Why don't cyclists use cycle lanes?

It's very common to see cyclists riding in the middle of the road when there is a perfectly good bike lane on offer to them - but why, and is it even legal? Here's six reasons why people riding bicycles in the UK might find it safer or preferable to ride in the road, rather than the bike lane - from bad design or poor maintenance, to safety and speed.
00:00:57 - Small things that make bike lanes badly designed
00:01:46 - Poorly maintained bike lanes leads to these issues
00:02:13 - If drivers block bike lanes, cyclists won't use them!
00:02:40 - Why roads are sometimes safer than bike lanes
00:03:53 - How cycle lanes are like the slow lane in swimming pools
00:04:30 - Is it legal for cyclists to ride in the road?
00:05:00 - Why cycle lanes are still important
00:05:32 - Ask me anything
This is the GoPro mouth mount I use to film my 'on-bike' footage, which in this video was the additional video evidence: www.prostandard.com/?ref=wgpx...
Follow me on TikTok: / __jakemay
Find me on Instagram: / __jakemay
Music:
Ski Saigon - Swims the Bosporus: skisaigon.bandcamp.com/album/...
Please like this video to support this channel and subscribe to see more.

[@madcyclist58]

Contrary to what my local council thinks, it takes more than painting a white line 2 feet from the kerb, for a couple of hundred feet here and there, and adding a picture of a bicycle to create a proper usable cycle lane.

[@davidmc105]

In my part of the world, councils get credit for km of bike paths/lanes. Painting a pic of a bike on what is really a parking lane counts as a bike lane even though you can't ride on it because there are cars parked there.

[@madcyclist58]

@@davidmc105 I've been caught out when turning a corner only to find that the so-called cycle lane ends abruptly in on-street residential parking. But as you say, it's still regarded by non-cyclists as praise worthy.

[@aitorbleda8267]

So you don't cycle in the designated cycling gutters?

[@sahhull]

Where I live in the UK. We had a lovely dual carriage way... Its now being cut in half and one lane in each direction has been seperated off and turned into a cycle lane... Traffic as a result is in gridlock... The cyclists would sooner ride on the pavement. Even the council admit it was a mistake, and its not being used, but there is no money to turn it back into a road.

[@sneekz07]

@@sahhull Where in the UK?

[@Richard-Mac]

Missed / under-highlighted what I regard as the most common reason - the stop start nature of most lanes. There is a lane near me that stops and starts, requiring me to give way or stop 27 times in a single mile! (and swevre round glass, bus stops, pedestrians), or just stay on the road and not have to give way once.

[@wonjez3982]

Cars came first (edit: before todays bike efforts by cities; thanks @Mike (edit: but after horses, thanks @Alfred)), then they squeez the bikes in. Takes time but eventually car lanes will make room and bikes might even get the right of way on main routes. In the netherlands the larger the vehicle, the less rights you pretty much have (because you pollute, endager and take up more space). This also naturally discourages excessive behaviour without restricting anything and clears up the streets. Still a long way to go for other countries though.

[@mikewade777]

@@wonjez3982 Cars didn't come first. The first public highway was used by bikes.

[@wonjez3982]

@@mikewade777 obv right, being born after the new millenium, i've only ever seen cars being there first ;) I corrected it. I did ofc mean that every city adopted cars, which also increased growth and thus cities that were built exclusively for motorists, while bikes were left out. Then bikes were reconsidered when the cars downsides became appearant, but the land needed for this "newly upcoming" mode had already been allocated to cars.

[@alfredstimoli2590]

@@wonjez3982 no, horses came first then bicycles, then cars.

[@wonjez3982]

@@alfredstimoli2590 Can't argue with that, corrected. To make it absolutely clear, I ofc meant it in the way that after cars had taken the roads from horses, before bicycles were adopted later, there was no bike traffic then. I left the horses aside deliberately here, because they actually appeared before bikes were considered as an alternative to the now existing car traffic, so by my chronological disorder they would have to wait until bikes are broadly adopted to make their reappearence to the urban environment. At some point we will be facing a major land crisis when horses get reintroduced along with the cars and bikes.

