Two Way Cycle Path?

[rossjevans]

I haven't been riding long and currently only ride for pleasure/fitness but I thought you commuters are most savvy with the rules of the road. My question revolves around this section of road and cycle path.


I regularly come to this section of road from the east which has a shared foot/cycle path on one side of the dual carriage way. To me it initially appears like it's two directional so that cyclists can ride against the traffic i.e. towards Christchurch town center on the cycle path since the markings and signs face both ways. Am I correct in thinking this?

I generally prefer to stick to the road, but I would prefer to miss out the large roundabout and carriageway which gets quite busy throughout the day if possible.


Thanks.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Hi - Funnily enough, I’m just down the road in Bournemouth at the moment!

Looks two way to me

As a rule, if it’s off the road (ie not on the carriageway – a cycle path or cycle track) it will be two way unless clearly signposted as one way – can’t think of any one way examples off the top of my head.Sometimes they draw a line down the middle to seperate the flow or designate cycle/ped when shared - some well designed and thought out / some not so good and othres verging on deathtraps - glad to see you mainly stick to the roads!


If it’s on the road (a mandatory or advisory lane) then you go with the flow UNLESS it’s a contra-flow cycle lane. These contra flow lanes are becoming more widespread and in my experience are pretty well signposted with arrows pointing against the “traffic” flow – not that this prevents some cyclists from cycling the wrong way along them, as opposed to just using the road, and some drivers thinking that you are going the wrong way and deciding to teach you a lesson by blocking your path and shouting abuse (happened to me twice so far, both times on Wharf Lane, Twickenham) – good luck in Christchurch!

 

[summerdays]

I would agree - I thought I could think of two examples locally of one way cycle paths (running along beside a road) but couldn't find anything on Googlemaps to support that ... I thought that there was some sort of one way route on the path going out of town along the A4 just past Temple Meads station ... and along Coldharbour Lane going over the M32 - though I usually see students going both ways on that narrow path. In both cases I though there was some signs to indicate that it was one direction only.

 

[sabian92]

They are usually 2 way unless signposted, as stated above. One thing that does get me though, when they're 2 directional, but they're so narrow or there's trees growing in them that you can't use the 2 lanes! Here, for example. On Speke Boulevard, just past Liverpool airport: Here.

 

[Mad at urage]

One click 'back' along the carriageway, swing the camera right to look at the lamp-post: Circular shared path (ped. and cycle) sign attached to the side against the traffic flow. I thought at first this may have just been turned around, but zooming in shows there's a sign either side of the post.

Of course that may well be simply to inform pedestrians walking against the traffic flow that this is a shared path!

Clear as mud so far.

Go back to where the path goes around a lay-by and there are clear give-way signs for cyclists proceeding against the traffic flow. Looks to me like the cycle-path ends there! So if you've cycled along it against the flow (surprising all the drivers who see you), then you have a choice of walking to your destination or cycling back the way you came (in the road presumably, as the 'with traffic' direction at the give-way, is clearly marked as the pedestrian side of the path ).

Nope, I wouldn't use those 'facilities' !

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I'd believe that it's two way. Usually if there is one on both sides of the road I think the intention is that one is for each direction and tend to stick with that; but in your case there's only one path and I'd use it either way.

 

[Mad at urage]

I'd believe that it's two way. Usually if there is one on both sides of the road I think the intention is that one is for each direction and tend to stick with that; but in your case there's only one path and I'd use it either way.

Out of interest, what would you do when the cycle-lane (apparently) runs out at the lay-by?

 

[Lurker]

.... As a rule, if it’s off the road (ie not on the carriageway – a cycle path or cycle track) it will be two way unless clearly signposted as one way – can’t think of any one way examples off the top of my head....

Even if it's clearly signposted as one-way, it may be two-way, since one-way cycle tracks require a traffic management order. The requisite TMOs are often not made, however - or not made properly - in which case, legally, the affected tracks are two-way, whatever the on-the-ground signs say.

 

[HLaB]

Its two-way, if you pan along to the cycle sign, you'll see its repeated on the other side for cyclists heading the other direction.

 

[The_East_Stand_View]

My commute is on a two way path. Most people are sensible, a few are not but I try not to stress on bike and just laugh. The thing that does worry me on two way paths are cyclists without lights in the dark. I have a faster bike now than last winter. Thankfully the brakes are fab too!

 

[summerdays]

The thing that does worry me on two way paths are cyclists without lights in the dark.

Or those with very powerful lights directed forward rather than down at the road.... Mr Summerdays get's that quite a bit in the winter.