How To Build The Ultimate Cycle Path | GCN Meets Sustrans

[@gcn]

Let us know what the cycle paths are like in your area.

[@JWH.Design]

I might be ceating a bit by living in the Netherlands, but the bike lanes are very nice

[@sallonsax]

Crap, I live in Brighton. It kinda sucks that we have a charity doing this work and not the government.

[@sallonsax]

@Flat Reality Road Tax doesn't exist, we all pay for transport infrastructure out of general taxation so it doesn't matter whether you ride or drive, you pay for the road. The problem with philanthropy is that it relies on donations which aren't guaranteed on the same level that tax is, if cycling infrastructure was guaranteed a percentage of the transport budget we'd see the change happen very rapidly. And yeah, we have a dumb electoral system which doesn't really serve people's interests here. But relying on charity for vital infrastructure is slightly perverse in first world country.

[@mikewhite9329]

The bike paths in Minnesota are pretty good imo. There’s long scenic paths all over the state.

[@arr21000]

Such a shame they're looking to scrap the HS2 cycle way! Could GCN get a petition going???

[@ryanostler483]

What’s the difference between a cycle lane and a cycle path? One is for parking your car and the other is for walking your dog.

[@profchaos9001]

Haha so true. We have an amazing bike path where i live but on weekends its barely usable due to all the idiots walking their dogs, and sometimes even without leash! And i said idiots because we also have an endless amount of other types of paths and dirt roads were they could go without bothering us cyclists. Not to mention our only alternative is a VERY busy road where you literally risk your life due to huge heavy traffic.

[@soundninja99]

In my home town, they build a lot of bike/walk paths (essentially a wider sidewalk). I really just ride there while commuting, so sharing with pedestrians is usually safe, however, new mothers like to walk with strollers right beside each other blocking the whole fucking path! I love the system they have here in my college city. We either have lanes parallel to the car lanes, bike paths with two lanes that are separated from the road and sidewalk.

[@dpstrial]

Another problem is parents teaching very young children how to ride a bike on cycle paths, blocking regular commuters. They could quite easily use the pavement outside their homes. I try to avoid cycle paths at busy times, preferring to mix it with regular road traffic.

[@stuartdryer1352]

@@soundninja99 The 2x strollers!!!! 😠

[@rttm]

I don't know where it's safer, on road along with cars, or on bike path with dog walkers, anarchists, egoists, dreamers, sleepwalkers, young fresh mothers with kids, kids riding scooters, have even had even a girl with very fat cat on leash cutting my path.. Where at road, there are traffic rules and regulations, that help to make riding easy, safe and have more predictable journey. Only thing dangerous there are cars, but most of them at least know how to behave. Bike path is, just an extension of playground.

[@chrisf4lc0n]

Finally GCN has seriously started promoting casual/recreational cycling, not just "mamilism"! Keep it up, please!

[@morosis82]

It has been sparse, but they've done a few episodes over the last few years on this topic.

[@Paul_C]

Chris, really? All they do is plan. As long as there is nothing done country wide there no hope in hell to have a 'cycle city'. But hey, muddle through without actually doing about car traffic it is a nice pastime for those who work there. It is just a hobby. And it a hobby which doesn't achieve anything. Better to let those lycra clad idiots to their own devices.

[@kishascape]

@@Paul_C yeah Sustran sucks. The so called paths and networks are mostly junk.

[@RoccoWocco]

GCN should visit the Netherlands to do a showcase of how it's done properly! There's a lot you can learn from the Netherlands!

[@davidwilby6204]

Too right, it's done the best in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden etc. and in the UK groups like Sustrans are just trying to make the best of being stuck with roads that are too narrow. Being the GLOBAL cycling network, let's see how it can be done well in Europe.

[@RoccoWocco]

@@davidwilby6204 I've heard it's okay in Sweden but Germany isn't far ahead of the UK right?

[@glennoc8585]

@@RoccoWocco not great compared to holland or Denmark. Holland is the best ive seen.

[@morosis82]

Lets not forget, it was the people that decided to institute it in Holland. There are a few videos out there with more details, but basically too many kids were being killed by cars going too fast, and people power decided to do something about it.

[@RoccoWocco]

@@morosis82 as far as I know the people started to protest! And the people in power responded properly and listened. And turned the streets safe again. Hope other countries will also end up doing similar things!

[@TiberiusMoon]

The best paths are the ones away from main traffic. The best routes are one that make you stop the least for a commute.

[@lisapet160]

Yes. Once I realised it, my commutes got longer, but shorter in distance and time repectively, and more fun and less stress in all sences.

[@xavierdarche4822]

One additional point for the best route is one that has the least elevation. When, for example, you want cyclist and cars not to have a level crossing it's best for cyclists to have those cars take an over- or underpass.

[@ExtremeScampi]

In London, as soon as a cycle lane approaches a junction, roundabout, crossing etc the council just paint, “cycle lane ends” on the road and leave you to it, right when you need it most as a cyclist.

[@morosis82]

It's at these points that I indicate and take the lane. Only safe way to proceed, if someone has a problem with it then I tell them why.

[@GreenJimll]

Not just London... happens all over the UK. Cycle paths (and lanes) just seem to disappear. If motorways were built the same way the M1 would be in 300 small, disconnected pieces.

[@shamr0ck]

I'm not British and don't live in the UK but my god listening to what they do I wish we had these guys in Ireland.

[@shaungreen6967]

They're not that great here, honestly.

[@glennoc8585]

Sure nut in Ireland theres less traffic than the uk. Eire I'm talking here. I drove in Ireland about 2o years ago. It wasn't as busy as the uk but tbh i hardly saw a cyclist

[@JohnBatty]

Interesting to see the engineer designing a contraflow corner and testing with an. HGV to prove it *just* goes round without compromising the bike lane. Then in the film (repeated) clip of a corner exactly like that (James Street West, Bath), a bus swinging right across the bike lane. The lane was empty and I'm sure the bus driver would have paused it it wasn't. But its not confidence inspiring for city riding.