[@lisahitchcock5652]

Absolutely top notch video. As a driver of over 35 years I have never wondered why someone is using the road or get annoyed with them, I see them and give them space. They are not "cyclists" just people cycling, mums, dads, kids, grandparents.

[@grandemaestro3820]

it really isnt top notch, far from it.

[@PaulJWells]

@@grandemaestro3820 You forgot to post the link to your much better one.

[@Garrick42]

Lisa, I wish more motorists shared your attitude.

[@grandemaestro3820]

@@Garrick42 they do, they thi k cyclisys are a waste of space

[@racecardriverrr4201]

so someone on a bike is not a cyclist but a car driver is a motorist? agree with your previous points though

[@movimientoanti-nacionalist7819]

A big problem is that almost everyone watching this video are other people who understand, and not those who wouldn't mind running you over.

[@blake-gl4wn]

Needs the title to be “Cyclists ignoring bike lanes!”

[@T0MT0Mmmmy]

Don't blame the content maker, Blame KZbin and it's filters!

[@tomstickland]

This is far too reasonable. Angry drivers on social media are generally angry because driving is frustrating and they believe that people on bikes are somehow to blame for making things worse. They don't have a reasonable argument.

[@JakeMay]

In my opinion, society has literally radicalised a lot of these people

[@markcavandish1295]

tomstickland… Exactly!! My thoughts exactly. Even riding solo in the bike lane I get honked at, yelled at, etc. Drivers are used to having the road to themselves, and having to be careful to not hit a guy in the bike lane causes aggravation all by itself.

[@heyjohna]

…. And because cyclists are violating their sense of entitlement. Here in the US, autos/drivers have been highly privileged for nearly a century. If all you’ve ever known is privilege then being forced to share will feel terribly unfair and hence the resentment.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

@@JakeMay agreed, it's radicalised people to jump on unsafe bikes with no training and think they are safe. Facts......drivers are trained with road worthy cars which are checked. Cyclists are untrained mostly on the wrong and/or unsafe bike

[@JakeMay]

Riding a bike is perfectly safe in of itself. The action of drivers is what can make it unsafe.

[@MisdirectedSasha]

Another possible response is "there isn't one". You might think "surely, a driver would never yell at you to stay in the bike lane while both of you are on a road with no bike lane", but reader, you would be wrong.

[@mateagoston8145]

Yeah that's like asking drivers to only drive on M motorways even if they are only driving to the local bakery within town.

[@blake-gl4wn]

Yep happens where I live. “There’s no point in building them cos no one uses them” . No one uses them cos they don’t exist…

[@dimitriosfotopoulos3689]

Agreed. At times, it's hard to overestimate the stupidity of some self-absorbed motorists.

[@jmperez1997]

Yup. No logic at all. I had a motorcycle yell at me to use the sidewalk (I was in the bike lane at the time on a road bike no less AND it's illegal in my city to rude the sidewalk AND ... a MOTORCYCLE??? Just...Smh)

[@MisdirectedSasha]

@@jmperez1997 You would think cyclists and motorbikers would get along better, I mean we both keep getting killed by drivers so we have that much in common.

[@curlytheunacceptable.4298]

As a motorcyclist I get moaned at for filtering, you have just shown the uneducated as to why, we have much in common and yes car doors do hurt.

[@SKBKER]

Drivers are selfish. They don't want to share the road

[@markd17]

@@TJHTouring you ride a bike, you don't drive it. So the safest divers?? Filtering should be iligal..

[@mlee6050]

@@markd17 was on about those who drive as well, most people when drive do stop cycling so ignore or forget how it is on the bikes

[@mlee6050]

I understand some motorbikers filter but I am a cyclist who feels it is rude to do so or overtake when vehicles have stopped so I happily sit in the queue

[@BlackRat-vw9jv]

​@@markd17why should it? Does it annoy you when a biker gets past you, whrn you are stuck in traffic? If it does, get a bike and join them.

