Why don't some cyclists use cycle lanes?

I'm old enough to remember the retro fit replacement of the hedges with the wire/ concrete/ barriers on the middle of our motorways and dual carriageways!

Just on the ceding priority, it's particularly annoying as the same local authority can move the stop/ yield to before the cycle lane in some spots, but not others. Even on the same road! DLR have done it on most of the N11 iirc, yet other routes are a complete clusterf*ck.

The answer to your question is have a look at the Sutton/Clontarf cycle lane.

You yourself have used the description "great cycle lane"......you said "despite there being a great cycle lane beside them" or words to that effect.

IMHO, if you take northside and city centre there is pretty much just one good (great?) cycle lane, and thats the one on the coastline in Sutton/ Clontarf.

If you go out there you will not see any cyclists on the road, or maybe you will see 1 in 500. Pretty much all the cyclists there use your bike lane.

So in short, for me your premise that cyclists use the road despite there being a great bike lane beside them doesnt stand up at all.

There are of course many many mediocre bike lanes, and yes cyclists frequently prefer to use the road. Frequently the reason for this is that - even where there are wands - road works often take place at the edge of the road and bike lane surfaces can be really bad.

I've been in Limerick a couple of times recently, and the cycle lane on the Plassey Park Rd (parallel to the Dublin Rd between Groody roundabout and Annacotty roundabout, past the entrances to UL) seem to be fairly good.

They're not protected, but they are relatively wide (wide enough to park a car on, I saw today) and the traffic lanes beside them are wide too, so cars don't need to encroach on them, and the look relatively clean, apart from one spot where there's some leaf fall. Priority is not ceded at junctions either. I'd use it if I still lived there.

It's only 3km long, though.

I haven't cycled in Limerick city in a good few years, but when I did (commuting in and out to work) the traffic lanes themselves were always awkward and difficult, with lanes appearing and disappearing, so I tended to ignore whatever bits and pieces of cycle lanes there were. Don't know if it's much improved since (although the partial pedestrianisation seems to be going well)

Drove past it on Saturday, it's ridiculus. They could have at least brought it up to the National school rather than stop about a km from the village.

I'm not allowed post links anymore for some reason but if you search for Cosain Climate on twitter they have photos.

I use cycle lanes where available. Used the one on Alfie Byrne Road I'm Clontarf this evening. A child ran I'm front of me completely out of the blue. We collided, I went over my handlebars, my bike is wrecked, I'm injured, and the child's mother refused to acknowledge any responsibility so now I'm stuck with a repair bill and possibly medical bills.

So cycle lanes aren't any sort of utopia for cyclists.

Haha. Cheers man. Will be sore in the morning. Not looking forward to the call from the lads in 360 with the quote to repair the damage.

Yes thankfully. She walked away in much better shape.

It is amazing how multi talented cyclists are. Individual cyclists are apparently able to cycle on footpaths, break lights, wear lycra, cycle too fast in cycle lanes while also cycling in the middle of the road all the while not wearing a helmet or paying road tax.

Why don't some cyclists use cycle lanes?

Why don't some cars just stick to the roads?

Why don't some pedestrians use footpaths?

There is no universal answer to any of these questions. There is a subset of people in every facet of life who just cannot conform to rules. Some who enjoy breaking rules. Some who enjoy aggravating people they deem to be in opposition to them.

Then, there are also valid reasons why some people use break rules. Why some cyclists don't use cycle lanes. Why some cyclists use the footpath. Why some cars use the bus lane/ the cycle lane/ the footpath. Why some people break lights. Why some pedestrians use the cycle path/ walk on the road/ refuse to cross at pedestrian crossings.

I suspect most times this issue is raised there is no real desire to understand the issues, really it's just an excuse to have a rant at cyclists/ motorists/ pedestrians.

Most of the reasons why some cyclists, sometimes, don't use a cycle lane are outlined in previous posts.

I think what they are doing with motorists is saying 'motorists' that arent me.

As they arent cyclists in the first place, they dont need to this when discussing cyclists.

Something you see quite a lot sadly. Some cycle lanes yield for every driveway