[@MishMash95]

To be honest, I find that bus drivers are some of the most courteous on the road. In London, they frequently give way to me, even if there is plenty of time for them to pull out, and also rarely do dangerous overtakes. They are also very aware of bad cyclists who just random jut out in front of them. The worst group by far are the obnoxious land rover mum's on the school run. Frequently overlapping bike lanes, and squishing you out of your space when going around a corner. Not to mention, they love doing a dangerous overtake, just to slam the brakes right as they get in front of you to take a left turn. Though as far as giving general drivers credit, I was expecting London to be far dodgier than it is. I feel quite safe riding around, and the general speed of traffic is low enough that I pretty much match it. This was far better than the small-ish town I came from, where drivers just weren't used to having cyclists around.

[@glennoc8585]

@@MishMash95 arh i had a range rover evoque speed up behind me but must have panicked and ended up driving over the roundabout. Too many dingle drivers in big suvs

[@adam300tdi90]

Ha, i saw the irony there too 3:53

[@paulmurray6597]

A tough job making old city infrastructure safe; but great work being done changing people's behaviours with schemes like 'safe urban driving' that takes lorry drivers out of cabs and on to bikes for a training session. Well done guys.

[@taufikabidin412]

GCN should try to interview the converts, those that fought against cycleways but then support it, particularly business owners. I think those in newcastle can give some view on that.

[@christill]

I do give to Sustrans and I appreciate what they do, but the pace of change we need is so much more than what they can do. Unless the government actually spends proper money (the benefits are almost endless as Si was talking about on the GCN Show), we’ll be stuck in this miserable situation for way too long when the solution is so clear. Sustrans are doing what? 5% of what’s required? Probably less. You can paint a line on a road, but then vehicles have got wider and it still means cyclists are holding up traffic and no one is happy. And the biggest joke of all is those blue signs saying it’s a shared bike lane and pedestrian walkway. We need separate bike lanes and walkways. The reason we don’t have them is because the streets were designed too narrow. But also because people are too gutless to make them one way roads and use the other side for a two way bike lane. You have to make the tough choices to fix our broken society.

[@glennoc8585]

Problem is mist countries especially the uk has more.migrants driving cars and getting deliveries then you have all weekend trading and that means more vehiclesin a country with hardly any free space.

[@fieryawesomeness]

Couldn't agree more. We really need to take cues from mainland Europe

[@Evan-zj5mt]

The Guardian had a great article about the path that was meant to run along the HS2 route, but got cancelled due to cost. Most annoying as I live about 600 meters from where the route will go and it would have been great to be able to take one path from Nottingham to Birmingham or Manchester. Every country should reap the benefits of investing in cycle paths.

[@playandteach]

What a missed opportunity.

[@C345OFR]

Mate, the entire thing is a farce. From ditching the Heathrow Spur, to no-net-biodiversity-loss, to overspend, to the whole (lack of) need for its existence in the first place - and many more besides - whichever way you choose to look at it. HS2 is a national embarrassment, quite frankly. People (regardless of political persuasion) are too absorbed with Brexit to notice, unfortunately.

[@shaungreen6967]

Saw it and Tweeted it to Grayling and Jesse Norman, asking why, nothing heard. I'd support the bike route and scrap the train, imagine what could be done with that money for cycling infrastructure.

[@Evan-zj5mt]

@@shaungreen6967 Great idea, I'm going to do the same. If we're spending £40bn, I don't imagine a path either side could add more than a billion, which sounds like a bargain to me.

[@yanncampbell7401]

Come to Toronto, we build like 500m of bike lanes every 15 years, and when the first snow comes the city dumps the snow from the road onto the bike lanes.

[@SorinVBogdan]

is it that bad??

[@campagnian]

very very nice look into the background of city planing and infrastructure. I love this kind os stuff

[@matthewfranklin7541]

Sometimes here in the UK I find cycle paths more dangerous than being on the road. The ones shared with pedestrians delineated by a line - folk looking at smartphones suddenly entering your path. Or oncoming cyclists not looking ahead - nearly had a head-on collision recently. I wish we had the infrastructure The Netherlands and Denmark have.

[@morosis82]

True. I find the same sometimes, as when on the road there are a clear set of rules that *most* people abide by, that I can use to make myself predictable.

[@SorinVBogdan]

My thoughts exactly

[@AaronGoodTimes]

Great video! Would love to see more of this kind of content from time to time to check back in, or in other countries. Maybe GCN can talk to actual policy makers to keep cycling front of mind occasionally as well.

[@shaungreen6967]

Agreed, why not get the toss pot politicians on camera and explain their inaction?

[@andrewjohnson3974]

How fantastic are these people. So lucky to have them in the UK. One of the best GCN videos as well!

[@joachimmacdonald2702]

“Then quality of the network isn’t quite where it needs to be” It’s not a network! That’s the problem!

[@amiddled]

Exactly! A network suggests actual connections. Cycle paths near me don’t go anywhere useful. Two new housing estates built in the town over the last 10 years and zero cycling infrastructure to actually get to a shop or near anywhere useful.

[@valleyflaneur]

Good that GCN covers this. A lot of recent investment into bike paths near me in Newcastle, but not always convinced that users have been consulted. There's a lot of paths that move back & forth from the road to the pavement in a short space. Problem with this is it aggravates/confuses pedestrians and motorists who always see cyclists appearing into 'their' space- as well as being a pain for cyclists. That said, the Sustrans guy makes a key point in saying cycle paths are designed to be usable by 12 yr olds - they're not for regular road cyclists, but to encourage people who might not ride a bike otherwise. What we need is greater public understanding of shared use, and that cyclists come in all varieties, and are entitled to chose bike paths or regular roads. PS plenty of bad bike baths in Northumberland too!

[@JonFairhurst]

VIDEO IDEA: Do a mock tourist video to London. Take the train from Heathrow to London and check into a reasonably priced hotel in a nice, interesting area. Go rent a commuter bike. Ride in the morning to a business/tech district to simulate a business trip. Ride to tourist areas. Ride to an East End Indian restaurant. Take in a show. Ride back to the hotel. Talk about how to map and navigate. What kind of bike is best? How to deal with traffic? What do the signs mean? How to secure the bike? Should you bring a helmet or lights? Last year, I rented a bike in Amsterdam (you could do a similar feature there.) It was great! But I didn’t expect to need to look out for scooters. I had Google Maps in my ear, but it took a day to learn its rhythms for bike riding. In the US, a green light across the street means “go”, but there it means that you can make an immediate left turn. BTW, I expensed the bike under “Car Rental” fort $15/day and the company gladly reimbursed it. Riding on the right in the US, I would worry about riding in downtown London - especially since I don’t know the signage or the unwritten rules of the road. A video feature might give m the confidence to rent a bike there on a future visit. Having done it successfully once, I will always rent a bike in Amsterdam. Emma would be the perfect host for such a feature - especially if it includes a visitor who has never ridden in the UK. A newbie might ask questions that a local would take for granted. If the visitor is from Amsterdam, they could swap tours of each other’s cities.

