A cycle path of sorts
There are quite a few cycle lanes in Oxford which I try to avoid if possible. An example, is the cycle path on Botley Road. Firstly it is on the pavement with a white line down the middle. This means there is risk of collision with pedestrians using the pavement. I tried cycling once and often got stuck behind people walking. I didn’t want to ask them to move, as there wasn’t really anyway for them to go and I felt the pavement was really for them.
However, the main thing I dislike about this cycle path is you have to negotiate about 15 side streets in the space of 1 mile. In theory, you have to give way to traffic turning. This involves stopping and make sure no traffic is turning into the road. It’s irritating to have to stop so frequently and it feels more unsafe.
Don’t forget to give way every 20 yards.
Checking for turning traffic
Car blocking path
Going round the car
And finally back onto cycle path.
It’s a narrow path – especially at bus stop.
It may depend on the type of cyclist. Typically, I will ride down Botley road at 17-21mph. This is pretty much the same average speed as cars. It is a speed which is not safe on a crowded pavement / cycle path. If I was an old granny cycling at 8mph, the cycle path may seem more appealing. But, if I had been designing the Botley road, I would have made road wider and integrated the path into road, like these in Dublin.
Also, although you theoretically have to give way, I notice most cars are willing to give way to cyclists using the cycle path. The problem is the word ‘most’ Because it is not all, you can never trust a car to give way so have to be prepared to stop.
Generally, I dislike cycle paths on the pavement. One concern is that it seems to stem from a hope to push cyclists off the road. Cyclists need to be able to make use of roads without a feeling from drivers they shouldn’t be there.
Like this rider, I ignore the cycle path. At least it isn’t a compulsory cycle path. I would be very concerned and annoyed if this kind of cycle path was made compulsory.
Not all cycle paths are bad. This two way cycle path over Donnington Bridge is useful for providing a safe way for school children to get to school. It also enables cyclists to avoid crossing the road because it goes both ways.
actually, this man on a bike isn’t on the cycle path, but you can see the path behind him.
It is right that cycle paths in towns are designed for the average ‘cyclist’ rather than a small number who cycle very fast. But, even for the average slow cyclist I think there are real concerns about cycle paths squeezed onto pavements and which cross many junctions. Maybe it is better than nothing, but, I don’t think it is.
Also another reason I don’t use cycle lanes is that I’ve had more accidents on them than on the roads. The problem is pedestrians don’t look so just walk into the path of a cyclist.
Thinking of doing a “hazards of south Cambridge” map/blog/vlog with all the poor cyclelane bits we have. Most is the disconnected nature, but there’s lots of downright dangerous and silly sections.
On the flip side, here’s a really good path, that’s pretty much unused.
http://radwagon.co.uk/2012/05/south-cambridge-guided-busway-cyclepath.html
@Simon
That is so true. I live in Northampton and there are barely any cycle lanes. There are none on my routes to work, uni, etc. The few we do have are next to useless, being short in length and most of them so thin that you could barely fit a bike. It feels like the equivalent of “tightrope walking” on the curb. You don’t feel safe from the traffic.
@Simon: +1.
It’s ridiculous the position of some lanes, they last for as you say 10 or 20 metres, then are gone again. And sometimes you have to divert from a safe path to get to them. Madness.
Dutch and Danish cycle paths are of such high quality that they are used by “average” cyclists and roadies alike. By choice!
I feel there is no reason that UK should not have such high quality infrastructure beautifully documented by Mikael at copenhagenize.com also David at http://hembrow.blogspot.com/
I often come across cycle lanes that are 10 or 20 metre’s in length and in the most ridiculous place they are no help to cycles or any other road users, some are so dangerous and totally useless. I think the goverment adds up all the little 10 or 20 metre’s of (dangerous) cycle lanes and then when questioned say, “we introduced 180 miles of cycles lanes in the last yadda yadda yadda.
You say you’re glad this (appalling) cycle path isn’t compulsory – here, here! But as far as I know, no cycle path is so. Under the terms of the Highway Code, cyclists are (so far) free to judge a cycle lane on its worth and choose not to use it if they think that’s safer. This is what I was taught during my cycle instruction earlier this year.
Perhaps you’re confused by mandatory cycle lanes, in which motor vehicles are forbidden to drive (marked by an unbroken line). But that’s not the same thing at all.
I enjoy your blog a great deal
I saw in a book in Borders about bad cycle lanes across the world, genius.