The Netherlands built a highway just for bikes

[scotjimland]

 

[pappajohn]

Like the last comment.....should your country go Dutch ?

This country can't even keep the main roads in good repair, never mind a second 'Highway' system

 

[funflair]

They have a completely different approach there Jim, I don't know if you have ridden in the Netherlands but it is quite disconcerting to be treated with so much respect and consideration by motorists.

I found myself coming up to roundabouts and junctions on the cycle lanes and I wanted to stop and look at the map but all the traffic would stop as well so we had to cross I had to get used to keeping my back to the traffic

Martin

 

[pappajohn]

 

[WillH]

I had the same experience as Martin when in the Netherlands, cars stop at roundabouts so you can cross. They did virtually rebuild the road system to accommodate this.

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[Reallyretired]

Belgium nearly as good/bad. I stopped to secure a loose load of wine. Mut have been 15 seconds before the police arrived to move me on because I was obstructing a cycle lane.

 

[scotjimland]

In the UK they play lip service to providing cycling lanes.. typically you follow one for a few miles .. then no warning.. a sign "End Of Cycle Lane" .. wtf do you do now,. you are then onto a dual carriage way with traffic hammering past and nearly pushing you into the verge ..

or , they make a footpath into a shared path with cycles, put a white line down the middle, then you find yourself dodging people walking four abreast . give them a bell and they shout abuse, and it's generally full of pot holes.. now wonder cyclists don't want or dare to use them..

France, Germany,, in fact many countries in Europe have seen the advantages of getting people into cycling and providing decent cycle lanes.. You can cycle from Switzerland to the North sea on mostly dedicated cycle paths and route.. down the Rhine.. same along the Mosel.. it's cycling heaven..

France likewise, example, you can cycle most of the Atlantic coast on cycle paths..

The UK's idea of a cycling route, is to look at an OS map and decide which roads will be called a cycling route and then stick road signs on it .. it's now a "National Cycling Route" with a number..

example of Route 41 which goes through Suffolk. we use it a lot but its' busy with commuters, farm machinery, tourists etc.. it's rural but not quiet and can be quite dangerous..

well, that's my moan for tonight..

 

[Deleted member 29692]

In the UK they play lip service to providing cycling lanes.. typically you follow one for a few miles .. then no warning.. a sign "End Of Cycle Lane" .. wtf do you do now,. you are then onto a dual carriage way with traffic hammering past and nearly pushing you into the verge ..

or , they make a footpath into a shared path with cycles, put a white line down the middle, then you find yourself dodging people walking four abreast . give them a bell and they shout abuse, and it's generally full of pot holes.. now wonder cyclists don't want or dare to use them..

Spot on. I refuse to use the shared ones because I think they're dangerous. I feel safer on the road, even dual carriageways.

The dedicated ones tend to be recreational rather than useful so fine to ride off the Sunday lunch but completely useless for anything practical like commuting.

 

[nicholsong]

That sort of system is OK if you want to go poddling around at about 10mph or less in a city on an upright bike, but not much use if you like touring distances at 15-20mph and get further afield. It would be impossible to get through the throng on those clips.

Geoff

 

[tonyidle]

They've created them all over our town. They're adding to them at this very moment. No one uses them. I did suggest a few years ago, in a letter to our local paper, that l thought most cyclists had found their own - called pavements. Never got any response though.

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[pappajohn]

they make a footpath into a shared path with cycles, put a white line down the middle, then you find yourself dodging people walking four abreast . give them a bell and they shout abuse, and it's generally full of pot holes.. now wonder cyclists don't want or dare to use them..

You've been to Scarborough then Jim.
I've only had one sour comment from a pedestrian and they got a curt......."look at the pavement markings and sign posts, you fecking Muppet"

 

[nicholsong]

When I am cycling at 20mph I would prefer to mix with motorists than with pedestrians and/or family cycle groups, because I think I can predict the behaviour of motorists more than those groups, partly because they are not prepared for reacting to cyclists at 20mph. Also the traffic on a road is better separated(see pappajohn's post above).

Also the speed differential between a 20mph cyclist and a car, especially in a 30mph zone, is much less than between that cyclist and a pedestrian or a child cyclist. A car doing 10 mph more than a 20 mph cyclist only needs a short dab on the brakes to avoid a collision, whereas the cyclist at that speed has difficulty slowing to a stop to avoid a pedestrian(or their dog) suddenly stepping in front.

Geoff

 

[DBK]

And not a helmet in sight. Pedestrians don't need to wear them so design the roads correctly and cyclists don't need to either.

Or so the theory goes in a flat country with no long descents.