On my commute on the A631 I regularly see fellow cyclists choosing to ride on the dual carriage way as opposed to the very smooth, wide and car free cycle lane next to it. And as cycle lanes go this is a good one ie it isn't 3m long.
Are cycle lanes uncool with hardened roadies?
covered in glass and dog eggs usually, what do you care?
Depends, it's hard to see the condition of cycle lanes when whizzing past in a car, many are built and then never maintained, poorly designed, and if you couple that with general debris.. The road might be the smoother option.
For the year I've used the path dog shit and glass has not been an issue. And I don't care unlike some motorists. But I do wonder why
Depends, it's hard to see the condition of cycle lanes when whizzing past in a car, many are built and then never maintained, poorly designed, and if you couple that with general debris.. The road might be the smoother option.
This. Where I live we have fully segregated network and I've had to change from 25c tyres to 28c to cope with the constant getting rattled by the lousy surface. Looks smoother than a baby's bum until you're actually riding on it.
The few road sections I do on my commute are bliss.
At weekends when the roads are quieter I will use the main roads - it's smoother and also quicker for the same distance as you don't have to stop start all the time - the roads are direct but the cycle paths meander.
We need to get the general public to appreciate this so they can stop judging cyclists who (entirely legitimately) choose to use the road and assuming they're being deliberately awkward... (as the OP appears to be)
I drive a busy dual carriageway between newcastle and congleton and it bamboozles me as to why cyclists choose the unlit, national speed limit drag strip over a perfectly nice, much slower trot via a local village which even links in at both ends. Low and behold a cyclist was killed on it last year in the early hours of the morning. I've ridden it once and it was terrifying.
We need to get the general public to appreciate this so they can stop judging cyclists who (entirely legitimately) choose to use the road and assuming they're being deliberately awkward... (as the OP appears to be)
I don't hold much hope of this. I've been at community council meetings were this question has been raised and answered by a previous cop who was a keen road cyclist. Despite a full explanation in line with what's written above, someone on the CC got in touch with the council and were told that the tarmac used on the cyclepath was suitable for all bikes including road bikes, so that was the end of it - cyclists on the road were arseholes, end of.
For the year I've used the path dog shit and glass has not been an issue. And I don't care unlike some motorists. But I do wonder why
There are many situationally dependent reasons why anyone may or may not do something, of which many still may be valid. But I wouldn't overlook the fact that some people just like to be contrary.
Perhaps they're trolling motorists in order to become the next YouTube sensation?
I'm with the OP on this one. It might be perfectly legal to ride on the dual carriageway A road, but what's legal isn't always necessarily sensible.
Strava?
Taking the cycle path is seen as ceding your right of way for some cyclists, sure. Compartmentalising cars on the road, and cyclists on a separate path is something to resist, from this point of view.
A-road cycle lanes out in the sticks might be ok, but urban ones just shitify the ride. One's just been laid down over 3 or 4 miles on the south approach into Manchester - Wide open road that you could ride quickly and safely is now narrow and awkward, with cars extra resentful of your presence. It goes through the curry mile which is funny in the evening - cycling meets ten-pin bowling.
cycle lanes ain't as good for head down, arse up, aerotuck 40kph+ efforts
I strava the route and don't think this is the reason
I generally ride on roads rather than cycle paths - you have right of way over side junctions and a smoother surface.
I don't ride dual carriageways unless they are 40mph or lower. Too scary at faster speeds.
But I often use roads because many cyclepaths are rubbish.
[quote=footflaps ]I generally ride on roads rather than cycle paths - you have right of way over side junctions and a smoother surface.
THIS most cyle lanes have not really been designed with cylist son mine
One forced you to stop as the angle was so bad you could not even look over your shoulder at each point of a roundabout and i had to give way to everything
On the road i could see and had right of way [ sometimes
It was faster and it was safer
I guess they do it because they want to just like you cycle where you want to
Who cares what other cyclists or road users do as long as it does not endanger you and it's legal ??
If it's anything like the one near me the tarmac is rough as anything but it looks fine when driving. It's also has the usual narrow, shared use, in convenient entry and exit point from the direction that it is on the opposite side of. Usual waste of money.
Why is everyone being so tetchy?
The amount of cycle paths that go in front or basically through peoples driveways! And being expected to stop at junctions! Daftness.
