AIBU to expect cyclists to use the cycle lane?

[Riddlemedee]

I am lucky to live in a lovely seaside town. There is a very busy 50mph costal road in and out. It is single lane. There is a substantial wide , well maintained, recently renovated cycle/walk path along the whole route. But some (not all) cyclists still use the road. This is dangerous, causes huge traffic backlogs and the more impatient (stupid) drivers take risks when overtaking the cyclists. I can’t see a reason why they would still use the road, any ideas anyone?

As infuriating as it is, they have the right to be on the road.

Having the right to do something doesn't mean it's the fair thing to do. They should be using the cycle path.

Yes they do have a right to be on the road, however I’m trying to understand why the beautiful, wide, well maintained cycle lane isn’t being used. That is all.

If it is shared with walkers that will put some off for a start.
Cyclists are allowed to use the road. It is not their fault that some drivers are idiots.

The problem is perhaps the cycle path is like ours lovely new tarmac big dividing line path/cycle lane .
Practically impossible to cycle on Kids run all over both sides of it . Straight into oncoming bikes uncontrolled dogs not on leads .

Have you used the cycle path OP?

Depends on the type of cycling being done.
For a person doing a training spin then being near pedestrians is dangerous as they are trying to go fast.
Someone cycling as a means of transport should probably use the cycle lane. Though as a person who just potters about on my bike I hate mixed use paths.

Cyclists, along with pedestrians and horse riders, have a right to use the road, motorists don't. They need to seek permission via a driving license.

They have every right to be on the road.

If the cycle lane is like 99% of all cycle lanes, it's most likely completely unfit for purpose.

The cycle lanes near us aren’t swept often enough and contain a lot of branches, leaves etc from the mature trees lining the road. They are separated off by the road by ‘wands’ too meaning street cleaning vehicles can’t access them.

So I used to think this. Then i started cycling. And got yelled at by some men in a van for going on the road. The cycle path in question is a newish shared use cycle and pedestrian path. It doesnt get used much by pedestrians but when they do it's annoying, pedestrians now often have headphones in listening to music and they dont hear a bell and it's hard to get past them in places. But what is really annoying is that it's on a main road, with lots of feeder roads and junctions and because it's a path format rather than a cycle path, at every junction (every 50m or so) I have to stop and give way to cars and effectively 'cross' the road. It isnt annoying when you're walking but it's really annoying to stop every 30 seconds on the bike, it means you cant get any speed up and I dont feel like I'm getting any exercise which for me is the whole point. So in those circumstances I'd go on the road

I'm guessing if cyclists aren't using it, there's something wrong with the design.
You're right, why would you risk the road if there's a cycle lane? The fact that they do suggests that the cycle lane doesn't work or feel safe.

Our cycle path is alongside the pavement. Kids wander into it, people walk in it, my favourite is when people who have their dogs on leads allow their pet to wander into it and create a trip wire dangerous for all.

It's fine for me because I'm on a shopper bike not going anywhere very fast but for people trying to get to work or exercising in earnest, the pedestrians are a nuisance.

I think shared pedestrian/ cyclist paths should be banned.

Cycle leaves are great in theory. Unfortunately some of them are badly designed, and even extremely dangerous IME.

Yanbu. I'm a walker and it annoys me when cyclists use the road instead of a shared cycle / footpath.

Why they'd put themselves in danger baffles me.

*lanes !!

Seems that a lot of infrastructure is not designed with the user consulted. This coupled with outrage from very vocal motorists who resist any inconvenience or suggestion that they're not the most important road users.

We have cycle paths going into town. They are narrow strips painted on the pavement. People wander all over them. People open their car doors onto them. The only cyclists who use them are kids messing about on bikes on the pavement claiming this is ok because they are 'on the cycle path'.

@Riddlemedee I feel your frustration especcially when you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry.
However, what looks like a well mantained and wonderfully designed cycle lane can feel very different to a cyclist. Our local council recently installed bollards in between the traffic lane and the edge of the cycle lane which made it much more dangerous for any cyclist as they would be unable to avoid any obstruction so the use of the lane dropped significantly.

Many cycle lanes that have been installed on the side of the road go over the drainage grates / man hole covers that can be lethal to cyslists when hit at speed. As @Aroundtheworldin80moves says Cyclists are fully entitled to use the road and the highway code is clear that they don't have to use a cycle path if one is provided.
If there are lots of cyclists not using it then it would imply that there is an issue with the Cycle Path i'm afraid.

Im a cyclist and don't always use cycle lanes. Cycling at 20mph just isn't compatible with cycling on a cycle track that has kids and dogs wandering all over it. They also aren't always maintained very well and could be full of holes, covered in leaves etc.

We have a cycle lane alongside the main road bypassing our village. Wonderful thing kept separate from pedestrians by a grass verge but, and this is a massive but, it then has to cross all the side roads and as usual cars believe they have priority so at every junction bikes are expected to stop and give way which they wouldn't if riding on the road. Most cycle lanes are like this unless directly on the road and it's a shite system that negatively impacts cyclists

@megletthesecond

Yanbu. I'm a walker and it annoys me when cyclists use the road instead of a shared cycle / footpath.

Why they'd put themselves in danger baffles me.

It can feel more dangerous on the shared path. Pedestrians with earphones, dogs, toddlers taking sudden sidesteps.

As others have said, shared pedestrian/cycle paths are a pain in the arse. If you’re on a bike, you have to pootle along at walking speed weaving round walkers/dogs/children, and if you’re walking you’re constantly on alert for the bikes.

Think about it for a second - this looks like a lovely brilliant new cycle lane to you, but the people actually cycling aren’t using it. Is it more likely that they have some mendacious wish to slow down the almighty traffic? Or is it more likely the cycle lane isn’t as great as it looks to someone who isn’t using it?

I always use a cycle path by preference, but I'm a fairly sedate cyclist. IME well maintained cycle paths don't exist and if you're travelling at speed this becomes very important indeed. They might look like a good path from the road, but potholes, missing drain covers, pedestrians, dogs and broken glass are real hazards to a cyclist travelling at 20mph.

Why are cycle paths always covered in broken glass? It's almost like people bear cyclist a grudge