Cycle lane lack of use.

markens2

I've been really annoyed by cyclists lately when they cycle on the road instead of the cycle path that is there.

There are some cycle paths around me that are contiuous for about 3 miles yet they insist on cycling on the road sometimes two or three side by side.

Is there a reason for this?

Twin-go

markens2 wrote: »

I've been really annoyed by cyclists lately when they cycle on the road instead of the cycle path that is there.

There are some cycle paths around me that are contiuous for about 3 miles yet they insist on cycling on the road sometimes two or three side by side.

Is there a reason for this?

Get on a bike and try and cycle in them. Many cycle lanes that are at the edges of roads are full of debry (glass, stones, standing water). If cyclists are avoiding them it's probably because they don't want a puncture.

ednwireland

covered in glass, dreadful surface, used by pedestrians dangerous on off, need i go on

Idleater

I had a private bus beep, rev and swerve in front of me the other day to get 50m to the red light. He did it again to the next roundabout, and once again to the next lot of congested traffic.
When I queried his motivation, he did nothing but curse at me saying I'm on a f'in bike and should be on the bike lane, he's in a f'in bus so is entitled to be in the bus lane.
Spotting the blockage, a Garda with a pulled in car.
I bid him good day and made my way down to the Gardai. He was polite, but firm and stated that under the law i must use a cycle lane where one exists. I agreed, but stated that from the direction I had come from, I couldn't cycle onto it, but my concerns were the action of the driver irrespective of the legality of my position. He responded by saying he couldn't find issues with that, and he would have a chat with the driver.

markens2

But these are up off the road. No bebris. They wouldn't be used by pedestrians either.

Chartsengrafs

Most cyclists are quite poor and can't afford cars. They then cycle on the road just to get a feeling of what it might be like to own one.

Basster

Basster wrote: »

Most cyclists are quite poor and can't afford cars. They then cycle on the road just to get a feeling of what it might be like to own one.

markens2

I'm actually being genuine in trying to understand this. From a drivers point of view it is so annoying.

Jawgap

They are not really cycle lanes - you have been the subject of a Jedi mind trick.

As the evidence shows the white line denotes the area where all glass, stones, and other assorted sh1t are to be deposited pending it breaking down over time..........



If those areas where supposed to be used as cycle lanes sure wouldn't they have decent surfaces, proper signage and yield signs a little less often than every 30m:)

kenmc

markens2 wrote: »

I'm actually being genuine in trying to understand this. From a drivers point of view it is so annoying.

Leave 5 mins earlier. Problem solved.
And then you'll have a couple of mins to use the search function.

markens2

I can understand in a situation like the one in the picture. I'm talking about the cycle lanes that are raised up off the road.

kenmc

markens2 wrote: »

I can understand in a situation like the one in the picture. I'm talking about the cycle lanes that are raised up off the road.

most of them are not actually cycle tracks, rather shared use footpaths which cyclists are not required and/or probably even allowed to use, as the signage used does not appear in irish law.

Wishbone Ash

markens2 wrote: »

I'm actually being genuine in trying to understand this

Cycle lanes are legislated for, designed by and installed by motorists.

kate.m

Cyclists would rather use the cycle lanes - there is a reason they are on the road. If you can't see the debris, the cycle lane is probably damaged and really uneven - and this in itself is a danger.

Where possible, I try stay in the lane. I only leave the cycle lane to overtake another cyclist, to overtake cars parked in the cycle lane - or to avoid really bad pot-holes and broken glass. I'm sure the cyclists you encounter are doing the same.

I can't explain why they would cycle side by side with other cyclists though...

Jawgap

markens2 wrote: »

I can understand in a situation like the one in the picture. I'm talking about the cycle lanes that are raised up off the road.

You mean like this one in Galway



Mods must be watching the racing........:D

Cycle lanes in Ireland, with some notable exceptions, are not just inconvenient, they are dangerous.

rollingscone

markens2 wrote: »

I can understand in a situation like the one in the picture. I'm talking about the cycle lanes that are raised up off the road.

Same issues apply. Poor surface riddled with glass, debris, potholes, parked cars and pedestrians.

kenmc

kate.m wrote: »

I can't explain why they would cycle side by side with other cyclists though...