[@helensmith172]

And lastly, people on bikes are human beings just like people in cars and people walking. Many cyclists also own cars. We're not a separate species defined by our mode of transport.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

Correct, the maker of this video needs to remember that. Most cyclists need to remember that.

[@jacobjb]

@@elliotwilliams7421 I feel like most everyone needs to remember that. Both sides of the coin can be so rude to each other just because.

[@JakeMay]

I suppose the difference is a cyclist is far more likely to be killed on a receiving end of a collision than a driver..!

[@Mr_OoOsH]

No, they’re a separate species defined by egos and entitlement.

[@Mr_OoOsH]

@@JakeMay same rule doesn’t apply to cyclists against pedestrians tho, they still think they’re king there too. And I think it’s hilarious you say about cyclists dodging street furniture is dangerous but cars having to dodge cyclists isn’t? 😂

[@mzdtuk]

Good video, no criticisim of the content here but do please talk about the 'middle of the lane' rather than 'middle of the road' - it's a trope drivers use to make it sound worse than it is. Many urban roads are four lanes, more or less, occupying one lane isn't the big deal drivers like to make it out to be. I know it's pedantic, but language matters in this kind of thing. Cheers!

[@chevyyyyyyy]

Exactly! There are Share the Road signs in Riverside, CA where they should admonish with Don’t Share the Lane or, better yet, a notification that Bicyclists can Take the Lane.

[@3521rob]

Middle of the road were a band from the 70s 😳

[@tylernewcomb6465]

I’m a safe street’s advocate and this is one of the best summaries and explanations of all the reasons cyclists might not be in the bike lane that I have ever seen. This is so well put together, I’m going to be sharing it very widely!

[@JakeMay]

Thank you!

[@AndrewEbling]

Great video. Currently 5 years on from a crash which left me concussed and literally scarred for life on my face - all caused by a badly built cycle lane. I subsequently found out about 8 other cyclists who had crashed in the same way at the same spot. I challenged the council on this and they had the nerve to trot-out "the cycle Lane meets all applicable standards". This is why I'd rather ride in the road, thanks.

[@wonjez3982]

Big thing: Cycle lanes not only suddenly stop, they also start suddenly. I use the cycle lanes where possible, but you can easily get trapped in the road. Basically, once your at speed, you can't get off the road quickly anymore: There may be only a cab blocking the sidewalk, so you jump in the road, but for the next 100m you have a curb and you're going 25 mph and can't just slow in the car lane to merge onto the sidewalk at a corner. The majority of the roads have a groove along the curb or there's parked cars, so you need to cut it at a steep angle, which requires a generous sverve into the road or a massive speedloss (after sprinting none the less). It takes confidence and a split second decision to pull onto the sidewalk at >25mph, esp with all the obtacles on the sidewalk afterwards. This is (sadly) daily business for a sporty rider, but is super annoying when you're accidently "stuck in the road". Even worse, cars get angry for you seemingly "tryharding on the road", while you're just desperately looking for a better than usual spot in the curb to escape. Along with that, it's actually really hard brainwork and thus dangerous to figure out where you're meant to be riding when you're going at car like speeds. If you can keep up on the road, that takes much of the stress away and can really ease your mind. Just think about how often you're looking behind you compared to when you're on the sidewalk, that's because you can predict your path and instead be more aware of your surroundings.* *acutally, looking behind you all the time is just as dangerous. I feel safer knowing what's behind me on the road, with a separated bike lane i wouldn't have to worry about my front nor my back :)

[@sahhull]

What happened with looking ahead and cycling to the conditions with due care and attention?

[@elliotwilliams7421]

That's the issue. Majority of cyclists don't look about

[@wonjez3982]

@@sahhull Read that last paragraph again. Unlike what you believe, a cyclist very well knows how not to put his life at risk, because it's our daily business. It's tough work though. Just so much, have you ever seen a road vanish infront of you with nothing but dirt to continue? Or a pole in your way? Because that's what your due care has to handle in a city that supposedly has a bike infrastructure. Oh and you can look as much as you want, if there's a car close behind you, looking at a 10cm curb wont help you off the road either. I'm not saying some cyclists are idiots though, just explaining what i experience when i'm being thrown onto the road.

