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Why do cyclists not use the cycle path?

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UK and Europe
Published
10 August 2006
Last activity
12 August 2006
Original author
Tony Raven
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33
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  1. Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_50-reasons.html
    (original English retained)

    1. Because it requires significant artistical skills to cycle over
    cars parked on the cycle path.
    2. Because the cycle path suddenly stops 100 meters on without a
    noticeable continuation.
    3. Because they have not yet found a place where the curb was
    lowered far enough to enable a safe ascent.
    4. Because it is not a cycle path but a building site.
    5. Because they carry delicate goods in thier panniers, which they
    cannot expect to survive the shaking about by the potholes, frost damage
    and bumps caused by tree roots; so they roll on the smooth, looked after
    roadway instead.
    6. Because pedestrians walk on the cycle path.
    7. Because the police have recommended it.
    8. Because the cycle path is not suitable for 30 km/h but the road is.
    9. Because the trailer is too wide for the 70 cm wide path.
    10. Because the bike with trailer is too long for the corner a few
    hundred meters on.
    11. Which cycle path?
    12. Beacuse it is impossible to reach the button for the traffic
    lights at the next crossing from a recumbent, and one does not want to
    cross the road at "red".
    13. Because there is still grit from the winter before last on the
    cycle path-- and exactly in the next bend.
    14. Because the pedestrian railings on the path are near invisible at
    night.
    15. Because the glaring neon ads of the bus stop, which one has to
    dodge are so dazzling that one would be nearly blind.
    16. Because one happens not to carry a broom to remove the broken
    bottle which has been on the path for a week.
    17. Because somebody has carefully swept the glass from last week's
    traffic accident off the road onto the cycle path.
    18. Because on principle I don't cycle on the wrong side of the road.
    19. Because they want to turn left a hundred meters on.
    20. Because they don't want to turn right a hundred meters on.
    21. Because the cycle path is barred, only someone has forgotten to
    put up the correct signs.
    22. Because the cycle path is barred, since someone has forgotten to
    remove the signs.
    23. Because it is uncomfortable.
    24. Because it is too slow.
    25. Because it is dangerous.
    26. My car is being serviced, officer, and I don't know my way round
    the ridiculous traffic rules on cycle paths!
    27. Do I look like weary of life?
    28. Because one would have to cross the road for that, but this short
    stretch of ycle path is shorter than the road is wide!
    29. Because one would have to cross the road to get there -- but where?
    30. Because one would have to cross the road to come back -- but where?
    31. Because helmets are so bad at protecting against metal bars at
    the height of the private parts.
    32. If we compute the maximum safety distance between pedestrians and
    bicyclists on the usual shared use path, quite often we come up with a
    negative number. That's not enough for 20 km/h.
    33. I only cycle on the road because the damned induction loop on the
    cycle path isn't visible any more, and I have forgotten where it is!
    34. Because on the road the metal railings on the foot path give me
    50 cm safety distance to the pedestrians. This is just enough for the 40
    km/h I am doing.
    35. In order to relinquish that little bit of space on the combined
    foot/cycle paths to the slower mofa drivers. Hello partner -- thank you!
    (*) A mofa is a moped limited to 25 km/h which people in Germany
    are allowed to ride with only a theoretical test.
    36. Because overtaking on the cycle path is far too dangerous.
    37. Why? The road cleaning department only have somebody free for
    tomorrow to remove all the glass from the cycle path. That's what they
    told me on the phone.
    38. I also break for trees. I don't want to damage those soft tree
    roots which start coming though the cycle path over there by just
    cycling over them!
    39. Can you tell me since when they've started securing road works on
    the cycle paths? This is a road works.
    40. When I came along here this morning, the post office/utilities
    were working were. Who expects them to finish that quickly?
    41. My puncture repair kit is finished.
    42. Because it is soo difficult to overtake Mofas on the cycle path.
    43. Only as long as I am using my spare rear bulb. Promise!
    44. Because on the cycle path you are overtaken with 50 cm distance
    but on the road with 1m distance.
    45. Because it increases the chances that the lighting of my bike is
    actually visible.
    46. On that cycle path? Only with a weapons' licence!
    47. Because there are so many collections of bulky refuse.
    48. Pardon? I thought this was the parking area.
    49. Because the permanent blows -- one every couple of hundred meters
    by an insufficiently lowered curb -- ruin my (intervertebral) discs.
    50. Because cycle paths are really only usable when one cycles for
    fun. But who actually has fun using cycle paths?

