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!

Better design. where they actually listen to cyclists.

And better behaviour by other road users generally. If you haven’t cycled around a city, you probably don’t realise how many scary drivers who seem to take joy in endangering cyclists there are. Bus drivers can be really dreadful.

I don’t go on the pavement, but some drivers become incredible arseholes when they get behind the wheel. Other driver know this, but the significance doesn’t fully register because they’re safe inside their own cars. It’s very different when you’re on a bike.

And so many cycle lanes are so very badly designed. There’s a stupid double roundabout near me, and the road planners’ solution for cyclists is to divert them onto the (narrow and often busy, including with school children) pavements and have them use 6 pedestrian crossings rather than just using the road. It’s dreadful but the response of drivers when you just use the road is terrifying. A small, but significant, proportion of them seem to feel that you have transgressed by not using the poorly conceived cycle lanes and that gives them license to drive in a threatening manner (and sometimes ti shout at you from the window).

At the heart of most ‘bloody cyclists’ problems, there are some truly awful, aggressive drivers. It’s just that you see the displaced cyclists as the problem (they may well be a problem, but the root cause is often the behaviour of drivers).

Or that some of the awful drivers also cycle, and they are as aggressive, entitled and generally awful when on two wheels. They don’t care about scaring pedestrians who’ve dared to be in their way.

Because they are twats who care about their own safety and have invaded the safe places pedestrians even though there are miles of cycle lanes.

So what’s the answer?

Fines. The higher the better.

But none of that really relates to the OP’s situation where cyclists have their own lane away from the dangerous cars with twatty drivers but want to cycle in the pedestrian bit putting them at risk . 🤔

From the diagram, perhaps if a cyclist is on the pavement already (as stated) it's not that easy to get through a flow of cyclists going against your direction of travel to get to your side of the lane before the railings corral you onto the fence bit.

Sparklingbrook

...maybe the cyclists could explain why the pedestrian lane is better.

I'd be interested to see their explanation of why Highway Code rule 64 doesn't apply to them!

In my experience cycle lanes are jam packed with parked cars or pot holes, which if your bike wheel goes into you are absolutely stuffed. So maybe that.

Can you show me where there is a road cycle path segregated from traffic and with pedestrians banned? ... they do not exist.

I use a tarmac cycle path nr me that was built specifically to remove cyclists from a busy A road, it is used by walkers, runners, mums with push chairs, toddlers, dogs off lead, people even have picnics on it!!!

....and thats all great but its gone from a cycle path to a general purpose one, so now many keen cyclists now use the main road :(

At the heart of most ‘bloody cyclists’ problems, there are some truly awful, aggressive drivers.

At the heart of my problems when I'm out walking are some truly awful, aggressive cyclists who speed on the pavements.

So they should go on the road rather than the pedestrian lane surely?

Oh yes, and I always do, I am a road cycles and never a pavement cyclist - I was just answering the general point about why cycle lanes were not always good places for cyclists, not advocating taking over pavements. I should have explained myself a little better.

But none of that really relates to the OP’s situation where cyclists have their own lane away from the dangerous cars with twatty drivers but want to cycle in the pedestrian bit putting them at risk

As i said.... the cycle path is probably also used by walkers etc so it makes no diiference.

Outside of mtb trail centres, there are no specific cycle lanes, people can walk where they like & even in a MTB centre people will walk on the trails too and get very angry when a mtb er appears.....

Because some people are just idiots. We had a new cycle path put in recently that goes over a very dangerous, narrow, winding hill. It is hugely dangerous for a cyclist so the path was built totally separate from the road. It’s wide, safe and no longer than the road. It was done probably 2 years ago now but do I still have to pass a cyclist on the road every bloody day… yes I do. There’s no point trying to understand their decision making. Just accept that some people don’t have common sense

As i said.... the cycle path is probably also used by walkers etc so it makes no diiference.

Does that happen @bridgewalker ?