[@T-Tube-tg1wm]

Yes exactly sometimes I'm riding next to a cycle lane I would like to be riding on but there was no way to enter it from where I joined the road.

[@sugarrayrobitussin5073]

My biggest gripe (offroad/pavement lanes)with them is every time you come to a T junction you end up having to give way to the traffic you would have been in if you hadn't used the cycle lane. You find yourself waiting for traffic turning left and right into the junction, traffic exiting the junction blocking your way ahead and you even gave to wait for other cyclists who are using the road.

[@agw100100]

Well presented info Jake. Let me add to your list: -Overgrown by surface vegetation and hedges. Obviously more in rural areas. -Often used as rubbish dump and as site for temporary road traffic lights, signs etc. -Dangerous shallow angle, sometimes stepped entry, curb crossings. Unless a consistent standard of design, build and maintenance is adopted, the risk of being on the main road is lower. Sometimes the supposed "cycle route" does not even actually exist. For example. The cycle path to Derby from the west is the Derwent riverside path which is unpaved and transforms into muddy quagmire in winter.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

Sounds like your bike isn't suitable for what your riding, at least your tires. Consider buying suitable equipment

[@paulochikuta330]

@@elliotwilliams7421 a "cycle path" almost by definition is meant to be accessable by a granny on a town bike, not exclusive to a mountainbiker on 45mm tires with full suspension. Come on, its common sense that it shouldnt become an unusable swamp in the uks default weather conditions.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

@@paulochikuta330 and roads are meant to be suitable and safe for cars .........what's your point?? Keep advocating for less standards and rules for cyclists and I'll keep watching the numbers rise.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

@@paulochikuta330 and the original post has been edited. Pretty sure he has removed some points

[@agw100100]

​@@elliotwilliams7421 1 I edited it to add the last paragraph . It is otherwise the same as original. 2 As for the suggestion that I should choose or buy off road equipment so to use an off road route to town, how do you think motorists would respond of the had to do this? 3 I am also a motorist.

[@festuswilliams654]

As a cycle instructor I think you've nailed all the main issues, especially they're NOT legally compulsory usage, as a payer of UK road maintenance, it is my choice as to whether the lane is safe for me to use or not. Also the abrupt starting and stopping...a clear sign off afterthought design.

[@vasilena8284]

When I first started cycling in London I actually thought I was missing something because I couldn't for the life of me figure out how they worked. Turns out, they are just poorly planned and poorly executed. It is very exhausting having to always plan your route when lanes, start, stop, or change suddenly. Like, is it really that hard to design something proper! Look at Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Bremen!!! SMH

[@chevyyyyyyy]

@@vasilena8284 Especially problematic and puzzling is when BLs abruptly terminate and may or may not resume up ahead, here in Riverside, California.

[@All4Grogg]

The are compulsory in NY, USA and this video does a great job explaining why that is an example of poorly written legislation. Years ago Casey Neistat received a citation for not riding in the bike lane, his video response gathered millions of views and may be contributing to the perception that they are compulsory worldwide.

[@chevyyyyyyy]

@@All4Grogg “The?"

[@winnie6354]

It is afterthought design as the roads were there first now they are being divided up between cyclists and roads whereas before they shared them successfully. While cyclists use the law to show they are not required by.that law to.use cycle.lanes , it is the minority of.cyclists who follow the law , be it the highway code or use and construction regulations regarding.cycles. As an instructor is your cycle.compliant with the use and construction regulations for road use? Do you insist those you instruct.wear the recommended cycling equipment and clothing? As I travel by cycle.or motor vehicle.i observe cyclists and find that the majority are breaking the law with.cycles that.should not be on the road.

[@bexmountford1656]

When I questioned why the council don’t make the junctions safer on a long shared path I was told by them it’s probably safer if I just ride on the road. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@wonjez3982]

At least they're honest about it...