    --
    Tony

    "Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
    his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
    - Leonardo da Vinci

  2. Tony Raven said:

    Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    Yeah. But they're all good ;-)

    BugBear

  3. Tony Raven ([email hidden]) gurgled happily, sounding much like
    they were saying :

    Quoted message said:

    5. Because they carry delicate goods in thier panniers, which they
    cannot expect to survive the shaking about by the potholes, frost
    damage and bumps caused by tree roots; so they roll on the smooth,
    looked after roadway instead.

    The *what* roadway?

  4. Adrian said:

    Tony Raven ([email hidden]) gurgled happily, sounding much like
    they were saying :

    Quoted message said:

    5. Because they carry delicate goods in thier panniers, which they
    cannot expect to survive the shaking about by the potholes, frost
    damage and bumps caused by tree roots; so they roll on the smooth,
    looked after roadway instead.

    The *what* roadway?


    _comparatively_ looked after roadway

  5. erm they forgot #51

    #51 there is a lamp post right in the middle of the 70cm wide bike path !!

    (just like on the A13, near Barking (East London) forgot my camera that day)

    woollypigs

    Tony Raven said:

    Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_50-reasons.html
    (original English retained)

    1. Because it requires significant artistical skills to cycle over
    cars parked on the cycle path.
    2. Because the cycle path suddenly stops 100 meters on without a
    noticeable continuation.
    3. Because they have not yet found a place where the curb was lowered
    far enough to enable a safe ascent.
    4. Because it is not a cycle path but a building site.
    5. Because they carry delicate goods in thier panniers, which they
    cannot expect to survive the shaking about by the potholes, frost damage
    and bumps caused by tree roots; so they roll on the smooth, looked after
    roadway instead.
    6. Because pedestrians walk on the cycle path.
    7. Because the police have recommended it.
    8. Because the cycle path is not suitable for 30 km/h but the road is.
    9. Because the trailer is too wide for the 70 cm wide path.
    10. Because the bike with trailer is too long for the corner a few
    hundred meters on.
    11. Which cycle path?
    12. Beacuse it is impossible to reach the button for the traffic
    lights at the next crossing from a recumbent, and one does not want to
    cross the road at "red".
    13. Because there is still grit from the winter before last on the
    cycle path-- and exactly in the next bend.
    14. Because the pedestrian railings on the path are near invisible at
    night.
    15. Because the glaring neon ads of the bus stop, which one has to
    dodge are so dazzling that one would be nearly blind.
    16. Because one happens not to carry a broom to remove the broken
    bottle which has been on the path for a week.
    17. Because somebody has carefully swept the glass from last week's
    traffic accident off the road onto the cycle path.
    18. Because on principle I don't cycle on the wrong side of the road.
    19. Because they want to turn left a hundred meters on.
    20. Because they don't want to turn right a hundred meters on.
    21. Because the cycle path is barred, only someone has forgotten to
    put up the correct signs.
    22. Because the cycle path is barred, since someone has forgotten to
    remove the signs.
    23. Because it is uncomfortable.
    24. Because it is too slow.
    25. Because it is dangerous.
    26. My car is being serviced, officer, and I don't know my way round
    the ridiculous traffic rules on cycle paths!
    27. Do I look like weary of life?
    28. Because one would have to cross the road for that, but this short
    stretch of ycle path is shorter than the road is wide!
    29. Because one would have to cross the road to get there -- but where?
    30. Because one would have to cross the road to come back -- but where?
    31. Because helmets are so bad at protecting against metal bars at the
    height of the private parts.
    32. If we compute the maximum safety distance between pedestrians and
    bicyclists on the usual shared use path, quite often we come up with a
    negative number. That's not enough for 20 km/h.
    33. I only cycle on the road because the damned induction loop on the
    cycle path isn't visible any more, and I have forgotten where it is!
    34. Because on the road the metal railings on the foot path give me 50
    cm safety distance to the pedestrians. This is just enough for the 40
    km/h I am doing.
    35. In order to relinquish that little bit of space on the combined
    foot/cycle paths to the slower mofa drivers. Hello partner -- thank you!
    (*) A mofa is a moped limited to 25 km/h which people in Germany
    are allowed to ride with only a theoretical test.
    36. Because overtaking on the cycle path is far too dangerous.
    37. Why? The road cleaning department only have somebody free for
    tomorrow to remove all the glass from the cycle path. That's what they
    told me on the phone.
    38. I also break for trees. I don't want to damage those soft tree
    roots which start coming though the cycle path over there by just
    cycling over them!
    39. Can you tell me since when they've started securing road works on
    the cycle paths? This is a road works.
    40. When I came along here this morning, the post office/utilities
    were working were. Who expects them to finish that quickly?
    41. My puncture repair kit is finished.
    42. Because it is soo difficult to overtake Mofas on the cycle path.
    43. Only as long as I am using my spare rear bulb. Promise!
    44. Because on the cycle path you are overtaken with 50 cm distance
    but on the road with 1m distance.
    45. Because it increases the chances that the lighting of my bike is
    actually visible.
    46. On that cycle path? Only with a weapons' licence!
    47. Because there are so many collections of bulky refuse.
    48. Pardon? I thought this was the parking area.
    49. Because the permanent blows -- one every couple of hundred meters
    by an insufficiently lowered curb -- ruin my (intervertebral) discs.
    50. Because cycle paths are really only usable when one cycles for
    fun. But who actually has fun using cycle paths?