[@morosis82]

Would be great to do this for every major city.

[@ltrtg13]

Several years ago Sustrans had plans for a cycle route from Birmingham to Stafford. Part of this route went over Bleak House near Burntwood. Then followed a disused railway line to Cannock Chase. I took so long for Sustrans to do anything about it that the planning permission had expired. A few years ago I tried to cycle down the disused railway section from Bleak House to as close to Cannock Chase as was possible only to find part way along the route there was a what looked to me like a new fence across the proposed cycles route and a sign for horses only, and cycling was not allowed. From memory the original plans were drawn up when Sustrans was trying to get a £50m grant. Which they did get and looks like to me spent most of it in and around London and the Home Counties. I would like to know why Sustrans failed spectacularly by not doing this part of the Birmingham to Stafford route. As a result the club I ride with on a Saturday morning, who are largely inexperienced riders have to ride along a road with traffic on a road with a mph speed limit.

[@trevejenkyn9888]

Bristol is dangerous and frightening around the center particularly Temple Meads, which is the heart of the network, no unaccompanied 12 year old would be safe in that area, and this was the city that prided its self on the cycling infrastructure it put in and subsequently destroyed a few years ago, until mayors, councilors, MP's and senior council officials lose their cars and taxies I cannot see it changing despite all the efforts of wonderful people like Sustrans

[@peterhardie4151]

Great stuff GCN. Cycling is for everyone, not just Tour de France tryhards like myself. Glad you are supporting Sustrans.

[@jasonridyardhome]

Really informative Video as ever GCN! I live between Leeds and Bradford and would say that the Leeds roads feel a lot safer, probably because there are more of them, they are better joined up and the higher volume of cyclists on them mean that road users are more aware so know to keep an eye out for us.

[@YoushaAhmad]

I live in Cardiff and we don't have many cycling paths despite having proportionately more green space than any other city in the UK. The council is making changes and I believe they have a new cycling infrastructure project but they are very slow. We have a busy pedestrian and cycling path in a central park here which desperately needs widening as it is less than 2m wide and has a fence along one side and a steep drop along the other. Over two and a half years ago when walking along the path I saw a document/ sign mentioning a proposal by the council to widen the path and work still hasn't started. That is a prime spot too.

[@mhe8545]

Glad you got out to ride. Hannah really needed some fresh air. Can relate. In the teens and twenties last week and today almost 60 and sunny on the east coast. Got out on MTB for sure. High five right back at you!

[@ianstewart8301]

Thanks so much for covering this. I cover some of the transportation issues for our NPR radio station (which is like the BBC) and I ride. We need more safe areas to ride. I loved the idea of safe enough for a 12 year old.

[@stuartdryer1352]

Comparing conditions and infrastructure where I live (Houston) to what is in the UK (and most of Europe) makes me green with envy. Here one is safer taking your chances on the main part of streets than trying the bike lanes, which bring to mind a no-man's land during World War 1. I look forward to Emma's videos. There is always something new to think about.

[@michaelb1761]

We had a road project on my previous commute to improve a road for cycle use (I don't ride it because it is no longer the safest route to work). It's pretty obvious the people who planned this project had never ridden the road. It used to have wide paved shoulders with no stop signs. They reduced the width of the shoulders and put in roundabouts at the road junctions. Now a cyclist needs to get out in traffic, traffic traveling at 40+ mph (60+ kph), and either use the roundabouts or stop at each intersection, get off their bike, and use the pedestrian crossings. Great improvement, money well spent. Probably designed by someone who drives to work each day and has never biked on city streets but read an article about how great roundabouts are for traffic flow and cycling.

[@edwardokaa]

I admire a lot of the work Sustrans does. When I got my first bike as an adult, realising that there was an off-road path 2 miles away which would allow me to literally cycle from Glasgow to Inverness blew my mind. (I did it a couple of months later, and it was epic.) I always thank the volunteer rangers when I see them because it must be thankless work keeping the main routes passable and clear of broken glass. That being said, there is a lack of joined-up thinking in how some routes are threaded through cities. I appreciate that they are limited by how little priority is given to active travel by local authorities, but frequently it ends up being much simpler to use a main road instead of trying to follow their often byzantine routes. As said elsewhere, it's outrageous that such things are left to be managed by a charity. And paint is not segregation.

[@paulhatcher951]

I commute in London (I know, i know). Whilst the CS routes have improved things they are still a bit hit and miss compared with infrastructure in say Denmark or The Netherlands. For example 1) Priority is nearly always for traffic, not for bikes (Netherlands bikes nearly always have priority across junctions/roundabouts). 2) As others have said, you get to a pinch point, junction, roundabout, what happens ? You're often faced with an "END" painted on the lane and get ejected straight into the traffic. 3) Paths away from the road are not cleaned, so remain full of debris. 3) The blue surfacing is horrible, it's like glass, water just sits on top of it, compared to a good tarmac surface. It's not "grippy" at all. I still think we fall a long way short in investment and willpower in our bike infrastructure. Another good example would be say the junction at Bank which is one of the most dangerous in London. Cyclists have died there. Yet nothing has really changed apart from a couple of ASLs. It could be completely redesigned for priority for cyclists. But I doubt it would ever happen.

[@antonioCsilveira]

Would be great if GCN could do series about how other cities/states handle Bike infrastructure. Like The Netherlands, Paris, San Francisco, Etc.

[@mcorbett01]

It’s good to hear from the people at Sustrans, but I agree with comments about needing to improve cycling infrastructure faster. I regularly cycle in London from Woolwich to the City or West End and while there are some good cycle paths, including the CS3, there are plenty of other areas with shared cycle/pedestrian paths (which as a reasonably fast cyclist I try to avoid) and paths littered with street furniture. We also have lots of cycle routes which are little more than painted dotted lines, or simply bike symbols painted on the road. Fairly often the dotted lines end with no warning leaving cyclists and motor vehicles competing for space. Those of us who are experienced cyclists moan a bit and deal with it. But it does not encourage less confident people, or those new to cycling, to venture onto the roads. Our efforts to improve safety, convenience and the fun of cycling need to be much more seriously planned and implemented.

