What Do Cyclists Have Against Cycle Tracks ?

Enterprise_1701C

I use cycle lanes round here when they are not cluttered by parked cars.

There is one nearby that is half the footpath. I have had things thrown at me, there was one older teen walking with his girlfriend and obviously trying to impress her, he stopped me and had a go at me for cycling on the footpath, I simply pointed out that he was actually standing on the cycle lane and moved off again while he was trying to think of something clever to say, doubt it ever happened anyway.

There was one dangerous incident. On my route there are several toucan crossings. I was using one when a Nepalese chap tried to grab hold of my handlebars and was shouting no bikes, if he had managed to grab me I may well have gone into one of the crowd of people he was with. I had as much right to be there as them and had actually tried to go round them, he was at the edge and decided he did not like the idea of me using the crossing.

I have had all sorts thrown at me for daring to use a cycle path, even when I don't I have had to brake so hard once I broke a brake cable, a car was pulling out of a junction and I managed to stop about an inch before I hit the car, the driver looked at me and the colour literally drained from her face, I was in high vis gear so she should have seen me.

Mids_Costcutter

Altarf wrote: »

That completely misses the point.

The issue is that there are a significant number of cyclists that whatever the state of the cyclepath will refuse to use it, because it is beneath them to do so.

On my route to the railway station at 7 am in the morning , every day I pass the same cyclist heading to the same place. I usually pass him on a single carriageway 60 mph A road. It is a fast straight A road taking lots of HGVs and other traffic that has just come off a motorway, and is the last straight stretch for a while, so lots of overtaking.

Now what is hilarious is that Sustrans was successful in their campaign for the local authority to spend £4 million to create a cycle route that completely avoids this road. The route is shorter, cuts across fields so no junctions with roads, and is in perfect condition. So why not use it?

And just for the icing on the cake, the A road cyclist never wears any high viz whatever the time of year or weather.

It seems with some cyclists it is some kind of warmed macho attitude that they won't use it as cyclepaths are not for 'serious' cyclists like them.

Dicing with death on a fast A road or a quicker and pleasant cycle down an arrow straight £4 million cyclepath. It's not rocket science is it.

Maybe the cyclist you see every day doesn't know that the cycle path is there?

Strider590

IMO cycles lanes are a bad idea full stop, they encourage this idea that cyclists shouldn't be on the road and this leads to a lot of road rage incidents with self-entitled drivers.

The message should be to share the road and consider other road users.

Unfortunately I see cycle paths as being a bit like reducing speed limits from 60 to 50, instead of tackling the real problem and pulling up drivers who drive everywhere at 40mph with tailbacks of frustrated drivers trying to get past them.

brat

ab1982 wrote: »

People behave aggressivley in vehicles in ways they would not do outside of them. Never seen anyone tailgate a slow old dear at a supermarket or elbow each other out of the way at a queue for a cashpoint. Of course not everyone but not sure if by being in a car it removes the personal element for some so excuses more aggressive behaviour that wouldn't happen outside of the car.

It was the frothing mouthed lunacy I was referring to. Your observation is neither true nor helpful.

System

Can I ask the cyclists a question ?

When I was younger it was a "rule" that you should ride in single file has that changed over the years ?

Speaking as a motorist my only frustration is when a pack of cyclists take over the whole road and seem oblivious to the chaos they are causing presumably its just the motorist who has to be aware of others around them.

ab1982

brat wrote: »

It was the frothing mouthed lunacy I was referring to. Your observation is neither true nor helpful.

I put it down to the anonymity of being inside a car that emboldens people. Probably similar reasons why people are rude and condescending on internet forums.

ab1982

CHRISSYG wrote: »

Can I ask the cyclists a question ?

When I was younger it was a "rule" that you should ride in single file has that changed over the years ?

Speaking as a motorist my only frustration is when a pack of cyclists take over the whole road and seem oblivious to the chaos they are causing presumably its just the motorist who has to be aware of others around them.

No rule as far as I am aware. Round my local clubs and rides its two abreast on quiet roads but move to single file to let people pass, lots of drivers still dont like it but thats tough. Not sure why you think cyclists wouldnt be aware of whats around them, compared to a car there is lots better visibility up there and you can hear much more.

ab1982

Strider590 wrote: »

IMO cycles lanes are a bad idea full stop, they encourage this idea that cyclists shouldn't be on the road and this leads to a lot of road rage incidents with self-entitled drivers.

The message should be to share the road and consider other road users.

Unfortunately I see cycle paths as being a bit like reducing speed limits from 60 to 50, instead of tackling the real problem and pulling up drivers who drive everywhere at 40mph with tailbacks of frustrated drivers trying to get past them.

Agree with first two paragraphs!

JP08

ab1982 wrote: »

No rule as far as I am aware. Round my local clubs and rides its two abreast on quiet roads but move to single file to let people pass, lots of drivers still dont like it but thats tough. Not sure why you think cyclists wouldnt be aware of whats around them, compared to a car there is lots better visibility up there and you can hear much more.

Which is basically what the Highway Code, Rule 66 says :

Rule 66

You should

• keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear
• keep both feet on the pedals
• never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
• not ride close behind another vehicle
• not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
• be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

But I would point out to AB1982 (who asked about the rule change) that it is probably harder to overtake safely - ie at the lateral distance recommended in the Highway Code - the "pack of cyclists" if they were in single file due to the length of clear road you would require.

ab1982

JP08 wrote: »

But I would point out to AB1982 (who asked about the rule change) that it is probably harder to overtake safely - ie at the lateral distance recommended in the Highway Code - the "pack of cyclists" if they were in single file due to the length of clear road you would require.

It wasnt me who asked.... But really good point about the single file overtaking.