Why are cyclists not using the cycle lane?

[bridgewalker]

Namechanged as location will be easy to guess if you know the area.

There is a bridge I sometimes walk over which has a pedestrian footpath seperate from the road. It used to also be for cyclists as well, but a few years ago a cycle lane was put in alongside the road, wide enough for two cyclists to pass each other easily. The pedestrian path is quite narrow with railings on either side, just about wide enough for two people walking.

However, every time I walk over it now, there will be at least one cyclist passing me, and I have to stop and stand against the railings to let them pass. Why do they do this when the cycle lane is now there and is (I assume) much easier for them to use? The entrance at either end of the footpath is also curved, so it's impossible to see if there is a cyclist coming towards you as you enter or leave.

I would really like to know why they do this if anyone has any insight!

But there’s a mandatory test for motor vehicles and yet some people aren’t very confident drivers despite passing the test.

Is it actually marked clearly? If the have taken a lane out maybe they still think its for cars?

Usually I'd guess, in theory that part of the path would be safer from.drivers on the road.

We have many cycle paths near us as others mentioned are definitely not suitable. The money wasted to put them in! so understand why cyclists don’t use them.

Though we have a fairly step hill & narrow road near us - the council have put in a wide completely separate dedicated cycle path - this road had experienced a couple of cycle accidents due to car drivers. It’s the length of hill and corner and at the top of the hill brings that back onto main road safely. Nope not used - while we all sit behind the cyclists struggling to get up the hill - trying to overtake each other. I have a few friends that cycle so I asked - they couldn’t answer.

Completely agree, as a daily cyclist. I don't have cycle lanes in my rural area, but I always think councils install cycle lanes with zero understanding about how impractical they can be in some places, because they aren't cyclists themselves. Often they are just lines painted on the road which means they can be full of pitholes, ironworks, deep puddles of water. Effectively you're forced to cycle in the gutter. Gee, thanks!

OP, maybe you think the cycle Lane is wide enough for two cyclists to pass each other but I bet you they aren't. I'm just glad I cycle on the road, much easier and less dangerous now the Highway Code has been adjusted for cyclists (I've found motorists do give a much wider margin which is so much safer).

I'm very car-aware (look behind, hand signals, dayglo etc) as I'm a motorist as well so I see it from both angles.

It’s different. All drivers are confident enough to drive on the road & roughly know their highway code. Most Cyclists (bar a very few) can’t ride in a straight line / have no concept of what they should be doing & a significant chunk only start after getting driving bans.

If the cyclist themselves are not particularly fast or confident they may be fed up with being berated by fast confident cyclists in the cycle lane, i cycle close to walking seed, possibly slower on hills!

Cyclists- ‘We don’t like cycling on the road because it’s dangerous’
Council-‘Here’s a lane especially for you with no pedestrians or motorists to worry about’
Cyclists-‘that’s no good either’

🤷‍♀️

I don't understand why the location has to be kept a secret? If it was shared, maybe a cyclist could explain things from their POV.

Could it be that the cycle path leaves them on the wrong side of the road?
Not a good reason, but a reason.
Unless the cyclists are really bombing along I wouldn't be giving way to them on a footpath, just walk slowly in the middle.

"Cyclists" are not one breed.

Regular confident cyclists much prefer cycling on the road and feel safe there.

Cycle lanes are built by councils giving lip service to a transport policy supposed to encourage more people to cycle and get cars (not bikes) off the road. They're very rarely well designed. They may be OK for a pootler or a family group, but they're usually not designed for proper cycling.

Cyclists- ‘We don’t like cycling on the road because it’s dangerous’

Council-‘Here’s a lane especially for you with no pedestrians or motorists to worry about. But it’s just the gutter that we’ve painted a nice line around. It’s not tarmaced properly, it’s also never cleaned so is full of debris on a daily basis. Oh and it ends 4 foot from where it starts, deposits you into a dangerous position on the road and, we know it wasn’t where you said needed a dedicated cycle Lane either but.. ’

Cyclists-‘that’s no good either’

Motorists - “hurrr durrrrr why are cyclists so stoooopid hurrrr durrr”

So what’s the answer?

but they're usually not designed for proper cycling

So in the OP’s example the ‘proper cycling’ (whatever that is-presumably at speed?) is done on the pedestrian path instead?

Mysterian

Maybe it's dangerous? Cycle paths often are. Visibility could be poor for them too.

Yes, but they are then selfishly causing a danger to pedestrians. Rule 64 of the Highway Code says that cyclists must never cycle on the pavement.

Simonjt

Cycle paths on roads have a poor camber, as a result they’re full of stones, leaves and other debris, this hugely increases the risk of a cyclsd skidding, its also the same reason us motorcyclists don’t ride alongside the curb.

The reason that motorcyclists don ride next to the kerb is that we are entitled to the full lane. Riding in the gutter on a test is a fail.

What? All of them?…. Every single one?

Cyclists are also entitled to the full lane, the main reason riding in/near the gutter is a fail is due to the skid risk from poor road surface, not the poorer visibility of us from other road users.

Maybe it's just habit? Used to ride there, still ride there.

People are guessing at reasons, none f which appear to be relevant here, because we don't know the bridge. But if the trac itself is good, I'd suspect either poor signage or people just not checking the signage. I ended up on the pedestrian part of a bridge by accident recently and it was a loooong bridge. Big regrets - got off and walked once I realised I'd screwed up, as it wasn't wide enough to ride at all.

Sometimes lovely long purpose built cycle paths are difficult to get on and off - maybe they only have a brief section of dropped kerb at the beginning. If you miss that then you can be stuck cycling along by it looking a bit silly for ages!

It seems like it's a bidirectional cycle lane on one side of the road, with the footpath the other side of the road.
I assume the cycle lane is properly used in the direction adjacent to traffic flow, but is a lot more hassle in the other direction.
Eg. Cycling up the footpath vs crossing 4 lanes of traffic, over the bridge on the cycle lane, back over 4 lanes of traffic to rejoin the road.
We need a Google Map screenshot or diagram to work out exactly what the issue is though, it's not clear from your posts.

Yawn 🥱

It does sound like a question for the local FB Spotted page maybe the cyclists could explain why the pedestrian lane is better.

It’s different. All drivers are confident enough to drive on the road & roughly know their highway code. Most Cyclists (bar a very few) can’t ride in a straight line / have no concept of what they should be doing & a significant chunk only start after getting driving bans.
generalisation much????? I know loads of unconfident drivers, particularly when it comes to overtaking other road users. There are also hundreds of uninsured, unlicensed and disqualified drivers on the road. I certainly see several drivers in breach of the highway code on a regular basis!

I do think some people don't give us cyclists a good name, I hate pavement cyclists. I'm a slow middle aged cyclist but if I can cycle on the road, so can anyone! And most drivers are pretty good really. Unfortunately only takes the odd one to scare the shit out of you.
I have never heard of someone starting to cycle because of a driving ban!! Most banned drivers seem to stay in their cars!

I've drawn a diagram, sorry it's not very good. It's a much longer bridge but I've shortened it to show the entrances to the footpath. I should add that before the pavement on the right hand side of the diagram splits off into the footpath and cycle path, cyclists do cycle on the pavement as it isn't possible to cycle on the road, but it is quite wide so usually not a problem