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Original poster

Why are cyclists not using the cycle lane?

169 replies

bridgewalker · 23/12/2022 05:56

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!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 23/12/2022 09:27

The arsehole cyclists around here seem to like the canal tow paths. There's no way they are going to stop, walkers have the choice of leaping into the canal one side or the long wet grass the other.

There's a blind corner going into a tunnel where there's a 'Cyclists Dismount' sign but I've never seen anyone do that.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 23/12/2022 09:27

I think i shouldn't have quoted what i did.... i was reply to Chardonnay who wanted cyclists fined for being on a footpath...

I do, I want them registered and insured and fined when they don't follow the rules.

As for fining pedestrians, then surely even you must recognise the fact that cyclists are more dangerous to pedestrians. I've not seen a pedestrian on wheels bombing through at 25 mph.

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:28

Most cyclists are ok, but about 20% of them are arseholes, highest percentage of any road used IMHO.

I’m not convinced. I think the arsehole behaviour of drivers is just less obvious to you.

There are an alarming number of drivers who feel aggrieved if they have to slow down, stop or give way. Who block pedestrian crossings at junctions. Who drive too close to everything, including other drivers. Who don’t so much park as abandon their cars wherever is most convenient to them. Who speed. And so on.

But we are so used to that we forget how ordinary poor driving is.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cycling Driving & parking
tulips27 · 23/12/2022 09:32

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat I do, I want them registered and insured and fined when they don't follow the rules.

Being insured and registered doesn't seem to do anything to discourage mental, arrogant motorists who endanger cyclists' lives. Do you realise most cyclists will face at least one such incident every single time they go out? I have reported someone who almost killed me this summer. Nothing has been done. I am attacked by these people (drivers) every time I go out.

You should cycle somewhere and see how it really is.

Sparklingbrook · 23/12/2022 09:32

The thread has started to focus on drivers behaviour towards cyclists but the OP is all about pedestrians and cyclists, doesn’t involve drivers at all. In this scenario there’s a lane for pedestrians, one for cyclists, nothing to do with cars.

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:33

Sparklingbrook · 23/12/2022 09:32

The thread has started to focus on drivers behaviour towards cyclists but the OP is all about pedestrians and cyclists, doesn’t involve drivers at all. In this scenario there’s a lane for pedestrians, one for cyclists, nothing to do with cars.

Classic Whataboutery from the indignant cyclists.

midgetastic · 23/12/2022 09:34

But I know of 2 people hospitalised by pedestrians walking in front of cycles who were in a cycle path

And I got taken out by one also whist on a cycle path - but didn't need hospital although a passing nurse insisted on checking me out

In all cases the cyclist came off worst - in 2 cases it was because the cyclist tried to avoid hitting other people ( a small child in my case ) and in the other case the cyclist was thrown in the path of a car

So let's register all pedestrians also

I don't know of anyone who has been hit by a cyclists

Not saying it doesn't happen , just saying that it's not as simple as cyclist bad pedestrians good

There are dicks in all forms of transport but the damage a car can do makes it the most dangerous and should therefore be more highly controlled

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:34

An adult cycling on a pavement is inexcusable.

Alexandra2001 · 23/12/2022 09:35

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 23/12/2022 09:27

I think i shouldn't have quoted what i did.... i was reply to Chardonnay who wanted cyclists fined for being on a footpath...

I do, I want them registered and insured and fined when they don't follow the rules.

As for fining pedestrians, then surely even you must recognise the fact that cyclists are more dangerous to pedestrians. I've not seen a pedestrian on wheels bombing through at 25 mph.

A pedestrian walking out in front of a cyclist, say doing 10 or 12mph and knocking them off.. may well cause serious injury, broken wrist or collar bone would be common plus damage to an expensive bicycle.

So lets register and insure pedestrians too... happy for ALL non vehicle "traffic" to be insured and registered....

How would you police that children are also insured and registered?

I fail to see why a cycle path is built at huge expense to take cyclists away from a busy road but then open it up for all.... and then have cries of "cyclists go too fast on the cycle path built for them"

midgetastic · 23/12/2022 09:35

People asked why they don't use the new cycle lane

There are lots of reasons and they all involve cars

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:35

It’s not whataboutery.

The explanation for the cyclists bothering the pedestrians probably lies in the commonplace poor behaviour if drivers.

The cyclists on the pavement are still wrong. But the OP wanted to know why they might be doing it.

BooksAndHooks · 23/12/2022 09:35

bridgewalker · 23/12/2022 06:35

It's not short, doesn't seem to have a lot of debris on it and (to me, a non-cyclist) seems a lot less dangerous than using the pedestrian path!

The bridge used to have 3 lanes of traffic, but has now gone down to 2, with the remaining space as the cycle lane, so it is very wide! It is also seperated from the road by bollards. I've actually walked along it in the past when the pedestrian side was flooded, it has a much smoother surface and doesn't seem to get as many puddles.

