In this video, I take a closer look at the reality of cycling infrastructure in Britain, the mistakes we keep making, and what we can learn from places where cycling simply works better.
Whether you’re a cyclist, a driver, or someone who has never sat on a bike in years, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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33 Comments
I’m sure this will ruffle many feathers. Hit me with your thoughts below 👇 AND check this video out about the amazing Netherlands cycling infrastructure: I Visited The World's Best Cycling Country
https://youtu.be/2RB2b_qoUXQ
Wow, you have bonus “fun” in the UK with all those “cyclists dismount”. Idiotic. We occasionally have those in the US too but they are usually just traffic engineers infantilizing cyclists because they haven’t made the roadway properly (gaps in pavement etc). No non-beginner cyclist ever obeys.
Paint isn't infrastructure and good cycling infrastructure is good car infrastructure, as a couple of wise people once said. Good to see you mention bike parking, that gets forgotten regularly in these discussions.
It's all a matter of respecting one another. There is a mind set by many that roads are only for motor vehicles, But the biggest problem is when a perfectly rational person get in their metal box they turn aggressive and ….. Many pedestrians have negative view of cyclists as a lot of cycle paths are shared by them also most are wearing earphones and unaware of their surroundings and get a fright when we pass. Education is the solution and emphasis in the car test will help.
Note to myself:
never complain about the cycling infrastructure here in rural germany again.
Germany might be decades behind the Netherlands in terms of cycling infrastructure and culture
but in Britain it seems to be centuries…
Its going to get worse not better because of the knuckle dragging bell ends in Reform.
Cycle lanes are fundamentally car infrastructure. NotJustBikes.
One of the most frustrating things about the painted cycle lanes in Liverpool is when motorists believe the cycle lane is a great place to park, or when the painted lane is all of 50m-100m long with 2 or 3 cars parked in it!
“Cyclists dismount”
Not a mandatory sign. It’s rare that the specific requirement is to dismount, although you may need to join the general carriageway.
Generally speaking (as a planner and transport planner), “cyclists dismount” is an admission of failure by those responsible for it.
I went from East Hull to Market Weighton via Beverley today. I know exactly what you're saying about the cycle lanes in that area. They go from pavement to road, to other side of the road and back. Ridiculous. Also, how did you get the drone footage @11:04?
Excellent video. You've clearly explained why cyclists choose not to use some 'cycle lanes'. Having said that, i think councils are slowly realising that getting people out of cars and onto bikes reduces traffic for everyone and there are some proper segregated cycle lanes appearing. You're right that it's not cars vs bikes. Good cycle infrastructure reduces traffic for cars so it's good for everyone. So we should all support cycle lanes.
I live in Leeds and always use cycle lanes where available. One main issue I see is with cyclists themselves. They believe that they have priority over other vehicles (The Highway code says we have with regard to motor vehicles, right? )and in some cases pedestrians as far as some cyclists believe. I always prepare to give way and stop, regardless. If the cycling lane is blocked I slow down, pass the obstruction safely, then carry on. A lot of cyclists I see just carry on speeding into a situation, seeming not to care about their own safety. I have a lot of years experience as a proffessional driver which is probably why I am very aware of how conflicts occur.
Good one! I’m still amazed how many people don’t understand why we don’t ride on the bike paths, so getting the message out like this is very helpful. Hopefully people will share this video with plenty of non cyclists. Thanks
A few points: 1 Cycle paths – speed restrictive because pedestrians don't care. Because the coloured surface is like an ice slick in the wet and share path ways reduce you to walking speed though my experience has been reasonably positive. 2. On the road I can do speeds that are supported by the road. I used to ride to work and happily achieved speeds of 50 to 60kph. 3. Motorists are bullies. The will monster a cyclist who they perceive as obstructive and slow but will not say boo to a HGV or bus because they will get hammered for the grief.
On a positive side, I cycled to the beach today. Sunny day so the car park was full. Fortunately, plenty of slots for parking my bike…for free 🙂
The cycle lanes near me are brutal pot holes that youd get lost in and today was in the cycling lane got up the hill oh lovely about 14 cars parked in cycling lane half the car on the pavements back of the car blocking the lane like wtf
Spot on. To stay safe ( ie stay alive ) you need to ride with common sense, good road sense and judgement, keeping to the right lines and a degree of boldness that demands space/respect.
I nearly always leave the cycle lane when approaching a roundabout.
I also avoid cycle lanes covered in Glass, or unmaintained cycle lanes.
