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

[yello]

Good question. A decent, well thought out and constructed cycle path can be bliss; avoiding busy roads, intersections, or even simple short-cuts through towns etc. But "exclusively" I'm not so sure. I'm not sure I'd see a value in replacing the large number of quiet rural roads that I ride with cycle paths, however well constructed they might be. I do like riding roads.

 

[Salad Dodger]

Down here on the Kent coast we have a lot of shared space pavements, and a lot of promenades and clifftop walkways where cycling is permitted.

I do enjoy being away from other traffic but, as an ex motorcyclist, it doesn't bother me to ride on the road where necessary.

 

[annirak]

I regularly ride in the road next to a shared use path. I don’t ride that path for two reasons:
First, it’s poorly maintained. It’s covered in leaves in the fall, the tarmac is broken and bumpy, it doesn’t get cleared or gritted after a snowfall, and all the foot traffic compresses it into ice.

Second, I don’t have priority at any of the dozen or so junctions. That’s a lot of stopping and starting.

 

[harlechjoe]

One of my best rides followed the Rhine which like other Great European Rivers, is blessed with a cycling path along most of its banks.

 

[steveindenmark]

If they are smooth tarmac, swept, salted in winter, are rideable at a steady 18mph, have good sight lines, are free of walkers and dogs, don't lose priority at side roads and are not hangouts for muggers and bike thieves, yes I would.

The above applies to 0% of UK cycle paths.

Ours in Denmark are shared paths with pedestrians, dog walkers, pram pushers and mopeds. Its never been a problem as we all understand the meaning of shared footpaths. You can go as fast as you want. But we all appreciate the needxto slow down to negotiate slower traffic.

 

[Dogtrousers]

This year I did ride a couple of miles on a cycle path that wasn't utterly godawful. It only had two slight drawbacks. First: One end of it was on the Isle of Sheppey. Second: So was the other end.

Apart from that it was really good. All you could ask of a cycle path. Wide, good tarmac, no clutter or even other users (well it was the Isle of Sheppey, the land that time forgot)

 

[Panscrank]

No

It's not just about the distance, it's about being able to go pretty much wherever I want.

Cycle paths can be OK in some urban circumstances, to avoid dual carriageways and other high speed roads and the like but that's about it.

I think distance does come into it a bit as the further you want to ride, the current odds of being able to ride exclusively on paths decreases.
As I live right next to the coast, riding south is out as I would sink into Swansea Bay quite quickly!
Going west, apart from a small bit of road nr Gowerton/Loughor, I can ride from my house in central Swansea to Pembrey country park without touching roads pretty much. And that's a round trip of around 55 miles, well far enough for me but probably too short for roadies.
Going north, I can do around a thirty mile round trip up the Swansea valley until I run out of pathways and the same going west towards Port Toilet. Even if I wanted to travel further, I would not currently have the fitness etc to do so, so for me, it's paths all the way and as I ride a hybrid and am old, I'm more interested in scenery than speed and average around 12 mph.

 

[Littgull]

As other posters have said it is very difficult to find good surfaced off road cycle tracks that can cover long distances without using roads at all.
I am very lucky to live right next to the Rochdale Canal which is mainly good surfaced and very scenic. It is my route out and back from most of my rides and is very pleasant to ride. I also have devised numerous 30, 40 and 50 mile circular rides that only use a very minimal amount of busy roads and are largely off road tracks or quiet lanes.
Quite a lot of my rides include cycling through very large parks with good surfaced wide trackways through them. I have a 7 Parks route and a 4 Parks route all within Greater Manchester that are fantastic rides. It is great observing the changing seasons throughout the year in a traffic free environment and close to nature. Most of these large parks include a decent cafe. Examples include Alexandra Park Oldham, Heaton Park Manchester, Boggart Hole Clough Blackely, Daisy Nook Country Park, Ashton etc

With a bit of planning it is possible to create interesting largely off road routes with good surfaced (cycling permissable) pathways.
I'm not interested in speed so being slowed down by walkers, dogs and horse riders doesn't bother me in the slightest. I just anticipate other users, give way when necessary and ride past with a smile. Hardly ever incur any antipathy.

 

[PaulSB]

@Littgull sounds fantastic. I live in Chorley and we often head down to Manchester for gravel rides. Living within 300 metres of the Leeds Liverpool I can easily get an 80+ mile loop to the Manchester area.

Could you share some of your routes as parts might fit with or tack on to what we already do.

 

[PaulSB]

My answer depends entirely on the type of ride we want. As mentioned above we can easily put together 80+ miles of gravel/cycle path/towpath/farm travks with perhaps 5 of those miles being on tarmac.

Living in Lancashire I'm firmly of the opinion we have access to some of the UK's finest riding, the whole of Lancashire (magnificent!), Cumbria and Yorkshire. For road riding the area is covered in quiet country lanes we can ride all day without encountering much traffic. No need for cycle paths.

We make forays to Cheshire which has some great rides but have to negotiate a lot of urban roads to get there. On this type of ride we jump on cycle paths when we can, especially when riding through the Warrington, Runcorn area.

 

[geocycle]

One of my best rides followed the Rhine which like other Great European Rivers, is blessed with a cycling path along most of its banks.

I enjoyed the Rhine route but even then I found some sections tedious. Almost too much of a good thing, so I went off piste to explore some villages and hills. Loved the feeling of security without traffic though.

 

[byegad]

There are a plentiful supply of cycle paths in this country, virtually every home has one outside its front door. We call them roads, and, while they are not particularly well maintained, compared to those called Cyclepaths by local councils and such organisation as Sustrans, they are in far better overall condition.

Until such a time comes that those 'Cyclepaths' are cared for, cleaned, maintained and salted in winter like roads are now, they remain a chancy thing to ride on unless you know them well and have a decent local council.

 

[Panscrank]

There are a plentiful supply of cycle paths in this country, virtually every home has one outside its front door. We call them roads, and, while they are not particularly well maintained, compared to those called Cyclepaths by local councils and such organisation as Sustrans, they are in far better overall condition.

Until such a time comes that those 'Cyclepaths' are cared for, cleaned, maintained and salted in winter like roads are now, they remain a chancy thing to ride on unless you know them well and have a decent local council.

I think 'normal' non-cyclists are very nervous about cycling amongst traffic. I know it's still statistically unlikely but there are the constant near misses and unreasonable drivers as well as some who actively hate anyone on a bike.
I haven't got the stats to hand but I would think the number of people killed or seriously injured on cycle paths in comparison to on roads is probably miniscule.
This is a huge barrier to people cycling in this country.

 

[classic33]

I think 'normal' non-cyclists are very nervous about cycling amongst traffic. I know it's still statistically unlikely but there are the constant near misses and unreasonable drivers as well as some who actively hate anyone on a bike.
I haven't got the stats to hand but I would think the number of people killed or seriously injured on cycle paths in comparison to on roads is probably miniscule.
This is a huge barrier to people cycling in this country.

The thing to remember is that you are not cycling in traffic, but cycling in other traffic, when using the roads.

You're a part of the traffic, not something else on the road.

 

[taximan]

I never deliberately seek out cycle tracks when planning a route but if they are heading in my direction I am quite happy to make use of them. Perhaps I have been lucky because I have seldom encountered a cycle track that I would avoid if passing that way again.