These shared use Cycle Lanes only really work well on the outskirts of the City where you will not find many People if at all walking on the Paths. Choosing rather to Travel by Motorcar or Bus in most circumstances and hardy ever by Bike. The closer you get to the City you will have increased levels of Pedestrians vying for the space on the Pathways.
My Pictures shows starting from the bottom up approaching the City of Dublin from about 4km then eventually about 2km. At Fairview Park you can find People often Walking on the Cycleway oblivious of Approaching Cyclists from behind in spite of the Bike Markings on the shared use Path. You will notice a Bus stop,when People are Queuing for a Bus that means less space for those walking by and also the Cyclists,often there can be a large amount of People waiting for a Bus which means they will be standing on the Cycle Path causing less Room.
This is a Major Commuting Route for Cyclists which means there can be very fast Cyclists Trundling their way into the City in the Morning coming up against Pedestrians walking on the Cycling area. So you tinkle your Bell if you have one ,then you have to raise your Voice but often they just do not hear or care . It is not really their fault but the bad infrastructure in place. You have a very wide Road,the obvious thing would be to narrow that Road and put in proper off Road Cycle Lanes. On this stretch of Road you have a further Hazard with that Pedestrian Bridge over the main Road. When you come to it you suddenly have to turn at a Sharp Right Angle to the left to avoid it to get back on the Cycle Path,it is even worse if you meet a Pedestrian walking on it and possibly with a Dog on a long Lead. It has happened to me a couple of times People with Dogs on long Trailing Leads. Some Cyclists actually go to the right of those Bridge Supports it can be safer to do this.
About a further 1 1/2km further on you come to the North Strand,further Hazards with another Bus stop. Then you come to a small crossing and go to the far side of Road where you attempt to go on the marked Cycle Lane and find that the Path is not Champered in line with the Cycle Path. If you continually use this route you will know about this but a Stranger using this Route for the first time could be thrown off their Bike if they Automatically believed the Champered Curb was in line with the Cycle Lane. There are instances of this all over Dublin and Ireland generally,it is just bad Infrastructure. These are the little things that do not cost much Money to fix and are so obvious to all but the Planners.
4 comments:
I think shared cycle lanes can be good if done correctly.
Vancouver's Stanley Park I believe has a shared pathway, although it is separated by a curb and in some parts different elevations.
Here in St Catharines, our Welland Canal path is a prime commuter route in the summer months for cyclists. Except for the occasional "shared pathway" sign there is nothing in place to protect pedestrians and cyclists from one another except common courtesy (something many lack from both peds and cyclists).
You have pedestrians walking 3 or more abreast and those who allow their dogs off leash. As a dog owner I'd be afraid someone on a bike isn't going to see them and hit them.
Hi Ryan. This was in the middle of the Day so not so much activity. You will notice at the Faiview Park end not much activity but as you get nearer the City it gets worse. I do not know what People are like in Canada but here People mostly do not obey the Rules and walk in single file. They generally walk all over the place and if their back is turned to you and you ring your Bell and eventually shout at them they still do not hear.
When Cyclists are in a rush in the Morning there are a lot of near Accidents. At the North Strand Road end the Cycleway is badly maintained and the Bicycle Markings are mostly worned away for Years now and nobody in a rush to Repaint them. That small Road crossing if you followed the Cycle markings you could easily Bash your front Wheel of the Path in frnt as you got back on the Cycle Lane after you crossed the Road.
They have no choice here I suppose but they could Rejig it Better and put the Bus stops nearer the Road and maybe narrow the Road by at least 1/2 a metre.
It's a real mix here, how people react to a bicycle bell or calling out.
Some will gladly move over, others are to preoccupied with their cell phones, ipods and just flat out don't care.
I agree, it would make more sense to put the bus stop closer to the road. Nearly every bus stop here is right along the road.
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