[@gregmorrison7320]

Many times it's true.

[@bexmountford1656]

@@wonjez3982 yeah! I was very surprised about that. 😂

[@bexmountford1656]

@@wonjez3982 yeah! I was very surprised about that. 😂

[@bexmountford1656]

@@gregmorrison7320 yeah, just surprised they actually admitted it.

[@timsmart5887]

Great video. Main reason I don't use cycle lanes is that they are often routing you to way more give ways than the roads. One point to add to your list is that sometimes the cycle lane is up a kerb or behind a kerb and if you miss the start point you can't then get onto it later, no matter how much it might be your better option.

[@Echopropylene]

Yep, they're often the less convenient option, taking you on a detour. Bad cycle lanes have just been put there to get people on bikes out of the way of motorists.

[@beaudjangles]

Yeah, this is the case in my town. I have a great bike lane that runs along the main road at the end of my street but I can’t get to it due to a gutter so I cycle on a 4 lane road for half a km.

[@vasilena8284]

Great video. London cycle lanes are incredibly dangerous. They are tight, poorly maintained and you often find yourself either stuck or having large lorries and buses zooming past you with no protection whatsoever. You are also having to always deal with pedestrians in the cycle lane or jumping out in front on you with little warning. I have also had aggressive drivers coming into intersections, seeing me at full speed with a toddler in the back seat and contuining to enter the intersections not giving a toss about the fact that if I stop I may actually end up getting thrown off the bike with a kid in tow. I usually avoid these death traps in general, and only cycle in a few locations that I know won't put me in a compromising situation. Whenever I do use the street however, I also have to dodge people opening their cars and drivers not giving me enough space. So yeah, sometimes I am that mama cycling in the middle of the road making sure no one passes me in an unsafe area. We need to do better and make cycling safer for everyone.

[@joshnicholson2934]

I've been cycling in London for 2 days and I promise you that cycle lanes here are way safer than most other places haha and there's a lot of them

[@MrJonnyh1972]

Great video this. I lived in Copenhagen where cycling infrastructure is first class. I have explained to friends and people here that what is on offer here is rubbish 95% of the time. Your video sums up everything I have told people. We have a different mindset here in the UK, and if the Government are serious about cycling being a viable and safe form of transport, they need to do what the Danes and Dutch did, else it won't catch on for the everyday, sceptical person. I rarely cycle now I am back in the UK, for exactly the reasons shown in the video, plus the constant dangerous driving around me by motor vehicles. Also the run ins I have had on shared paths is just ridiculous. I'll be driving my combination engine car for much longer yet I'm afraid. You should send this video to your local MP, sustrans etc so they can really see the problems encountered by cyclists, and make sure they READ THE COMMENTS ! Good luck going forward.

[@wonjez3982]

Yes if you're offered rubbish 95% of the time, you don't give a shit and trust no bike lane anymore. Until the day comes when you ride in the street and notice that new 2m wide undisrupted separated bike lane and realize you can finally let your guard down and enjoy the cycle lane :D

[@deonbenjamin5650]

Cycling infrastructure in Copenhagen is first class? You obviously never seen dutch cycling infrastructure. Dutch cycling infrastructure is the best in the world

[@MrJonnyh1972]

@@deonbenjamin5650 have you ever cycled in Copenhagen?

[@deonbenjamin5650]

@@MrJonnyh1972 I don't have to. There are KZbin videos. Better than most cities in the world, but not the best. I've seen better bike lanes.

[@MrJonnyh1972]

@@deonbenjamin5650I lived there for a decade, and can say their infrastructure is top notch. Horses for courses.

