Often Short cycle paths are the butt of jokes – see this ridiculous example. They look like they have been painted into the road in order to meet some imaginary government target for increasing the number of bike lanes. Often these bike lanes are so short, it is doubtful whether you could actually get a tandem on the lane before it mysteriously disappears. See also this crazy bike lanes
I’ve done my fair share of making jokes at short bike paths, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a short bike lane installed and it made a significant difference to my daily commute.
Basically, this used to be a wall. There was no short cut to avoid the lights ahead. It is a four way light, and often a two minute wait. They created a gap in the wall and a short bike path. This allows you to filter left and avoid the traffic lights.
A simple bike lane, but, of practical use. This junction has a high % of people who used to ride on pavement because of long wait. (I always seem to see drivers on their mobile phone at this junction, but, that’s another post)
The worst thing about that unecessary bike lane is that any sane cyclist turning left there would be better off taking the short cut down the previous road and avoidind the lights all together: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3555160 .
There is a classic bad cycle path diversion near me on Horspath Driftway, I must put up a picture of it one day. Basically, the cycle lane on the road diverts on to the pavement for 100m, merely to avoid a bollard in the lane that was put there at the same time. It’s madness!