TWO GOLDEN RULES – never overtake vehicles on the inside but always on the safer outside, so have to leave the cycle lane to do this and #2 Never overtake parked vehicles closer than a doors width.
Old railway cycle ways are ideal and lead somewhere , often running through countryside away from roads. Holland looks like a cycling paradise. Safe riding.
Cities in the US make a fortune on cars. In fact, some cities, like those along the coast, make 90% of their revenue off of parking. Add ticketing, gas sales, taxes, auto sales, repairs, smog shops, etc. and it would be economic suicide to make cycling more attractive. My assumption is they fail on purpose, and that's fine with me. Being rich is comparative. The more others spend on their cars, the richer I get…without even trying.
But the money hasto be spent on parasites.
Very good video, thanks for explaining it all so well. I was blown away by NL cycle paths too, felt quite depressed coming back to the toytown rubbish they build here. I regularly had to lift my bike over a gate to get to work, but change can happen, boss got fed up with bicycles littered everywhere so he built a shiny new bike rack 😂 Delft has a beautiful bike park, black metal railings, man with a tip hat, simple, reassuring and very possible here.
Cycled out this morning before the carsoles are awake. Great segregated cycle path near me but the dirt is all moved to the middle by the "cleaning" machine. Another here is right next to a row of parked cars. Right in the door zone. As everywhere the paint anywhere "infrastructure" is alive and well. If you use them you won't be for long.
Why are there not any Cyclists Re-Mount signs?
Think on it. They tell you to actually get off the bike but not back on.
I gave up cycling after I realised that there was a BMW car out there with my name on its bumper, and sooner or later it would find me.
It works in the Netherlands because of mentality, it would never work in the UK because of culture differences.
Was the video image a copenhagen right? Then I would.
I do.
Going by what I see commuting to work 3 days a week – and 2 at home – there are very dangerous idiots on bikes. I see a common theme that comes in 2 versions idiot 1 – skin tight suit and carbon or titanium bike locked in on performance data from a 4 inch screen oblivious to the world and cyclist privilege in place. Idiot 2 young entitled and arrogant wanabe gangsta in dark hooded jacket in all weathers weaving through traffic and offensive to site and sound.
Me? Oh I cycle too I'm just not a dick with other road or path users, 60 years in the saddle and still here. I don't expect the world to accommodate me or allow me to have a different set of rules just because I choose to use a bike, but then again I always allow time for inconvenience and problems and don't try to get somewhere in 4 minutes 22 seconds because in a peak performance day in great weather and little traffic that's how long it takes.
A lot of cycle lanes are dangerous, have cars parked in them,if they are spaced out from the road,I am sure cyclists would use them for there safety,most cycle lanes are part of the road,making roads slimmer for traffic,this is a massive problem
It's my hope that angry motorists will educate themselves with a video like this but I know they won't. I live in America. We have very little bike lanes here. There is a significant shoulder to ride on with some of our roads but the shoulder typically has broken glass, rocks, screws, car parts. There is no good place to ride other than in the road.
❤🎯I’m in Essex some are brilliant….but some are so poorly maintained they are not safe to use. 🤮
A six inch curb on the left and a painted white line 1 meter from the curb just means the drivers drive close to the white line so if I ride in the middle of the cycle lane I get about 9” to the white line, as drivers will happily drive on occasion up to the white line there is no 1.5M clearance just the 9” 🤔 safe as a trip in the ditch.
I recently bought an ABUS helmet the one with warning, brake and indicators, which does actually work I’ve been let cross turning right on many occasions because the oncoming driver can see the flashing amber indicator, and you can often her cars slow down when you put indicator on.
Advisory cycle lanes increased injury odds by 34%, suggesting that unprotected lanes within standard traffic widths are unsafe. See “Cycling Injury Risk in London: Impacts of Road Characteristics and Infrastructure”
Why would any cyclist ride in one unless they want to be injured?
This assumes people arent actively trying to kill you
I would question your assertion that it is in "everyones interest". Reduce car journeys and the government lose revenue…
That was a bullseye! What is disappointing is that years ago the government have released a document (LTN 1/20) that describes how to (and how not to) build cycle paths. I just wish more local authorities would read the bloody thing. The bottom line is only when council staff are charged a fortune for parking their cars will anything change. After all, if it’s good enough for us, it’s good enough for them.
Greetings from the Netherlands. Look at those nice clips of Dutch infrastructure and imagine how it would be if all of those people riding bikes were driving cars. Much nicer for everyone like this.