[@pg5200]

Excellent video ! One point I can see is the following : bike lanes, or bike paths, are sometimes unreachable if you come from a perpendicular road, or unsuitable to use if you intend to turn at some point where there's no exit from the lane. Bike paths can be as great as possible, if you can't reach them, you can't ride on 'em ^^

[@Ladadadada]

A classic example of this is the Blackfriars underpass for people who have come around White Lion Hill. There's no way of crossing the road to get to the cycle lane and it switches sides in a few hundred metres to the side they're on anyway, so if you see cyclists on the road going west under Blackfriars underpass, just wait until the top of the hill and you'll see them join the cycle lane. Another couple of examples are the cycle lane on Goodman's Yard between Tower Hill and Aldgate and Honour Lea Avenue in East Village, Stratford. Both have a cycle lane that starts or ends on the footpath with no dropped kerb to help you get there. These little details are very easy to miss from behind a steering wheel but prevent nearly everyone on a bike from using these cycle lanes. It's not even a choice to not use them, it's literally impossible, short of bunny-hopping up the kerb.

[@HughCStevenson1]

Absolutely true in Australia too! If roads were designed as badly as cycle lanes drivers would complain endlessly...

[@gillstansfield3405]

Thank you....great video...Will be sharing. Perhaps add about the 1.5 meter rule ....often not goven this in a cycle lane as gives driver a false barrier ...so can be safer in the road . Also as other say, we are people on bikes, people in cars, people on foot and not a separate breed of cyclists. Many of us may ride bikes, walk and drive a car as apt.

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

Brilliant. Well balanced, illuminating video. I am both a driver and a casual but regular slow-ish cyclist (folding bike with 20" wheels"), and I've certainly encountered cycle lanes which were unfit for purpose. They often are poorly surfaced compared to the main carriageway, and sometimes require the rider to frequently negotiate kerbs or junctions in a relatively unsafe situation. Top work Jay. 👍🙂👍

[@johntythe9759]

That's a good video and shows things haven't changed since the 1960's! I'm no longer a cyclist, old age and failing joints prevent me bringing my cycles back to life, but I covered thousand of miles from my early teens to my 40's. 80,000 of them cycling up and down the A10 into London daily. Cycle lanes / paths were never maintained & full of debris and parked cars and those that crossed entrances to industrial estates were a danger to ride on. I always road on the carriageway 3-4 feet from the kerb to avoid drain covers and grit / sharps puncturing tyres. That distance gave me ample room to mover over a bit when traffic came too close. I only got abuse once from the instructor of a HGV learner - it got him nowhere! Cycling at 25 -30 mph on the A10 was normal in moving traffic, slow cyclists never went onto the main carriageway. Modern cycle lanes are an even greater danger to cyclist and pedestrians. Two way cycle lanes passing between busses and bus stops are accidents waiting to happen. They save no room on the carriageway over single lanes going in the correct direction to traffic flow. The people that design these lanes can never have ridden a bicycle properly in their life! The worst cycle lanes are in Cardiff - complete madness!

[@matthewvelo]

Great video Jake. I usually always feel safer on a road lane than a cycle lane, as I'd rather have the cars behind me see me and have time to react than deal with blind cycle lane crossings. On a side note, used the cycle lane today as the road was really busy and got a pinch flat in a hidden pothole. Back on the road tomorrow!

[@reubenbryant]

One of the things I’ve noticed (and experienced first hand) is that when the cycle lane is only separated with a painted line, many drivers interpret that as they are allowed to pass a cyclist with their wheels touching the line - because they technically haven’t entered the cycle lane. Which is incredibly dangerous. Some cycle lanes near me are actually separated from the road, which sounds great, except there are lots of side roads. Even though there are give way lines on the side roads so the cyclists on the main route can continue, reality is the drivers ignore them, drive straight across the cycle lane without checking and only give way when they reach the actual road. In both those instances, the cycle lane is outright dangerous and I’m safer in the road. Of course, that’s all assuming there are actually cycle lanes, as supposed the shockingly common, cycle lane exists for about 100m that just vanishes. Might as well stay in the road since I’ll be rejoining it again in such a short distance.

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Got to love those drivers that cut through the painted lane around corners. Its not part of the designated area for cars but they cut through as if it saves them time anyways.

