Cycle paths or road??

[Raging_Bulls]

No idea if there's a speed limit in the UK, but in Belgium cycle lanes have the same speed limit as the road they are part of. Same fines as cars as well, up to suspending the offender's drivers license if he does more than 50% or 20km/h (whichever comes first) over the limit.

The bad thing is that we usually have to share cycle lanes with mopeds (class A; limited to 15MPH and class B;limited to 28MPH).
Of course every teenager tunes them to 40-50 MPH, so every bike of mine is equipped with a rear-view mirror on the downtube.

 

[lumos2000]

I have often brought this question up but I have never received a definitive answer;

Is there a speed limit on the pavement? I am sure there are old by laws relating to the maximum speed allowed on a pavement and if this is true is this law suspended for shared use pavements? What happens if there is an accident between a cyclist and a pedestrian and it was proved that the cyclist was "speeding"? 12mph (i could be mixing it up with towpaths) seems to come mind which is not very fast at all, I'm sure most of us will average a lot more than that.


In answer to the original question, I won't use pavement cycle lanes.

there are very few decent lanes in bournemouth some have signs with a 10mph limit on them. most pedestrians walk in the middle and choose to ignore the much better walkway where bikes prohibited

 

[drystonepaul]

I have often brought this question up but I have never received a definitive answer;

Is there a speed limit on the pavement? I am sure there are old by laws relating to the maximum speed allowed on a pavement and if this is true is this law suspended for shared use pavements? What happens if there is an accident between a cyclist and a pedestrian and it was proved that the cyclist was "speeding"? 12mph (i could be mixing it up with towpaths) seems to come mind which is not very fast at all, I'm sure most of us will average a lot more than that.

Good question Gav.
Technically there is no speed limit on pavements because cyclists have no legal right to ride on pavements.
However on shared use paths (or footpaths which have been designated as cycle routes) there is no legal figure.
Anything between 8mph and 12mph is often cited in code of conduct guidelines, but the closest thing to a legal or official figure is from the Department of Transport guidelines relating to cycle paths which state that "above 18 mph you should consider using the road".

EDIT: Found the link relating to the 18mph DfT speed here. It's worth noting that it is also just an advisory rather than a compulsory limit.

The 12mph figure I think historically comes from previous British Waterways Code of Conduct for Cyclists. Currently no speed limit is mentioned though.

 

[lumos2000]

i always thought there should be cycle paths running along side every train track in the country, this would link every town with a direct and flat route, keeping bikes off the road as much as possable. like a motorway for bikes.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Good info Paul, thanks. Next task, how do they come up with these "speed limits" and why are they such odd numbers

 

[BerthaPog]

I have often brought this question up but I have never received a definitive answer;

Is there a speed limit on the pavement? I am sure there are old by laws relating to the maximum speed allowed on a pavement and if this is true is this law suspended for shared use pavements? What happens if there is an accident between a cyclist and a pedestrian and it was proved that the cyclist was "speeding"? 12mph (i could be mixing it up with towpaths) seems to come mind which is not very fast at all, I'm sure most of us will average a lot more than that.

Good question Gav.
Technically there is no speed limit on pavements because cyclists have no legal right to ride on pavements.
However on shared use paths (or footpaths which have been designated as cycle routes) there is no legal figure.
Anything between 8mph and 12mph is often cited in code of conduct guidelines, but the closest thing to a legal or official figure is from the Department of Transport guidelines relating to cycle paths which state that "above 18 mph you should consider using the road".

EDIT: Found the link relating to the 18mph DfT speed here. It's worth noting that it is also just an advisory rather than a compulsory limit.

The 12mph figure I think historically comes from previous British Waterways Code of Conduct for Cyclists. Currently no speed limit is mentioned though.

Probably because there is no way they enforce it - just like on the road, there is no requirement for a bicycle to have a speedometer, so no requirement to know how fast you are going...

 

[Woz]

With this thread I've been a little more aware of a few things in Stockholm and thought a little more. Another long post:
- Mixed cycle paths for pedestrians and cycles are clearly marked by sign-posts and floor markings. If width permits, they have an additional dividing solid weight line. Of course, people wander about...
- For specific cycle routes joining suburbs (usually next to main roads, train lines) they are clearly sign-posted for cycles. About 50% of the time, they have one flow direction clearly pointed out. Otherwise, there is the occasionaly marker to remind cyclist which side they should be on.
- Pedestrians are not supposed to be on specific cycle routes - not sure by law or by etiquette or common sense or sheer fear from being mowed down. Tourists are commonly unaware of this and cyclists will make it obviously so. They eventually conclude there's a safer way to go sightseeing....
- I have understood specific cycle routes can be shared by default with mopeds unless there is a specific mention they are not allowed. Right now as the winter season is starting up, there is many folk on dry XC skies using them. There is an etiquette that a cyclist does have priority (over the ski pole waving feet spread eagle malarky...) - in fact, I've paced a few and have no problems with it. The poor sods getted dropped at the slightest incline and that makes me feel a world champion.
- There are no specific speed limit markings. I - and most people - assume it's the same as on the road. It seems regulated with common sense. In fact, it is only recently (about 3 months) that the first formal speeding ticket in Sweden was issued to a cyclist. Of course, some outrage but the funniest part was the computer system was only built around fines for motor car owners...ie. driving license, vehicle registration etc.
- Cycle paths mixed with traffic are considered the worst. There's a significant lobby to do something about the worst, and in general the local rag is very sympathetic to the cause of the cyclist. Right outside were I live, I've seen three motorist - bike accidents; each time there has been tweaks to improve the visibility of the cycle lane; but it's still far from perfect.
- Motorists seem generaly bemused why a cyclist (if not dressed like a pro) would use the road rather than a cycle lane. I could get into trouble here, but IMHO the majority of Swedish motorists don't actually know how to deal with a cyclist on the road properly. There are cases of agression on what I call the rat race roads; but it seems part of the deal and minor compared to car - car agression.
- Strangely, I felt safer riding a bike on the car congested streets of Paris rather than a shared road - cycle path in Stockholm. I can only put this down to a National Pride of Cycling and motorists giving a bit more support for an uncaged nutter (even if you naughty frenchies are pretending to be Alain Prost behind the wheel) . There are so many traffic lights, you simply can't go above 30 mph.
- In the UK, it's gone positively scary TBH. I can understand why people drive to "cycle facilities", and I would have serious 2nd thoughts about touring on a road bike. I definitely would not do road TT.

W.

 

[Russell]

The only time I've ever been hit by a car, I was riding on a cycle path.

 

[cyfa2809]

The only time I've ever been hit by a car, I was riding on a cycle path.

Really? :roll:

 

[Russell]

The only time I've ever been hit by a car, I was riding on a cycle path.

Really? :roll:

Unfortunately, yes.

The trouble with cycle paths is that in urban areas they generally sit nicely between peoples houses and the road.

Invariably people leaving their houses are concentrating on the traffic on the road, not whats coming along the cycle path.

Some chump pulls out of his drive straight into me... Weeeeeeeeeeee!

Drive side crank arm bent underneath the bottom bracket shell, fractured ribs.

Since that day I have always, and will continue to cycle on the road whether there is a cycle path or not.

Cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as cars and if I slow some drivers down occasionally, deal with it.