Cycle paths !!
Hi all,
Opposite our house ( on a busy rd ) is a very wide path that the Council / Highways or whoever have decided to add a cycle path. Why is it after all this Hooha and lot's of expense cyclists can't be bothered to use them. Yesterday a lady ( very inexperienced ) with husband at side of her riding up the road ? and a train of traffic behind.Today a young boy again looked too young to be on the road, mother behind towing a baby in a trailer. !!
We've also recently had a Bypass built ( single carriageway ) with extra wide footpath and cycleway off the road, still get the " that's only for beginners " Wiggins's though !!
Happy caravanning.
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It’s up to us road users(vehicle) to drive safely around them to ensure their safety👍🏻. There’s room for all of us indoors👍🏻😊
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Why assume they're dumb? There might be a perfectly valid reason. Have you asked them?
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Inner city/town cycle lanes in this country are often poorly designed, less than a few hundred metres long, lead nowhere, designed so badly that cars can still park over them, and in a gutter where debris, broken glass, you name it, it will burst your tyre type debris accumulates! The people who design these type of paths/lanes have clearly never ridden a bike in such a place, and are often merely ticking an "X metres of cycle path tick box!" There are some very good examples of ciry/town paths, but also some absolute shockers! Without seeing the path you are on about OP, it is difficult to comment accurately. But those cyclists you are so quick to label stupid, may in fact be using more common sense than you give them credit.
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Why ask them Tiny, name a perfectly valid reason.
Agree tda regards some inner city cycle lanes are bordering on dangerous for cyclists to safely use.
I wrote the OP regarding a perfectly good safe off road footpath / cycle lane. ( take a look on
Google Earth street view Ashby Road, Hinckley.
Clicker way, Earl Shilton.
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Ah, a shared pedestrian/cycle path. In which case said cyclist may indeed be using common sense. They are often shared with pedestrians who are on remote control, head down focussing only on a little bright screen, the dog walkers whose dogs are perfectly well behaved off lead until they see a bike, the "under control dogs" that are on a zip wire all across full path, the double buggy toting pair of yummy mummies/daddies who have to walk side by side to discuss diaper issues, the beer swilling lout (either sex) who "in't gunna move 'cos I hate that Wiggins bloke" and a big favourite round here, sections of the community that have no understandings of either the Highway Code or shared paths and have to walk in large groups.
I was on a shared path when I cycled across to watch finish of TdeF near us. Knocked off my bike twice.
I believe it's recommended cyclists stay on the highway proper as well if they are doing above 15 miles per hour. Safer for pedestrians!
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"Why ask them Tiny, name a perfectly valid reason."
To find out their reasons for not using the cycle path. That’s perfectly valid as their failure to do so obviously bothers you. TDA has described some hazards to cyclists so it might help to know which, if any, apply. You could pass your findings on to the Local Authority who may be able to make amends helping cyclists and road users be safer. Helping them all can’t be bad, can it?
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I don’t think they’re ‘dumb’ I do however think they’re vulnerable & as such I will always give them a wide berth regardless of whether I agree with their positioning on or off the road. I’m not arrogant enough to decide how others should cycle, I just know I don’t want to try & live with the aftermath of hitting a cyclist☹️
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It's not arrogant to question why cyclists don't make use of provided off road cycle paths as in my OP, we are not mentioning on road " cycle lanes " we are indeed about off road " cycle paths ".
So as I will also give cyclists a wide berth on the highway I will also wonder why they are not using the provided cycle routes.
Let's take all the cycle routes/lanes/paths/routes away and admit it was a waste of time and money listening to all those protesters for years on end. !!!
BTW : What happened to bells on bikes ?
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I agree with you indoors, A few years ago a cyclist was involved in an accident with a lorry on a dual carriageway, he was seriously hurt, next to the dual carriageway is an off road cycle way. Why didn't he use it. We have been stuck behind a cyclists going up a hill on a bendy road because they decided not to use the adjacent cycle path.
Don't start me on bells, many a time I've nearly been tangled up with a cyclist on a joint cycle /walking path. Many cough or whistle if they don't have a bell, but many just speed past.
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Cycle paths are an excellent idea and they will encourage more people out of their cars and onto bikes. When this question has come up before the answer usually is that experienced cyclists prefer the road because they always have right of way whereas on cycle paths it is usually required to give way at intersections. Personally Margaret and I always prefer cycle paths and are happy to stop at side roads.
David
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If I can get away from big, hard heavy vehicles I do at every opportunity, including riding on pavements on occasions.
In answer to 'indoors' enquiry, my OH managed to break her bell within twenty seconds of getting on her bike. All will be reassured by the news that it has been replaced.
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But the law does not allow for that unless certain regulations are applied to said road like they would be on a motorway and some dual carriageways and I am not sure whether there is any provision to do what you suggest on ordinary roads. It might be different if the cycleway is actually part of the road but separated by a kerb or even a white line? We shouldn't be trying to discourage cyclists, after all if they choose the road they tend to take all the risk in terms of injury.
David
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In answer to 'indoors' enquiry, my OH managed to break her bell within twenty seconds of getting on her bike
Probably showing off by riding her bike whilst sat on the handle bars
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There is a road locally that has cycle ways both sides, but as DK mentioned because of having to give way at junctions some don't use it. Unfortunately it has traffic islands at regular intervals to prevent overtaking. This can make it next to impossible to get past a bike safely, meaning you have to follow along behind with a rapidly building tail back. In these situations designation of the road as non pedal cycle, therebye forcing use of the cycle path, would certainly make sense.
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My wife and I have this discussion often, my view of using the cycle paths is that one cannot not continually cycle along them.
Imagine that a a car driver having to stop every time there is a side road junction and then moving off again, even where you currently have right of way. It'd be frustrating.
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This country is woeful in terms of cycle path provision. Stupid town planners who have never used a bike in many instances:
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Much money and effort was expended in Glasgow to convert the left lane each side of miles of previous four lane roads (a relic of tram tracks being on the middle two of the four) into "proper" cycle paths with a continuous island with bollards to deter vehicle parking. They are just wide enough for a pavement sweeper to pass along.
So what I regularly see are cyclists still riding on the main carriageway, until they arrive at the vehicle tailback from traffic lights or a vehicle trying to turn right, when they jump across into the cycle lane to gain an advantage of not having to stop, and then back onto the main carriageway.
I do not see that as a fair and equal use of the highway space and construction resources, as well as being fairly unsafe.
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Happy to be corrected JayEss, sadly we have lots of experts in our LA highways depts. some of our cycle lanes are less than 10 metres in length! Added together of course, they will tick a box saying LA is doing all it can to help cyclists. One stretch of road has had cycle path lines removed........the cycle lanes were wider than the space left for cars! It beggars belief some of the decisions made to be honest. To remain safe, you just don't trust them!
This little beauty is on a cycle route to a brand new housing estate, so even on entirely new build they get things badly wrong! It's a two person job getting a cycle through this! (Mind you, the new housing estate is slap bang in the middle of HS2route, but that another story!
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