Road bikes and cycle paths

[fatblokish]

 

[sheddy]

Background here - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/September2007.htm
BTW which road was that ?

 

[snorri]

I use joint user paths locally when they suit my convenience and where I "know" the path, am aware of its shortcomings and can cycle accordingly. I don't use paths when far from home as I have often found them poorly signed, strewn with unpleasantries and sometimes take me into 'bandit' territory.
These comments only apply to paths within the UK, foreign paths are for the most part a welcome relief from sharing the roads with motor traffic.

 

[Mallory]

Cycle paths = a lick of lines painted on the pavement to tick boxes at a town hall to show they are providing cycle facilities.

Ice, crumbling surface, branches, broken glass, dogs, pedestrians, children, kerbs, crossing, low hanging trees,

Think i'd stick to the road in all but the most extreme cases

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

the main reason for the Swansea one being any good is that
...

...it used to be a railway line.

 

[Nearly there]

I use a bit of cycle path to cut a busy junction out sometimes and im only on it for approx 300 mtrs but in that short distance im on a go slow due to dog walkers and other peds,so I wouldn't cycle a long way on one to much hassle.

 

[MrJamie]

Being from Milton Keynes with its purpose built cycle network, where quite some statistics and studies have come from, I find a lot of the above to be true - the glass (teens use underpasses as hangout spots), no gritting in winter. However, I'm not convinced the safety is anything like as bad as people/statistics suggest, side roads are a pain in the bum and you do sometimes have to pretty much stop/start, but I'm sure its the idiots I frequently see blindly flying across these and just hoping nothing is coming that flesh out those numbers.

It doesn't have to be either or though, we have plenty of cycle paths that are good and have miles with no road crossings and very few pedestrians, then we have the ones through quiet residential areas that go along driveways and sideroads where its much safer to ride on the road. I think you should just pick whatever you feel is safest with your bike and speed.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

fatblokish sums up the cycling provision round here. Cycle lanes are political points, road narrowing schemes and expediency dressed up as provision.
We are road users and it's about time we were treated as such.

 

[theclaud]

...it used to be a railway line.

Well, yes - and indeed the same applies to the other two genuinely useful cycle paths in the area - Clyne and Swiss Valley - in these cases the point being that they connect you from one place to another more directly than any road.

 

[AndyPeace]

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.

I am under the impression that cycle paths have a recommended speed of 18mph max... this seems sensible and perhaps should be less... given that dogs, children, joggers with earphones etc do not signal and often make random maneuvers such as turning on the spot without warning, or jumping into your path at the last moment.
Personally, I wouldn't want a roadie bombing down a cycle path at 30mph+ when my kids are playing on their bikes.If I saw one I'd be having words, if I could catch up lol!
On my commute there's one shared path I only use one way...(the uphill way), I come down on the road (nsl) as I can't descend the shared path at a reasonable speed, without endangering ninja's, joggers ,slower cyclists, etc.
Roads also tend to be more direct and often routes to get to the cycle path involve dismounting and cumbersome actions. Roads often have better surfaces, which help keeps speed. Cycle paths have their place but I'd rather be on the road!

 

[HLaB]

...it used to be a railway line.

The rare decent one's round my old place were all disused railway lines

 

[Banjo]

I use cycle paths sometimes if the traffic is heavy and i am tired. I think its well documented that you arent safer on a path and very often there is broken glass waiting to wreck your tyres. I find it amazing how many pedestrians seem to wobble about all over the path instead of keeping to one side.

 

[Kookas]

Most of the cycle paths around the centre of town here are contra-flows. Once found one full of crap in a convenient pile in the middle - glass, sticks, broken bits of wood, you name it. Stopped and kicked it into the road - the cars can take it, I'm sure.