“I have to wonder whether motorists are actually aware that they are not supposed to cross a thick white line as so many of them do!
Just like the yellow boxes, I honestly think people have no idea what they are for!”

“Plymuffmuff, I'm with you. I pay Council tax and I hate to see it wasted on a pointless cycle lane, prob just as much as you.

But as I commute that way and the traffic is nearly always less than 20mph down there, they usually hold me up!.. If a car wants to overtake I make sure i keep far enough left to not slow them down (or be clipped).
Undertaking on a bike is actually one of the most dangerous things you can do, (and prob illegal) as a car turning left prob wont see you. I always overtake on the right and not filter through the middle, as thats just as dangerous.
I'm not being righteous, I just prefer to ride that way as I value my life, and my limbs. The problem is others dont....
See.. Cyclists and motorists can agree... I'm both!”

“To be quite honest there are some one way systems I'd rather not go down in my van, but do I? of course I do, because thats what they're there for... It doesn't matter if it leads you on a detour through somalia. it those are the rules they are there to be followed.

So surely FunkyD1 you're saying what i'm saying, either scrap these cycle lanes, or improve them.
Out of interest do you understand my point? i'm not against cyclists or cycle lanes, what i'm against is spending money on something that is optional. and often ignored.

And one more point... this stretch of road has a limit of 40mph so if you're going "easily 30" then your holding up the traffic.

END OF!”

“It doesnt help that at both Macdonalds and B&Q (heading North)traffic just cuts across the solid white line to jump the queue at the lights if they want to turn off. I have nearly been knocked off twice by cars doing that. I've lost count of the number of cars i've seen driving in the Bus/Taxi/Cycle lane ILLEGALLY!...... but also I have lost count of the number of cyclists I have seen jump red lights, or ride on the pavement to skip them.I hate that even more than cars jumping lights because of the damage it does to peoples perception of cyclists.”

“By the way, when i say 'you can cycle in the bus lane and go through the traffic lights which is a lot quicker ' I obviously mean if the light is green....”

“I'd say a bad example of a cycle lane and why cylists don't use it, would be the turn off to B&Q on Tavistock road heading towards Derriford roundabout. You have to go along the path, stop get off your bike, cross the both crossings, back on your bike and carry on, or you can cycle in the bus lane and go through the traffic lights which is a lot quicker and perfectly legal under the highway code. The best cycle lanes in my opinion are at the side of the road i.e. [pavement, cycle lane, road] or [pavement, cycle lane, bus lane, road]. You can go quite fast and don't slow down cars. No need for all those fiddly cycle lanes with mini junctions etc waste of time and money. With regards to the main question in the article, yes the cycle lane in question is probably not needed and is bad planning by the council. PS i was being sarcastic in my last post.”

“If there is a cycle lane that is designed correctly and not full of crossings every 100m or obstacles that are dangerous I will ALWAYS use it. Some of the joint bus/cycle lanes are fine. Most of the pavement types are dangerous.
The problems exist where a normal cyclist wants to ride at 15mph the cycle lane but it just stops suddenly and forces you to then to do a 90 degree/180 degree turn. That is just not conducive to cycling.
Pottering about on your bike with your kids on cycle lanes is fine (a la this lane that she is talking about).. great lane for the kids.
Look at the lane that comes down past crownhill, lovely and wide, then just suddenly stops by farm foods, makes you give way to the traffic from crowhill and then ride 200m until it just stops again and forces you into traffic.

Whats better/safer... Ride in the main traffic, asserting your position (but keeping left), keeping up with traffic (I can easily do 30mph there) making sure that you have been seen and merging with the traffic when the lane runs out. Or riding in the cycle lane and then having to suddenly move out into to traffic when they might not be expecting it because the lane has just disappeared.
In fact the powers that be actually recommend that you DO NOT use cycle lanes if you are riding above 20mph...that is my average speed on a 50mile ride.”

“From what i've read on here, it would seem most cyclists will use a cycle lane only if it suites them.

Which is the point of the article. if they're not being used, then why bother having cycle lanes? and if we're going to spend so much money on cycle lanes, why not put laws in place that force people to use them?

Surely cyclists can shed some light on what exactly is wrong with cycle lanes, and use this information to improve cycle lanes... not just complain about the lack of them... and then completely ignore the fact they are even there.”

“is it because cycalist are in a world of the're own, weaving in and out of traffic, no lights, no respect and then they expect us to be picking up the pieces when they get knocked off. ok there are bad on both sides but it seems to me a one way street, not that a one way street bothers a cycalist.”

“It's for fat cyclists.”