Annoying Cycle Lanes

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on Chester
Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there is a cycle
lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple of hundred
meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then you realise

it

Quoted message said:

has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and use

a

Quoted message said:

pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a cycle

lane?

Quoted message said:

On my way to work there are at least three sections of cycle lane that

start

Quoted message said:

and end within a couple of yards. Is there any point?

Woady

P.S. I realise that this post maybe composed entirely incorrectly, but

it's

Quoted message said:

been a long day!

From the local authorities point of view there is every point.
When the government enquires as to how many miles of cycle lane are
installed in a particular area,it can be proudly said that there are [censored]
number of miles.The fact that most of these are useless and go from nowhere
to nowhere is irrelevant.Everyone goes away happy,except the cyclists of
course.

Sam Salt

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on Chester
Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there is a cycle
lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple of hundred
meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then you realise

it

Quoted message said:

has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and use

a

Quoted message said:

pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a cycle

lane?

Quoted message said:

On my way to work there are at least three sections of cycle lane that

start

Quoted message said:

and end within a couple of yards. Is there any point?

Woady

P.S. I realise that this post maybe composed entirely incorrectly, but

it's

Quoted message said:

been a long day!

From the local authorities point of view there is every point.
When the government enquires as to how many miles of cycle lane are
installed in a particular area,it can be proudly said that there are [censored]
number of miles.The fact that most of these are useless and go from nowhere
to nowhere is irrelevant.Everyone goes away happy,except the cyclists of
course.

Sam Salt

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

Yup, cycle lanes are usually fairly useless. Have you seen this website?

http://www.17beechroad.freeserve.co.uk/WarringtonCycleCampaign/facility-of-the-month/

Sam Salt said:

From the local authorities point of view there is every point.
When the government enquires as to how many miles of cycle lane are
installed in a particular area,it can be proudly said that there are [censored]
number of miles.The fact that most of these are useless and go from nowhere
to nowhere is irrelevant.Everyone goes away happy,except the cyclists of
course.

Long time ago, playing one of the first versions of SimCity, I realised
that short unconnected stretches of road gave all the advantages in terms
of progress without taking up as much space as a real network 🙂

Roos

in message <[email hidden]>, Mac ([email hidden]'😉

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on
Chester Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there
is a cycle lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple
of hundred meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then
you realise it has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and
use a pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a
cycle lane?

No. The object of cycle lanes is not to help cyclists in any way; it's to
help local planners tick boxes. Even the best cycle lanes are more
dangerous than the adjacent road, and a cycle lane which runs against
the direction of travel of the motor traffic in the adjacent lane is
most dangerous of all.

You should ignore it - it doesn't only slow you down, it also puts your
life at risk. And you should campaign for its removal.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Das Internet is nicht fuer gefingerclicken und giffengrabben... Ist
nicht fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen. Das mausklicken sichtseeren
keepen das bandwit-spewin hans in das pockets muss; relaxen und
watchen das cursorblinken. -- quoted from the jargon file

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on Chester
Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there is a cycle
lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple of hundred
meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then you realise

it

Quoted message said:

has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and use

a

Quoted message said:

pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a cycle

lane?

Quoted message said:

On my way to work there are at least three sections of cycle lane that

start

Quoted message said:

and end within a couple of yards. Is there any point?

To quote from the Northamptonshire draft Local Transport Plan

"Provision of new cycling infrastructure has not led to significantly
increased use".

So it is clear they are doing the wrong thing. However, when confronted
with this the response was 'well we haven't publicised them enough'.

FFS -- providing green painted gutters and split pavements is not
encouraging people to cycle -- so do you:-

1. Plan to spend millions more doing more of the same.

2. Look at an alternative that works.

Hint: This is local government driven by useless government targets.
Nothing needs to work -- but it must meet Whitehall's targets.

So -- the answer is 1 -- waste more money.

Grrrrrr

T

Roos Eisma said:

Long time ago, playing one of the first versions of SimCity, I realised
that short unconnected stretches of road gave all the advantages in terms
of progress without taking up as much space as a real network 🙂

Stretches of railway are even better: in fact you can run a successful
and growing city without building any road at all, and you have no
congestion problems. The people whine about it a bit, but it doesn't
actually cause them to leave.

-dan

Tony W said:

FFS -- providing green painted gutters and split pavements is not
encouraging people to cycle -- so do you:-

1. Plan to spend millions more doing more of the same.

2. Look at an alternative that works.

Hint: This is local government driven by useless government targets.
Nothing needs to work -- but it must meet Whitehall's targets.

It is my experience that local government is staffed by people who seem
to care little about the outcome - they are entirely driven by following
a process however flawed.

LG staff are characterised by not rocking the boat - not challenging the
established order of things. That way, they get to enjoy a quiet
existance until they draw their index linked pensions.

