CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Cycle path preaching

(23 posts)

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  1. algo
    Member

    Hello,

    in the last few days of amazing weather, it has been suggeted to me on a number of occasions that I should be using the cycle path. The two most recent were on my evening rides looping the Queen's Drive.

    On the uphill single lane section rising to Dunsapie loch, I thought the path on the left of the road was a pedestrian path - is that right? I am pretty pathetically slow on that bit at the moment.

    On the section from the parliament to St Margaret's loch - there is a cycle path on the right hand side - which I don't use as I'm usually going too fast for it to be safe around the pedestrians. I was under the impression that on such a path the recommended top speed for a cyclist was 12mph - I think that's right for a shared use path, but not sure about that bit as it has a separate cycle lane (theoretically).

    I'd like to have the opportunity to explain my position to the car drivers - I stupidly lost my temper with one - but of course they just drive off.

    What are other people's views about this? Is it ok not to use the cyclepath? If so and my reasons are ok (not to endanger pedestrians), I wonder how the non-cycling drivers might also be made aware of this. I know plenty of people who would agree with the drivers having never cycled.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. lionfish
    Member

    It's definitely ok to not-use the cycle path! I realise that this is potentially going to become more of an issue as more paths are added.

    When I used to commute via the road from parliament up towards the Commie, I avoided the bike-path as it was often full of pedestrians. I never had anyone ask me to use it though.

    Seriously: Grumpy/angry drivers are going to be grumpy/angry anyway - if it wasn't the bike path that got them frothing it would have been 'road tax' or whatever...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. EddieD
    Member

    Just ignore them, and duck into any laybys you can. I know it's sometimes not easy to ignore folk yelling abuse at you, but it seems the best policy.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. rust
    Member

    Look them in the eye, and keeping a straight face, tell them you are a car.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. wingpig
    Member

    "Is it ok not to use the cyclepath?"

    Yep. Definitely, especially on the section where the limit for motor vehicles is 20mph.

    I'll usually use the St Margaret's Loch - parliament section only when heading west but go from Parliament-Pollock on the path most mornings (when not going round the NEPN).

    I'd maybe feel I was being a bit obstructive going up from the Scotsman to Pollock and not using the path; similarly if someone is bombing down that path a well over twenty they might consider using the road, though it's understandable if they don't want to run the risk of having a car pass them at forty going downhill, though if they're using the path and there are people coming it up then they ought to have the civility to not force the person going uphill onto the grass.

    As the path up from St Margaret's to Dunsapie is only for peds I'll never go on it except to get around the gate at the bottom in the evening. As the leftmost eight inches of the road is too catseyed to be cycleable I'll hand-signal/primary cars until I reach a layby unless it looks like a careful narrow car and it's playing nicely when I reach a wider bit of road.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. MeepMeep
    Member

    My attitude is that if:

    a) my speed on the cycle path will be unacceptable to other cyclists and too fast for being integrated with headphoneclad/phone-engrossed/dog-walking pedestrians...

    or

    b) the cycle path is poorly designed/will take me on an unnecessary detour...

    I'll use the road.

    Lately I've taken to smiling and blowing kisses at irate and misinformed drivers who feel it's acceptable to shout out of their windows at me. Passive agressive, I know, but does my blood pressure more good than shouting back. I don't dawdle on my bike.

    On a slightly related tangent - I spied a cyclist back in Spring who was cycling Calder's Road with no rear light in the dark. As I came up to him in the lane to the right, I wound down my window and said "sorry, excuse me, just wanted to let you know your rear light's out". He looked on the defensive before I'd even opened my mouth. That's not how it should be.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. algo
    Member

    Thanks all for the wordly advice - I'll go for the ignoring policy - I've got an alarming enough face not to start blowing kisses at people.

