Shared Footpath or Side of the road?

dannyg

On my way home from work, for part of the journey, i have the option of using a shared footpath. Now this weouldn't be too bad, except, that there are quite a few rounds to cross which obvioulsy have drop kerbs. Now these are quire scary to ride across as on my hybrid i have a 28mm 700cc tyre/wheel combination. I normally opt for the road side, but now the nights are pitch black i'm risking the shared footpath.

So i was wondering which do you prefer?

chuckcork

Pitch black should = very good lighting + a vest.

Probably safer than cycling in an urban area with streetlights, by comparison, with good lighting you'll stand out and be highly visible.

gtvlusso

Road everytime - Although I have no issue with kerb hopping, bunny hopping or anything on 700c wheels with 23mm tyres.....

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

Road every time. Cycle paths are generally a menace, and shared ones are the worst of all. Oh... and I wouln't always ride at the 'side' of the road either - well out from the kerb all the time and in 'primary' if I'm coming up to a pinch point.

Like gtvlusso I'm not averse to a bit of bunnyhop action on my roadie when necessary either....

Mikelyons

I voted for road, but I have to say there may be exceptions .

There is a 1-mile stretch of the A3 in London from Wandsworth to Tibbets Corner where there is a cycle path marked out as part of the pavement which also crosses several roads.

My previous commute used to take me along this & I used to always use the path in preference to the road which was frequently grid-locked , even for a bike. This stretch of road is also uphill & by using the path, I could make constant progress rather than having to break , change down, speed up, change up etc.

That said, I think if you are crossing roads on a cycle-path I would expect you to keep a good lookout for traffic crossing from side roads or turning off from the main road.

Mike

ansbaradigeidfran

My vote went to shared use paths.

The reason for this is that most of the cycle routes around here are NCR ones. East of Colwn bay NCR5 is separated, but here it's shared use paths or quiet country lanes. The only roadside paths that exist in Llandudno and Bangor are at junctions that have recently been redeveloped, and consist of either narrow stubby cycle lanes leading to an ASL or diverting cyclists to use crossings.

The shared use paths were really useful to me in building confidence when I started commuting. I still use them when they match the direction I want to go, especially when pootling up the 10% incline to get from Penrhyn Bay to Llandudno!

Jen J

The only shared path I use is from Robin Hood Gate up to Tibbet's Corner on teh A3, as I don't feel safe enough to use the road there.

I absolutely hate using the path though - it's full of rubbish and grit etc on teh ground, and I'm always surprised that I don't get a puncture.

Luckily although it's shared use, there are rarely peds around, although once someone came running out from a hidden drive and I almost crashed into her (despite me being at about 4mph.)

However I now know a route from Ricmond Park to Tibbets Corner avoiding this and doubt I'll ever use it again.

IMO shared use paths, in the form of pavements at least, will always be trouble, as peds just won't be prepared for bikes.

Mikelyons

Jen J wrote:

The only shared path I use is from Robin Hood Gate up to Tibbet's Corner on teh A3, as I don't feel safe enough to use the road there.

(....)
However I now know a route from Richmond Park to Tibbets Corner avoiding this and doubt I'll ever use it again.
.

Hallo Jen,

would you care to share the details of the alternative route ?

It's a horrid stretch of road, so would be nice to have an alternative.

Mike

Jen J

Mikelyons wrote:

Jen J wrote:

The only shared path I use is from Robin Hood Gate up to Tibbet's Corner on teh A3, as I don't feel safe enough to use the road there.

(....)
However I now know a route from Richmond Park to Tibbets Corner avoiding this and doubt I'll ever use it again.
.

Hallo Jen,

would you care to share the details of the alternative route ?

It's a horrid stretch of road, so would be nice to have an alternative.

Mike

Biondino or Wrath Rob would be able to explain it better, but here goes...it leaves RP at Roehampton Gate, then right onto Clarence Lane, at the end turn right onto Roehampton Lane, then turn left up Rodney Road (?), then right at the mini roundabout, straight on and that brings you out to the subway on the northwest of Tibbets Corner.

I think.