  6. woollypigs said:

    erm they forgot #51

    #51 there is a lamp post right in the middle of the 70cm wide bike path !!

    (just like on the A13, near Barking (East London) forgot my camera that day)

    If there is anyone near Kelso, the cyclepath on the bridge over the
    Tweed (the new one) has a row of benches in it. Each bench (IIRC) has a
    nice yellow/black hatching to warn cyclists of the obstruction. One
    bench every ten metres for the length of the bridge.

    Wish I'd had my camera...

    ...d

  7. David Martin said:
    woollypigs said:

    erm they forgot #51

    #51 there is a lamp post right in the middle of the 70cm wide bike path !!

    (just like on the A13, near Barking (East London) forgot my camera that day)

    If there is anyone near Kelso, the cyclepath on the bridge over the
    Tweed (the new one) has a row of benches in it. Each bench (IIRC) has a
    nice yellow/black hatching to warn cyclists of the obstruction. One
    bench every ten metres for the length of the bridge.

    Wish I'd had my camera...

    Coronation Road in Bristol has an egregious example of segregated
    pavement paths bjut I'm not often down that way

    best wishes
    james

  8. David Martin said:
    woollypigs said:

    erm they forgot #51

    #51 there is a lamp post right in the middle of the 70cm wide bike path !!

    (just like on the A13, near Barking (East London) forgot my camera that day)

    If there is anyone near Kelso, the cyclepath on the bridge over the
    Tweed (the new one) has a row of benches in it. Each bench (IIRC) has a
    nice yellow/black hatching to warn cyclists of the obstruction. One
    bench every ten metres for the length of the bridge.

    Wish I'd had my camera...

    Someone PLEASE photo this!!

    BugBear

  9. [email hidden] said the following on 10/08/2006 13:39:

    Quoted message said:

    Coronation Road in Bristol has an egregious example of segregated
    pavement paths bjut I'm not often down that way

    That's one of the classic cyclepaths with large mature trees at regular
    intervals along it, isn't it?

    --
    Paul Boyd
    http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

  10. http://www.geocities.com/fredpipes/cyclelanes/images/level2.jpg

    Sheer genius.

    http://www.ctc.org.uk/_CTC/images/Campaigns_Policy/cycle%20lane.jpg

    http://www.astoncharities.org.uk/research/cycling/lane2.jpg

  11. spindrift said:

    http://www.geocities.com/fredpipes/cyclelanes/images/level2.jpg

    Sheer genius.

    http://www.ctc.org.uk/_CTC/images/Campaigns_Policy/cycle%20lane.jpg

    http://www.astoncharities.org.uk/research/cycling/lane2.jpg

    As posted in the other thread...

    http://www.greenbank.org/misc/cyclepath.jpg

    6ft cyclepath into lamp-post, bin and bus stop (you can see it continue
    again further on towards the traffic lights).

