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?

It's incredible how many cyclists have said that they want to get to work on time so dislike using cycle paths because pedestrians/hazards slow them down, so instead they drive on the road, slowing many more people down who also wish to get to work on time
I hate to break it to you, but roads will also have horses, tractors, busses, slower moving vehicles on them as well as cyclists. As a driver I need to factor in the fact that my commute may contain any of the above

The issue with hazards on joint use cycle paths is because they make it unsafe for anyone doing more than a leisurely family pootle pace.

Big difference:
Poorly designed shared paths: unsafe for pedestrians and unsafe for cyclists who want to actually cycle
Road: some drivers have to drive a little slower to account for other road users, some of whom are cyclists
Big difference.

I love the cyclist whinges on mumsnet. See also why are cyclists on the cycle paths? I nearly got mown over by a speed freak riding a bike on the shared path when out walking my dog. Omg a cyclists rang their bell on the cycle path to alert me to their presence (as I was in the middle of the cycle path). How aggressive are cyclists? They think they're in the tour de France. Cyclists are the worst.

@Waspsarearseholes

It's incredible how many cyclists have said that they want to get to work on time so dislike using cycle paths because pedestrians/hazards slow them down, so instead they drive on the road, slowing many more people down who also wish to get to work on time. Some cyclists just want it all ways - right of way on roads and on paths. They see slower moving cyclists or pedestrians as an inconvenience yet don't seem to realise, or rather they realise very well but don't care, that they are an inconvenience to faster road users. Lots of cyclists won't be happy unless they have the roads to themselves but it is utterly unrealistic to think that everybody can give up their cars and cycle everywhere. It's not going to happen.

When i ride my bicycle i don't want right of way, i just want to get home in piece and not be terrorised by a small minority of car drivers.

Is that not too much to ask for?

When i ride my bicycle i don't want right of way, i just want to get home in piece and not be terrorised by a small minority of car drivers.
Yes.
It must be hard work being in the minority of car drivers who seem incapable of realising that the roads aren't just for cars.

I wonder what car drivers would say if everyone piled into the road, the centre line became meaningless, people walked their dogs on extended leads down the middle of the road, children played in the middle of the road, pedestrians meandered down the middle of the road with headphones in paying no attention to the existence of any vehicles, roads that stop, random bollards in the road, road furniture to navigate every 2 minutes, trees in the middle of the carriageway etc.

[quote CovidCorvid]**@Underhisi .....And it's not a driver's fault that some cyclists are also idiots. There are fools everywhere, but the narrative that has all drivers as demons and all cyclists as saints is rubbish

Underhisi literally said some drivers.[/quote]
Yes Underhisi did say that. Shame she/he didn't extend that to encompass cyclists

Have you bothered to read the thread? Plenty of PPs have pointed out that cycling lanes are typically not built for them to use, but are merely re-purposed pavements which dangerously mix pedestrians with cyclists.

Well that poster hasn't bothered reading any of the facts about head injuries and helmets and appears to be playing cyclist-hating bingo, so I'll got with 'no, she hasn't read the thread'.

Some cyclists just want it all ways - right of way on roads and on paths. They see slower moving cyclists or pedestrians as an inconvenience yet don't seem to realise, or rather they realise very well but don't care, that they are an inconvenience to faster road users. Lots of cyclists won't be happy unless they have the roads to themselves but it is utterly unrealistic to think that everybody can give up their cars and cycle everywhere. It's not going to happen.

Many cyclists would like a dedicated cycle network. Vanishingly few people want to get rid of cars entirely, or at least realise that it just isn't possible. However, if those that can give up their cars or cut down on their use do so, it does create more room and free up the roads for those who really do rely on cars. When I drive I stay carefully behind cyclists until it really is safe to overtake, if I need to at all. Sometimes they are slower moving than me, particularly if I'm on a fast rural road, but I don't mind the delay. The way I see it, I am choosing to drive something dangerous, large and polluting. You can seat 5 people in my car but I'm in it on my own most of the time. I think therefore that I'm the one 'in the way', not the person on a small vehicle designed for one.

Where I live, the Council have created a new cycle lane. I've never seen a cyclist use it, they are either on the road or the pavement which are in a disgusting state with pot holes etc so I when I go to the surgery weekly on my mobility scooter, I use the cycle lane which has a lovely flat surface.

We have a cycle track network around the town I live in and it’s so dangerous. Pedestrians with earphones in just wandering in front of you. My favourite is the people with dogs on extendable leads. They are on one side and the dog is sniffing in a hedge on the other side. I’ve had 2 serious accidents through this happening and not being able to see the thin extending lead.
I have a bell, I use it frequently and get glared at for doing so. Most people just ignore it though. I do feel safer on the road, I still use the tracks but now if I see pedestrians ahead I tend to hop onto the road to avoid them. We call them ‘cycle track zombies’

I do use some cycle lanes but some really are not fit for purpose. Shared ones are fine when cycling with small children but if you are going at speed then they don't work. Segregated cycle lanes can work really well but often exits and entrances can be limited meaning they only work if you are joining / leaving at the right point. Painted ones are pointless as they are just parking lanes. I actually prefer the quiet ways in London though I know they come with thier own issues for traffic generally.

kidz n dogz

In my town cycle lanes are either covered in broken glass or so poorly maintained they might as well not be there. Dog walkers let their dogs (on and off lead) meander wherever they choose and don’t bother to recall the dog when it’s standing in a cyclists path moving only enough to prevent the cyclist from passing. Most annoying though is the pedestrians who wander along, head in the clouds. Had a couple the other day, footpath (twice as wide as the cycle lane) completely empty so of course they were walking in the cycle lane. Luckily I was able to go around.

