Slow down or else! Sustrans warns cyclists

CraigS wrote:

Mrmo - you've got it spot on. You won't get more people choosing bikes over cars if the bike takes much longer because the only safe routes sustrans and councils invest in are shared use paths that you have to go slowly on.

+1 exactly this.

mrmo wrote:

which in part is why i am of the belief that shared use paths are not the solution....time differences...yadda yadda yadda...

This is true, but surely they can be part of the solution? I think the point is, while it's reasonable to expect dedicated infrastructure free of pedestrians on longer cross-town or between-town routes, cyclists can't expect to go over 20mph all the time.

To learn from the Dutch model, in quieter residential areas cycle lanes aren't segregated from cars because everyone is expected to calm down a bit and drive (or ride) appropriately. Similarly, if cycling does become more popular we can expect to see more congestion related to bikes - the school run etc are often featured on videos because scenes of hundreds of cyclists highlights the popularity of cycling, but it's not all like that. Certainly, slowing down to 10-12mph for all of a 10 mile commute is an unreasonable ask, but surely slowing down for bits of it is fair? Drivers can't go at 30mph constantly in town and they shouldn't be able to.

I don't know the path in question. Is it just through an estate as the name suggests or is it a longer path?

The problem with Sustrans routes is that they often have quite long distances as shared use (like Bath-Bristol). Although I would cut them some slack, cycle infrastructure should never have been left to a powerless charity in the first place.

pmanc wrote:

The problem with Sustrans routes is that they often have quite long distances as shared use (like Bath-Bristol). Although I would cut them some slack, cycle infrastructure should never have been left to a powerless charity in the first place.

And that's the issue - If Sustrans are not building the paths, who is? Not the councils. The Bristol Bath path is not direct as it follows an abandoned railway. Whilst it would be great to put a dedicated cycle path next to the A4, the councils never have, and cyclists would just moan about that massive hill near Saltford anyway.

Sustrans routes are not almost entirely rubbish, but they have to work with what's available. If it's an abandoned railway, then so be it. If it's getting permission to put a route through a beautiful country park, then (apart from those evil speed humps at the entrance) what is rubbish about that? At least they are doing something! Anyone complaining about their routes should a) write to their local MP/Council etc and ask THEM to build new routes that start outside their house, go to their place of work or favourite ride, avoid hills and are free of cars and pedestrians. b) set up their own charity to do it. Responses: a) the council will complain that it's too expensive and b) there's no point as Sustrans does it already, as best it can in a world full of budget cuts, NIMBYS and closed minded councils who don't see cycling as a viable alternative to the car.

@Myriadgreen
Totally agree. Sustrans are making the best of what they're given ("given" being the operative word here). This includes having to ask everyone to play nicely with a limited resource.

Meanwhile central government palms off the responsibility onto local authorities because "they're the experts on what their area needs", and local authorities complain that they have neither the money nor the expertise.

And meanwhile cycling remains the domain of a small, ballsy, but often derided minority.

@Sam Saunders, thank you for giving more background on the location.

Maybe physical measures are the best way forward if some people won't slow down, but how to do that without inconveniencing responsible users, especially those with trikes, child trailers, wheelchairs, etc?