Huh? It's very difficult to chat when you're fore and aft. Besides, cyclists are legally allowed cycle two abreast, and 3 when overtaking a single cyclist.

smacl

markens2 wrote: »

I'm actually being genuine in trying to understand this. From a drivers point of view it is so annoying.

If you are genuinely trying to get an understanding of this, the simplest way to do so would be to borrow a bike and try using some of these cycle lanes.

IMO, some are fine, but many have serious problems and as a cyclist can leave you in a dangerous position that you wouldn't be in if you'd stayed on the road. Examples would be cycle lanes that go around the outside of roundabouts, cycle lanes that keep you on the inside of a left turning lane where you don't want to turn left, and best of all cycle lanes that end suddenly with no warning that force you to rejoin traffic at speed. e.g. try cycling from Rathfarnham to Nutgrove using the cycle lanes, and you'll be in for a shock. On path cycle lanes leave you in the path of cars reversing out of the drive onto the road, and many people seem to see cycle lanes as alternative car parking and dog walking facilities. If you're forced to leave the cycle lane due to parked car, it's often to enter a lane containing faster moving traffic, which is a potentially dangerous manoeuvre you wouldn't have to make otherwise. That, and of course the truly crappy surface, broken glass, joggers, etc...

So basically, cycle lanes often present a slower and far more hazardous cycling option than using the road, and hence are avoided by experienced cyclists. But don't take my word for it, try it out by all means and let us know how you get on. Genuinely!

Bulmers on Ice

I can only speak for cycle lanes around Naas here. Most are up off the road and are shared footpaths. Those that are low the lines are so faded drivers fail to see tham anyway.
I don't use raised ones because debris is still on them and I want to avoid a flat.
Pedestrians on the path can be wearing headphones and do not hear me coming up behind them and can easily be hit should they move the wrong way. If you are doing 25-30kmh them stepping in front can happen in an instant.
People walk their dog with the long leads that extend. The dog is one side of the path and the owner the other and my limbo days are well gone to be attempting a stunt move again they do not hear you coming.
The entries and exits to these footpaths are a disgrace and you have to get off the bike to do so in places. I can only use the lanes for the longest of 800m without it meeting a kerb to get down, or an entry to a field or a house.
If you drive on a national road and happen to drive close to the edge just over the broken yellow line you will here debris been thrown up and hitting the wheel well of your car. That's the stuff that will cause a flat for a bike and is not very stable and is littered all over cycleways.

Wishbone Ash

kate.m wrote: »

I can't explain why they would cycle side by side with other cyclists though...

It's deemed to be safer as it encourages motorists to wait until it is safe to overtake rather than squeezing by. Many cycling fatalities are caused by overtaking manoeuvres.

kate.m

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It's deemed to be safer as it encourages motorists to wait until it is safe to overtake rather than squeezing by. Many cycling fatalities are caused by overtaking manoeuvres.

Ah right, that makes sense.

In responce to kenmc: It just seems dangerous to me. Especially in town/ heavy traffic. Are you not more likely to annoy drivers if you're taking up part of their lane? (under the assumption two cyclists can't both cycle in the cycle lane anyway - they're pretty small) Wishbone Ash's point made sense though.

Inquitus

The one from the Airport to Swords is overgrown, about 2 foot wide in places, bi-directional and shared with pedestrians, it also changes sides on a couple of occassions, its useless.

cdaly_

kenmc wrote: »

Huh? It's very difficult to chat when you're fore and aft. Besides, cyclists are legally allowed cycle two abreast, and 3 when overtaking a single cyclist.

[pedant]
Actually, 3 abreast is allowed only when a single cyclists overtakes 2 cycling abreast. Where 2 are cycling abreast and need to overtake a single cyclist, they are required to single out...
[/pedant]

kenmc

kate.m wrote: »

In responce to kenmc: It just seems dangerous to me. Especially in town/ heavy traffic. Are you not more likely to annoy drivers if you're taking up part of their lane? (under the assumption two cyclists can't both cycle in the cycle lane anyway - they're pretty small) Wishbone Ash's point made sense though.

how the f is it THEIR lane? unless it's on their own private property, it's a public roadway.

markens2

smacl wrote: »

If you are genuinely trying to get an understanding of this, the simplest way to do so would be to borrow a bike and try using some of these cycle lanes.

