One for the cyclists...

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mittfh

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In the desire to enhance their environmental credentials, many local authorities have started installing cycle facilities (e.g. cycle lanes, shared use paths). One UK cyclist has started noticing there are some excellent (*cough*) examples of cycle facility design out there, and for the past few years has compiled a "Cycle Facility of the Month" page.

Typical examples include trees thoughtfully provided to shade the cyclists from the sun, metal fences to ensure cyclists don't veer off the end of the path, a very "convenient" one, and even a cycle path that bypasses a bus stop. Of course, money is tight these days, so some councils have ensured their cycle paths are no longer than absolutely necessary. One council has even thoughtfully provided a cycle rack that's a dual-use facility - the other use being a supporting structure for nettles...

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That's why ...

... I'm very selective as to which so-called cycle facilities I use. Many of them are almost impossible to use on a tandem for instance because of very tight turns, particularly one laden with camping gear as we once used to do quite a lot. Not riding much these days, though, and have yet to get 1000 miles in my legs so far this year - nearly there though and the recent spell of warm weather has tempted me into the lanes for reasonably long rides.

Thanks for the post. The trees remind of an occasion in Luxembourg when some friends of ours rode their tandem into a tree conveniently placed in the middle of a river-side cycle track - they were too busy admiring the scenery, I'm afraid.

Robi

Farcilities

Without looking, I will guess that it is the Warrington one. They actually have that one out as a print book!

I'm glad to see

priorities given to cyclists - unfortunately, I have yet to discover where to see them, which is probably why I tend to ride on the road rather than cycle paths.

Angharad

Agreed

I used to cycle 'extensively' before I became too unwell to continue, and I still have all the bikes in the garage to prove it :(

I never used cycle paths which ran alongside roads unless it would have been illegal to continue on the road. I took the view that I was in control of a two-wheeled road vehicle and behaved accordingly. In most cases it would have been stupid to ride on the cycle paths in any case. The surfaces were nearly always extremely poor, and one could guarantee that there was more broken glass to be found on a sample 100-yard stretch than you could ever find in a bottle bank! Not to mention the brain-dead who thought that the bit of tarmac beside the road was for leaving your car on overnight, unlit...

On one contract in Birmingham my 6.5 mile route ran from Erdington through Nechells, Aston and round the Middle Ring Road, under the Bull Ring and past the road entrance to New Street Station, up Holloway Head to Edgbaston. Because of the one-way system it was a mile longer getting home than going. I could nearly always beat the bus both ways. At the Edgbaston end my route required using the subways under Fiveways roundabout; the clearly laid out cycle path rises on the way out of the underpass straight into a phone box. I always wanted to take a photo of this but never got the opportunity.

Ah, magic days.

Penny

If you are ever in mind for a "cycling vacation"

I'm fortunate in that there are many cycling paths and trails in Michigan. I'm still researching a trike I can use, due to my disability and my weight. So far the Terra Trike looks like a good balance pf capability and price. I'm tempted daily by some of the great trails here in Western Michigan and down on the Indiana border. My sister has challenged me to cycle the annual "Apple Cider Century" this fall. Reading all the great cycling stories here has me tempted as well!

Wren

I feel much better about the

I feel much better about the cycle lanes and paths around here, after seeing these!

I can see

yet another site for wasting time. Thanks