    -Alex

  12. Alex said:


    6ft cyclepath into lamp-post, bin and bus stop (you can see it continue
    again further on towards the traffic lights).

    That's a classic, it even has a selection of those lovely ridged paving
    thingies.

  13. POHB said:
    Alex said:


    6ft cyclepath into lamp-post, bin and bus stop (you can see it continue
    again further on towards the traffic lights).

    That's a classic, it even has a selection of those lovely ridged paving
    thingies.

    Yep, gas/electric contractors dug up half of that pavement and replaced
    half of the paving slabs in the wrong orientation.

    No point complaining, the water board will be round soon to dig it all
    up again and rearrange it completely.

    -Alex

  14. Small snip from Rod Dalitz post on Audax email list...

    --------------------

    Another Edinburgh innovation is a cycle lane on the road to the Dean
    Bridge, which ends without warning at a kerb, again downhill. A
    cyclist hit the kerb a year or two ago, and went over the wall; he
    was lucky to land on a roof ten feet below, instead of landing on the
    river bank fifty feet below. That cycle lane is still there, unchanged.

    ---------------------

    --
    Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
    Edgware.

  15. Quoted message said:

    25. Because it is dangerous.

    Yes, there is one in Camden Town, to get into it you have to cross two
    lanes of traffic. I usually don't bother. Worse, half way down there is
    a turning right were the traffic crosses the lane - I have twice seen
    cyclists down at that spot with ambulances in attendance.

    A few days back two traffic wardens were there, waving at cyclists who
    were in the road and pointing to the cycle lane. I ignored them.

    Surely - I'm a vehicle? I have a right to be on the road?

    Simon

  16. On Thursday 10 August 2006 10:54, Tony Raven [[email hidden]] wrote
    in message <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_50-reasons.html
    (original English retained)

    Nice! :-)

    #51 [see other replies]

    #52 Because it involves crossing 20 driveways where emerging drivers have no
    visibility of the cyclepath and are not expecting you to be there whereas
    they will almost always stop and look before joining the road.

    #53 I really love having my face, arms and legs whipped and torn by
    overhanging foliage, nettles and brambles.

    #54 Our taxes, not VED, has paid for roads so we damned well have a right to
    use what we have paid for.

    #55 Because we have a choice. If we must use cyclepaths then motorists must
    use public transport.

    #56 Roads are signposted and have proper junctions, mostly.

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

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    25. Because it is dangerous.

    Yes, there is one in Camden Town, to get into it you have to cross two
    lanes of traffic. I usually don't bother. Worse, half way down there is
    a turning right were the traffic crosses the lane - I have twice seen
    cyclists down at that spot with ambulances in attendance.

    A few days back two traffic wardens were there, waving at cyclists who
    were in the road and pointing to the cycle lane. I ignored them.

    Surely - I'm a vehicle? I have a right to be on the road?

    Simon

    My favourite one is a roundabout just outside Bath. Follow the cycle path
    and you're expected to rejoin the very free flowing road on the other side
    from a standing start.

  18. "Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_50-reasons.html
    (original English retained)

    Some cracking ones here...

    http://www.andypreece.co.uk/cycling/facilities.php

  19. Rob Oldfield <[email hidden]> whizzed past me shouting

    Quoted message said:

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

    Quoted message said:

    Found this this morning. I like #50 best:

    http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_50-reasons.html
    (original English retained)

    Some cracking ones here...

    http://www.andypreece.co.uk/cycling/facilities.php

    Thank you everyone - I've really enjoyed this thread.

    --
    Sue ];(🙂

    Bicycle helmets are really a bit of a scam.
    They make most cyclists slightly less safe but there's money in selling them.

  20. Quoted message said:

    Coronation Road in Bristol has an egregious example of segregated
    pavement paths bjut I'm not often down that way

    Second picture here:
    <url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/cycling/farcilities.html>

    --
    Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
    Subscribe to PlusNet <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/referral/>
    "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

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