Cycle Paths

[Nearly there]

There's a cycle path I sometimes use but only half of It as the first half Is surrounded by trees etc and there's always debris twigs etc so I use the main road until the second half which is always clean and smooth to ride on.

 

[defy-one]

As a keen driver, I never stopped to think about cycle lanes - the OP has shown just how silly some can be


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[youngoldbloke]

Are real cyclists ever involved in the design and planning of cycling facilities? It would appear not. I thought the 'cyclists dismount' signs (in daSmirnov's video) were advisory only anyway. If I had to do as advised in the video I wouldn't have any cleats left. I will not use a cycle lane/path/facility unless it is safer, faster, and more convenient for me.

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

You are legally entitled to ignore cycle paths and use the road. I use shared paths at quiet times, being on the North Wales coast the shared paths are choc a bloc with dozy holidaymakers wandering over the clearly marked cycle strip. I have had irate drivers indicating that I should use the paths, I obviously ignore their gestures. There is a fairground near one stretch and the lager louts take great delight in smashing their Stella bottles on the path, a danger to both cyclists, kiddies in particular.String 'em up I say! ( the lager louts not the kiddies!)

 

[MrJamie]

I pick whichever i feel is safer at the time. Ill happily take a good cycle path over busy traffic and/or holding up drivers who think that I shouldnt be on the road and may want to teach me a lesson, particularly if theres a big difference in relative speed. That said, a lot of shared use paths are littered with glass, cross countless sideroads/driveways where you dont often have priority, or blocked by spread out groups of pedestrians/chavs and are inappropriate to use much faster than a leisurely pace.
I prefer either option to narrow cycle lanes though which are pretty much just normal roads with lines telling drivers that they need not pull out to overtake you anymore, because you must stay in your allocated cycle-gutter.

 

[gavroche]

You are legally entitled to ignore cycle paths and use the road. I use shared paths at quiet times, being on the North Wales coast the shared paths are choc a bloc with dozy holidaymakers wandering over the clearly marked cycle strip. I have had irate drivers indicating that I should use the paths, I obviously ignore their gestures. There is a fairground near one stretch and the lager louts take great delight in smashing their Stella bottles on the path, a danger to both cyclists, kiddies in particular.String 'em up I say! ( the lager louts not the kiddies!)

where about in N.Wales are you? Colwyn Bay for me.

 

[Matthew_T]

Just have a look at a few of my videos. These are on a shared use, coastal path. There is an alternative coast road which I use the majority of the time now.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dkbZ1mxi8A&feature=g-upl&context=G23787e4AUAAAAAABfAA

The dark lane is the cycle path

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIdG_B4ZdMA&feature=channel&list=UL


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYEcInqydUw&feature=channel&list=UL


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naBwUSWMTHY&feature=channel&list=UL

The lane on the right is the cycle path

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q4yTNjw6qE&feature=channel&list=UL

 

[Matthew_T]

where about in N.Wales are you? Colwyn Bay for me.

Prestatyn for me.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Are real cyclists ever involved in the design and planning of cycling facilities? It would appear not. I thought the 'cyclists dismount' signs (in daSmirnov's video) were advisory only anyway. If I had to do as advised in the video I wouldn't have any cleats left. I will not use a cycle lane/path/facility unless it is safer, faster, and more convenient for me.

The answer is yes. You'd be surprised at how much is involved in the infrastructure of cycle paths in the UK with cyclist.

I go to many a meet with Salford council at Swinton town hall to talk about the latest developments in cycle facilities for Salford and Manchester. We are all cyclist, every single one of us. The meeting consist of allsorts of people from the council, Sustrans, local bike shop owners, big retail bike shop management and the general public to have our say and come up with the best solution for what we have available

Most of what people call 'Stupid cycle paths' ain't put in place for the seasoned cyclist who's been cycling 30 years and commutes every day and is confident on the road. These are put in place for families with children, people that want to take there kids to school using bikes, people that are not confident on the road ect ... It really annoys me when people start banging on about how crap a cycle lane is !

The other things to take into account with cycle paths is money and the infrastructure thats all ready in place. Britain's roads were built for horse n carts, I mean, we still have kerbs, and for what ? ! and we still put them in place as it's cost effective.

There is only so much we can do with cycle paths in this country, until the cyclist starts taking over the car then nothing much will change, and for those moaning about the local crap cycle paths, get down to the council meetings and do something about it. Its your council, your community and your crap cycle path.

Rant over

Edit: This ain't a personal attack at youngoldbloke

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Just have a look at a few of my videos. These are on a shared use, coastal path. There is an alternative coast road which I use the majority of the time now.

To be honest those cycle paths look pretty poor. I'm not surprised you prefer the road.

Prestatyn for me.

I was up there for the SFX Weekender earlier in the year. Pontins in February was, errrm, interesting.

 

[Hebe]

The answer is yes. You'd be surprised at how much is involved in the infrastructure of cycle paths in the UK with cyclist.
...
Most of what people call 'Stupid cycle paths' ain't put in place for the seasoned cyclist who's been cycling 30 years and commutes every day and is confident on the road. These are put in place for families with children, people that want to take there kids to school using bikes, people that are not confident on the road ect ... It really annoys me when people start banging on about how crap a cycle lane is !
...
There is only so much we can do with cycle paths in this country, until the cyclist starts taking over the car then nothing much will change, and for those moaning about the local crap cycle paths, get down to the council meetings and do something about it. Its your council, your community and your crap cycle path.

I was also coming to the conclusion that the paths that are less than useful to me are typically ones that go from a new estate towards a school, rather than any kind of through route. It does make sense in the context of those users it was designed for. The problem is drivers who expect everyone to be on those paths.

Good point too about getting involved. Thank you.

 

[Paul J]

This council can't use a cyclist to design its paths.

article here

 

[YahudaMoon]

I was also coming to the conclusion that the paths that are less than useful to me are typically ones that go from a new estate towards a school, rather than any kind of through route. It does make sense in the context of those users it was designed for. The problem is drivers who expect everyone to be on those paths.

Good point too about getting involved. Thank you.

A good start would be your local Sustrans rather than the council about improvements in cycle facilities for your area. The'll be more than happy to have you along. Sustrans will then advise on local meetings. That's how I found out. The more input at meetings the better

John

 

[YahudaMoon]

This council can't use a cyclist to design its paths.

View attachment 8722
article here

Mmm ? Im not sure as the picture don't show the whole road infrastructure. Does that part of the road bottle neck ? . It could have been put in place as a warning to motorist to KEEP CLEAR if it is the case ?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Mmm ? Im not sure as the picture don't show the whole road infrastructure. Does that part of the road bottle neck ? . It could have been put in place as a warning to motorist to KEEP CLEAR if it is the case ?

It looks to me like it's meant to be the entrance to an on pavement cycle lane. Markings could do with a lot of improvement if that is the case.

Here is a local example of a useless cycle lane. Having come out of town on the road you are diverted on to the pavement on the right of the picture for approx 100 yards (from where the bus is) then back onto a side road. The pavement is always busy and joining the path takes longer than staying on the road for no benefit that I can see.

Obviously I have never used it and I've never seen anyone else use it either.