You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I imagine this has been done before but here goes anyway.
Wondering what people's opinions are on road cycling and use of cycle paths? I know that legally cyclists are not obliged to use them so its pretty clear cut from that point of view.
But the reason I ask is that on a stretch of road I use heading home from most of my road rides there is clearly a lot of expensive work happened to put in a cycle path and it lasts for some time parallel to the road and is mostly empty. I often ignore several other cycle paths on my route home as they're laughably short/pointless or full of grannies and kids and I'm pushing 25mph but it seems a bit less clear-cut with the new one.
On the one hand, its definitely going to slow me down as it's a slightly winding path with dropped kerbs and signs and there's a few side roads (meaning I have to give way to cars now) and blind gaps where people might be exiting their drives etc. So you can only really coast on it, at best.
On the other hand can I really justify totally ignoring it on the basis that my fragile MAMIL ego doesn't wan to accept my average speed dropping by 1kmph? If I stick to the road I can do a fair clip and it's not mega busy but there's always traffic. Plus, there's the vague sense that sooner or later I will get a load of abuse for not using the cycle path.
Wondering what others do? Unreasonable to avoid them or acceptable in some circumstances?
Alot of the paths here are just old poor quality footways renamed as 'shared use' paths. I'll use them where it suits along side busy roads, but often they're too poor a quality for riding on a full on road bike and not wide enough, if there is anyone at all (bike/walker/pram) also using it as you can't pass either way.
Where there are made for purpose routes (still shared, but wider and better surface) I'll use them where it suits, but then often they're just too busy with runners, families & dogs to negotiate so if the road isn't too busy I'd use that.
As you say junctions/driveways/bad drop kerbs etc also make the road a preferred choice unless the traffic level is high.
I've a bell for the first time in years, but sometimes wonder if an airhorn would even be enough with so many people plugged into Thier music and unaware of any thing around them.
Pretty much what Longdog says for me to.
As you say junctions/driveways/bad drop kerbs etc also make the road a preferred choice unless the traffic level is high.
Pretty much this. There's one on my way to work as it's easy to get on and off but on the way home it would mean crossing busy roads at junctions so I don't bother. Get moaned at sometimes, I just tell them to get ****ed and carry on.
Oh and on another one a car driver had to drive into me as he was so concerned I was risking my life on a road.
Pretty much never use them and just ride on the road - much to the annoyance of drivers.
Pretty much never use them and just ride on the road – much to the annoyance of drivers.
Yup. If I am on my mountain bike and heading out to trails I tend to use them since the impact is minimal but roadbike not so much.
If they want me to ride on the cycle path then give the same experience as if I was using the road eg not having to slow down every 200m to look over my shoulder in case someone wanted to use the next sideroad.
Then there is the one where they got bored and it ends at a location where it really isnt great to join the road. Best to miss the last half mile of the cycletrack and join at a safe location.
We have a brand spanking new one near me which has been thoughtfully designed (e.g. Dutch style road side road crossings where cycle path has priority). Surface is good but as usual does seem to suffer from the usual washboard finish (are they badly specified or not rolled correctly?). I do use that one if I'm going that way, but I agree, there a plenty I don't use as they are inconvenient/badly designed, built and maintained. I'm not about to take any shit from motorists if I don't use them.
As already mentioned, I'll use what's safest.
As you say if I'm going at a decent rate it's not safe for other path users so use the road.
If the path goes past lots of blind driveways, I'll go on the road as too many time have I had a car pull out in front of me.
But the paths next to the bypass I'll use as that's safer.
Case-by-case basis.
Also depends on whether I'm short on time or not.
a few side roads (meaning I have to give way to cars now) and blind gaps where people might be exiting their drives etc.
I tend to avoid them if these are a regular feature, unless the road is busy. But that isn't logical either - if the road is busy it's more likely you'll be side-swiped by someone turning in, or someone will be on the way out of a driveway. In Germany the bikes have priority there, makes sense, hardly a problem to a driver to give someone ROW in that situ. But they also require riders to use paths over the roads, where they exist.
Very much case by case - I might use them if they are the most efficient way of getting where I'm going, but not all the time.
One near me has six junctions in one mile, each of which requiring me to check on traffic through 270 degrees before I can proceed. I use the road.
If the difference is only marginal, I'd more than likely use it. If you have to stop and check junctions every few seconds, putting you at risk of being squashed every time you cross one, it's not really fit for purpose. Maybe speak to the council and explain why it causes conflict. They're unlikely to do anything, but they definitely won't do anything if nobody mentions it, and every voice tells them there's a demand for better infrastructure.
“there’s a few side roads (meaning I have to give way to cars now) and blind gaps where people might be exiting their drives”
That’s a ‘no’ from me. I’m not worried by the speed so much, but constantly slowing and speeding up again is tiring and frustrating. And it seems like it might be more dangerous than being on the road.
@angallis
Wow! Who would have expected a white Range Rover driver to behave like that?
I hope you reported.
The one on the main road by my house is so good Alexander Kristoff and various other proams use it (multi km, good surface, cleared of snow, 3 metres wide) but we still get mamils and gravel bike riders on the road next to it riding at 20 while lorries go by at 70
On the one hand, its definitely going to slow me down as it’s a slightly winding path with dropped kerbs and signs and there’s a few side roads
As said above when the cycle provision experience is as good as or better than the road experience then I'll use it otherwise no.
So many paths have been designed by people who don't appear to cycle, just a box ticking exercise to spend some cycle funding, but such a waste of money. I don't give many a first look, never mind a second.
Rarely use them as most aren’t fit for purpose, not on a road bike anyway. They’re great for pootling with the kids but that’s it. Quite a few times I’ve seen cars parked in them too - don’t want to disrupt fellow car drivers eh?! (Who might shout at cyclists for not using the cycle path that the other car is parked on 😀 )
I hope you reported.
Yes, Thames Valley Police ignored it for so long they couldn't charge him so sent a sternly worded letter telling him he was a naughty boy and to try to avoid doing it again!
Brand new 4m wide cyclepath in Sighthill, Glasgow. Lasted for 100m on it yesterday before broken glass everywhere put me back on the road.
Pointless unless they are swept.
Which is why my favourite urban riding is 24/7 bus lanes. Wide. Clear of cars. Bus tyres sweep the crap off.
Case by case, but after an incident where a driver pulled out of their drive ignoring the cycle path I’ll not be going anywhere near one that has driveways.
I use the cycle paths these days when commuting - I'll happily take the extra 5-10 mins it adds to the journey if it means avoiding the idiots on the roads.
Sure it means more crossings, junctions, traffic lights etc. but had too many near misses riding on the roads during rush hour in a city.