The view? or the speed limit? There is a bridge near me which has a 60mph speed limit. Not pleasant for cyclists who are only separated from cars and lorries by flimsy plastic bollards. The view from the bridge is also quite spectacular. The new railings separating the pedestrians and cyclists rob the cyclists of the view now.

From the diagram, it’s likely that it’s the cycle lane design makes it problematic for the cyclists in some way. And the road is probably dreadful.

a cycle lane existing does not mean it’s fit for purpose and properly connected to other cycle lanes (or the road network). ‘But there’s a cycling lane’ can actually cause more problems than it solves, when that lane is very poorly designed or maintained.

there is the possibility that it is just the arsehole cyclist contingent using it. But they are selfish wankers, so they would use the cycle lane if it were a better option.

Making the cycling lanes the best option for cyclists is a win for everyone.

Poor loves.

So they should rob the pedestrians of their safety to enjoy the views?

How do they get back on the road? Or to the cycle lane?

Is it properly maintained? Or is it covered in slippery leaves that never get cleared?

What’s the lighting like on the path?

Who else uses it?

You might, as a driver, assume it’s safe. But if people are choosing the narrow, problematic road instead, then the lane isn’t a better option.

Cyclists are totally allowed to be on the road. Even if there’s a cycle lane. Drivers need to accept that having to pass a cyclist is just part of driving. Same as buses that stop or having to pull over to let ambulances past.

It is not OK for cyclists to be bothering pedestrians by cycling on the pavement. But drivers are being ridiculous for complaining they’re on the road.

Here is an amazing thing.
I spent last week cycling in another country, on roads, no cycle lanes in that area.
One car of the 1000s that passed me did so too close.
The rest were respectful and waited for there to be space to pass.
Why are UK motorists not like that.
That was off topic.
Cyclists should not be on the footpath, that is for pedestrians.

Cycle lanes (not in this case but there are far too many) should not be on the footpath either.

Yes. But that’s actually a symptom rather than the cause.

Not RTFT but I avoid cycle lanes If

• if they are full of junk - small grit and pebbles for example - they often clean the road by shoving the junk into the cycle lane

• if there is a tendency for cars to park on them

• if they run out ok weird place or make it hard to turn right at a roundabout

• if i am going at a fast running pace and the cycle path is shared with pedestrians and heavily used

• if the road is really too narrow for a cycle lane then car drivers often assume the "give cyclists space" does not apply to anyone in the cycle lane - it's bit fun being clipped when in the cycle lane

Agree with PP that fit for purpose cycle lanes are a rare thing but a great thing

If you aren't allowed to cycle on roads until you have passed a mandatory test (the evidence of car drivers suggests that mandatory tests does little to improve driving), then surely all those who are yet to pass the test, will be on the pavements making the situation worse?

And where do you cycle when you avoid the cycle lanes?

On the road or on the footpaths?

Often when a cycle lane is simply a painted line on the road, it is too narrow.
The safe place for a cyclist to cycle along a road, is in a position that a car cannot pass unless the oncoming carriageway is clear. By staying in a narrow cycle lane the cyclist is closer to the curb than is sensible. Cars are then more likely to pass when it is not safe to do so.

Not read the thread.

Reasons for not using cycle lanes:

• You may think the lanes appears free of debris but close up without doubt you would be wrong. They usually full of glass, rubbish, stones, fallen road signs, dead animals- any number of things that can throe you off if you go over them.
• Drivers turning onto the road look right and scan the road, they don't "see" the cyclist who is further over if they stay in the lane, no matter how much high-viz or lights you are wearing. If you cycle with the traffic you are in their line of sight with the cars. This is all the fault of drivers so don't blame cyclists for this.
• I might be turning right myself which means I necessarily have to come out of the lane and into the road.
• People park in them, forcing you to pull out dangerously from the lane into traffic, on some routes this is so common that the lane is unusable and you are more of a hazard pulling in and out of the lane.
• People close pass you, forgetting that they must still allow a car's width to pass even when you are in the lane; if you stay with other traffic they are less likely to do this. Less chance of "close passing" = less chance of me dying under your wheels.