    The path on the rise from St. Margaret's loch to Dunsapie loch is just pedestrian though isn't it? I'm not genuinely not sure...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    Queen's Drive is really bad for foul tempered drivers. They seem to be outraged that a cyclist has the temerity to 'get in the way' on their rat run. I've also been told to get on the cycle path when I was doing 50kph downhill on the tandem! Aye right...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. minus six
    Member

    Look them in the eye, and keeping a straight face, tell them you are a car

    splendid advice. i'm gonna use that one deadpan

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Use the road. There is not one shred of law in this country that says you can't and not any other shred that says a car or other vehicle has any greater right or claim to the road than you do.

    If someone suggests you use the road, I'd politely suggest that they use their legs, that's why they were born with them.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. algo
    Member

    thanks - I might give that a go too depending on how I'm feeling.

    In all these situations I would like to be able to explain the justifications for why I am riding where/how I am, but never get the chance. That's why I feel learning the rules for cyclists and the bikeability guidelines should be part of the driving theory test. At least then there wouldn't (in theory) be the barrier of ignorance.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. rust
    Member

    o_0, I once had a double glazing salesman phone up and I told him I wasn't allowed windows. The moment of complete silence while he tried to comprehend what I'd just said was beautiful.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. deckard112
    Member

    @rust - likin you're style.

    I usea similiar tack with tele sales people. I tell them I'm too busy to talk but if I could call them back at their home number/personal mobile after 11pm I'd be happy to talk. Yet to be taken up on that offer.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. wee folding bike
    Member

    British Gas phoned yesterday to offer us insulation.

    I told her that we used straw as it's very handy for the donkeys and sheep.

    I further told her that we had an open door policy on virgins and wise men but, as we are in Airdrie, both are a bit thin on the ground. Then I went round the house commenting on things I could see till she hung up.

    I do enjoy cold callers.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. MeepMeep
    Member

    This thread has spun off into pure gold.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. neddie
    Member

    Said before in another thread:

    If told to use the cycle path, a witty response is:

    "why don't you go and use the motorway" and then point vaguely in the direction of the M8!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    That was what I wished I had had the wit to say when chastised by a Range Rover driver who deigned to hold up traffic while bestowing the benefit of his opinions upon me and my kids.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. gembo
    Member

    car drivers have to break the speed limit to overtake you and tell you you are holding them up on way down to parliament.

    OTOH on the way up we will cause a bit of a tail back on the road and if on the cycle path we get a taste of our own medicine as it were as full of joggers on wrong side or prams etc so we have to be nice and give way, take it easy etc

    Bit like STRICT LIABILITY I don't think we can have it both ways. Cars cede to us and we cede to peds?

    Although I read on other threads that we can only think about the bike, I am trying to think about the foot too.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. algo
    Member

    yes - I totally agree. I use the cycle path going up the hill from pariliament to Pollock if going that way, but the bit where I hold them up is the section round the back to Dunsapie, where I'm pretty sure there isn't a cycle path - just a pedestrian path.

    All these suggestions for cold callers and car drivers are great - I am making notes

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. LaidBack
    Member

    ... and this is why Historic Scotland struggle to get more cycling traffic in the park. Last review showed that there were four time more illegal vehicles in park than those using pedal power.

    The park is practically accepted as Edinburgh's urban freeway and is long overdue for an access review.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. crowriver
    Member

    Maybe it is time to re-visit the spirit of what WC and I proposed (as a petition) and address this (or similar) to Historic Scotland?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. Roibeard
    Member

    @algo - as others have suggested, they're not really telling you to use the (non-existent) cycle path, they're telling you to "gerroffmaroad", which explains most of the suggested responses above!

    The bit around Dunsapie is a single lane (i.e. no space to overtake), one way carriageway, with an associated footpath. Carriages belong on the carriageway, and pedestrians on the footpath. For the avoidance of doubt, bicycles are defined in law as carriages...

    Robert

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. algo
    Member

    Thanks! Couldn't be clearer that that :-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

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