Are we tackling cycle lanes wrong?

[Nutty_Death]

Announcement at Park Run this morning that a regular died in a crash cycling to work. Sounded like they were an experienced cyclist.

Hit home that I could be wiped out one day and my kids have no dad.

 

[fez]

Announcement at Park Run this morning that a regular died in a crash cycling to work. Sounded like they were an experienced cyclist.

Hit home that I could be wiped out one day and my kids have no dad.

And the chances of the driver involved being punished properly? Slim to none.

 

[ColdAsIce]

We need to take cyclists off the road network and find a way of having them blend into the pedestrian network. Definitely be some teething issues until Joe Public realises they have to be careful not to wander into the cycle lane but it has to be safer than how we currently do things.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

We need to take cyclists off the road network and find a way of having them blend into the pedestrian network. Definitely be some teething issues until Joe Public realises they have to be careful not to wander into the cycle lane but it has to be safer than how we currently do things.

Why should I have to be forced to slow down to 15mph or even slower if I have to share with pedestrians?
I wouldn't accept being told I could only do 15mph in a 30mph or 35 in a 70 as a motorist all the time (besides when traffic congestion forces me to).

 

[Rroff]

I wouldn't accept being told I could only do 15mph in a 30mph or 35 in a 70 as a motorist all the time (besides when traffic congestion forces me to).

This is what cyclists essentially force on us motorists

(That was meant light heartedly BTW)

Announcement at Park Run this morning that a regular died in a crash cycling to work. Sounded like they were an experienced cyclist.

Hit home that I could be wiped out one day and my kids have no dad.

I came up behind a cyclist on a bend yesterday - waited until I had a clear stretch to get around them after the corner. Noticed the vehicle behind me obviously saw how I overtook and was like "oh yeah I'm supposed to do it like that", car behind them just went past the cyclist like they weren't even there - maybe gave them 20cm - despite a straight stretch of road with no traffic the other way. Unfortunately I don't have a rear facing dashcam.

 

[ColdAsIce]

Why should I have to be forced to slow down to 15mph or even slower if I have to share with pedestrians?
I wouldn't accept being told I could only do 15mph in a 30mph or 35 in a 70 as a motorist all the time (besides when traffic congestion forces me to).

I don't want you to share. I want it to be split into two. One lane for pedestrians and one for cycles but I don't think that should be placed on roads with cars. I think it should be seperated within the pavement network. With pavements widened to accommodate.

 

[Trifid]

I don't want you to share. I want it to be split into two. One lane for pedestrians and one for cycles but I don't think that should be placed on roads with cars. I think it should be seperated within the pavement network. With pavements widened to accommodate.

The problem with the pavement network is the lack of priority across roads (yes I know the highway code says otherwise but no one wants to get seriously injured). Cycling is about efficiency and stopping every block when the roads continues uninterrupted ruins it and will keep everyone in cars. I'd rather safe roads then the poor excuse for cycle lanes that form part of the pavement that we tend to see here. The problem is as traffic gets worse the roads get re-engineered to be more hostile for anyone outside a car.

 

[Psymonkee]

Just take the Dutch approach - all the junctions off a main road become large, pavement/cyclepath speed bumps for vehicles and make them give way to foot/cycle traffic. Make it hostile to cars and provide a decent set of resources for taking alternative transport (suitable safe places to park bikes for instance) and it'll change in no time.

Gotta stop doing the horrible British half-***ed approch to everything.

 

[SkodaMart]

Traffic calming measures are deadly, they force cyclists and motorists into the same restricted space.

 

[Psymonkee]

I mean more like this:

 

[Rroff]

Will upload what little video I have of it tomorrow - doesn't really show much - came around a corner today to find a small car dithering about behind a cyclist obviously unsure how to pass them (it wasn't safe to), light truck behind them got annoyed and laid on the air horn, the last I saw of it the truck was driving intimidatingly close to the cyclist on purpose.

It gets a bit ridiculous on the roads I drive regularly though at this time of year especially if the weather is nice - half hour journey becomes much longer when you have to navigate like 6 lots of cyclists... and that is if you are lucky enough not to get stuck behind farm traffic for a few miles...

 

[Rroff]

Sadly I don't have a rear facing dashcam - from what I could see looked like the truck then drove intimidatingly at the cyclist after the smaller car went past behind me.

 

[bloodiedathame]

I think everyone needs to appreciate there are a few different 'types' of cyclists we're trying to suit here.

There's the casual commuter, the pop-to-the-shops, cycle path/lane user probably riding a fixie or a hand-me-down, synonymous with urban and sub-urban areas.
There's also the lycra brigade, chasing their PBs on Strava, training for the Tour de France or whatever. You won't catch them riding on a dedicated cycle lane/path or stopping at lights or roundabouts because they might have to slow down and their PBs would be affected.
There's the MTBer who has had to use a stretch of road to find the next bridleway (or footpath - if they really want some abuse).

Kinda boils down to urban vs rural riding. It's great that more is being done for the urban cyclists, but it would be nice for some ideas for the Mark Cavendish wannabes and the people who don't really want to be sharing the road with people doing 60mph on country roads.

 

[Rroff]

I think everyone needs to appreciate there are a few different 'types' of cyclists we're trying to suit here.

There's the casual commuter, the pop-to-the-shops, cycle path/lane user probably riding a fixie or a hand-me-down, synonymous with urban and sub-urban areas.
There's also the lycra brigade, chasing their PBs on Strava, training for the Tour de France or whatever. You won't catch them riding on a dedicated cycle lane/path or stopping at lights or roundabouts because they might have to slow down and their PBs would be affected.
There's the MTBer who has had to use a stretch of road to find the next bridleway (or footpath - if they really want some abuse).

Kinda boils down to urban vs rural riding. It's great that more is being done for the urban cyclists, but it would be nice for some ideas for the Mark Cavendish wannabes and the people who don't really want to be sharing the road with people doing 60mph on country roads.

I'm amazed anyone ever cycles on my route to work - much of it is literally taking your life in your hands and many lorries, etc. will brush past at 50+MPH without hesitation.

 

[Martynt74]

but it would be nice for some ideas for the Mark Cavendish wannabes and the people who don't really want to be sharing the road with people doing 60mph on country roads.

I don't think thats ever an option though, it's such a small subsection of society. It'd be like creating another pavement for people who run faster than regular joggers.

It'd be interesting to know how the likes of Holland etc treat hobby cyclists out of main cities.