Mikelyons

Jen J wrote:

Mikelyons wrote:

Jen J wrote:

Mike

Biondino or Wrath Rob would be able to explain it better, but here goes...it leaves RP at Roehampton Gate, then right onto Clarence Lane, at the end turn right onto Roehampton Lane, then turn left up Rodney Road (?), then right at the mini roundabout, straight on and that brings you out to the subway on the northwest of Tibbets Corner.

I think.

Thanks Jen

That's clear enough for me to follow


Mike

lvquestpaddler

Shared path- easy to get to through Perth centre then just one busy road to cross and it's 3.5 miles of no cars/buses until I emerge in the industrial estate, cross over one busy road and it's the only really quiet bit of the estate(no through road) until I hit work 1/2 mile later.
By road it is main arterial road through Perth- 5 sets of very busy traffic lights, loads of traffic and a lethal roundabout on the A9 to get into the industrial estate, more direct but hideous and polluted compared to the riverside scenery.
No brainer(- and it's a fantastic "nightime blast" to Almondbank and back in the dark for 12 miles total(same route but further than work without entering the industrial estate) with no traffic, with the Smart halogens on- no dog walkers or pedestrians or anything as it's unlit!!! It's a gem !

AndyManc

Shared path (as long as it's not packed), I don't see many of them but it's a nice change riding them.

More relaxing, if you're in pootle mode they will do very nicely

linsen

going up the Avenue in Southampton it depends which will be quicker - if the traffic is at a standstill or slower than me I'll take the path (I am very careful around the peds, esp as some of them are my pupils!), but if it's free-flowing I take the road.
We have a few shared paths in Sfampton - most of the time I cycle along the one into town informing the pedestrians politely which (very clearly marked) bit they are supposed to be on! If I'm not being dragged by my offspring to town though I would opt for the road every time

dirk_van_gently

Would depend upon how busy the shared path was, and how safe I felt on the road.
I have a 1 mile stretch on a shared path, which I always use, not many peds, and the road is a loony option. Despite being only 1 mile between a 30mph limit and the next 30mph limit, the traffic appear to treat it like a drag strip.

Belv

Bit of both - i stick to the cycle path next to the dual carriageway, but when the road (and the cycle path!) narrows and the speed limit drops, then i join the single lane of traffic.

lizro

I have just started cycling regularly and use a shared path for part of the way ( from Tilehurst Station into Reading) and prefer to use it because I am not at all speedy or confident in traffic. However I have to really look out for peds, cars turning into side roads or out onto the main road, and had the broken glass on the path scenario too. I see quite a few cyclists on the road but they can compete well with the traffic. I would be happy to have more cycle paths, shared or otherwise, to keep me safe. I have a nice hill to go down on the way home but it is very poorly lit and the first time I zoomed down it I went straight into a pothole and really jarred my wrists. The bike wasn't too happy either. Then last night at the red traffic lights, a car insisted on pulling up alongside me and I nearly fell off. I think I will wait in the middle of the road next time! I am learning quite fast - keep well out to avoid potholes, get a better light so I can see them, and hog the lane!

OldSkoolKona

Difficulty with some shared paths is they're on the 'wrong side of the road' (ie on the right), is that you get blinded at night by cars coming the opposite direction (if you're on an unlit section, not as bad when the road is lit). Also, you often need to consider how do you get to the 'correct side of the road (ie the left) at some point, they often involve you going across lots of junctions, through bus shelters etc. However, if designed carefully they can be of use.

One worrying trend in my area is converting on road cycle lanes to shared footpaths, while narrowing the road. I've seen this carried out on two roads near where I live. I had an earlier rant about this:
http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12584714&highlight=

I have since found out that this is been carried out in the name of safety as there is a belief that narrowing roads slows down traffic, and to do so they take away the cycle lane at the side of the road, and put it on a widened footpath. Seems flawed reasoning as it leaves less space for cyclists who chose to take the road and I've never seen it slow down drivers (ever seen drivers go slowly through a narrow rat run on the roads??)

You can read here the logic behind it - http://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.asp?ID=17383