Obstructed Cycle Infrastructure

[crazyjoe101]

I thought I'd make this thread as I find the rules a bit complicated when it comes to cars obstructing the cycle lane, I meet them very often and I don't even commute into Central London. Below shows a semi segregated cycle lane on Plumpstead Road, westbound, as well as cars stopped on a double and single lined red route in a cycle lane (Woolwich Common / A205, southbound); I'm pretty sure there's no excuse for that one...



I'm not exactly sure of the rules but even if they are allowed there outside of peak times it's still annoying having a parking space disguised as a cycle lane. I did reference this guide about road markings but couldn't see any obvious signs with information about usage times in that area.

I know you've all seen far worse on your proper commutes, even on the 'cycle superhighways'. I just wanted to share what I've seen as I'm not sure if some (or any!) of it's permitted...

 

[akb]

The cycle lane is of poor design. As most of them are.

 

[HLaB]

Take the opportunity not to use them. FWIW unless there's a double yellow line its not illegal to park in the broken line type.

 

[Maylian]

Get Danny Macaskill to actually use the lane whether cars are in it or not....to be honest that design does make it look like a really luxurious parking space!

 

[crazyjoe101]

I'm not even going to bother with cycle lanes unless I can see they go on for a relatively long way, so many times I've automatically slotted into one to find that it pushes me into the normal lane anyway, simply taking away my choice of when to merge. Perhaps he could go over the cars with some snow chains fitted .

 

[Schneil]

I can do one better than that. This guy parked his car inside the cut through for cycles, despite there being an empty drive and plenty of other non obstructive places to park on the road.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/1f1f0b8ea314a57af1024a34f53b7fb6/tumblr_mrdeyrzjpT1r4th60o1_1280.jpg


Shame I wasn't on a bmx.......

 

[crazyjoe101]

That's rediculous! "I'll stick it there, it'll be out of the way, obviously a good place to park since the space definately car sized..."

 

[Frood42]

Poor infrastructure, another example of piece meal box ticking rather than serious thought in practical design and implementation.

They seemed to make an attempt at segeration, as I can see some brick work, but unless it is raised drivers will take advantage of what is clearly some excellent car parking space.

They are putting in what looks to be a segerated cycle lane in Stratford, and part of this appears to have raised sections, so hopefully it won't be just glorified parking spaces... I was shocked to see that they have actually taken a lane out of the road so that the cars now have two lanes rather than three (although I have no idea why they thought cars needed three lanes... http://goo.gl/maps/f1A2F ).
Although the road works have made it a little hazardous as some drivers come round the corner to the road a bit too quick (due to the three lanes suddenly going down to two), but at least they are doing something...

 

[essex.cyclist]

I don't doubt that a large majority of people designing these lanes have never ridden a bike on the road in their life.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Sometimes it doesn't help even when the path is segregated:

Just shows the attitude of some people towards anyone who isn't in a car. Fortunately it doesn't happen often on this road but enough to get annoying.

 

[snorri]

This guy parked his car inside the cut through for cycles,.....

A similar facility here, but the driver tried, a little bit(!), not to block the cycle lane.

 

[crazyjoe101]

I don't understand what must be going through their minds, both the owners of the cars and the designers of the ones that get put in the road. ASL blockers are another one of my pet hates, I undertook a large line of traffic the other day to get to the ASL, as I got there the driver at the front of the queue pulled into it, he was turning left along with the guy behind so I ended up 'stuck' there wanting to go straight.

 

[buggi]

i once got a ticket for parking my bumper over the start of a cycle lane (i was much younger then, didn't cycle and didn't find it annoying to do this LOL). so i would say, no it's not allowed.

But now i have to ask... why do you give a crap? Cycle lanes do nothing for cyclists other than give drivers the impression we don't belong on the road, or put us in danger. i ride as if nothing is painted there and take the position i normally would on a road.

 

[crazyjoe101]

I'm not even going to bother with cycle lanes unless I can see they go on for a relatively long way...

I've only just started to move out into more assertive road positions, now I understand what they're for any why they're used. My comfortable position at the moment is 1.5 - 2 feet from the curb, unless I need to hold the traffic back, in which case it's lane centre. A lot of the times I'm in a cycle lane because it's where I feel comfortable riding in the road, in this particular case I went to join it because of how 'nice' it was going in the other direction. Another reason is that obstructed lanes can catch new cyclists out.

 

[Schneil]

Sometimes it doesn't help even when the path is segregated:
View attachment 28905

Just shows the attitude of some people towards anyone who isn't in a car. Fortunately it doesn't happen often on this road but enough to get annoying.

That's just asking to be used as a bmx track.......