If you could cycle exclusively on cycle tracks, would you?

[Panscrank]

I am a washed up 54 year old riding my hybrid around the Swansea and Gower coast, Doing between 15 and 30 mile trips at the weekend.
Around here, I am pretty much able to stay on cycle tracks for my entire rides.
If that was possible for you, even for longer 'roadie' distance sides, would you ditch the road if the cycle lanes were wide enough and well maintained?

 

[Mo1959]

I am a washed up 54 year old riding my hybrid around the Swansea and Gower coast, Doing between 15 and 30 mile trips at the weekend.
Around here, I am pretty much able to stay on cycle tracks for my entire rides.
If that was possible for you, even for longer 'roadie' distance sides, would you ditch the road if the cycle lanes were wide enough and well maintained?

Yes, definitely if they were in good condition, but given the councils can barely look after the roads, I won't hold my breath.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

If they were at least 2 metres wide, smooth tarmac, heated for the winter, had priority at any road they met, went where I wanted, criss crossed the whole of the UK and were extensive as the road network….

 

[TheDoctor]

That's a very big 'If'...
When cycle paths are done well, I'll use them. So often, they're an ill-maintained afterthought that's positively dangerous.
And I live in Stevenage. Most other places in the UK are far worse.

 

[TheDoctor]

If they were at least 2 metres wide, smooth tarmac, heated for the winter, had priority at any road they met, went where I wanted, criss crossed the whole of the UK and were extensive as the road network….

I'll take that as a 'No'?

 

[Baldy]

Only if they go where I want to go, without lots of stop/start, giveway, avoiding obstacles and gates. Then yes.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I'll take that as a 'No'?

Correctomundo

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I use them where I can - but they don;t go everywhere and I wouldn;t expect them to

There are a lot of good ones here - even if they are along main roads they are generally seperate from the actual traffic on the big roads

my general rides are along canals for a lot of the route - so often away from traffic automatially (boats don't count!!)

If my route doesn't have proper cycle paths then I try to find quiet side roads - but if not then I am OK with proper roads

Only one time I have abandoned a ride due to a lack of cycle path - dual carridegeay in Garson with no cycle path - FAR to scary - turned round and walked back to where it was safer then went home!

 

[a.twiddler]

When they work, they're great. Many of them are poorly thought out or badly maintained. But for travelling any distance, generally the roads are more practical.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'd like to say yes but I can't.

Their quality varies so much e.g. a lot of the canal network towpath is designated as a 'National Cycling Network' but they are unsuitable for mass adoption as a national route. (Casual rides are great on them though!)

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

If they went exactly where I needed to go, kinda like roads - yes

 

[Jody]

For towns, if it is the same as Dutch infrastructure then yes.

Leave bridleways, towpaths etc as they are.

 

[matticus]

Before I went Dutch in September, I just couldn't conceive of a whole day's worth of usable cycle-path.

 

[winjim]

They're not gonna put them all over the Peak District and nor do I think they should so no. It would be nice if they did it in cities and major routes in rural areas. But even sometimes in urban areas I want to be able to ride faster than I would feel safe doing on a cycle track.

I want to use the roads but I want fewer cars on them. That's it really.

 

[T4tomo]

no, restricts the many choices of cafes and pubs you can cycle to if you avoid all roads.