[quote=konabunny ]Why is everyone being so tetchy?
what the **** do you mean by that eh well WHAT
****
The problem with most cycle lanes iscthat using them means you have to crosscmany more junctions and junctions are the main source of danger.
As said above this path is good in every way, I agree most are shit and I generally ride on the road, which in Sheffield/Rotherham is often in poor condition.
But given the choice between road and a good path I'd always choose the path.
If you want to get a move on, then yes many cycle paths are awful. They might:
1) be crossed by loads of entrances and be closer to them so sight lines are terrible
2) Be full of pedestrians and much slower cyclists having a leisurely pootle.
3) Occasionally sod off into a housing estate like the one on the A48 through Newport
Any of these can make them frustrating or downright dangerous when you're trying to train and are doing 23mph.
As for dual carriageways - I don't like them myself unless there's a wide hard shoulder. Then they are pretty safe imo. Except for the on and off ramps, you have to watch and give way on those.
Cycleways are good for leisure cyclists or MTBers on their way back from trails. You might say that we don't have the right to charge around as fast as we want, but actually we do - on the road, where it's perfectly safe if motorists drive properly.
But given the choice between road and a good path I'd always choose the path.
Assuming that's the real-life choice of course - as described above by many, it's often not the choice - the path not a good one - it's rough, full of hazards or putting the rider in danger by repeatedly crossing traffic...
Part of my commute goes past a hospital. I ride the road. The 'perfectly good' cycle path isn't that good IMO - it crosses car park traffic 3 times in 200 yards - the drivers are trying to negotiate the car park, they're not looking for cyclists and at each crossing point there are high hedges which block visibility for both the cyclists and the drivers. I found this out when I nearly got hit last month. I've not come near being hit since I started using the road.
The road is clear, smooth and I'm more visible on there than I am on the path...
Dunno then, personally I'd use it if it was the better option.
I drive a busy dual carriageway between newcastle and congleton and it bamboozles me as to why cyclists choose the unlit, national speed limit drag strip over a perfectly nice, much slower trot via a local village which even links in at both ends. Low and behold a cyclist was killed on it last year in the early hours of the morning. I've ridden it once and it was terrifying.
Would that be the A34? If so I've got that beat.
I've seen a couple of people riding on the A500.
Baffles me as to why, it really is a border line suicide attempt. Would scare the crap out of me.
I know they are legally entitled to do so and road users should be paying attention, but in reality when driving on a dual carriageway, with both lanes travelling at 60mph+ you really don't expect to come across a cyclist at 20mph, if that.
Baffles me as to why
Some of my local solo rides have me riding along a 70mph A-road.
The reason why?
Cos the nice, quiet country roads I like riding on do, at times, come to an end (funnily enough!) The only way to get back on to the next nice quiet, country road, is to ride along the main road for a few hundred yards.
I'm constantly watching over my shoulder at these points as I believe the vast majority of drivers will be blatting along at full chat and if they even see me they'll be sitting there all judgemental thinking "Baffles me as to why, it really is a border line suicide attempt. Would scare the crap out of me."
I don't know if people have always been this stupidly judgemental about cyclists or whether it's a recent thing, or social media just reveals it to the rest of us 😯
Pffff, like when has molgrips evah done 23mph, apart from that time he got done for speeding
But yeah cycle lanes are built to footpath spec so just go bumpy dead quickly, but if they were built to carriageway spec they'd cost a brazillion quid a metre and just never get built
There is one on my commute, it has 'cyclist dismount' signs at every junction and when it gets to the big roundabout where it meets the motorway, you are directed to a footpath underpass.
They have put in a junction that gives the cars right of way to drive in and out of the new KFC
Sod that
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I'd fall into the aforementioned "judgemental" category.
The dual carriageway A-road which I used to commute on in the mornings had loads of cyclists. Average speed in the right-hand lane was no less than 80mph, left lane ranged from 50-70mph. Witnessed loads of swerving from left lane to right to get past cyclists, with attendant slamming on of brakes by the X5's and Audis in the right lane. The cyclists' presence basically turned an almost-chaotic situation (morning rush hour full of frustrated middle-managers) into a bubble of fully-fledged chaos in their immediate vicinity.
Not sure if (or how many) cyclist casualties occurred along this stretch, but I'd be surprised if it was in single figures. As mentioned earlier, just because something's legal doesn't automatically make it sensible.
Of course, that's where judgement comes in.
