Is it time to bring back compulsory cycle lanes?

[Billy Eyelash]

There are two signs for cycle routes which have changed in meaning.

In The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 :

Diagram 967 ( Blue rectangle with picture of bicycle ) Route recommended for pedal cycles on the main carriageway of a road
Diagram 955 ( Blue circle with picture of bicycle ) Route for use by pedal cycles only

When I learned to drive in the 1970s, the Highway Code had different descriptions:

( Blue rectangle with picture of bicycle ) cyclists and moped riders only
( Blue circle with picture of bicycle ) route for cyclists and moped riders only ( compulsory)

Apart from dropping mention of moped riders, the two signs now seem to have broadly the same meaning and in practice, seem to be used interchangeably.

Where there is provision of properly and safely designed cycle routes which are separate from the carriageway, is there a case for their use by cyclists to be made compulsory? ( like many routes used to be )

[frisbee]

No, st drivers who can't cope with cyclists should move to Fiji.

[Cats_pyjamas]

Frothers gunna froth.

[MDL111]

personally in many instances (not always), I rather ride my bicycle on the road and take the risk of being run over by a car than ride on a cycling lane and risk running over a pedestrian, child, dog etc. Depends on the type of cycling lane / how close it is to where pedestrians are. I do try to keep my speed reasonably high though and stay as close to the edge of the road as possible and I don't mind if cars go past quite close to me. When there is a lot of traffic and there is a cycling lane option, I obviously use that (same if the cycling lane is part of the road etc).

[georgeyboy12345]

It’s not the 70s anymore grandad

[Count897]

As a cyclist if you have a dedicated lane surely this only makes good sense? I hate riding on an A road say with massive trucks and buses thundering past. If there’s a lane available I’ll use it.

[Evanivitch]

If the bicycle lane is treated like a motor vehicle lane, great

That means no furniture randomly stuck in it, no dogs on long leads, no blind corners and priority over side roads.

[kambites]

Count897 said:

As a cyclist if you have a dedicated lane surely this only makes good sense? I hate riding on an A road say with massive trucks and buses thundering past. If there s a lane available I ll use it.

If they're properly designed yes. Cycle lanes where you have to give way to motorists at every side road, for example, are worse than useless.

From my experience, I'd say 80% of cycle lanes fall into the "worse than useless" category.

[Cats_pyjamas]

kambites said:

Count897 said:

As a cyclist if you have a dedicated lane surely this only makes good sense? I hate riding on an A road say with massive trucks and buses thundering past. If there s a lane available I ll use it.

If they're properly designed yes. Cycle lanes where you have to give way to motorists at every side road, for example, are worse than useless.

From my experience, I'd say 80% of cycle lanes fall into the "worse than useless" category.

As someone who does maybe 4000miles a year by bike (both on and off-road). I think the last sentence is particularly pertinent. Many simply aren't safe to use, badly designed, poorly maintained or swamped with pedestrians and dog walkers.

[BunkMoreland]

kambites said:

Count897 said:

As a cyclist if you have a dedicated lane surely this only makes good sense? I hate riding on an A road say with massive trucks and buses thundering past. If there s a lane available I ll use it.

If they're properly designed yes. Cycle lanes where you have to give way to motorists at every side road, for example, are worse than useless.

From my experience, I'd say 80% of cycle lanes fall into the "worse than useless" category.

This is my favourite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NgC717262c4GTeaZA




To turn right at the t junction, I'm expected to go onto the pavement. stop, wait for any traffic to pass then cross to the other pavement, ride on the pavement round the corner then wait for more traffic to allow me to use the zebra crossing to re-join the road.

fk. THAT!


The other problem is that cycle lanes reinforce to the stupider members of the UK that "bikes arent traffic and dont belong on MY roads that I pay road tax for!"

[hidetheelephants]

Cats_pyjamas said:

kambites said:

Count897 said:

As a cyclist if you have a dedicated lane surely this only makes good sense? I hate riding on an A road say with massive trucks and buses thundering past. If there s a lane available I ll use it.

If they're properly designed yes. Cycle lanes where you have to give way to motorists at every side road, for example, are worse than useless.

From my experience, I'd say 80% of cycle lanes fall into the "worse than useless" category.

As someone who does maybe 4000miles a year by bike (both on and off-road). I think the last sentence is particularly pertinent. Many simply aren't safe to use, badly designed, poorly maintained or swamped with pedestrians and dog walkers.

Amen, I'm only an occasional cyclist but it still pains me that the UK is so ill-served and so much money is pissed away on shambolically conceived rubbish. Someone described this terrible implementation as cargo cult infrastructure, as if those doing it had heard it was really good, seen pictures of it but had absolutely no fking idea how it actually works.