[@davidbeange]

Excellent video. Our local council have just published proposals for update Cycling Infrastructure but are stuck with the direct route into town not being creative and using longer but quieter routes which ultimately will be quicker. The comment about being safe for a 12 year old was very interesting.

[@kevinell6605]

Brilliant, great video, really interesting view. I use the quiet routes for a daily commute and agree, for me it's quicker than a more direct route as you stop less at junctions. It's well thought out, and the proof of a good route is that you can use it without having to think where you are going as it's that well signposted ....more of this please !!

[@joachimmacdonald2702]

You only need organised “behavioural change” if the infrastructure isn’t good enough.

[@morosis82]

Nope. Overcoming inertia is a hard thing to do, and without significant effort spent on behavioural change it doesn't happen at nearly the rate we need it to.

[@CS-to2td]

Very inspiring video. Where I live in the us we are seeing connected bike paths. It is a slow project but is making progress. Mostly for recreational use, not really a commuter focus, but the us is big and there are long distances to cover when commuting where I live.

[@goondu86]

In Singapore. small steps are being taken as well, with the building of Park Connector Networks (PCN), where most parks are meant to be connected by shared pathways to eventually allow cyclists to reach around the island by a dedicated path. Still room for improvement for sure, but it's a starting point.

[@peterr.c.k.8057]

Why not [at last] start GBCN - Global Bike Commuting Network and talk about bike lanes, local politics, mud guards, parking, lights, rain capes, bike transport in trains, showers at the office etc. etc.

[@joehanafinj562]

That would be very boring. KZbin channels need to be indipendent. What the local council needs to do is fix the roads the pot holes are dangerous

[@playandteach]

I think one of the very few issues with GCN is the sponsorship. They clearly need it to keep their great production values, and high frequency of uploads, but it does stop impartial advice on products such as lights, clothing etc.

[@joehanafinj562]

@@playandteach true i want to live in a city that has no cars.

[@joehanafinj562]

GCN should do a video on alley cat races?

[@judosteffer]

I wonder if GCN is too worried about the impact on advertising to do much about road safety. Maybe this video is a step in the right direction. I hope so.

[@samstott4969]

I’m from Liverpool and in my experience, we have possibly the worst and least amount of cycling infrastructure compared to other city’s I’ve ridden through. There are a couple being built at the moment that are going to be separate lanes on busy roads which is great! But one which recently got finished which is on a national cycling route does not get gritted and is totally unusable at this time because of the weather we’ve had. Other cycle lanes that are part of general traffic, the road surface is absolutely diabolical on the vast majority of roads. Much to be done to improve cycle lanes and paths in the Liverpool area, particularly to motivate people to cycle as mentioned in this video, it can be daunting as a novice... sometimes even for me and a few friends who have been riding forever.

[@compassionsix]

Sam Stott in the USA we just ride next to cars 🚗 with users on their phone 📱

[@Road38910]

Could this be GCN breaking away from their MAMIL obsession and tackling issues normal people in normal clothes doing normal things want to hear about? I hope so. I ride a semi-Dutch electric, (Dutch=sit up style), and I want to know more about this stuff. Well done boys and girls, keep up the good work.

[@stephentuthill4598]

Excellent report, as usual, Emma, and I think your last point about retrofitting cycle infrastructure into a city or town is the problem... Planners thought about motor vehicles, and made them for motor vehicles, so we are trying to fit cycle infrastructure into spaces designed for motor traffic. If we really want to make a change for the better then we need to look at what the Netherlands did, and follow suit. However, at least planners have made a start. Another issue is people using cycle infrastructure, particularly as pedestrians, who are using noise reduction headphones... Noise reduction headphones may be great at home when listening to your favourite music, but when they make people deaf from approaching traffic this is not safe.

[@firechimp1993]

I live in Birmingham and we are seeing a increase in cycling infrastructure investment. Yey!! One example is the A38 which is getting a cycling super-highway which picks its way through the busiest dual carriageway in brum. The only problem is, not matter who I speak to, we all struggle to see the benefit. I am very pro-cycling but the route feels already well provided for by other means (e.g. canal & sustrans sth bhm route) and this project must have come at huge cost. Maybe I am too quick to judge and I will reserve full judgement until I have ridden it. Looking at our cyling infrastructure I am sure there are other areas of the west midlands which have far greater benefits for local communities at much lower cost. Old infrastructure design here is poor as it just mixes cyclists with padestrians on slightly wider pavements with a lollipop sign to indicate mixed use. I think it is recognised now that while this is cheap it produces very little benefit for any traffic user (I always use the road over this option).

[@firechimp1993]

Also we are seeing more 20mph speed limits being implemented which is great as it generally encourages drivers to bring their speed down to nearer 30mph. Step in the right direction.

[@Ff6022]

Great work. I feel people’s attitudes need to change first. Of all road users, cyclist too. Imagine a world where ppl only use their cars wen they have a journey of more than 20miles. I love my cars and motorbikes but imagine how healthy we would all be and the planet. Shame these videos are only really watched by cyclist. Preaching to the choir comes to mind. Still great to know

[@jeskli11]

This is so nice. In our city in the north of Czech Republic we have just a few cycling lanes, which are in total deffinitly under 10 kms and one cycle path by the river being about 2 kms long. Signs are terrible - sometimes there's a one-way for cars and both-ways for cyclist (by some city plans), but there's no sign saying that or whatsoever. Rather than building bike paths and lanes, city of Liberec (that's its name) has decided to build parking place just beside my house for 450 cars (for students that are lazy to walk or ride by bike 1,5 kms and rather go to university by cars) and flats in the city center for 1200 (very rich) people and with that another 800 parking places (people who will be able to afford one of those flats won't have just one car, so cars will be parking everywhere). Overall cycling in our city is pretty terrible and the only thing that can possibly make some progress in this area is a local bikesharing system called Rekola (where I work), but after the last elections it was near to be removed from Liberec. And as I know so far, situation in other Czech cities isn't much better. It's sad to see how cycling friendly can be little town Zittau just behind the German borders, about 30 kms away from Liberec and nothing like that is "possible" in here.

