cyclists and cycle paths/lanes?

geoffW

rev_henry wrote: »

Another hazard is idiots parking illegally in cycle lanes, obstructing the cycle lane, and creating a second hazard of people in the car opening the doors and knocking the cyclist off.

Is it illegal to park a car on a cycle lane,I have no highway code and have often wondered if it's OK?

rev_henry

geoffW wrote: »

Is it illegal to park a car on a cycle lane,I have no highway code and have often wondered if it's OK?

Yes, it is. As I found out through flicking through a mate's highway code last night!

sequence

I think you are allowed to park on one if there is nowhere else. But usually people are too lazy to walk 10 yards so park in them anyway.

thescouselander

Ah yes, one of my favourite subjects. Round here there are some of the best cycle paths around. Take the Bristol Ring Road for instance:


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.493578,-2.471779&num=1&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=6.881357,14.941406&ie=UTF8&ll=51.495759,-2.475802&spn=0.00162,0.004699&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.495902,-2.476087&panoid=nbWnkjBFyXWn7FPKl4J0Gg&cbp=12,304.54,,0,10.13


To the left is a perfectly good cycle path off the carriageway. Most cyclists (including myself) use it. There is the occasional lycra lout that prefers to mix it up with the wagons and cars travelling at up to 70mph. Why?

sequence

thescouselander wrote: »

Ah yes, one of my favourite subjects. Round here there are some of the best cycle paths around. Take the Bristol Ring Road for instance:


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.493578,-2.471779&num=1&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=6.881357,14.941406&ie=UTF8&ll=51.495759,-2.475802&spn=0.00162,0.004699&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.495902,-2.476087&panoid=nbWnkjBFyXWn7FPKl4J0Gg&cbp=12,304.54,,0,10.13


To the left is a perfectly good cycle path off the carriageway. Most cyclists (including myself) use it. There is the occasional lycra lout that prefers to mix it up with the wagons and cars travelling at up to 70mph. Why?

Looks reasonable, I'd probably use it providing it isn't full of glass. The only problem is if you want to go right at the roundabout, I'd improve it with an ASL at the junctions so you can hop off the cycle lane into the right hand land to go round the roundabout.

thescouselander

sequence wrote: »

Looks reasonable, I'd probably use it providing it isn't full of glass. The only problem is if you want to go right at the roundabout, I'd improve it with an ASL at the junctions so you can hop off the cycle lane into the right hand land to go round the roundabout.

For the most part there is no need to turn right on the roundabouts. Half way down each section (between the roundabouts) there is a Pedestrian/cyclist bridge to take you across the dual carriage way and towards routes on the other side. Like I said, these are some of the best cycle tracks around but a minority choose not to use them.

sequence

I've never been there so I'll take you word for it. Despite the huge number of bad lanes, there are some very good ones. Theres one near me that runs along a "Left only lane that leads to a motor way" the cycle lane has sensors that detect an approaching cyclist and stop the traffic, so that you cross straight over to the straight on lane. Pretty good I always use it.

rev_henry

Now we've got onto the subject of silly cycle lanes this may be of interest:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/nov/05/readers-worst-cycle-lanes?picture=355167389

sequence

I hope you aren't afraid of heights : http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/nov/05/readers-worst-cycle-lanes?picture=355282344 :rotfl:

Mankysteve

Off topic but http://www.youtube.com/user/magnatom?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/5/PjXrFPEPIIs. I had similar thing with a dog once wondering in front of me they standing there as a bared down on it. it was wet both wheels locked up quick thing i let off the brakes and was able to steer around.