Ive seen people ride on the A34 down south, crazy, clearly they are idiots..
What is more worrying though is sections of road that may appear inconspicuous and worth a go like the section of A3057 between kings somborne and stockbridge. By the map its fairly short piece of A road that you might think is not busy. YOU ARE WRONG ITS LETHAL.
This section is very dangerous for bikes and can easily be avoided by going up cow drove hill.
just because something's legal doesn't automatically make it sensible.
And what if something's [i]necessary[/i] to complete your journey? FFS 😯
We can't go around labelling cyclists for 'being in the wrong' whenever they ride along a bit of road that we randomly judge 'not sensible'. There may well be a very good reason for it like, for example, they have no other choice!
When I commute to Kendal on the A590 (c.20miles and alterates beteeen high speed single and dual) there are sections that truly are terrifying but if you add up all the additional time for the quiter routes you'd be looking at another 30-40 mins which would render it undoable. That said maybe 50% is on cycle way/back roads with only a couple of miles of really bad stuff. But the bad stuff is BAAAAD.
And what if something's necessary to complete your journey? FFSWe can't go around labelling cyclists for 'being in the wrong' whenever they ride along a bit of road that we randomly judge 'not sensible'. There may well be a very good reason for it like, for example, they have no other choice!
If you say so.
As far as necessary goes, this is Aberdeen I'm talking about, pretty sure their finances could stretch towards one of those X5's or Audis. Even the chavs up here drive GTi's...
And also on the necessary theme, there were only really loads of them on the warm and sunny mornings, so they definitely had alternative transport.
But each to their own, at least my car has crumple zones.
Would that be the A34? If so I've got that beat.
I've seen a couple of people riding on the A500.
Baffles me as to why, it really is a border line suicide attempt. Would scare the crap out of me.
Sure is the 34 that bit over the hill by makro is a drag strip. I use Red Street personally but I see a regular gang of cyclists mixing it up with the top speed challenge from talke roundabout to the crest of the hill. Nuts
Mmm judgement. I was judged to be in the wrong for not using the cycle path a couples of weeks ago. Driver close-passed, then brake checked me, then went right round a roundabout, crossed the centre line and deliberately hit me head on. Could have been avoided I think, by holding my primary position better, so that's what I do.
Used to do 200 yards on the A264 which during rush hour is very busy. I preferred that (and the roundabout to get on it) then taking the quiet road and then trying to cross it in one of the tiny gaps between 70mph cars driven by people only caring about getting to work. In road shoes.
When driving one day I did see some cycling it further along, with a trailer 😯
Yep regularly see people cycling on the A61 between Sheffield and Chesterfield. Never use it myself. Seems to range from full on Lycra boys and girls going full pelt to a random old guy dressed in black on a BSO.
Seems odd as you can go via dronfield or take some of the quieter roads towards the edge of the peaks.
And what if something's necessary to complete your journey? FFS
In the context of the OP, how is it necessary to be on the road when a perfectly usable path is available?
I too used to commute between Sheffield and Chesvegas and tried the A61 which is smooth and has a mini hard shoulder but getting buzzed by trucks at 60mph rapidly lost its appeal
Not sure if (or how many) cyclist casualties occurred along this stretch, but I'd be surprised if it was in single figures. As mentioned earlier, just because something's legal doesn't automatically make it sensible.
Indeed. Though it would be nice if people, and this isn't aimed at you, focused a little more on the illegal in the situation (i.e the cars breaking the speed limit), rather than the insensible - riding a bike on a road where people break the speed limit.
I ride on a dual carriageway daily, but it's only about 400m long and has a 30 limit, so I'm not counting it as the proper scary stuff 🙂
Roadies who use major roads are like cyclists who stick their bikes on the roof or boot of an empty car: the penny hasn't dropped yet.
When I started mountain biking I assumed I should buy a roof rack and have the bike up there like a trophy, wasting my fuel and getting covered in road salt. Then one day I thought: "Hang on - why not just chuck it in the back of the car where it's safe?"
Then when I started road cycling I stuck to the main roads, which I knew as a driver. Then one day I thought: "Hang on - the old B road would be much nicer than this!"
Swansea Valley is a case in point, council/sustrans have done a really fantastic job on the cycle paths (brand new tarmacked surfaces etc) but still loads of commuter/casual cyclist plodding up and down the main road.
