Cycling UK Forum

Learnt a few things from my post –main one being what is obvious to me isn’t either obvious or desired by others. I will bear this in mind when writing to my County Councillor – so that’s a positive. Another thing I learnt, by listening to the relevant bits of replies and then observing a bit more closely, is one of the main problems in my area is lack of adequate signs. If you were unfamiliar with the area it’s not always clear what are cycle lanes and what are just footpaths, so I will bring this up with the Councillor as well. Another thing I’ve observed are the entry / exit points of some of our new cycle paths are easily missed. A cyclist could inadvertently end up travelling on the road and would have to dismount to get on the cycle path if their bike only had 23mm tyres (although it would be an easy bunny hop for those with more rubber and air).
It also has come across from replies that it appears to be the norm that cycle paths are badly signed and often end nowhere, and sadly this seems to be just accepted. Is there any co-ordination via Cycling UK (The Cyclists Champion) regarding getting these sorts of things improved? Or am I being just naively optimistic? Surely if each area had someone to get cycle path access and signage improved then we wouldn’t end up pessimistically dismissing a nice bit of safe tarmac – or at least we’d have an informed choice.
Finally – again driving to work on a lovely sunny morning - passed a group of 12 or so fully kitted out cyclists out for a day ride on a nicely done cycle path next to the main road. All bimbling along merrily, 2 or 3 abreast, chatting away at the start of their ride. The cycle path is well signed and smooth and clean – it links up their start point to their rural exit point and they go this way every Thursday. But cycling along the main road alongside them, avoiding debris and sucking in the diesel fumes, was one of their number – I know why he was there ! LOL

ok so maybe not clear, so: The cyclist was on the road, at the extreme left of the carriageway in what was the old cycle lane - a white line painted on the road about three feet from the kerb. The new cycle / multiuser path is next to the road and is new flat tarmac - it runs alongside the road unbroken between roundabouts ( the path is so close to the road that if the cyclist fell off to his left he would land on it ). The bit about turning off was probably a bit too much information - this is what I would have done but wasn't totally neccessary, the new path would have got the cyclist to the next roundabout and is pretty much all in view, it was certainly a lot harder to use the road rather than the path. Now I didn't agree with the multiuser path being built in the first place (hence the original post ), but if the HA have put one there I would of thought it would be used - I have tried it out and it is nice and smooth. I suppose it's this thought which perpelxes me: even if I were to get safe cycle paths sorted would they be used, or do people generally like mixing it with juggernauts and covering their skinny tyres in road debris ?
Then something else has struck me - signage or lack of it. Next time I'm cycling around my locality I'll look out for any cycling related signs and see if:
1. there are any 2. Where they need improving 3. where I would put new ones to help people get about safely.

I do find this particular forum difficult - things seem to have to be written in a legal way to avoid misunderstandings, but I have learnt a bit - so I won't write as I speak if I ever post again. Some answers were genuinely very helpful, and even unhelpful answers have made me think about what else needs doing in my locality. So off to draft a letter to my councillor.

OK - I Give up.
This forum's obviously not for me, I'll go back to reading my Cycling Quarterlys.

AlaninWales wrote:Likely because he would have had to have local knowledge (or studied a detailed, up to date and reliable map) to know that the "disused road which would have taken him to the same destination." When cycling I am used to signed diversions which take me nowhere near my destination (and frequently end badly) and I will certainly not be taking some random road to see where it goes, unless I am specifically 'going nowhere' (a.k.a. exploring). Why anyone would expect a random cyclist to do so puzzles me.

It wasn't really the missed turn that baffled me - as you point out he may have lacked local knowledge, although at that time in the morning carrying no bags and coming from a one road in/one road out town I presumed he was local.
The thing that struck me was he was heading along inside the old white line at the side of the road (amongst all the road debris ) whilst just on his left was an 8 foot wide strip of pristine tarmac.
If anyone thinks that is any way justifiable I'll gladly sign out of this forum - never to return.

Thanks to all members who responded, I now have a clearer idea of what is required.I did write to a local campaigner(well emailed actually) but, as Vorpal suggested, he probably is too busy and I don't expect a response. I will write to my local county councillor and my MP and enclose a map of the two main proposals I have, I don't want to overwelm them with the tricky bits initially. I will suggest Sustrans to them, and copy the proposals for Sustrans to view. I will also suggest a bike ride to my county councillor - she has been quite good at getting some things done by the highways agency - but as ever they've cocked up the finished artcle and IMO some are not fit for purpose.
The old rail line and the footpath upgrade have been brought up at county level before but the rail line got boggged down with a railway preservation society pipe dream, and the footpath up grade was scrapped as a result of the 2010 general election ( that's what the county council blamed - they were on the losing side) That is all I intend to do at this stage - I have two full time jobs (one as a carer) and I can only give so much time to this - I can only hope the relevant parties can see the common sense in utilising an asset which we already have in place.
Finally - I've got to mention this, and I'm sure it'll cause some debate: I was in my car on the way to work this morning and went along the trunk road - yes, the one with the new 8 foot wide tarmac cycle path next to it. I passed a cyclist - he was in the road ( in the old dotted white line bit), he had just passed a turn into a disused road which would have taken him to the same destination. He didn't look stupid or drunk - he was on a full carbon bike with full lycra kit going at a good pace. Now apart from bloody mindedness why was he doing this ? If I don't get anywhere with my quest for decent cycle routes I won't worry too much - the muppets round here will probaly leave them empty and continue to battle with juggernauts. Colin

Sorry to say but I think I'm wasting my time on this forum. A couple of responses have been sympathetic but no real direction on how to pursue this.
I have written to a local cycle campaigner previously with no response - I will try again. The MP and County Councillor do respond but don't really know what I'm talking about. To the member in Lancaster - the paths from Caton / Morecambe / Glasson / Carnforth to Lancaster are just what we need in my locality (Feetwood / Thornton- Cleveleys / Poulton).
Thanks anyway, Colin

This has probably been brought up before but I would like to know members / leaders views on this before I write to my MP and local councillor. Apparently Highways England have £100 million to spend on trunk road cycling improvements - and judging by my local area they are going to spend it pretty quick on useless cycle paths whilst much needed improvements are missed. To summarise: Near where I live there have been £1 million schemes which put cycle /multiuse paths next to our main trunk road in urban areas. Ok - so what ? This urban trunk road is a fairly recent addition to our environment, and bypassed all the existing road network - nobody needs to use the bypass for cycling as there's plenty of the old roads to link anywhere and everywhere. The only part of the trunk road which needed a cycle path next to it is the rural bit and that has been ignored, presumably cos it was harder to build a path on that part. Meanwhile there's a derelict railway line which links three towns rotting away doing nothing - it's ideal for a cycle route and even ends up in a park. So my point is - this money spent building wide tarmac paths next to trunk roads could be much better spent converting old rail lines, and creating a few joined up links to our generally good existing local off-road network. Who advises those with the dosh ? Does Cycling UK or Sustrans have any say ? - I would say not judging by what I 've seen. Is it up to me to draw some maps for my MP and Local Councillor or am I just wasting my time ? I'm not motivated by any personal gain - after 50 odd years round here I can quite happily cycle round my local area all day and every day on lovely routes - I just want everybody else to have that opportunity. All responses welcome - thanks, Colin