[@TommiHimberg]

I was wondering what happened to all those "draw a cycle in less than a minute" doodles that GCN had pros make a while ago. Now we know, they've turned up as road paintings in London! :D

[@andrewdeck7945]

We need a organization like this in cities around the US!

[@EviLNox8]

My city was going to build a path along a very long drainage canal that comes off a water purification plant and out to a lake. It was well received except for ONE house that fought tooth and nail about how it will bring undesirables into the neighborhood and actually bought out some property in which the trail would have been on just to keep it from being built. I would have loved a trail literally 100 yards from my front door but it was ruined by stubborn people that don't want anyone near their property.

[@Uppercottage2]

Hi Emma, another great video, thank you. I have to admit though that I was a paid up Sustrans supporter for 20 years, but when they started thinking that a few signs on a country lane counted as a cycleway I cancelled my support. Somehow they lost their original fire and radicalism!. Here in the Wye Valley which I’m sure you know, they were scared off by a few rabid anti’s in the local land owning community who were espousing the old ‘corridors of crime’ rhetoric!......’don’t get me started!’.....

[@shapeshifterboogie9853]

Seeing the state of cycling in other countries, makes me appreciate the effort the Dutch government puts into cycling lanes etc. even more. I commute about 42K a day, 21K to and from work, and most of it is on segregated bikes lanes or marked cycling lanes. But, many like me, take this for granted. When I spoke to my dad, he told me about the crappy state cycling safety was in when he grew up in the sixties and seventies. Telling me about the massive protests, when people finally had enough of all the crap and the many fatalaties especially amongst children.

[@morosis82]

This is the primary difference I believe. The Dutch put people power to work. Hopefully other countries can follow suit.

[@dimpdimp4298]

Great idea for a feature

[@DigitalCowboy000]

I live in the States. For the most part where I live. As a commuter/cargo/transportational/utility cyclist. Our local rails-to-trails system is all but useless. Its 6.5 to 7 miles away from me. It does NOT go everywhere that I want to go. I'm only really able to use once a week. Going to and coming home from the local VA. The bike lanes are also for the most part little more than a joke. They're usually too narrow, or full of debris or have people walking/running in them. Or there's people riding their bike the wrong way, or they're in the door zone. Then there's the problem with far too many people parking in them to use their cellphone. Or they're driving in them, or they're parking in them, lots of times it's lawn care crews.

[@davidhassett7482]

I live in Victoria, Australia and the one thing I have noticed is the Government policy with regards transport does not consider cycling as a transport mode. There is no consideration in the transport infrastructure for cycling. It is seen merely as a recreation activity. A lot of money has been spent lately on the duplication of railway lines, but no consideration of how to get to the cycle path that follows a railway line safely from someone’s home.

[@Woody321]

Love how the computer shows how the bus goes around the bend without encroaching the cycle lane but a video clip earlier on shows a bus going around a corner using the contraflow cycle lane for extra space 😂

[@MugginsMacready]

We've got a fair amount of cycle lanes on the pavement here in Ipswich, which does give protection from vehicles but it feels so unsafe, pedestrians often walk in those lanes and they aren't directional - I've had several near head-on collisions with other cyclists

[@thesultanofping]

Hate cycle lanes on footpaths, its just not good for anyone!

[@garlandterry7475]

This was a really informative and fantastic video. I would love to see more like this! Thank you!

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CurdPattysRoll]

even in snowy winter I am constantly commuting in russian city of Kazan and most times i feel like an alien, because throughout any day it is hard to see even one single another cycler

[@morosis82]

The businesses angle I think is a really important one. On a bike, it's really easy to simply pull over, stop, do a spot of shopping or grab a bite to eat and keep going. Trying to park a car, by comparison, is a bloody nightmare. This effect demonstrably leads to more feet through shopfronts, which improves the local economy. I'd like to see some movement in these cities to improve some of the infrastructure to the detriment of drivers. Perhaps when they can see casual cyclists flying past while they're stuck in gridlock they'll do something about getting on a bike. Or, as we have on some roads here in Brisbane Australia, a 'timer' showing how long it takes to get somewhere specific depending on the current traffic situation, but show one number for cars, and a significanly lower number for bikes ;)

[@PureMAD4]

Did anyone else see the bus turning the corner and completely being in the cycle lane going the other way. @ 3:50

[@JibbaJabber]

Yep, noticed that as well - c.f. this with the later discussion @9.00. Talking about using AutoCad software to ensure large vehicles can turn without impinging on cycling infrastructure!

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

it's contra-flow on a one way street

[@JibbaJabber]

@@cliveramsbotty6077 Yep, like the OP, I think that's a given. It's the fact that it seems to swing out into the cycle lane - that's what concerns me. I think the OP also saw this.

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

@@JibbaJabber If I may expand on my comment: I strongly suspect that the road was designed as a one way for all traffic and fortunately altered at a later stage to welcome cycle contraflow. Traffic is of course not permitted to cross the solid white line and that bus could make the turn without crossing it but the driver makes use of the space and can see that no bikes are approaching. Not ideal, but still good to have that road opened up to bikes!

[@timcorso6337]

London, London, London ...London ......London. "In London, the national cycle network...." Says it all really.

[@playandteach]

I lived in London for 40 odd years, and if they can solve it there, they can solve it anywhere. The Mile End road has a blue bike lane, and every junction the cars have to turn across the path. Cyclists look like they should be able to have right of way, but I'd hate to chance it. I also paid into Sustrans for about 10 years in their early days, and was disappointed that we didn't have more converted old railway lines. It's not all about commuting, agreed.

[@glennoc8585]

@@playandteach they need more cycling over passes and underpasses. Commuting is given priority and i understand that as going to work is where the traffic gets jammed and sime cyclists only ride to commute those of us that ride fast groups or tour are the minority.

[@playandteach]

@@Bungle2010 I was explaining why I stopped paying a yearly contribution to Sustrans. That was my reason for stopping a long time ago - granted we have more converted railway lines now. I don't see that as whinge. Did you pay into their scheme?

