Right, I reckon next month, instead of Christmas cards, we start sending out copies of our ‘Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lanes?’ guide by post.
Because some people clearly aren’t getting the message. Goodness, this must be what evangelists feel like at this time of year. Anyway…
It’s currently all kicking off on the ‘Spotted: Quedgeley, Kingsway, Hardwicke’ Facebook group (what do you mean, you aren’t a member?), where a relatively new cycle lane in Gloucestershire has attracted hundreds of comments and sparked quite the debate – after a van driver took a snap of a cyclist riding on the road beside it.
“Million-pound plus bike lane in Staverton and the cyclist still uses the road,” the van driver posted on the group (hopefully not from behind the wheel, shortly after he took the photo).
For some context, the protected bike lane in question was completed in January 2023, as part of Gloucestershire County Council’s ‘Gloucester to Cheltenham Cycle Improvements Scheme’, funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund. The Staverton section marked the fourth of the project’s five phases, with the final section, at Pirton Lane, still to be completed.
According to the local authority, the six-mile-long cycleway “will help cyclists of all ages and abilities to travel safely, encouraging people to choose cycling and walking over using their cars for work, school or leisure, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting public health.”
And it’s fair to say the usual driving suspects weren’t happy with one cyclist ignoring the big, green slab of cycling infrastructure.
“You can’t hold up traffic if you use the cycle path!” wrote Ian Miller in the comments, while Mark Cox urged the driver to “put the bumper on his back wheel”. Oh, he’s hard.
Meanwhile, Kutsal wrote: “Cyclists are the god of the roads… either you will worship or be an atheist while on the road… I prefer to be the atheist one when I am on the road…” Whatever that means.
“If a cycle path is available, it should be law [that] it MUST be used by said cyclist,” added Dean Chew.
Though – surprisingly, since this is Facebook we’re talking about – not everyone was fully on board with Dean’s suggestion.
For instance, Mark Llewellyn said: “As a cyclist, 100 per cent agree with this, and likewise the same law should apply for any motorist who parks their car in a cycle path or who straddles a pedestrian walkway with their car.”
“Thing is under the same logic cars shouldn’t be allowed to go and rat run back streets and they should be restricted to more main roads as it disrupts neighbourhoods with more traffic,” added Bryce Elwine.
“But motorists hate low traffic neighbourhoods and being told they can’t drive anywhere they desire. It’s broken logic.”
> Why don’t cyclists use cycle lanes?
Some cyclists also pointed out that not all cycle lanes are, in fact, created equal.
“The thing with bike lanes, when they cross junctions you can’t see what’s approaching half the time as there are hedges etc in way, so using the road is a lot easier,” said Jason Brown.
“They’re coming up to a junction here,” noted Bex Mountford. “They could well be on the road because they want to turn right and it’s a lot quicker to join the road than have to wait at the crossing possibly for two sets of lights if it’s not crossable in one.
“I’d join the road if I was on my own but use the path if I was with my kids. Cycle paths aren’t for every journey same with driving and motorways.”
“Is it fit for purpose?” asked Paul Stephens. “Most are not in this country.”
According to local cyclist Jamie Smallman, Staverton’s cycle lane fits the latter bill, thanks to its odd “gravel top layer”.
“You know they laid the wrong type of surface?” Smallman asked a driver in the comments. “If you have a hybrid or road bike it’s useless.
“It’s designed for kids’ mountain bikes. The surface is loose stones, it’ll shred a road bike tyre. No cyclist was consulted when they chose the surface type.”
And finally, a few other cyclists took to the comments to point out that there was only one road user breaking the law in that photo.
“So you decide to use your phone whilst driving to take the photo,” noted Chris Barber.
And finally, Mark Flower asked the driver: “Do you want some cheese with that whine?” Enough said…