Bad Cycle Lanes?

[G3CWI]

This example always worries me.

http://goo.gl/maps/z398s

At the lights, bikes and cars have their own lanes separated by an island. The lack of proximity of bikes to cars always makes me think that I am far more likely to be caught by a left-turner here than if the island was not there....

 

[Hacienda71]

I knew it would be that one before I opened your link. It is bad. I tend to position myself far forward to put myself in the drivers eyeline if they decide they are turning left and also to give myself a headstart. I also keep my eyes on the cars to see if any are indicating. The cycle lanes are pretty poor on both sides of the road and I tend to cycle on the main carrigeway particularly past the school where I will be travelling as fast or faster than the cars.

 

[Over The Hill]

Luxury!
Come to Basingstoke where the car is king.
Have a look at Winchester Road
http://goo.gl/maps/YUhP4
Nice cycle lane on both sides of the road? No; one on left side just stops when it gets to a T junction and both stop when they get to the roundabout. Follow along to the roundabout and you see four underpasses and lovely lanes in the middle of the roundabout there for a safe crossing of the ring road. But no! Cycles are banned and so you can only leave the cycle route and chance it with the very fast traffic. Or get off and walk of course.
http://goo.gl/maps/wXrtB
This is the junction right next to the railway station. The station has parking for about 200 bikes with some nice undercover sheds too. But this junction is the main feed to the station from most directions. It is usually really busy. Note no provision at all for cyclist anywhere to be seen so bike on pavement.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Luxury!
Come to Basingstoke where the car is king.
Have a look at Winchester Road
http://goo.gl/maps/YUhP4
Follow along to the roundabout and you see four underpasses and lovely lanes in the middle of the roundabout there for a safe crossing of the ring road. But no! Cycles are banned and so you can only leave the cycle route and chance it with the very fast traffic. Or get off and walk of course.

And who enforces that?? I'd consider my safety more important I'm afraid. Anyway if all else fails and someone shouts at you, gesturing to one of the signs, just shout back

'I'm dyslexic!'*


* - Note this only works if you don't keep meeting the same person!

 

[Over The Hill]

And who enforces that?? I'd consider my safety more important I'm afraid. Anyway if all else fails and someone shouts at you, gesturing to one of the signs, just shout back
'I'm dyslexic!'*
* - Note this only works if you don't keep meeting the same person!

I agree with what you say and the reality is that cyclists do just use the ped underpass. There is however quite a strong anti-bike lobby in the town and the local paper often carries a "a bike nearly hit me - ban them" letter.
In reality it just puts people off cycling in the town. The example is not a one off - it is like that everywhere.

They decided a small section of road was too wide so put in a cycle lane just to narrow it. One end of the cycle lane spills onto a busy roundabout with no onward cycle provision, the other end 100 yards away throws you out in front of the 76 bus!
http://goo.gl/maps/Ufuou
Follow this along and you see both the 4x4 and red van cutting into the cycle lane. On the other side by Lidl traffic often makes two lines up to the roundabout using the cycle lane! Only bike you see is on the pavement being pushed!

I just live 3 miles out and do admit that I usually take the car simply as it is so difficult to just get around the town by bike.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I agree with what you say and the reality is that cyclists do just use the ped underpass. There is however quite a strong anti-bike lobby in the town and the local paper often carries a "a bike nearly hit me - ban them" letter.
I just live 3 miles out and do admit that I usually take the car simply as it is so difficult to just get around the town by bike.

How sad, I wouldn't let them win, but then, I don't live there.

Here in Dumbarton, the cycle track to/from Glasgow ends and there is a bit of road before the next part of the track starts to Balloch and Loch Lomond. People just seem to put up with and tolerate lost looking cyclists scattered about on the relevant route (minor roads) which also happens to be well signposted
That said, those cycle tracks have been there for years, so its a very well established thing to see now.

 

[HLaB]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/

 

[Hacienda71]

Rode through Tytherington today. The island separating the bike lane from the cars has been removed!

 

[G3CWI]

Rode through Tytherington today. The island separating the bike lane from the cars has been removed!

Eek. Never noticed that, I will check in a mo. I use that post office several times each day.

 

[PeteXXX]

Northampton town centre has a couple of crackers!
Both take cyclists against the main one-way flow for cars, buses & delivery vehicles.
This one filters left around St Giles church towards the hospital. Oncoming drivers get the hump with cyclists as they think folk are riding the wrong way up the road.
http://goo.gl/maps/xrg5M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is Gold Street. Once again the cycle lane goes against the flow of buses that frequently have to encroach on the cycle lane to get past vehicles parked half on the path to pick up the Mrs with her shopping. The other problem here is that pedestrians never look (even less than usual, that is!!) 'up' the road, only 'down' to check for traffic.

http://goo.gl/maps/zRHGg

 

[G3CWI]

Northampton town centre has a couple of crackers!

Oh dear. That has got to be a bad idea.

 

[on the road]

Northampton town centre has a couple of crackers!
Both take cyclists against the main one-way flow for cars, buses & delivery vehicles.
This one filters left around St Giles church towards the hospital. Oncoming drivers get the hump with cyclists as they think folk are riding the wrong way up the road.
http://goo.gl/maps/xrg5M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is Gold Street. Once again the cycle lane goes against the flow of buses that frequently have to encroach on the cycle lane to get past vehicles parked half on the path to pick up the Mrs with her shopping. The other problem here is that pedestrians never look (even less than usual, that is!!) 'up' the road, only 'down' to check for traffic.

http://goo.gl/maps/zRHGg

That last one looks dangerous to me, especially with the buses going past.