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804 posts

Ultimate Geek


Topic # 114303 15-Feb-2013 09:33 Send private message

Background

The majority of the Hutt Valley to Wellington highway is a dual carriageway, not very wide with a bumper to bumper volume of traffic at peak times and high volumes for most of the day. There is a dedicated cycle lane that has Armco Barriers between it and the road.

My question


Why do, what seems to be most of the cyclists that travel that road cycle on the roadway and often two or more abreast and not use the provided cycle way?

This is putting themselves and the other motorist at considerable danger. I have had many occasions when cars in the left lane have needed to swerve at me (in the right lane) , I have also had numerous close calls when having to break and reduce speed to around 50kmh  and nearly being tail ended.

I try hard to provide sufficient space for bikes, cyclist need to do the same for cars and trucks, it is much easier to move a bike out of the way than it is to safely move a vehicle.






KiwiNZ


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Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

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114 posts

Master Geek


  Reply # 762816 15-Feb-2013 09:37 Send private message

I noticed this the last time I was driving along this road and I agree that it really is exceptionally dangerous. The only reason I can think of (and I may be wrong) but is that the cycle lane may have a fairly bad surface which isn't great if you have a proper road bike. If that's not the case then I have no idea.

On a similar note, while I lived in Palmerston North cyclists ignored the cycle lane over the bridge out to Massey and when on the road. Now this road is narrow enough with 2 lanes on both sides and makes it extremely dangerous trying to avoid those people on bikes. I also know for the fact that the cycle lane on that bridge is in good condition.

Tends to be the 'hardcore' cyclists that do this as well.

486 posts

Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762818 15-Feb-2013 09:39 Send private message

Just run them over, they are obviously providing themselves as free entertainment ...

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Ultimate Geek

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  Reply # 762824 15-Feb-2013 09:46 Send private message

The cycle lane is terrible. All of the rubbish on the road gets swept off onto it, the surface if falling apart and, in winter, parts of it are underwater!
You can't ride a road bike on it and not expect to get a puncture, it's really hopeless and not fit for purpose.

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  Reply # 762828 15-Feb-2013 09:53 Send private message

Yep as Dolsen says, the cycle path is too risky to ride, its falling apart and cannot be ridden safely by road cycles.

Cyril



804 posts

Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762831 15-Feb-2013 09:54 Send private message

The cyclists need to lobby NZTA or the Wellington Regional Council to get it fixed.




KiwiNZ


Whāia te iti kahurangi

Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

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Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762836 15-Feb-2013 09:58

This is part of an NZTA project.

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  Reply # 762849 15-Feb-2013 10:15 Send private message

The cycle lane is a joke, and is also unsuitable when heading northbound - if you do use it you have to then ride on the shoulder in the wrong direction for the 600m or so where the cycle land doesn't exist South of Petone.




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352 posts

Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762855 15-Feb-2013 10:20 Send private message

I've used it southbound on occasion and got a puncture for my efforts. As Steve says, its not useable northbound.

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  Reply # 762856 15-Feb-2013 10:20 Send private message

There are good cyclists, there are bad cyclists

There are those who avoid dying, there are those who don't think much about death

There are those who feel small on the road, there are those who feel invincible

there is no such thing as etiquette nowadays. People talk on cell phones in school do you think motorists and cyclists would give way when they turn 21?

111 posts

Master Geek


  Reply # 762871 15-Feb-2013 10:41 Send private message

As a long term cyclist who never gets punctures, getting punctures is a result of the quality of your tires, not whats on the road. Answer is to get better tires.



804 posts

Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762897 15-Feb-2013 11:10 Send private message

sbiddle: The cycle lane is a joke, and is also unsuitable when heading northbound - if you do use it you have to then ride on the shoulder in the wrong direction for the 600m or so where the cycle land doesn't exist South of Petone.


I wonder who designed that?

I believe it needs to be given high priority not only for safety but to encourage more use of alternative transport.




KiwiNZ


Whāia te iti kahurangi

Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

1195 posts

Uber Geek


  Reply # 762924 15-Feb-2013 11:26 Send private message

netspanner: As a long term cyclist who never gets punctures, getting punctures is a result of the quality of your tires, not whats on the road. Answer is to get better tires.


I disagree.  I put some of the best road tyres on my bike but they're not immune to broken bottles and other sharp objects that tend to infest the cycle lanes.  Sure good tyres reduce the chance of puncture.  I find it hard to believe you've never had a puncture.

I avoid the cycle lanes for several reasons,

A they're often full of broken glass etc,

B the surface is often vary variable therefore unsuitable for narrow road (23mm) tyres.

C the cycle lane is very often covered with loose gravel which is like riding on marbles.

D in some places the cycle lane is hard up against kerbside parking with the risk of drivers opening their door into your path.


While a cycle lane seems the right place for a cyclist to ride in practice it can be more dangerous than riding in the normal traffic lane.  Whenever you ride in a cycle lane there's very good odds you''ll have to swerve to avoid an opening door or detritus in the lane and end up coming into conflict with a motorist. It's much better to be riding a predictable line as far to the left as possible in the normal traffic lane than it is to be riding in the cycle lane swerving to avoid things and running the much greater risk of a collision and or puncture.





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  Reply # 762927 15-Feb-2013 11:30 Send private message

Yep, I have been cycling pretty much daily for 45yrs I also dont get punctures unless my tyres are on their last legs. However a few years back when I had a contract at Seaview and cycled that route daily I had two punctures in a single week (near new tyre) because of that cycle track. Moved back onto the highway problem solved.

Problem with cycle tracks beside busy highways is they collect all the rubbish thats swept by the cars from the adjacent road.

Cyril



804 posts

Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 762937 15-Feb-2013 11:44 Send private message

They need to design them with a better surface, not a thin layer of cheap asphalt, maybe concrete. Also erect a mesh fence between the road and the lane to capture debris from the Highway.

As for inner city cycle lanes they need a complete rethink. Cycles + Pedestrians+ parked cars +Buses that think they rule the roads = disaster




KiwiNZ


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Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

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  Reply # 762942 15-Feb-2013 11:53 Send private message

Depends on what sort of bike you have and the sort of tyres, I have both road and mountain bike, hardly get punctures on MTB but do get them, glass does go through them you know.

On the road bike you get them more frequently obviously due to the thickness off them it doesn't take much at all, winter being the worst as the rain washes the fine grit away leaving the glass.

Quality of tyres does help help but silly to infer they stop you having punctures.

As to the topic, same old thing getting tribal over something that is really a nothing when you get down to it. Cyclists are entitled by law to be on the road end of story, yes they will hold you up as do pedestrians, camper vans, trucks, slow drivers etc etc. Think about it, how long do they actually hold you up, hours, minutes, seconds?? and if you can't see them then look harder they don't just appear in front of you by magic.

Yes there are bad cyclists as there are bad everything else but we need to all take care out there




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