To get annoyed with cyclists not using cycle lanes?

[AKMD]

In the town I live in there is a big A road leading straight into the town centre, with a cycle lane running the whole way to the countryside alongside it. Most of the track is set back from the road. I use it; it's lovely.

As a car driver, I often pass cyclists ignoring the lovely cycle lane and using the road instead, forcing cars to slow down and pull partially onto the wrong side of the road to pass them. I hate overtaking cyclists. I'm always scared of either knocking them off if they wobble or having a head-on collision with cars coming in the opposite direction. On normal roads I have to get over it but on this road I am getting increasingly irritated. AIBU?

Evilgiraffe thank you, he's fine. Shaken up. But fine. The second accident resulted in him being injured, and he still occasionally has problems with it.

I think the last incident with the road rage did for my nerves more than he was hurt. Having the phone ring and have him say, "I've had another accident" isn't good.

DH is a fit bloke. It would be impossible to stick to the speed limits for him. In traffic in the city, he keeps up with the pace of traffic, so realistically why should he be relagated to a second class road user?

Just use your eyes, and be patient. Not hard as a driver. Other countries manage with far more cyclists. The default in holland is the driver in an accident is always at fault - it means that drivers treat cyclists with respect and give them a wide berth. I wish the same happened here.

I worry that next time it will be the police on the doorstep
.

YABU. As others have said, cycle lanes are hopeless because they force you to give way at every single side junction - and as a commuter on a fast road bike I haven't got the time for that. You'll see me out in the flow of traffic where I belong, thanks very much!

I seem to remember many years ago that the Cyclists' Touring Club was actually opposed to cycle paths because they thought that their introduction might lead to the right of cyclists to use the road being weakened.

I do not think cyclists should feel any compulsion to use cycle tracks. As has been pointed out they are very variable in quality and ease of use. Obviously there some roads from which they need to be excluded (motorways of course, and busy/fast trunk roads) but I think the default position should be to permit them.

the amount of broken glass you encounter on cycle lanes though is unbelievable. I wonder how that much glass can get broken up and down the paths, unless it is deliberate?