AIBU - cyclists should use the cycle lane on the huge pavement?

[Fizzielove]

AIBU to feel really annoyed when I see a cyclist on the road - when there is a special lane on the pavement (which was specially widened to provide a cycle lane with a white line and everything!)

I mean seriously - USE THE CYCLE LANE!! I get sooooo annoyed!! They hold up the traffic because everyone has to give them a wide birth.

AIBU to get annoyed and want to put the window down and shout at them "Use the f cycle lane - that's what it's there for!!!"

No sensible cyclist chooses a risky route.

^^This.

in this case it's a busy four lane straight road

Sometimes the entrance to the cycle lane isn't marked very well, or with enough notice. I try to avoid busy roads, but I have cycled on busy, straight roads before and have suddenly realised that there is a cycle lane on the pavement. By that point it's far too late to join it; the busy traffic means that I can't stop, and the kerb stops me from being able to swing across. Some of the cyclists may be caught out this way, and be just as annoyed at being on the road as you are.

I think YABU.

I cycle and drive to work depending on the weather. Before I began cycling I used to get annoyed at cyclists.
But now, I've nothing but respect! It's drivers like you that make it very intimidating cycling on the road. It's dangerous at the best of times.

I can't use the cycle lanes for the majority of my commute for a number of reasons but most being massive potholes, lots of broken glass (I don't know how many punctures I've had) and cars parked on the lane itself. It would be far far more dangerous for myself and other road users if I were to go weaving out of the flow of traffic. So I can choose to cycle on the footpath which is illegal and very dangerous or take my chances with aggressive drivers.
I agree there are some horrible cyclists out there, just as there are horrible drivers.

I think it's up to the councils to ensure the cycle paths are maintained and actually make sense.

Just chill. Everybody has to be somewhere and I promise you will have a much nicer day if you let it go. I do!

Also, just keep in mind that cyclists are much more vulnerable on the road than you are in your car. It's dangerous for cyclists and we would much prefer to be safe in our own lanes but in their current condition and layout, it's not possible.

YABU Damned if you do and damned if you don't as a cyclist IME.

I frequently use cycle routes to get to work. They are primarily cycle ways and were built with that in mind. This doesn't stop me getting abuse for ringing a bell (aggressive), abuse for not ringing a bell (differently aggressive). Nor the people playing with dogs, ducking herding dogs offload, free range children and generic arseholes of various types... I commute 11 miles so I can't be pootling along on a Pashley Princess admiring the scenery. I still use these, but have probably had more abuse from wanker pedestrians than I've ever had from drivers when in the road. (Most pedestrians are lovely, incidentally).

Then there are the ones that are poorly designed. A 1 mile stretch requiring 3 dismounts and crossing a busy road, frequently rammed with joggers (there's a separate path fort hose on foot) and with bumpy surfaces that would take you out of you hit them the wrong way with skinny tyres. Sorry in this case I take the road!

Cycle ways are no doubt great for a short pootle with kids, but often no use for those of us cycling for sport, covering big distances or just trying to get to work in a hurry.

OP - what do you do when you are cycling? Do you always use the cycle path?

Our county council has just paid out millions to widen the pavements and make them shared pedestrian/cycle paths between the leisure centre one side of town, through said town, over multi million bridge and to some random point the other side of the bridge. It has resulted in pedestrians being allocated the part that is encroached on by hedges, tree roots and other hazards while the cyclists will have multiple dropped kerbs to negotiate; not to mention junctions which were formally sweeping and easy to turn into/out of but are now very square and difficult for a car to turn into if one is waiting to turn rightout of the junction. Oh, and the black, unlit bollards which demark between cyclist and pedestrian lanes - wonder how long it will be until someone cycles into one late at night?

This is on a Surrey part of the Olympic road race route! !

Cycle paths that share a pavement space with pedestrians are rarely suitable for more than recreational riding.

I would always use a cycle path if it made practical sense to do so, but for commuting or any long distance riding I would be extremely unlikely to choose to share pavement space with pedestrians - dangerous for both parties.

Clearly that should be 'fucking herding dogs off lead'

Autocorrect obviously didn't like my language...

