Why don’t some cyclists use the designated cycling lanes?

[UserAlice]

I regularly drive through Leeds city centre which has recently spent millions on a sophisticated network of designated and segregated cycling lanes which are next to but separated from the road with special kerbs. Good stuff.

MOST cyclists will use them as they are extremely safe, well maintained and run alongside all the major routes. No diversions - you ride alongside the motor vehicle traffic but you are protected by this extra kerb.

So why today do I sometimes see cyclists not using them? There is literally no reason (that I can see) why they can’t use the designated lanes (e.g. needing to turn off soon etc). So they are instead in the way of the traffic and ultimately, putting themselves at risk.

The same happens in my village where there is a safe and well-maintained cycle path to the next village that runs alongside the 40mph road but many cyclists seem to not want to use it and use the road instead.

FWIW this is not a cyclist-bashing thread. I don’t cycle because I am so bad at it I would be a danger to other road users, but I always give them plenty of room and am very patient.

I just genuinely want to know why some seem to be keen to put themselves in danger by sticking to the roads when they have designated lanes. It’s like a pedestrian walking in the road instead of the pavement! What’s going on? Am I missing something?

OP, we can only tell you our own experiences: hopefully someone will come along who cycles on those particular roads and they can tell you exactly why!

I've had several near misses in bike lanes around leeds train station and city centre (cars and taxis pulling into them without signalling, pedestrians stepping into them, dog on extendable lead running out). To be fair, these issues would largely be present if I was on the road rather than the cycle lane. The bigger issue is that the signs and road marking aren't (or weren't approx 6 weeks ago when I was last there) correct - they have one way signs etc where no longer required for example, making the routes very unclear in places.

I always appreciate investment in cycling infrastructure, but the bike lanes in leeds still have some work to do.

Oh and additionally,, most city centre commuters are happy doing ~10mph, whereas I'm doing closer to 17-20mph depending on the conditions - it can be safer to match the speed to traffic rather than constantly weave around, slow down and accelerate around slower bikes (personal choice, I know I could just wind my neck in!)

The shared use path on my way to work is bumpy with tree roots, only wide enough for one bike and one pedestrian to pass each other. It’s near a school so has children (mostly teenagers, not teeny ones) slowly walking on he cycling side or in a group across the whole thing. Braver cyclists than me use the road. I used to, until I got doored. So I do use the almost unusable cycle path for that bit of my journey but can see why most don’t.

Then round the corner I have another delight. I get to play Russian roulette on my way to work! The cycle lane on the road sandwiches cyclists between parked cars and a lane of moving traffic. Will the next car open a door and hit me under the wheels of a bus? Or will I live long enough to pass another one? Some days I’m feeling lucky (and need to go quicker) and use the door zone lane, other days I’ll take a bit longer, off road route but again slowly because it’s shared with pedestrians (and the occasional squirrel).

This is what most of my town is like. DH’s journey doesn’t have door zone lanes but cars park in the cycle lane instead. Which is especially fun when they park in the contraflow cycle lane and send cyclists out into oncoming traffic.

I do want segregated cycle lanes in my town and think I would use them even if they did have some problems because anything would be an improvement on the poorly placed bits of white paint I’ve got now.

Plenty of fair comments here and you’re right - I can’t really judge the lanes if I don’t use them.

I hope the new ones in Leeds are better than the average and that improvements are made generally to make cycling safer.