[@reubenbryant]

@@theepimountainbiker6551 Those drivers are lethal 🙁. You can guarantee there is a cyclist right there when they do it. Although I can think of once specific instance where I would agree with the drivers who do it. It was a narrow road with the cycle lane wrapping around the corner on both sides of the road, never originally had cycle lanes painted on it. Should never have had them painted on as there simply wasn’t space. Without cycling lanes, the drivers (mostly) would wait behind the cyclist until after the bend so it was safe for everyone. Once the cycle lanes were added, for a driver (even the ones in small cars, let alone anything bigger) to avoid driving in the cycle lane, they had to drive over the centre line of the road…on a bend with a vehicle doing the same from the other direction. How someone thought marked cycle lanes on that specific location was a good idea I’ll never know. Because that is seriously dangerous. In that specific instance I would agree with what drivers actually did - which was to enter the cycle lane. As for the cyclists, well they were having to mount the pavement to get out of the way. It was so much safer for absolutely everyone (including pedestrians) before cycle lanes were added.

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

@@reubenbryant totally agree, if the road isnt wide enough and they do it to not hit another vehicle and no biker is around then whatever. But if theres plenty of space theres no excuse you just never know if somebodys around that corner.

[@dashofawesome64]

@@reubenbryant In the Netherlands they make the difference between a solid and a striped line. Here people are pretty strict(on themselves) never crossing a solid line.

[@dariusvick1636]

I've thought about making this exact same video. You've just saved me the work. Great job! I'll share it.

[@bombasticbissell]

Nice concise explanation. I've tried to explain this to drivers and have not done nearly as well as you did. Thanks for taking the time to explain this well.

[@petesig93]

Love this video explainer. While the terminology, types of bike-lanes and the legal obligation to use them are different in Australia, this video will be great to counter a lot of the ignorant and hateful diver comments from those who abuse cyclists just chosing to not use a bike-lane because it is blocked, crap surface, or actually dangerous to use.

[@JakeMay]

Do you legally have to use them in Australia? 🤯

[@petesig93]

@@JakeMay where there is a bike-lane* on a road we must use them "where practicable". Lots of circumstances may make their use impracticable. * A separated bike path is NOT a bike lane.

[@Garrick42]

You absolutely hit the nail on the head with this video, and your arguments apply equally well in the US (although, sadly, there are some US states where the law obliges cyclists to use a bike lane or sidepath when available...thankfully Colorado is not one of them). The bottom line is, a bicycle lane is not always (I'd even say is frequently NOT) the safest place for a rider to operate. A motorist who doesn't ride may have difficulty understanding that.

[@bindingcurve]

"although, sadly, there are some US states where the law obliges cyclists to use a bike lane or side path when available" OK show me one.

[@julie-wheelersatlarge]

Great video with loads of reasons why we use the road. In Bournemouth where I live, bike paths just end, usually just before a junction, so you have to take the lane to stay safe and visible.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@AlexRaha]

Excellent vid Jake. Sometimes the cycle lanes don't go to the intented destination, hence riders don't use them. E.g. From Elephant & castle, Cycleway 6 on St George's Road/Lambeth Road vs London Road.

[@RomanDzhanov]

As an active bike rider I can confirm most of the points that you’ve mentioned in this video, some bike lanes are greatly designed and maintained where as others are either very tight or very dangerous especially for those trying to get to and from at a reasonable speed. Just last month I rode past what I presumed was a parked car near the bike lane and to my surprise a door opened right in my path leaving me no time to swerve, this incident has resulted in me choosing to use certain bike lanes over others. As a driver I can understand the annoyance of a cyclist on the road however drivers also need to realize that the road is a shared place and if a cyclist doesn’t feel safe in the bike lane near the road, they have the right to use the road itself.

[@aquanick2001]

A shared space, exactly right……so if you are holding up traffic, pull in and let it past.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

@@aquanick2001 they won't even respond to this comment let alone do it. Yet cyclists expect walkers to move over tow paths and such like, they even think its OK to ride on your heels and ring their bell at you. Double standards and a lack of discipline is tye biggest issues around cyclists

[@FrankFiorentino]

This video needs more exposure. Thanks for creating this.