[@playandteach]

@@Bungle2010 Thanks Bungle. At the time it was frustration that promised projects didn't get going - it was a heck of a long time ago, but I remember there were a couple of developments that didn't take off - ones that I was really interested in at the time but I've completely forgotten about now. Locally to me now (I didn't live up where I live now) roads are generally fantastic to cycle on. There is one short railway line conversion to the Lambley viaduct though it's dead short, but considering how many Beecham (?) closures there are in the bit between Carlisle and Newcastle, there was scope for getting more. I appreciate the difficulties you've raised of land being sold off etc.

[@davidwilby6204]

They're talking to Sustrans London mate.. Sustrans also have significant offices in Bristol & Edinburgh, as well as many others in the rest of the UK. Stop whining and do some reading.

[@ronngren655]

Great stuff. The competition to fill “road space” whether motorised transport v other motorised transport gives rise to the ban slow drivers/lorries/caravans/buses/old drivers… scenario, or when one mixes transport e.g. pedestrians, cycles, motorised transport everyone feels they have the moral high ground & blames other modes of transport!

[@disgruntledtoons]

The key to reducing traffic is to make it possible for people to live close enough to work and shopping so that they don't require an automobile at all. Once a person needs a car at all, the marginal cost of using it is always less than the cost of public transport.

[@morosis82]

Also, making it faster and significantly cheaper to cycle can work. My bike commute to someone on an e-bike would be roughly similar to the car journey door to door, and because parking is sparse and expensive in the city I save an absolute fortune by not driving - enough for a new pair of nice Zipps every year, if I was so inclined. In a way I wonder whether making driving harder at the expense of cycling, with the balance going to allowing cyclists their own infrastructure that cuts into driving territory - taking lanes and turning streets into one-way traffic, as an example - would improve the take-up better, simply by making bikes easier than cars to get around on.

[@GNiessen]

Here in the US we have a lot of streets with bike route signs, but you can't find a map of those routes. So you can't plan or find the best route unless you ride around the area and look. It is a bummer when you find there was a path on street over and you just didn't know it.

[@richaw6689]

Like a Boss.. top work Emma.. this is an interesting insight into planning the urban transport environment. My local city is Altrincham and a few miles away, Manchester. Chris Boardman is working tirelessly with Andy Burnham to champion cycling in our area. It would be great to see local councillors and MPs ditch their company Jag's and start riding bikes too..

[@christill]

Regarding signage. I’ve lost my way many times because the signs are so infrequent, small, hard to see, pointing the wrong way. Even when I’m using an app, it’s easy to take a wrong turn if you’re not constantly looking at the map.

[@HelenWilkie]

Yes so true! Did the NCN8 through Wales last year and trying to spot the tiny blue signs made it like a treasure hunt. Then you get to a junction and there's no location on the signs, just the number of the route which is useless. They mention this in the video but they need to put it into action, because like they said, we had to stop and look at the map endlessly.

[@simonunwin3966]

Would have to agree with this. Signage is a real issue along with poor transitions from cycleway back to main carriage way.

[@magnetron2.049]

Baby steps , but good work. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@paulpercival5817]

Great video, more like this please. Commuter bikes and gear, real people cycling.

[@boyobane1590]

I took Sustrans route 1 from Lincoln to Whitby last year and I have to say you're really stretching it if you think you can follow the signs. I'm sure I spent longer on random country lanes than on the route because you'd just constantly come to unmarked turns, or the sign would be pointing vaguely at 2 roads and it never seemed to be either of them. I appreciate the effort, but it seems Sustrans isn't any better at signed routes than whoever it is who puts up the rest of the road signs. My grandma always jokes that when they changed all of the road signs in the 40s to confuse the Germans in case of invasion they forgot to change them back. That's certainly what it feels like trying to get around without a satnav these days, and the cycle paths aren't an exception.

[@jamesporter5630]

I have a 10 mile commute (20 round trip), where 2 miles are in mixed traffic and the balance on isolated, paved pedestrian/bike trail. A great commute in suburban Colorado. Cycle/Pedestrian infrastructure is well maintained. Driver education however is not funded and cycle awareness/sensitivity does not appear to be top of mind for most drivers. Shame considering there’s a pretty fair cyclist population in my area. I used to ride in NYC and your footage of London street traffic is similar to that nightmare. As a subscriber and frequent viewer of BicycleDutch is have a sense of what can/could be done to make cycling safe, fun and a part of a healthy community. I appreciate the professionals you met and interviewed for this episode but wasn’t inspired by a sense of confidence. They seemed resigned to a failed, pointless slog against an unstoppable tide. I need to go watch some Dutch riding in snow.

[@garybc]

This is sorely needed in Metro Manila in the Philippines. Where most of the times, you are required to spend two hours to travel less than 20km... Where public transportation is also sorely lacking. I wish to have a safe cycling path here but I don't know if it will happen in my lifetime... :( Thanks for the video. It is very much informative.

[@REALLYCLEANFLOORS]

I live in Erie Pennsyvania in the USA. we are slowly addressing cycling, but we are so far behind. Possitive note is at least they are starting to include cyclists and walkers in plans and several groups are forming tk give input. Got to look at ths future not the past

[@joachimmacdonald2702]

4:56 Wtf

[@Aaron-he6fy]

hahaha

[@Cynyr]

The bike path network around me is pretty good from a safety perspective. mostly all segragated paths. the issue is that it's not actually a network. Sometimes it's not a network by only a couple of blocks.

[@johnnydoe66]

I wish more cities here in the States would include bicycle infrastructure when repairing roads. I have heard that the money is already included in road repairs for alternative transportation, but it doesn't get used properly or even used at all for alternative purposes; ie.. .cycle paths or shared routes Granted Tulsa, Oklahoma and some surrounding communities are gradually adding more dedicated pathways and shared routes for cycling. River Parks area is a prime example, they have completely redone a lot of the paths by segregating walking and cycling. We are still behind on having pathways connecting all the surrounding communities in the area.

[@davidvestey6014]

Where you have a segregated track (camel trail, Bristol/bath cycle way) they are packed so I'll vote for whoever offers a traffic free cycle route between every town/village in the country, the national cycle routes are just random muddy lanes with cars on.

[@AdrienGirod]

Wish we had an equivalent in Paris. They could really help.

[@lykortos4827]

I adore the National Cycling Network. It is a national treasure and greatly underapprechiated. We should start funding this nationally, just as we fund roads. L.

