Road bikes and cycle paths

[Biker Joe]

I live near Harlow in Essex which has an extensive system of cycle paths which are, for the most part, in pretty good condition.
I'm talking about cycle paths as opposed to cycle tracks that are part of the road, if you know what I mean.
I often see road bike cyclists who prefer to ride on the road rather than use the cycle paths.
Now the traffic density in Harlow can be rather horrendous and it appears to me that these cyclists are putting themselves in a dangerous situation when there is a perfectly safe and often empty cycle path running along side them.
For myself, when using my road bike and not the hybrid, I prefer the cycle paths as I feel much safer on them. I probably have to slow down and sometimes stop at road junctions more often than if I was on the road but accept this as par for the course.
I'm only talking about Harlow here as I have no experience of what it is like in other town and cities.
I just wondered what your take is on this subject.
Perhaps you prefer to use the road and I would be interested to hear why.

 

[Gary E]

Often cycle paths contain hidden obstacles/debris that can stay there for some time unlike on the main road (because they're cleared by cars).
Overhanging vegetation and peoples left out wheelie bins are also an issue in my area.
Having to ride at a slower pace (perfectly reasonable given that these paths are often shared use either by design or because pedestrians choose to use them) means you're not getting the workout that you would be getting if you maintained a good pace.
Having to stop before crossing T junctions as opposed to riding uninterrupted if you're on the main carriageway.
All of the above points are reasons why I often (although not exclusively) choose to use the road rather than the path. Obviously you have to weigh these points against the increased risks you take when you share a route with motor vehicles (which is why, given the choice, I often time my rides to coincide with quieter periods on the roads).
It's a personal choice just like the wearing of helmets and whilst I'd never try to persuade someone that one way is better than the other, I think we all need to make an informed choice for ourselves.
EDIT - the above is my informed choice, please don't take it as criticism if you choose otherwise

 

[CamTriker]

In general cycle paths are more dangerous to ride on even though they feel safer. Drivers will expect the pavement to be clear. They will think nothing of crossing a pavement without looking to stop at the kerb before checking what's about. Pedestrians are equally careless when walking out onto a pavement. We've also managed to train some wildlife & cats to stop at the kerb before legging it across the road, not so for the pavement. The year before I stopped cycling on cycle paths I ended up having 6 collisions, all minor, while riding on cycle paths, the 8 years since have been 100% collision free.

I'll ride on the road thanks, it just seems a safer place to be.

 

[HLaB]

Gary sums it well. I think its removed from the HC but it used to be advice if you are wanting to travel 18mph or more, use the road and often I do

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

I live near Harlow in Essex which has an extensive system of cycle paths which are, for the most part, in pretty good condition.
I'm talking about cycle paths as opposed to cycle tracks that are part of the road, if you know what I mean.
I often see road bike cyclists who prefer to ride on the road rather than use the cycle paths.
Now the traffic density in Harlow can be rather horrendous and it appears to me that these cyclists are putting themselves in a dangerous situation when there is a perfectly safe and often empty cycle path running along side them.
For myself, when using my road bike and not the hybrid, I prefer the cycle paths as I feel much safer on them. I probably have to slow down and sometimes stop at road junctions more often than if I was on the road but accept this as par for the course.
I'm only talking about Harlow here as I have no experience of what it is like in other town and cities.
I just wondered what your take is on this subject.
Perhaps you prefer to use the road and I would be interested to hear why.

IIRC offroad cycle routes have a 5 to 1 ratio of accidents compared with cycling on the road.

 

[Pale Rider]

All the junctions, dropped kerbs that aren't, and other obstructions on paths are a source of frustration for me.

I only aim to trundle along, but I can see a path would be all but useless to a roadie wanting to make progress.

 

[Drago]

A lady I knows father died from head injuries following a collision with a tree branch deliberately left just out of sight round a blind corner on a cycle path.

They're inevitably maintained to a lower standard than roads, and are ofrwn crime hotspots due to poor lighting, seclusion an luck of natural surveillance. Given he choice I would generally stick to the road.

 

[HLaB]

Oh [Pedantic Mode] I think you mean shared ped/cycleway. Lane's are on road, way's follow the side of the road, path's meander away from the road and when they are poorly surfaced they become tracks [Pedantic Mode Off] I worked with a few people that are very particular about that

 

[User6179]

and they dont grit the cycle paths in my area when its icey.

 

[HLaB]

A lady I knows father died from head injuries following a collision with a tree branch deliberately left just out of sight round a blind corner on a cycle path.

They're inevitably maintained to a lower standard than roads, and are ofrwn crime hotspots due to poor lighting, seclusion an luck of natural surveillance. Given he choice I would generally stick to the road.

Yikes. I've never known a death but I've heard of clothes ropes being tied across paths, bricks thrown, etc. The worst I've had is eggs thrown (I was too fast however and they missed but the poor rider behind got pelted with the next round. Branches thrown into my front spokes (luckily they bounced off) and the strategically placed glass. Likewise most times incident like that encourage me to stick to the road.

 

[Biker Joe]

and they dont grit the cycle paths in my area when its icey.

Good point.

 

[Biker Joe]

Going by the posts so far, it seems I have been fortunate with my experiences on Harlow cycle paths and if I lived in another area I would probably use the roads too.
It's been a bit of an eye opener.
Thanks

 

[theclaud]

Between the village I live in (Mumbles) and Swansea, there runs four miles of one of the best commuter and leisure cycle paths in the country. It has the rare qualities of being more direct, more spacious, better surfaced, less interrupted and more attractive than the nearby road. Even with all this going for it, it is unusable in icy conditions and problematic in all of the following common conditions: heavy rain (poor drainage); very high tides (debris, sand, salt, waves); high winds (it's very exposed); weekends and holidays (very busy with pedestrians). If (arguably) the best cycle path in the country is so obviously compromised in normal conditions, what hope is there for the countless sorry specimens that don't have any of its advantages? The fact is that very few places are at all suitable for cycle paths, and therefore most cycle paths are either horrible to cycle on or compromise pedestrian space - the main reason for the Swansea one being any good is that there is nothing on one side of it that may be accessed by car. Roads are almost always better.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Dog muck all over the place, dog owners letting "Tyson" do as it pleases(including dumping), numbnuts on phones who refuse to hear your bell "excuse me", horn or whatever,over hanging branches, glass,idiot "cyclists"with no lights or reflective clothing coming at you in the dark,horse muck, horses and their "give way to horses"riders,motorbikes usually ridden by an uninsured chav or gypo etc etc,the list is endless!
No i don't use them.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Gary sums it up really well.
If they were like the ones abroad, I would happily use them, but when they are full of give way markings to ridiculous proportions, curbs not dropped properly, ridiculous amounts of debris and the likes, not gritted, shared with pedestrian or even when seperated from pedestrains, they still use them, full of holes/badly repaired surfaces/tree roots/branches/wheelie bins or even parked vehicles (who have driven over a grass verge to get there) they are simply not worth it except in very certain conditions.
I have 1 exception where I live where I do use it to cross the River Weaver on the A556, a section of dual carriage way that I avoid and use the segregated cycle path/pedestrain lane for about 1/2 mile. Most pedestrains know bikes come down that section fast (10% gradient either way) and do use the pedestrain side (seperated by a grass verge of 1m wide or a crash barrier further on). Where they don't use it, they are very aware of getting out of your way and I always say thank you.
But on the whole, they are simply not worth it around here so I don't generally use them.