some use. Cycling in its many shapes and forms
is about the only activity/sport that has actually had a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. But it has to be made safe to make sure people have the confidence to use the routes. I still won't cycle on roads shared with cars, legacy from my horse riding
days. I had to carry a long whip on my off side to help fend off those who got to close, and you don't forget the near misses easily. So for me, and I suspect thousands like me, any help is much appreciated.0 -
I walk my dog each morning along a refurbished footpath/cycle path I hardly see any cyclists in the area , when I do they ride next to the path but on the road. Just cannot understand why the paths are not used which must have cost a small fortune , and
the roads are so full of potholes.0 -
Well ours have been spectacularly successful and are now one of the main forms of transport in and around the city. We also have cycle only corridors between the City areas and some of the outlying towns such as Yate & Chipping Sodbury.
Once again and in answer to those who huff & puff about wasted money I would point out that in respect of over 90% of the cyclists if they wernt riding their bikes they would be driving a car, and probably adding to the traffic jam stopping you from getting
to work!TF
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JVB, despite my very positive remarks about the results of our cycling initiatives, I do know where you are coming from! Indeed i have to say that the various cycling lobby groups are some of the most difficult that I have ever had to work with.
They are almost impossible to satisfy, tend to be highly aggressive, (verbally not physically) and prone to arguing amongst themselves, let alone anyone else. In other words very much as you see them on the road. They are certainly NOT the shy retiring types!
But I stand by my comments. The more commuters that can be encouraged to take up cycle commuting, the less cars there are to build up congestion.
TF
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TF I agree,, the cycle racks at our local stations are well used and not all the others are stupid ,but as in all walks of life the few spoil it for the majority, we also have a problem with the "few" horsey set who think they're above reproach, riding two abreast in country lanes even holding up farm traffic and not even a thank-you if you stop when seeing them approach
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JVB, despite my very positive remarks about the results of our cycling initiatives, I do know where you are coming from! Indeed i have to say that the various cycling lobby groups are some of the most difficult that I have ever had to work with.
They are almost impossible to satisfy, tend to be highly aggressive, (verbally not physically) and prone to arguing amongst themselves, let alone anyone else. In other words very much as you see them on the road. They are certainly NOT the shy retiring
types!But I stand by my comments. The more commuters that can be encouraged to take up cycle commuting, the less cars there are to build up congestion.
TF
This all seems fine for you in the Bristol area tiger ,but other areas are struggling to get decent roads especially along my road where, due to the road conditions the traffic is now shaking the buildings. Yet money is spent on cycle ways that are not
used !0 -
Not sure where in East Yorkshire you are Hostahousey but our house in Hull has been shaking for years with the traffic, particularly buses - now suffer subsidence and we do have cycle lanes outside our house!
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Not sure where in East Yorkshire you are Hostahousey but our house in Hull has been shaking for years with the traffic, particularly buses - now suffer subsidence and we do have cycle lanes outside our house!
Exactly my point, it seems cycle paths that only evolved a few years ago have had money spent on them, and the roads have been ignored.
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I think everyone will agree that cycle routes in urban areas are a good thing- Bristol being an excellent example.Its the waste in deciding on these rural routes that causes the upset. 1) poorly thought out 2) never naintained 3) Never used by cyclists.
The money would be better spent on improving the roads for all users0 -
I think everyone will agree that cycle routes in urban areas are a good thing- Bristol being an excellent example.Its the waste in deciding on these rural routes that causes the upset. 1) poorly thought out 2) never naintained 3) Never used by cyclists.
The money would be better spent on improving the roads for all usersThink your right Fisherman ...
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i spoke to a (mami) middle aged men in lycra once and asked why thy do not use the cycle lanes and his reply was you hve to stop at each road junction
This is a very valid reason. In Holland a car turning into a side road that crosses a cycle track would have to give way to the cycle. Here the cyclist has to slow down, turn his head and also avoid bollards and pedestrians. It is often safer to stay on
the road.0 -
i spoke to a (mami) middle aged men in lycra once and asked why thy do not use the cycle lanes and his reply was you hve to stop at each road junction
This is a very valid reason. In Holland a car turning into a side road that crosses a cycle track would have to give way to the cycle. Here the cyclist has to slow down, turn his head and also avoid bollards and pedestrians. It is often safer to stay on
the road.Can't understand the turning head and avoid bollards Tony. Surely he just stops waits for the clear road and carries on his way? Where are the bollards ?
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i spoke to a (mami) middle aged men in lycra once and asked why thy do not use the cycle lanes and his reply was you hve to stop at each road junction
This is a very valid reason. In Holland a car turning into a side road that crosses a cycle track would have to give way to the cycle. Here the cyclist has to slow down, turn his head and also avoid bollards and pedestrians. It is often safer to stay on
the road.Can't understand the turning head and avoid bollards Tony. Surely he just stops waits for the clear road and carries on his way? Where are the bollards ?