LSMike said:

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

Yup, cycle lanes are usually fairly useless. Have you seen this website?

http://www.17beechroad.freeserve.co.uk/WarringtonCycleCampaign/facility-of-the-month/

I dunno if they're actually making things worse, esepcially when you
get cyclists who don't know how to use them. I nearly hit a lad on an
mtb, full on, yesterday on me way home from work. He was cycling, in
the cycle lane, but coming towards me, on the wrong side of the road,
whilst talking to his mate who was walking on the pavement! I shouted
'WTF - you're on the wrong side of the road!' At him, but he just
looked oblivious. Really dangerous!

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Mac ([email hidden]'😉
wrote:

Even the best cycle lanes are more

Quoted message said:

dangerous than the adjacent road, and a cycle lane which runs against
the direction of travel of the motor traffic in the adjacent lane is
most dangerous of all.

You should ignore it - it doesn't only slow you down, it also puts your
life at risk. And you should campaign for its removal.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Das Internet is nicht fuer gefingerclicken und giffengrabben... Ist
nicht fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen. Das mausklicken sichtseeren
keepen das bandwit-spewin hans in das pockets muss; relaxen und
watchen das cursorblinken. -- quoted from the jargon file

I agree that this type are really dangerous, and I think the emergence
of this type of cycle lane is leading to people cycling on the wrong
side of the road into oncoming traffic and other cyclists, even when
the lane is supposed to run in the same direction as the traffic, which
is justa nightmare. At night it must be bad with drivers lights
dazzling you, even more than they usually do. Totally bonkers. I don't
use many cycle lanes - it really depends on a lot of other factors such
as other traffic, width of the road and the cycle lane etc. I dont use
'em if it's dangerous to do so, and it often is.

Tautology...

--
Peter Headland

"Blonde" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LSMike said:

"Mac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

Yup, cycle lanes are usually fairly useless. Have you seen this website?

http://www.17beechroad.freeserve.co.uk/WarringtonCycleCampaign/facility-of-the-month/

I dunno if they're actually making things worse, esepcially when you
get cyclists who don't know how to use them. I nearly hit a lad on an
mtb, full on, yesterday on me way home from work. He was cycling, in
the cycle lane, but coming towards me, on the wrong side of the road,
whilst talking to his mate who was walking on the pavement! I shouted
'WTF - you're on the wrong side of the road!' At him, but he just
looked oblivious. Really dangerous!

I guess that I'm one of the lucky few. The cycle path that I use for my
commute to work (3.5 miles each way) has an excellent, smooth surface as
well as markings all the way, splitting it into two lanes and marked every
few hundred yards to show the hard of thinking what side they should be
riding on.

The road that it follows is pot holed to hell and at peak times it is pretty
solid with traffic. I cycle but the wife drives and even though I am a lardy
tugboat, I will generally beat her in (which is a bit of a pain as it means
that I always have to make the tea!)

It is kerbed, keeping away all traffic and swept on a fairly regular basis.
Has the bonus of being fairly scenic in places as well.

Thanks to West Berkshire council for actually listening to cyclists before
building it.

--

Reply to address is valid on this account.
However, it's only checked once a week.

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Mac ([email hidden]'😉

Quoted message said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on
Chester Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there
is a cycle lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple
of hundred meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then
you realise it has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and
use a pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a
cycle lane?

No. The object of cycle lanes is not to help cyclists in any way; it's to
help local planners tick boxes.

oh be fair Simon. They are not /only/ to benefit local planners, they
exist also to keep cyclists Out Of The Way Of Motorists

best wishes
james

Quoted message said:

oh be fair Simon. They are not /only/ to benefit local planners, they
exist also to keep cyclists Out Of The Way Of Motorists

If anyone doubts that the current cycle lanes are just an exercise in
box-ticking, just consider this. When putting in roads, local (&
central) authorities think nothing of acquiring green field land,
knocking down properties, building bridges etc. Will they do this for
cycle lanes?

When the council is prepared to knock down a few building to put in a
cycle lane then I will know that cycling has arrived as mainstream
transport.

My favoured option is for a straight-line corridor to be built from my
house to the centre of town (sorry neighbours, you're in the way).
--
Bob Downie
Downie GeoScience Ltd.
please remove #n0spam# to reply directly

Le Thu, 25 Aug 2005 07:00:39 +0000, LSMike a écrit :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yup, cycle lanes are usually fairly useless. Have you seen this website?

http://www.17beechroad.freeserve.co.uk/WarringtonCycleCampaign/facility-of-the-month/

I am (was ?) planning to cycle a few days in Britain next month.
But is it actually possible to ride a bike there ?
Are all roads lined with "facilities" as described in that page ?
What is the fine for not using them ?