IMO, some are fine, but many have serious problems and as a cyclist can leave you in a dangerous position that you wouldn't be in if you'd stayed on the road. Examples would be cycle lanes that go around the outside of roundabouts, cycle lanes that keep you on the inside of a left turning lane where you don't want to turn left, and best of all cycle lanes that end suddenly with no warning that force you to rejoin traffic at speed. e.g. try cycling from Rathfarnham to Nutgrove using the cycle lanes, and you'll be in for a shock. On path cycle lanes leave you in the path of cars reversing out of the drive onto the road, and many people seem to see cycle lanes as alternative car parking and dog walking facilities. If you're forced to leave the cycle lane due to parked car, it's often to enter a lane containing faster moving traffic, which is a potentially dangerous manoeuvre you wouldn't have to make otherwise. That, and of course the truly crappy surface, broken glass, joggers, etc...

So basically, cycle lanes often present a slower and far more hazardous cycling option than using the road, and hence are avoided by experienced cyclists. But don't take my word for it, try it out by all means and let us know how you get on. Genuinely!

Thank you very much for explaining it so well. I now understand it and will scream less in my car!!!

kenmc

markens2 wrote: »

Thank you very much for explaining it so well. I now understand it and will scream less in my car!!!

And don't forget to tell ALL your friends

Beasty

Jawgap wrote: »

Mods must be watching the racing........:D

Local Paddy's Day Parade actually, why - you trollin'?;)

kate.m

kenmc wrote: »

how the f is it THEIR lane? unless it's on their own private property, it's a public roadway.

well where a cycle lane is provided - cyclists are expected to use it and not the road?...Only when there's no cycle lane provided they can use the road (as far as I'm aware - I was stopped once by a guard and he informed me I should have been using the cycle lane where provided)

But in the scenario above there is a cycle lane so technically the cyclist shouldn't be on the road? I used *their* because the road bit (where there is also a cycle lane) is meant for cars etc.

I should have used *their assaigned area of road* but figured you'd know I was talking about the road vs. the cycle lane....

rp

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Cycle lanes are legislated for, designed by and installed by motorists.

I thought it was Hitler did it? (oops, Godwin's Law fail...)

rp

kenmc wrote: »

how the f is it THEIR lane? unless it's on their own private property, it's a public roadway.

tomasrojo

kate.m wrote: »

well where a cycle lane is provided - cyclists are expected to use it and not the road?...Only when there's no cycle lane provided they can use the road (as far as I'm aware - I was stopped once by a guard and he informed me I should have been using the cycle lane where provided)

I'd frame it more as: cyclists should use the road except where a properly signed cycle track is provided. That's closer to what the regulations state, and avoids the implication that roads without cycle tracks are uncommon.

Even then, I largely eschew cycle tracks, for reasons covered up-thread already.

Jawgap

Beasty wrote: »

Local Paddy's Day Parade actually, why - you trollin'?;)

Yep, but not so much anyone would notice:)

smacl

rp wrote: »

I know you shouldn't really quote pictures, but some are just worth repeating. Damn!

Seweryn

smacl wrote: »

I know you shouldn't really quote pictures, but some are just worth repeating. Damn!

Yeah, a great shot. I wouldn't mind a jersey with that written at the back .

Wishbone Ash

markens2 wrote: »

I now understand it and will scream less in my car!!!

Also bear in mind that if we all abandoned our bikes and resorted to our cars* you'd be screaming a lot more!

(*taxed but sitting in the driveway most of the week)

doozerie

markens2 wrote: »

I've been really annoyed by cyclists lately when they cycle on the road instead of the cycle path that is there.

There are some cycle paths around me that are contiuous for about 3 miles yet they insist on cycling on the road sometimes two or three side by side.

Is there a reason for this?

Yes, we are practicing for the zombie apocalypse. Have you ever seen a driving zombie? No, exactly, they'll all be walking on the footpath - they may be technically dead, but they still respect the rules of the road and obey the rules of basic good manners (gorging on brains excepted). Therefore the safest place for the zombie apocalypse -surviving cyclist to be is on the road so we need to be experienced in the novelty of being on that particularly revered stretch of tarmac.