[MDL111]

BunkMoreland said:

This is my favourite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NgC717262c4GTeaZA




To turn right at the t junction, I'm expected to go onto the pavement. stop, wait for any traffic to pass then cross to the other pavement, ride on the pavement round the corner then wait for more traffic to allow me to use the zebra crossing to re-join the road.

fk. THAT!


The other problem is that cycle lanes reinforce to the stupider members of the UK that "bikes arent traffic and dont belong on MY roads that I pay road tax for!"

that looks mental - I would miss that completely, who came up with that bright idea

[Count897]

MDL111 said:

BunkMoreland said:

This is my favourite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NgC717262c4GTeaZA




To turn right at the t junction, I'm expected to go onto the pavement. stop, wait for any traffic to pass then cross to the other pavement, ride on the pavement round the corner then wait for more traffic to allow me to use the zebra crossing to re-join the road.

fk. THAT!


The other problem is that cycle lanes reinforce to the stupider members of the UK that "bikes arent traffic and dont belong on MY roads that I pay road tax for!"

that looks mental - I would miss that completely, who came up with that bright idea

I actually quite like it.

Yes it seems to be a very short diversion indeed, but if there’s a truck behind it ensures it gets past safely,

[alock]

MDL111 said:

BunkMoreland said:

This is my favourite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NgC717262c4GTeaZA




To turn right at the t junction, I'm expected to go onto the pavement. stop, wait for any traffic to pass then cross to the other pavement, ride on the pavement round the corner then wait for more traffic to allow me to use the zebra crossing to re-join the road.

fk. THAT!


The other problem is that cycle lanes reinforce to the stupider members of the UK that "bikes arent traffic and dont belong on MY roads that I pay road tax for!"

that looks mental - I would miss that completely, who came up with that bright idea

This road infrastructure is not designed for the experienced cyclist.

Is not that difficult to see this is designed to help non-confident cyclists, maybe because they're new to cycling, or very young.

Having to stop in the middle of a busy road, while trying to indicate, brake, steer, and not get rear-ended, is intimidating for the above groups.

Without help like this, it's a potential block to getting more people on bikes.

[POIDH]

When is a cycle lane a cycle lane?
I can ride directly down a moderately busy 50mph wide road (half of it old dual carriageway from before the bypass) with a 20m climb, or I can take the 'cycle route' which is 2km longer, 130m of climbing, broken old road with no street lights, overgrown in summer and often icy in the winter.
So yeah, I could take the cycle route/lane, but why?

[Count897]

POIDH said:

When is a cycle lane a cycle lane?
I can ride directly down a moderately busy 50mph wide road (half of it old dual carriageway from before the bypass) with a 20m climb, or I can take the 'cycle route' which is 2km longer, 130m of climbing, broken old road with no street lights, overgrown in summer and often icy in the winter.
So yeah, I could take the cycle route/lane, but why?

Because you can? More of a challenge?

I’d prefer a quiet safe route than one full of crazy close passing drivers?

[wattsm666]

There is a cycle lane near me on an A Road, which is very poor. The surface is far too rough as it was never laid properly, full of grit etc, not wide enough and that means you end up hitting cats eyes, or you move further out into the road. Cats eyes in the wet can be dangerous as they can cause a change in path if you slip off them.

Most cyclists will ride outside the lane because of all the above and then get abuse from drivers.

[POIDH]

Oh, and here are a few more reasons.

[TheDrownedApe]

Count897 said:

POIDH said:

When is a cycle lane a cycle lane?
I can ride directly down a moderately busy 50mph wide road (half of it old dual carriageway from before the bypass) with a 20m climb, or I can take the 'cycle route' which is 2km longer, 130m of climbing, broken old road with no street lights, overgrown in summer and often icy in the winter.
So yeah, I could take the cycle route/lane, but why?

Because you can? More of a challenge?

I d prefer a quiet safe route than one full of crazy close passing drivers?

We all know cycle routes cover both useful and useless, stop being "those" people.

[POIDH]

Count897 said:

POIDH said:

When is a cycle lane a cycle lane?
I can ride directly down a moderately busy 50mph wide road (half of it old dual carriageway from before the bypass) with a 20m climb, or I can take the 'cycle route' which is 2km longer, 130m of climbing, broken old road with no street lights, overgrown in summer and often icy in the winter.
So yeah, I could take the cycle route/lane, but why?

Because you can? More of a challenge?

I d prefer a quiet safe route than one full of crazy close passing drivers?

The issue of the climb is a barrier to some. But ask my OH if she would ride an unlit, remote road on her own as a woman and the answer is no.
If you think roads should be a challenge then let's do the same for cars...