Turtle,
riding faster than its name implies...

"fastturtle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Le Thu, 25 Aug 2005 07:00:39 +0000, LSMike a écrit :

I am (was ?) planning to cycle a few days in Britain next month.
But is it actually possible to ride a bike there ?
Are all roads lined with "facilities" as described in that page ?
What is the fine for not using them ?

You are fully entitled to cycle on any road except motorways, some toll
bridges and a handful of other exceptions (all clearly marked).

You do not have to use any lane or track marked for cyclists. You are a
fully signed up road user. Indeed, as a pedestrian, equestrian or cyclist
you have the right of unhindered passage along the Queen's Highway. Those
in little tin boxes do not (without a licence and tax).

Mostly its fine to cycle on British roads. You may encounter a friendly
motorist shouting a friendly greeting from time to time. Smile and blow
them a kiss!!

Enjoy.

Do not, however, get taken in by the world famous British sense of humour.
For example, however reliable the source may be it is NOT alright to try the
echo in the Whispering Gallery of St Paul's Cathedral.

T

Mac said:

Has anyone noticed the number of cycle lanes that end for no reason, or
continue on the other side of the road?

There is one cycle lane that I am thinking of in particular is on Chester
Road in Manchester. Riding from Salford into Manchester, there is a cycle
lane that is on the left hand side of the road for a couple of hundred
meters, then suddenly it stops. Carry on a bit further, then you realise it
has crossed onto the other side of the road.

This is a very busy road and crossing it requires you to dismount and use a
pelican crossing. Is it me, or does that defeat the object of a cycle lane?

On my way to work there are at least three sections of cycle lane that start
and end within a couple of yards. Is there any point?

Woady

We, tandem couple from the Netherlands, returned very recently from our
three week cycle holiday in England. Even though we did have a very good
time and liked cycling in England a lot, we did get the impression that
the British do not completely understand the concept of a good cycle
lane (ofcourse we are spoilt...). We 've met very poor surfaces, lanes
that end in stairs, extreme short cycle lanes (as mentioned above),
overgrown cycle lanes (stinging nettles!), dark lanes we're women alone
would not feel safe at all, gates that we couldn't cross (we have a
trailer as well) and lots more. By the end of the holiday we ended up
just ignoring the lanes and cycle even on the busiest (non-dual
carriage) A-roads.........

Roef

"fastturtle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Le Thu, 25 Aug 2005 07:00:39 +0000, LSMike a écrit :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yup, cycle lanes are usually fairly useless. Have you seen this website?

http://www.17beechroad.freeserve.co.uk/WarringtonCycleCampaign/facility-of-the-month/

I am (was ?) planning to cycle a few days in Britain next month.

Which bit you planning to cycle?? If you let us know, we may be able to
suggest good routes to try, things to avoid etc.

Quoted message said:

But is it actually possible to ride a bike there ?

Lots of us do :-)

Quoted message said:

Are all roads lined with "facilities" as described in that page ?

No, thankfully.

Quoted message said:

What is the fine for not using them ?

Zero. You do *not* have to use *any* cycle 'facility' As cyclists we have a
right to use the roads. The minor exceptions are motorways (roads denoted
with a letter 'M' before its number, such as M1, M25, M6 etc.), a *few*
other exceptions, which are marked such.

Cheers, helen s

Quoted message said:

Turtle,
riding faster than its name implies...

"rongyos" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We, tandem couple from the Netherlands, returned very recently from our
three week cycle holiday in England. Even though we did have a very good
time and liked cycling in England a lot, we did get the impression that
the British do not completely understand the concept of a good cycle lane
(ofcourse we are spoilt...). We 've met very poor surfaces, lanes that end
in stairs, extreme short cycle lanes (as mentioned above), overgrown cycle
lanes (stinging nettles!), dark lanes we're women alone would not feel
safe at all, gates that we couldn't cross (we have a trailer as well) and
lots more. By the end of the holiday we ended up just ignoring the lanes
and cycle even on the busiest (non-dual carriage) A-roads.........

Roef

You are correct in so far as the non-cycling highway engineering types who
design and with the nod from non-cycling councillors install very poor
cycling facilities. Remember next time you come over here (please do come!)
that you do not have to use any cycle lane/facility, you are legally
entitled to cycle on the public roads (with the exception of motorways -
roads denoted by M before their number, such as M1, M25, M6 etc and very
very limited number of other excpetions which are marked). Our road network
is extensive and a cyclist often has a choice of routes to get from A to B
without ever having to set a wheel on a dreaded cycle facility. Also - let
us know where you are wanting to travel to & perhaps the group can come up
with some suggestions of routes/places to visit/things to avoid.

Cheers, helen s