Captain Havoc

They do dance on the road though.

BostonB

markens2 wrote: »

But these are up off the road. No bebris. They wouldn't be used by pedestrians either.

Many of the ones in my area look fine, but are rippled so that when you ride on them at any speed you get shaken to bits. Also they often force you to dismount, to get on and off them. You also can't make right hand turns from them.

Imagine every time you were driving and you came to a junction, you had to stop get out, push the car to the other side then continue driving. It feels like that.

Also they tend to just end with no reason, and a cyclist suddenly appearing on the road with no warning, is not a great idea for road safety, vs cyclists you can see in front on a predicable direction and can plan accordingly.

That said some cyclists are just like drivers who stay in the overtaking lane.

doozerie

Captain Havoc wrote: »

They do dance on the road though.

But that's outrageous behaviour and gets all socially responsible zombies a bad name. I'll bet they don't even pay zombie road dancing tax. I'm off to the zombie forum with a strongly worded post!

markens2

Sorry to drag up an old thread. I started this thread ages ago and it was for genuine reasons.

I have taken the advice that somebody put up and got a bike.

Now I cycle home from work most days.

How have you people not lost it with the state of the paths???

It's hard enough trying to figure those clippy poxy shoes, but on the cycle path it's every few metres.

Fair play for the advice.

Raam

markens2 wrote: »

How have you people not lost it with the state of the paths???

I use the road.

monkeypants

markens2 wrote: »

How have you people not lost it with the state of the paths???

Life's too short, dude. Just use the road.

buffalo

Non-cyclist who complains about people not using the cycle paths becomes a cyclist who complains about the state of the cycle paths.

The circle is complete.

Gillo

Fair play to the OP for coming back.

Just out of curosity OP, how did you find the transition to clips?
I've been seriously thinking about upgrading to them but have visions of a lot a face planting as I get used to them. (Mayby it'd be a good excuse to treat myself to a go pro!)

Wishbone Ash

markens2 wrote: »

I started this thread ages ago and it was for genuine reasons

....and the law has changed since then - it's no longer mandatory to use cycle lanes where provided. (Pity someone wouldn't inform taxi drivers and Dublin Bus drivers! )

HivemindXX

This must be the first time in the history of the internet someone has changed their mind as the result of a message board!

Good luck with your cycling OP. If you travel a given route with regularity you will quickly figure out which cycle paths are worth using and which are to be avoided. They are not all terrible (just a lot of them).

hardCopy

Gillo wrote: »

Fair play to the OP for coming back.

Just out of curosity OP, how did you find the transition to clips?
I've been seriously thinking about upgrading to them but have visions of a lot a face planting as I get used to them. (Mayby it'd be a good excuse to treat myself to a go pro!)

Get the cleats, you won't look back. I even bought a pair of mtb shoes that look like normal skate shoes so I could walk around after cycling into town.

rp

hardCopy wrote: »

Get the cleats, you won't look back. I even bought a pair of mtb shoes that look like normal skate shoes so I could walk around after cycling into town.

In SPDs I have:

• Adidas trainers
• Normal MTB boots
• Shimano Winter boots
• Road shoes
• Sandals

Am I the Imelda Marcos of SPDs?

Wishbone Ash

rp wrote: »

In SPDs I have:

• Adidas trainers
• Normal MTB boots
• Shimano Winter boots
• Road shoes
• Sandals

Am I the Imelda Marcos of SPDs?

Sandals with cleats! I thought you were taking the p*ss until .......

RobertFoster

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

....and the law has changed since then - it's no longer mandatory to use cycle lanes where provided. (Pity someone wouldn't inform taxi drivers and Dublin Bus drivers! )

****, yes, please spread the word. Every time I cycle the N11 into town I feel like emailing whoever's head of traffic in Donnybrook to get them to tell drivers the cycle lane isn't mandatory.

Last week I was sandwiched between a taxi driver, who had a word while stopped at a red, and a bus driver who beeped at me a few times, then overtook and pulled into a stop 50m later. Seems to be the only stretch of road I have issues on.