I was on a rather nice (road) ride yesterday. I normally stick to the country lanes but yesterday as I was heading to the in-laws for lunch decided to stick in a loop around the town.
There was a cycle ‘path’ for a couple of miles of the town loop. It is on the right hand side of the road in the direction I was heading and just starts, from nothing. The only way to get on it from the start is to stop on the LH side of the busy road and cross a pedestrian crossing to the RH side. Or ride about 1/4 mile further on, take a right hand turn middle filter lane, turn right and jump on the path.
I was having a few problems turning right as the road was so busy. In the end some guy in a van let me turn right into the filter lane, only to holler at me as I waved thanks:
‘oi mate there’s a cyclepath over there’. I just nodded but what I really wish I’d said was ‘I AM TRYING TO GET ON TO IT YOU C**K BUT IT AIN’T SUITABLE for 2 PEDESTRIANS side by side LET ALONE CYCLISTS AND WALKERS SHARING and HAVE YOU EVER CYCLED IT YOU T**T?”
Then I noticed this thread of sh*te on my local rag in response to a reader’s letter:
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/haveyoursay/yourletters/9898587.Sharing_footpath_is_sheer_madness/?ref=mc
Why don’t we just let the motorists and pedetrians work out where they really want the cyclists and let us know?
Ooooh it BOILs my P**S and really SPOILT my ride yesterday.
I know this has been done to death but I needed to vent. Thanks for listening.