To expect cyclists to actually cycle on the road or cycle path??

[NikkiBFG]

Am sick to death of them whizzing past me at dangerous speeds on the pavement! I'm profoundly deaf and don't hear them on the pavement so if I moved thinking there was nothing behind me, could cause a nasty collision as so many of them are going way too fast!

They don't seem to obey traffic lights either!!

I wish our cyclists would use the cycle paths provided but they still use the road whats the point of spending the money if they dont get used

I would assume that (unless you have some very peculiar cyclists round your way) that there is a good reason for people choosing to use a busy road instead of the cycle lanes provided.

Do they start or end abruptly with no obvious way on or off? Or is joining/leaving them too too dangerous to be worth the risk?

Evenhope - that is exactly why there is usually a section at junctions reserved for cyclists.
When I find motorists hogging them I still move in front so they can't avoid seeing me. Unfortunately it takes longer to get going when there's not room to point your bike in the right direction

If a cycle lane runs along a residential bit of road, then it has lots of ups and downs for drive entrances. Easier to go on the road for cycling at any speed.

Haven't had time to read all posts, but seems to me that many cyclists are getting a rough deal. you try to be green, you try to get some exersize, but if you go on the road you are putting yourself in serious danger (not on all roads though), and if you go on the path you have to be really careful (which is the only responsible thing to do).

Cyclists will be able to stay permanently on the road when there are also only responsible car drivers on them. Even cycle paths (where there are those elusive things) start and stop and go through the middle of pathways, or get parked on, or get cars stopping and opening their doors into (dh narrowly missed hospitalization because somebody did this). It's not great at the moment for cyclists.

Rant about cars over, OP was absolutely right, cyclists should also respect other pavement/road users, and not be selfish. I don't ride a bike myself, and i will not let my kids ride them either.

I ride a bike and so do my two children to school. they ride on the pavement and I try to encorage tem to ring their bells when coming behind a pedistrian. problem is that when the pedistrian has an ipod stick in their ear , or busy texting, or busy yaking on their mobile they are unaware of what is behind them , infact they are unaware of what is happening around them full stop.

Also when you have designated cycle pths some of them are split into two lanes , claerly many of them are clearly split into two lanes , one marked cyclists the other pedistrians, oh how mnay times have I had to cycle round a pedistrian !

Swings and round and abouts dont put all the blame on cyclists .

I do agree that they must obey the highway code and observe traffic lights and signs etc, but so must all road users -drivers and pedistrians.

True, point noted. Have also noticed lack of pedestrian intelligence in use of cycle paths etc.
But then you would think someone could listen to some music and not expect to get run down from behind for it, surely? Unless they are taking up the whole path! And cyclists are just as guilty of using the wrong lane. The problem is as you said, stupid people who block out the world around them entirely and stay put in the wrong lane.

I'm a serious cyclist often too "sniffy" to use "lovely cycle paths".

Because they give way every 100 yards at superstore and petrol station driveways, and nearly all cycle paths are designed for unconfident cyclists travelling under 10mph, space usually shared with pedestrians.

It's true, ask any civil engineer, that's who and how they design cycle paths for. They're designed for people who simply wouldn't cycle at all without a cycle path (ie., children, wobbly mums and old ladies). I don't want to be barrelling down a cycle path at 15-20mph next to wandering pedestrians, wobbly child cyclists and deaf old ladies with their shopping trollies. Rather take my chances in the road if at all possible.

Seems to me that inconsiderate road users drive all kinds of vehicles. Could just as eaily be having a whinge thread about maniac teenage hoody mopeders, white van man or flat-cap wearing old-men drivers.

Pedstrians are an utter nuisance on cycle paths. They seem to think it is some very optional thing and that you won't actually find a cycle ON the path, or maybe just one coming along ar 2 mph that won't mind at all that you and your 4 children are walking slap bang down the middle of it

I will cycle on the pavement or the road or the cycle path or wherever I choose, at a sensible speed, being cautious, until there is a proper network of cycle paths and safe roads all over the county, that haven't got arseholes meandering down the middle of them

CU I think you have a point actually

when people are listening to music / on their mobile they are NOT really aware of what is going on around them and that includes other pedestrians, children, cyclists, dogs, joggers, etc

I do it myself but I think it's not actually the greatest idea to be walking along oblivious to all the other people around you

I think there should be more emphasis on cyclists in the driving tests - I think a lot of people have not used bicycles since they were children and don't really see things from a cyclist's (vulnerable) point of view.

Yeah, we use the road and might sometimes hold you up for a few seconds but you have at least two exhaust pipes pumping out toxins and I have just the one

Civil engineers who work in city planning should be obliged to cycle regularly down the stupid cycle routes they come up with so another box can be ticked...

That might both save some lives and reduce the number of people cycling down the footpath.

lljkk, I see your point but this one doesn't give way every 100 yards (doesn't give way at all), has no side roads, has no pedestrians, has no driveways, no parked cars. And it was built at great expense at the request of cyclists. I really, really don't have a problem with cyclists. I just don't get it when I am behind one for the best part of 4 miles because I can't overtake.

I am lucky enough to be able to bike it most days to work - cycle lanes are a rather difficult ot use, for the reasons mentioned. They are unusable to the most extent, and yes, I have never seen a car with a ticket on it for parking blocking a cycle lane.
And I do cross the lines at lights, in order to get a head start - I have no desire to be squashed by left turning traffic - happened once, bike and I went under a lorry..lorry paused up ahead to see if I got up...then buzzed off. Bastard.

Where car drivers moan about the bullying selfishness of bikers, it is a bit of a joke tbh.