I prefer cycle lanes but a lot of the time they’re just not fit for purpose

@HunterAngel genuinely wondering if you are taking about the same town as me. Does it begin with an H?

So basically, cycle paths are just a giant waste of money.

I've always wondered why cyclists prefer to cycle down a very very busy main road, basically holding up all the traffic when there's a perfectly adequate cycle path available to them. Sure it's a shared one with pedestrians however it's not really a pedestrian route, nobody really walks down that road.

As others have said, shared cycle paths with pedestrians are too dangerous. At least with bikes and cars sharing a road, there are clearly defined road markings, and a shared set of rules.

With pedestrians - including dog walkers, children, partially sighted people, people on phones, etc - there is not the same commonality of purpose, and that makes it more dangerous.

Also, cycling on a straight road is not dangerous. The most dangerous part of a cycle journey is junctions. Sometimes, cycle paths are designed so that the number of times you need to leave and join to cross roads, etc, makes it much more dangerous than just staying on the main road.

The only actual traffic jams I’ve ever been held up in were caused by other motorised vehicles. Cyclists slow traffic for a few minutes at best and that time is easily made up. Funny how cyclists get such hate when it’s others causing the real delays.

So basically, cycle paths are just a giant waste of money

Not if they are properly designed by someone who knows what they are doing (sadly this is quite rare).

I think I might live in the same place as you op, I use the coast rd to drive,daily and as i am retired, I am never in a rush, but it is really difficult, to drive slowly behind these cyclists, and yet not safe to overtake, although many drivers do. I have used the cycle path in the past, it is fine, and is even better now as it has recently been widened a bit and resurfaced, so I don't understand why cyclists don't use it.

We had a lovely cycle path built near us a few years ago which connects the town and the leisure centre. It is segregated, safe, has lights, perfect.

Except the stupid council invited dog walkers to use it. NO! They can use everywhere else and there are actually lots of other paths nearby. And you get people with prams using it even though there are plenty of roads with pavements going the same way. AAAAGH.

Yes there is something to be said for having dedicated cycling infrastructure (away from pedestrians too, or at least the dozy ones).

Some cyclists just want it all ways - right of way on roads and on paths

Well actually I feel like cyclists are unwelcome everywhere. If I go on the road, I am in the car driver's way. If I go on the pavement I am in a pedestrian's way. If I go on a bridleway, I am in the way of horses. And if I go on the canal towpath I am in walkers/dog walkers/runners' way too. Where can cyclists actually ride and be welcome?

I don't know the specifics of the cycle lane, but most that I have come across in the UK are poorly designed and not a patch on those in the Netherlands or France, where I have cycled.

Underfunded and put somewhere almost as a box ticking exercise. Whilst we don't tackle the 20-25% of those in cars who are unfit to drive because of previous conduct or in some sad cases, health reasons.

@poppycat10

Some cyclists just want it all ways - right of way on roads and on paths

Well actually I feel like cyclists are unwelcome everywhere. If I go on the road, I am in the car driver's way. If I go on the pavement I am in a pedestrian's way. If I go on a bridleway, I am in the way of horses. And if I go on the canal towpath I am in walkers/dog walkers/runners' way too. Where can cyclists actually ride and be welcome?

No where in the UK.

Its funny because years ago it wasn't like this, possibly because cars were slower and there were far less cyclists around, it was seen as quite a novel thing to do and most people had grown up with bikes so were more tolerant.

Can't wait to get back to Mallorca and roads of France.

So basically, cycle paths are just a giant waste of money.
Not when they are well designed and actively considered as part of a proper transport infrastructure.

I've taken my bike on holiday with me and have enjoyed cycling on the continent. The difference between some of the networks / the overall attitude of drivers there vs the UK was noticeable. There's also more bikes on the cycle routes and roads as cycling is an accepted mode of transport and something that people do for a hobby.

Most people in the UK who cycle for a hobby or cycle to commute will also be drivers, whereas there's a large number of drivers who don't cycle and consequently view anything that isn't them and their car as a nuisance. If more people cycled, more people would probably be a bit more aware of cycle networks, poor infrastructure, arsehole driver attitudes, and how how overtake properly.

@Toiletrollbuyer nope! With an A!

I got shouted at by an abusive old man in Devon for not using cycle ways on holiday but the cycle way didn't go where I was going.

He was angry at having to pay for it with his council tax apparently.

@Merryoldgoat

YANBU - there is a very long, well maintained cycle path on my route to work and invariably there are a bunch of twits slowing down rush hour traffic refusing to use it.

NO it's not shared
YES it's well maintained
YES it's two-way

Does it actually go where the cyclist wants to though? Round here, so many cycle paths going to random places, stopping before you get where you need or dropping you into the main carriageway at dangerous points - run up to a roundabout, under a long bridge etc. Scary for the car too when you suddenly pop into the road!

Or they expect you to cross at 6 or 7 individually controlled crossings to go round a roundabout - can take over 10 minutes! Why would I do that when I can be on the road and get round the roundabout in 45 seconds?

I agree it's rubbish, which is why we all need to push for properly designed networks that suit everyone.

@skiingisheaven I had a similar experience. Yes, there was a cycle path but I needed to go home - in the opposite direction! 😆