[@Rogue-xf5jg]

I’m seeing the infrastructure growing in and around the Bournemouth area, inconsistency and quality causing confusion and confrontation is a major issue in my opinion. There is a long way to go in making the routes fluid and safe in our busy areas. I agree behaviour needs to change on both side of the fence, and at the moment thats where the biggest safety gain could be.

[@oengus5686]

They should get consultants in from the Netherlands, the cycle infrastructure over there is great theres even cycle lanes between villages in the countryside

[@karenb221]

Thanks for sharing. Please consider non shared cycle paths. Pedestrians walk along looking at their mobile phones, pedestrians don't wear reflective clothing or carry torches on dark winter nights. I've had a number of incidents with both these scenarios. Plus a lot of pedestrians and their dogs are scared when walking along shared paths heavily used by cyclists. Also cyclists don't always ride slow esp when late for work for example. You can't lump these groups together it's not safe for either parties. Cycle path safety, look at the incidents on the Bristol to Bath cycle path recently, so glad I don't commute that route anymore, would also think twice about using it if I had to.

[@craigjohnson7439]

Nice to feature Sustrans and positive outcomes, but the reality of it all (UK wide) is daunting. A balanced feature on cycle infrastructure would be good.

[@geoff5623]

"fewer cars and more tea houses" 👌

[@askcheese]

The suburb of Indianapolis that we live in claims to have cycling infrastructure, but it's kind of a joke. The pathways all put cyclists and drivers into each other blind spots (no one wins). Although there's a 1m (3ft) ordinance, it's routinely ignored by even the first responders, much less enforced with citations. I'll contrast that with the community to the west of us and Indianapolis (proper)-- I've seen the police pull someone over who veered into the cycling lane in front of me. Both Carmel and Indy have fairly reasonably maintained bike lanes and pathways. I race to get out of Fishers so I know I can enjoy a safe ride elsewhere. Once you get about 10-15 miles away from our house, we're in farmland and although the roads in general resemble pave, the riding is fantastic and mostly safe. (just my opinion)

[@FriendlyFarmMachineryToolCpBel]

Thanks GCN, bikes really are more than just sport. My wife and I have our best vacations when we are on the tandem. Cycling infrustructure makes as some cities great and others are just a pain. So far Montreal. Canada has been the best for us. There the cycling paths were pretty well integrated with the regular streets. The locals took advantage and were recognized by motorist as part of the transportation picture. Could you guys do some more work on cycling infrustructure? We here across the pond would be more interested in coming over if we knew more.

[@yanncampbell7401]

Friendly Farm, Machinery & Tool,Cp. Bell yes Montreal has a well connected cycle infrastructure... spent a day going around the city, not once on the road.

[@sarahdavies6555]

However much sustrans do or spend is never enough. Local road planners who make out to be pro- cycling just don't have enough money to create infrastructure that is fully safe for cyclists - without giving motorists overall priority, which is what the motor industry campaigners want. We get on road cycle lanes that disappear when traffic islands are in the road, cycle routes that divert you through pedestrian crossings taking an 10 minutes because the lights change so infrequently, routes that go through single way sections controlled by traffic lights that don't detect cyclists. Oh, and the times I've been knocked off my bike? On shared use pavements - drivers not bothering to look or stop at marked stop lines/junctions. My verdict is sustrans is doing well with the available resources, but road user attitudes have to change to make real progress. That includes cyclists their phones or chatting together in the centre of busy bike paths, jumping lights, ignoring road signs, dog walkers with dogs not under control and pedestrians taking up all of the pavement/path, even when wide enough for a bus and clearly divided into bike and pedestrian. Final point... Most of the on road marked bike lanes where marked are not wide enough to force motorists to achieve a non "close pass". That's Reading, UK.

[@DougGrinbergs]

5:30 important principles: safe, direct, coherent, comfortable, attractive, adaptable. Hierarchy of provision: reduce traffic speed, volume.

[@Dennis4523]

My bike path is my local park 1 mile loop and 3 neighborhoods attached to the park . And one round is 7 miles

[@ronbyers9912]

In the United States creation of bike paths is hit and miss. In some places the infrastructure is very good, but in much of the country dedicated paths are virtually non-existent. When I was young America had a car culture. The automobile was the only means of transportation in many sprawling cities. Bicycles were toys for children. Local politicians and developers weren't hostile to cyclists, they just didn't think about them at all. Over the years things have changed. Automobiles aren't the same cult objects they were when I was young. Many urban planners have recognized the human and environmental damage done by designing exclusively for the automobile. These days many planners are bike friendly. They are trying to make improvements, but city and state budgets being what they are most of the improvements being made are adjunct to new road development. One of the many frustrating problems I face is travelling along a new well marked dedicated bike lane for several miles only to have it abruptly end in the middle of nowhere. Many times local officials think they can handle the needs of cyclists by building dedicated low maintenance recreational paths. In my city, Kansas City, the local county government has built several crushed rock exercise paths through local parks. One, along a stream, is 20 km long. Just outside of town there is a nationally known path stretching several hundred kilometers down an abandoned railway bed. It is a destination. If you are looking for a workout or an adventure they are the places to go, but to do so you first have to load the bike in your vehicle to get to the trail head. The key to making cycling a safer, economically viable mode of personal transportation is to get more people of all ages riding. I see lots of young children riding but except for dedicated group rides I don't see many adults. I might be the only person in my little subdivision who actually rides to the local grocery when I need a few items I can load in my saddle bags. Thanks for showing us how they design bike paths and lanes in Britain. It is a joy to see just how successful you can be when you organize.

[@vdias]

Meanwhile in Sydney, Australia we're busy tearing up what little cycleways we have left to make room for more roads and motorways.

[@kazimirsmith]

i like in vancouver and the infrastructure for cyclists is inconsistent but ... it is improving. definitely a long way to go, unfortunately, but like everything, it seems we never anticipate but only react ...

