*MERGED* Militant Cyclists & Joggers

[peachey]

I cycle round sometimes

the 'paths' are often ludicrous and you have
to watch out for parked cars opening their doors into you

Originally Posted by mart44

Cycle paths are often less than ideal but where they are good, I also can't understand why cyclists don't use them. However, I have to admit I don't always use the sort of cycle lane where the footpath is divided into halves, one half for pedestrians and the other for cyclists.

Pedestrians always wander all over the half that is supposed to be for cyclists. I try to stay in the cycling half but it's often impossible to do so because of having to dodge walkers, joggers, prams etc. Some people do move aside but others seem quite obstructive. Faced with a shared pathway the roads often seems the lesser of two evils ...dangerous as they are for cyclists.

I walked along the cycle/footpath that skirts Watford town centre this lunchtime, alongside the river Colne. Between Tescos and my office, the pedestrian and cyclist half swapped sides no less than three times. No wonder there's so much friction between people on foot and people on wheels. I suspect a lot of cycle paths, whether sharing a footpath or a main road, have been put in by Councils that are scared of missing some Government target or other rather than actually desiring to improve facilities for cyclists.

[peachey]

Originally Posted by towny

I walked along the cycle/footpath that skirts Watford town centre this lunchtime, alongside the river Colne. Between Tescos and my office, the pedestrian and cyclist half swapped sides no less than three times. No wonder there's so much friction between people on foot and people on wheels. I suspect a lot of cycle paths, whether sharing a footpath or a main road, have been put in by Councils that are scared of missing some Government target or other rather than actually desiring to improve facilities for cyclists.

yeah - they have to put a certain amount down to meet targets

some of the ones here in Cardiff are daft
they are only 6 feet long and stuff

you see them in the local paper sometimes as it makes fun of them

[zoombini]

And so it should....

We need a campaign for sensible cycle route placement & IMO Peachey is the one to head it...lol

[peachey]

Originally Posted by zoombini

And so it should....

We need a campaign for sensible cycle route placement & IMO Peachey is the one to head it...lol

I was in Amsterdam a few weeks back

the cycle system there is well pucker!

What about Skateboarders. I walk everywhere, and when ever i turn the corner, there always seems to be one bombing it down a hill, threatening to crash in to me.

Kill Them, Kill them all. Or at least stick your leg out when you see one

Originally Posted by Mimizuku no Lew

Now how did I know that you'd be the one to take that one literally

Because you've paid attention to my previous posts.

Originally Posted by mart44

Cycle paths are often less than ideal but where they are good, I also can't understand why cyclists don't use them. However, I have to admit I don't always use the sort of cycle lane where the footpath is divided into halves, one half for pedestrians and the other for cyclists.

Pedestrians always wander all over the half that is supposed to be for cyclists. I try to stay in the cycling half but it's often impossible to do so because of having to dodge walkers, joggers, prams etc. Some people do move aside but others seem quite obstructive. Faced with a shared pathway the roads often seems the lesser of two evils ...dangerous as they are for cyclists.

Well on the nearest main road to me there are cycle paths on BOTH sides of the road.Yes on one side it's a shared pedestrian cycle/pathway BUT on the other side the pedestrians and cyclists are separated by two feet of grass verge.And yes today I passed two ubiquitous macho hardmen(I've never seen a female one yet) cyclists wobbling(the way only speed cyclists can)in the road.

Incog

[mart44]

I'm always grateful to get off the road on cycle paths such as those. We have a few of that calibre near us and why the 'serious' cyclists still use the road beats me. I might get round to asking one sometime.

With my mudguards and saddlebag I'm no serious cyclist (should see me off-road though!) but I do wish cycle paths were generally of better quality. Many local authorities paint the road orange where cyclists would normally go anyway and that constitutes a dedicated cycling lane. I've seen such tracks as short as 50 metres. I sometimes think the people who plan these things have never ridden bikes. Cycle lanes, such as they are, usually end where motor traffic is heavy. In fact, wherever it looks like motorists would be inconvenienced by their presence. Yet this is where cyclists need some separation and protection from motor vehicles. Cycle lanes get parked across quite often so diversions into car lanes are necessary. Also, I can't think of anywhere near us where motorists are asked to 'Give way to cyclists'. There are quite a few 'Cyclists Dismount' signs around though.

Pedal power is usually quicker than motoring in towns but I have to say I feel much safer when I'm driving the car. Quite a few people I know have become 'born again' cyclists and the first thing everyone seems to complain about is how scary the traffic is. If more people are to be encouraged to leave the car behind for short journeys then perhaps a bit of priority over the motorist will be necessary here and there.

[Tezcatlipoca]

As peachey's Militant Joggers thread has drifted from joggers to cyclists (lol, sorry peachey - I think I started that!), I've merged it with peachey's earlier Militant Cyclist thread

[Tezcatlipoca]

Re: Cycle lanes

I agree these are often quite stupidly done, & aren't much use if they're short & seem to stop at random or switch sides & so on. (it's like that in Cambridge).

But, it still doesn't give cyclists the right to fly straight through every red light at a junction or pedestrian crossing (not saying anyone said it did - just what I think).

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

But, it still doesn't give cyclists the right to fly straight through every red light at a junction or pedestrian crossing (not saying anyone said it did - just what I think).

Today I nearly got run down by a car driver who decided that a red light on a pedestrian/ cycle crossing didn't apply to him. I don't think cyclists should go through red lights either, but which is going to cause more damage to the victim?

[Tezcatlipoca]

A car, obviously. And it is definitely annoying when they go through crossings like that.

But I very very rarely see cars jump red lights at pedestrian crossings, yet I see cyclists do it every single day.

[thenry]

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/22...-licenced.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/20...-problems.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/20...ss-latest.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/20...ng-lights.html

i didnt know which thread, i opted for this mega one

Marc Ashdown ‏@marcashdown
https://twitter.com/marcashdown

[thenry]

Peter Woodman ‏@pawoodman
Chris Boardman lays into Commons Transport Committee saying they should be "embarrassed by their performance" in cycling safety hearing
1:43 PM - 3 Dec 13
https://twitter.com/pawoodman/status/407867732554964992