This will be why. The ones with bollards seem to be harder for road sweeper vehicles etc to get to so they quickly become dangerous with built up debris.

midgetastic · 23/12/2022 09:37

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:34

An adult cycling on a pavement is inexcusable.

Agreed - you should walk your bike if you need to use a path section for safety reason

And get shouted abuse as a result

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:37

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:34

An adult cycling on a pavement is inexcusable.

I’m not excusing it.

offering an explanation for the behaviour.

Thing about fixing bad behaviour is that it is much better to fix the causes and drivers than to keep saying ‘but they’re wrong’.

Pondere · 23/12/2022 09:38

I don’t get this. I live in a part of London that removed a lane from the road for cars and turned it into a bike lane. So much much safer for cyclists now.

Yet so many either they still ride in the middle of the road slowing down traffic or the pavement, with an unused bike lane right next to them.

And then those who do use the bike lane ignore the traffic lights half the time too.

I just don’t get it. Driving in London has become worse to cater for all these bike lanes (which, as a driver, I don’t object to, as I would rather cyclists are safe), so why aren’t they being used.

CoffeeBoy · 23/12/2022 09:40

bridgewalker · 23/12/2022 07:09

I didn't mean to start a cyclist bashing thread! I don't have a problem with them other than on this specific bridge, I was just wondering why they do this and honestly I'm still none the wiser as all the reasons people have given don't seem to apply, other than maybe a signage issue or people using the pedestrian side out of habit.

I should mention that when it was a shared path, there was a sign at either end telling cyclists to dismount, although they never did, so it was never really meant for cycling on. It always annoyed me having to step aside for them before, but now I'm both annoyed and confused!

That’s not necessarily true. There is a bridge near me on a tow path which is a national bridleway where there are signs telling cyclists to dismount. I ignore them. Though I do stop if there are pedestrians (rarely in the week). There is no legal necessity to dismount on a bridleway which has been there since the Roman times and certainly long before they built a new fancy marina which meant a cutting was made in the path and a bridge built. But the path was always meant for cycling on regardless of the signs.

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:40

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:35

It’s not whataboutery.

The explanation for the cyclists bothering the pedestrians probably lies in the commonplace poor behaviour if drivers.

The cyclists on the pavement are still wrong. But the OP wanted to know why they might be doing it.

She wanted to know why they were illegally using the pavement rather than the separate cycle Lane. Nothing to do with cars. The fault for cycling on a footpath lies 100% with the cyclists.

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:40

Maybe try using the cycle lanes. Then the mystery of why other people don’t might unravel for you.

SinnerBoy · 23/12/2022 09:41

midgetastic

Not RTFT but I avoid cycle lanes If

And in such cases, do you ride on the pavement?

Anexschoolbusdriver · 23/12/2022 09:43

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:28

Most cyclists are ok, but about 20% of them are arseholes, highest percentage of any road used IMHO.

I’m not convinced. I think the arsehole behaviour of drivers is just less obvious to you.

There are an alarming number of drivers who feel aggrieved if they have to slow down, stop or give way. Who block pedestrian crossings at junctions. Who drive too close to everything, including other drivers. Who don’t so much park as abandon their cars wherever is most convenient to them. Who speed. And so on.

But we are so used to that we forget how ordinary poor driving is.

I drive a car, I cycle, I walk a heck of a lot and, as you might guess from my user name, I used to drive buses.

I stand by my cyclists are the highest % of arseholes guestimate.

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:43

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:37

I’m not excusing it.

offering an explanation for the behaviour.

Thing about fixing bad behaviour is that it is much better to fix the causes and drivers than to keep saying ‘but they’re wrong’.

Show quote history

The actual explanation is that they feel entitled to cycle on the pavement if they want to. The cause of a cyclist cycling on the pavement is not a driver.

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:44

TheYummyPatler · 23/12/2022 09:40

Maybe try using the cycle lanes. Then the mystery of why other people don’t might unravel for you.

Does that mean you are entitled to cycle on a pedestrian only area?

midgetastic · 23/12/2022 09:45

SinnerBoy · 23/12/2022 09:41

midgetastic

Not RTFT but I avoid cycle lanes If

And in such cases, do you ride on the pavement?

Already answered
For the third time
If I need to use a pedestrian section for safety I walk the bike

This frequently also gets abuse

SoupDragon · 23/12/2022 09:46

As an aside, I can't actually find anything that says a pedestrian can't walk in a cycle lane. ( I don't walk in cycle lanes, not least because there aren't any here that aren't just the teeny strip at the side of the road)

Sparklingbrook · 23/12/2022 09:48

There is a bridge near me on a tow path which is a national bridleway where there are signs telling cyclists to dismount. I ignore them

Why?

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