[@YodhrinsForge]

Sustrans have done some great work over the years, but frankly I think they've been dealing with politicians for too long and have too thoroughly constrained themselves to working within "the art of the possible". That time is gone, it's not called a climate *emergency* for nothing, so even if you ignore the myriad health benefits to both travelers & communities and the commercial benefits to local businesses of switching to cycle-focused infrastructure, getting people out of cars and onto bikes and public transport is one of the biggest impacts we could have on emissions. "Just designing for people" doesn't do that. "Shared spaces" don't do that. If you want to talk about design hierarchies, then follow this one: design first for pedestrians, then for cyclists, then for public transport, and for private motor vehicles only where it doesn't unduly inconvenience the previous. If a road is too narrow to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and motor traffic *then close it to motor traffic*(obviously excepting access for emergency services and absolutely necessary commercial deliveries). If a fast moving through-road isn't wide enough to accommodate genuinely segregated cycle infra without impinging on pedestrian space, then stop allowing through-traffic; narrow the lanes, drop the speed limit to 20 or even 15, use filtered permeability to restrict motor traffic to buses and authorised vehicles(residents, emergencies, commercial deliveries), and use the space gained to build the cycle infra. If doing that sort of thing makes it harder to access areas of a city by private car, *good*, that means you have more streets that can be pedestrianised, and you can start converting car parking structures into secure bike parking instead. Modal separation should be as universal as possible, as enforced through design as possible, and if that requires taking space away from private cars then good, *less cars is the whole point*. Cycling organisations need to recognise that between the pandemic and the climate emergency they now have *leverage* when dealing with politicians - stop helping to rubber-stamp inadequate painted-on bike gutters, stop letting councils get away with doing the absolute bare-minimum, demand instead they follow the example of places like Seville, who set out with a specific plan to build a fully-realised network of segregated cycle infrastructure which primarily took space away from motor traffic not pedestrians and made that happen, importantly, in organised phases that provided useful, connected pathways around the city within the first two years and then expanded it, instead of piecemeal dribs and drabs squeezed in wherever it won't too badly inconvenience the almighty Motorists with no overall plan as is too often the case in the UK.

[@Sttuey]

Been riding road bikes for 25+ years. I have never used a cycle path, with the exception of taking a short cut when the traffic is rammed at peak times. My rides are always on the road for training or pleasure, usually 1.5-4+ hours, avg speed normally 19-22mph. If I was dawdling and on a mtb then ok, but otherwise bike paths are usually covered in crap, glass, gravel, people, dog walkers and other bike riders with zero bike skills!

[@FriendlyFarmMachineryToolCpBel]

Yep, that is my experience too. Multi-use paths defeat the purpose if one is truly using their bike for transportation.

[@darekkong7198]

Also given their secluded nature, they can be very popular with gangs of bike thieves.

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

can you remember back in the previous millennium when you first started riding and you had zero bike skills to start with? Okay now try to imagine that version of yourself being thrown into the road systems of today. The next part is optional, but after that you might want to think about what a massive twat you are and how you could perhaps be more understanding of everyone else who isn't you.

[@Sttuey]

@@cliveramsbotty6077 I think you have chewed on a bit of sour lemon there Clive, my comment was regarding me and where I choose to ride, and was not in any way a criticism of you any any one else. To elaborate, a lot of folk, especially those unfamiliar with riding bikes, tend to lump everyone together and feel all cyclists should use cycle paths and is an opinion which I don't share. Yes of course we all have to start at some point and as you rightly point out, bike skills are learned and there's no better place for that than away from traffic on cycle paths. I have absolutely no problem with that, my view is that cycle paths are only suitable for that "kind" of rider, and not suitable for all cyclists, and presumably you can see that.

[@edwardjohntaylor99]

A good intro to the topic particularly of behaviour change. Sustrans is in a slightly strange position, I see them sort of as the high priests of cycle infra- design. The real god of cycling infrastructure is of course Mikel Colville-Andersen, it would be really good to see a Q&A with him about UK cycling.

[@jelmerbenjamins]

Great one Emma! Really informative.

[@abedfo88]

I can use Sustrans to commute from the centre of Leicester to Barrow just to the North of the city. Its a path with some great sections along canals and through a few country parks. However the amount of times you have to stop at road junctions, Share paths with pedestrians, stop for gates and fences put there to slow you down or poorly designed choke points is truly disheartening.

[@electricbikerider]

Great vlog, very interesting guys. 👍🏻🚴🏻😀

[@keithwatts4753]

I live in Herefordshire which isn't near London (other cities ARE available). We have a number of cycleways that seem to result in even more complex decision making. As a leisure cyclist (MAMIL) shared use tends to mean cycling amongst unpredictable pedestrians (some of whom think it's a pavement and we shouldn't be riding on it), unpredictable dogs (often not on short leads), or children who understandably are not always looking out for cyclists. I've had a few close shaves on shared paths despite consistently calling "Good mornings" as I approach. Another problem is the surface. Although it appears good, at anything over about 10mph it is so undulating that riding is exceedingly unpleasant or even dangerous. The result: I use the roads; they have a more level (subject to avoiding pot-holes) surface and, as a driver, I can predict potential incidents far more effectively than I can the actions of dogs and pedestrians. So, segregated road areas work best for me. As for going to the shops/doctors/bank on the bike, I'd love to but I can't carry any shopping due to the weight of bike lock I'd have to take and, even if it's there when I get back, I'd need to go to a paint shop so that the bike can be repainted from the scrapes and scratches of having it parked amidst 20 others - oh, and then a quick visit to the bike shop for a new rear mech where it's been bent by being caught by whoever has lent their rusty steed against mine. Sadly it looks like I'll continue to do all the errands by car then cycle for pleasure where my bike and I stay together.

[@morosis82]

On the cycling to the shops front, I'm actually going to get a separate e-bike for that purpose specifically - I love and prefer riding my carbon aero race bike generally, but it would be super awesome to have something with real utility, seeing as though most of my daily trips are within a couple of km's of my house, besides my commute (14km each way on a proper cycle highway, for the most part totally segregated and along a major motorway).

[@mrcross5716]

The cycle paths in and around Norwich aren’t up to much, they’re either covered in parked cars or full of all the shrapnel from the main road and aren’t worth the hassle of all the punctures, the ones separate from the road aren’t effective as there’s two many side streets to keep stopping for

[@benmagee1751]

Some parts of Peterborough (UK) are very good although there are issues with surface quality, maintenance and connectivity between areas.

[@jacobriis7859]

Come to Amsterdam and Copenhagen and visit their bike infrastructure.

[@SorinVBogdan]

I lived in Dk for a few years and cycling was amazing. Never felt unsafe and commuting/recreational cycling is so easy.