Exactly - easier to stay on the road, keep cycling and NOT stop at every junction. (Bollards are sometimes put at road junctions on the path for safety reasons)
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There must have been some sort of cycling body / group that asked for cycle paths . If this is so, then why do cyclists not use them. I can't imagine the local councils putting down paths off their own back.
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I rather fancy that the cycle paths are the result of a government ‘green’ incentive. I think councils may be scoring points for each mile of cycle patch they create. There seems to be a lot of paths that are impractical to use as they are not continuous.
The only explanation I could think of was that it’s to satisfy some kind of requirement.0 -
Try cycling round the southern Yorkshire dales area, not wise, Quarry waggons driven by ex formula one drivers and roads so narrow it's a life risking pastime. On the other side, do cycling clubs have to bunch up and take the whole road up?
To sum it up, why is it a pleasure to ride anywhere in Europe and so difficult in Britain?
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rogher is correct, a few years ago the then Govt office suggested to local authorities that they would be watching closely to see that the LA's included cycle paths in their roads networks. Many LA's then responded with token paths that were narrow and
ended suddenly when road narrowings were encountered. Not surprisingly they were shunned by most cyclists who were concerned quite rightly for their own safety.The change for us here in the Bristol region was winning that very large sum of money to be spend purely on encouraging greater cycling use and of course safety. That encouraged us to introduce these cycling corridors which provided long distance dedicated
cycling routes all over the city. In many areas the routes were not part of the roads network and provided rapid safe transit away from the roads for cyclists to and fro from emloyment centres.We now have a significant increase in the amount of cycling and a corresponding reduction in car use.
TF
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Try cycling round the southern Yorkshire dales area, not wise, Quarry waggons driven by ex formula one drivers and roads so narrow it's a life risking pastime. On the other side, do cycling clubs have to bunch up and take the whole road up?
To sum it up, why is it a pleasure to ride anywhere in Europe and so difficult in Britain?
Write your comments here...population density and the ever increasing number of cars on our roads,I think.I used to cycle all around where I live from my twenties until about five years ago,now in my sixties.In the last ten years there has been a boom in
commuter housing in our area and now the roads are just too busy and the new breed of motorists seem unused to driving safely on rural roads-they just do not anticipate hazards any more in their headlong rush to the M1 and work.I go running over the fields
these days instead.0 -
Whilst walking today on the footpath / cycle path, two cyclists past me. Guess where ,on the road obviously. Baaaaaaaa
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HH, - I appreciate your frustration. The only thing I would say, & it took a long time for us to realise it, is that most local authorities do not consult enough with the cycling lobby. And as a result of that lack of consultation, tend to put cycle paths
or lanes where they think they are needed and not where the cyclists actually want them.As I said before I am certainly not a lobbyist for the cycling fraternity but I do hate to see LA's putting in new road layouts without consultation with the Cycling groups. That tendency has wasted millions of pounds sterling, but more criticly has cost
lives!TF
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HH, - I appreciate your frustration. The only thing I would say, & it took a long time for us to realise it, is that most local authorities do not consult enough with the cycling lobby. And as a result of that lack of consultation, tend to put cycle paths
or lanes where they think they are needed and not where the cyclists actually want them.As I said before I am certainly not a lobbyist for the cycling fraternity but I do hate to see LA's putting in new road layouts without consultation with the Cycling groups. That tendency has wasted millions of pounds sterling, but more criticly has cost
lives!TF
I tend to agree with what you say Tiger, But when a joint footpath / cycle path has large signs stating this, and the cyclists refuse to use them, it makes my blood boil . I feel the monies spent could be used elsewhere especially on the poor state of
our local roads.0 -
Surely if a number of regular commuters decide to leave their cars in the drive and commute to work by bike, that can only be to the advantage of society at large. Those people have already paid their road tax on their cars so they are contributing to general taxation.
Cycle lanes on urban roads are a good investment, but they can be spoiled by drivers of vehicles using them for parking so causing the cyclist to move into the general stream of traffic.
I rather think that this hatred of cycling we are seeing on this forum is more down to cyclists being more mobile and having a faster commute time than drivers sitting fuming in traffic jams.
Why shouldnt drivers leave their cars at home and use their bikes ?. Much healthier, no parking problems when arriving at work and in cities and busy towns a much quicker commute.
Cycle paths are often disjointed, having been the subject of poor planning, they are put where the council has spare land, not where commuters need to go. Hence the need for cyclists to use the normal carriageway to arrive at their destination.
K
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(The bus services are good too.)