YABU Most cycle lanes are not fit for purpose for a variety of reasons. It is shameful how badly we treat cyclists in this country compared to Germany, Denmark etc. When commuting, pretty much every cyclist you see is one fewer person contributing to the traffic congestion that you are stuck in. You should be thankful for them, not looking for reasons to criticise them.

And most drivers who don't cycle have no idea of the realities of trying to cycle in this country. I once saw a feature on the BBC News where they made a group of lorry drivers do a 'cycling awareness course' that included riding bikes on roads, cycle paths etc. They were horrified about how dangerous and frightening it was and about all the obstacles there were that they had never been aware of before.

I think all drivers (accounting for any disabilities obviously) should have to do something similar.

I rarely if ever use cycle lanes on my road bike - too many runners, dogs, mammy bikes, young children, cranky teenagers etc clogging them up and that's before we talk about the poor quality surface and the broken glass in them.

YANBU. If there's a cycle path they should use it. Very selfish not to.

The OP highlights what is most dangerous about cycling in this country: the attitude of drivers. Cyclists are a viewed as a nuisance, getting in the way, selfish etc etc. The misdemeanors of some are used to tar everyone, and justify abuse. Drivers try and squeeze past when they shouldn't and overtake in dangerous places. And so fewer people cycle which means drivers are less on the lookout for them (there really is safety in numbers).

Until motorists realise they don't own the road and act accordingly cyclists will continue being killed unnecessarily.

And in case you think I'm just another lycra lout, the same applies to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Really, so many drivers don't have a clue what the highway code says about who has priority etc.

YABU. They have as much right to be a road user as you do.

The road is only "dangerously busy" if the cars are driving dangerously.

So don't drive dangerously.

Yabu.

We also had this same arguement/discussion two weeks ago. It ran into hundreds of posts. Can't be arsed to post all my reasons again but there are plenty of reasons why a cyclist may choose to stay on the road. And most importantly they have every right to do so.

Paid for by local people at great expense? Your arrogance is astounding.

This is the type of surface that constitutes a 'cycleway' round here. I've reported it to the council but I doubt it will be repaired until next April.

Cycle paths are not compulsory.

Cyclists have as much right to be on the road as anyone else.

/thread.

AIBU to get annoyed and want to put the window down and shout at them "Use the f cycle lane - that's what it's there for!!!"

Yes YABU. And abusive and ignorant.

I could rant about why but frankly I can't be fucked to rise to the bait of someone who thinks they own the road and is unlikely to listen to reasons why cycle lanes can be dangerous or inappropriate and why cyclists are allowed to use the road even where there is a cycle path.

Instead of telling other road users how to use it, perhaps you should improve your own skills, learn some manners and some patience.

I also recommend this book as its a very good read.

Where is the op? Goady much?
I suggest you try using the aforementioned cycle lane before you embark on your tirade of abuse.
YABU.

OP, your statement is just as silly as if I as a cyclist said I hate all the noisy, fast cars on the roads and think they should only be allowed on motorways.

YABu, bicycles are part of road traffic too and have just as much right to be there as you. It is only because you mistakenly believe roads are for cars that you get annoyed at another legitimate road user using the road legitimately.
Cycle lanes on pavements often get glass on them where I live ( causing punctures), have pedestrians in them and are general crap if you actually want to get anywhere.

I am going to go against prevailing opinion here (god help me) and say YANBU at all.

If a cycle lane is present and space has been taken away from the road and / or pavement for the benefit of cyclists (not to mention the hellish disruption caused and cost to the public purse when building the things) then cyclists should HAVE to use them.

I drive a 4x4 but if there is traffic on the road I'm not allowed to drive off the carriageway, up the bank and off over the verges to get round the traffic am I (even though my vehicle is more than capable).

Why should cyclists pick and choose?

Before I get flamed - I am a keen cyclist. I compete in races but cannot stand this new breed of entitled twats that give us all a bad name!

Entitled twats you said?

Why don't you keep exclusively to single-track roads and avoid the motorways, seeing as your vehicle is obviously so capable.

yanbu. I don't understand why someone would risk their live in traffic. too many bad drivers out there.