Mixed use cycle lanes question

[abo]

I've never really paid much attention to them before... But now I'm riding on them, I've noticed that they seem to switch sides now and again, seemingly at random. You can see this in my 'really close pass' thread on the google maps links.

Is it the same elsewhere? Is there a reason for it?

 

[byegad]

This is one of the many reasons why i use the road. Planners seem to think that if you are on a bike any inconvenience to your journey is acceptable.

 

[the snail]

Is it the same elsewhere? Is there a reason for it?

yes, it's the same everywhere I've been, but it doesn't make much difference as nobody seems to take any notice of the markings anyway, so proceed with caution!

 

[mark barker]

I've noticed that they seem to switch sides now and again, seemingly at random.

They do that here, but usually it is for a reason. Most commonly is entrances to play areas or schools where the planners will move the pedestrian side nearest to the entrance.

 

[Davidc]

It's very common. The layout of most mixed use lanes is so bad that I keep my speed down to about 10 mph on them, the 18mph suggested in Cyclecraft is generally too high.

Not only are they badly laid out but pedestrians don't understand what they're supposed to do, even on those round here where there's a road for cyclists and a raised pavement for peds!

Add to that the road priority at every junction and I'm convinced that most of the time I'm much safer on the road, not to mention faster, so I ride where my bike belongs - on the road.

 

[abo]

TBH I've taken to just riding on the road unless there is a good reason not to, such as the sustrans gives me a shortcut. Or if I'm out with my seven year old, then we use the sustrans as much as possible as he is still building confidence on his new bike and still has random wanderings, so he only gets to ride on quiet roads at the moment.

I'm getting used to dodging errant peds. The thing that gets me the most are those long retractable dog leads. Surely people should either let the dog off completely or have them on a regular lead? I don't have a dog though so maybe I'm missing something

 

[abo]

They do that here, but usually it is for a reason. Most commonly is entrances to play areas or schools where the planners will move the pedestrian side nearest to the entrance.

Bloody hell that actually makes sense!!!

 

[tyred]

They can be okay if you watch out for kamikaze pedestrians, dogs on extending leads as well as odd bits of street furniture like telephone boxes, bus shelters, lamp posts, telegraph poles that the council seem to think cyclists should be able to ride through.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

<Humour>Sustrans providing a short-cut. Please tell?? </humour>

I followed the NCN 8 route to Builth from Aberdare and was amazed when at one point I was 3 miles away from Hay on Wye.

such as the sustrans gives me a shortcut.

 

[abo]

<Humour>Sustrans providing a short-cut. Please tell?? </humour>

hehe points to the fishman! This one is pretty good, it cuts across a field (before it was built there was a worn track where people cut across anyway), it does cut out a reasonable chunk of detour if you're heading into town

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Well I guess there had to be one

 

[funnymummy]

The thing that gets me the most are those long retractable dog leads. Surely people should either let the dog off completely or have them on a regular lead? I don't have a dog though so maybe I'm missing something

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
I used to be a dog owner, I had one of those leads for my JackRussel, probably the most anti-social animal you ever met, loved humans hated anythign esle with 4 legs & especilally 4 wheels!!
But she only ever got the full 'extension' when on the beach, park or Downs, basicaly anyhwre that wasa wide open space with nothing in sight, along paths she was kept as short as poss.
It drives me mad, when dog walkers can see you coming, but keep the lead on the full extension, with them on one side the path & the hound the other, making no attempt to pull the dog in or move over .. That to me is just damn plain rude & totaly dangerous for both the the cyclist & the dog.

 

[Xiorell]

I recently invented a little 10mile loop of town to go out on when I just want a mini adventure.

It takes me on about a 1.5mile circuit on one of these cycle/pedestrian things.... my god does it piss me off. If all such paths are the same then they are totally pointless.

The right hand side is the cycle bit on my one, peds obviously can't see pics of bikes on the ground in 4ft tall white paint coz they spread right over it, kids and dogs and pushchairs.... then look at me like I crapped in thier cerial when I come along the cycle side.


When it's clear it's a really pleasent little circuit, just wish people could SHARE the shared lane thing.

 

[Norm]

"Cereal" and pedestrians are allowed to walk all over it. Your rant is no different to a moton complaining that a cyclist doesn't stick to the cycle lane.

 

[Xiorell]

So then there's dick all point in the shared lanes? Just so they can spend money on big tins of white paint? Maybe I'm missing the point of shared lanes but they seem a bit redundant to me, when you are just gonna be weaving in and out of people as if you was flying along a regular path.