[@Altis_play]

very good summary to better understand pedagogically a problem difficult to understand for a person who does not ride a bike!

[@JakeMay]

Thank you!

[@morg52]

A couple months ago I was bicycle touring the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. There is a state trail called the Gitchi Gami trail that runs along side the highway on parts of the route. I stayed off of the trail because it had really bad grades that meant that I would have to climb or descend steep hills to follow it. I'm carrying a load of camping equipment in a trailer behind my bike. So that makes it so much more difficult to pull up a steep hill. Several "Wankers" in passing cars insisted that I had to use the trail instead of the highway. The two fingers or the one finger, it's all the same to me.

[@JakeMay]

Thanks for all the positive feedback! Hopefully we can try to make a difference. This is a little different to my usual content, but do subscribe to the channel if you want to see more videos on cycling - including exploring London rides with my friends to going on bikepacking adventures further afield!

[@patricj951]

Excellent video! I think you cover every important aspect in this topic. I have been a serious cyclist since 1984, and have chosen the road instead of cycle lane as much as possible because of the reasons you explain in the video.

[@yorkshirethegreat]

Brilliant video! Covered all (?) the points here. Excellent stuff!

[@TimpBizkit]

A cycle lane might go straight on to the left of a left turn lane. This creates a dangerous criss cross effect, and most drivers aren't as thorough about checking the nearside as the offside.

[@simonthorogood5263]

Great video and an interesting topic. I've been a cyclist for nearly 50 years, and use a cycle lane where it is available.... Without exception. The fact I can use the road, or that it might reduce a journey time if I do, is of no concern to me. Number one priority is safety. Car drivers are far more 'distracted' than they ever have been, there are way more of them, vehicles have increased in size and there are very high levels of drug and drink driving that are unchallenged by an ever more hard pressed police force. I have seen many occasions where new and very rideable cycle paths are ignored by cyclists, preferring to use highly congested roads. I think a spirit of pride may be at work in these instances?

[@TheJhtlag]

It's funny but when you ride a bike you can smell the marijuana being used as a car passes, even if the windows are rolled up

[@WilliamPhillippe]

Cheers! Ta! Cycled in London and now cycling in New York City - well put & succinctly so.

[@ActiveTowns]

Well done, Jake! Have bookmarked it as a resource to share when the topic comes up ( as you know that it will😉) in the future. Cheers! John

[@stephensaines7100]

Sometimes it's better to deal with 'the enemy you know' (motorists) opposed to those you don't (other cyclists). Since many more cyclists in at least Anglo nations are unaware of the need to follow protocol for safe cycling, it's easier to share the road (with caveats, of course) with motorists whose probable moves are much easier to predict (whether rational or not) as opposed to other cyclists, many of whom have zero sense of their impact on other cyclists. Hobson's Choice on two wheels...

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

I moved from UK to the Netherlands 8 years ago. Here there are good quality cycle lanes everywhere and everyone uses them. People have always cycled here, but the move from car-friendly to cycle-friendly cities has accelerated since the 1970s. One factor is that everyone cycles here, so there is the political will; parties willing to provide good cycling infrastructure get votes. And because every motorist is also a cyclist, motorists are very considerate and understanding of cyclists. I get embarrassed for the state of the old country when I see the open warfare between these groups.

[@terrynorton3182]

As an aside to your post, what is bike crime like there? You may know how bad it is in the UK, with people even having expensive bikes stolen whilst out on them!

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

@@terrynorton3182 I think it's quite bad in the big cities of North and South Holland, but rare in the quieter places. I live in Apeldoorn (population about 130,000) in Gelderland, and I don't know anyone here who's had their bike nicked. A lot of people have more than one bike, and will use their old one in situations where bike theft is possible/likely. If you want a good idea of what it's like here have a look at the Bicycle Dutch channel.

[@Newyorker000]

Great video! I am a "regular guy" who bike commutes in NYC and yeah our bike lanes suffer from everything you mentioned but maybe 100 times worse :) with much more aggro drivers, awful road conditions like potholes and tons of crap in the way, and drivers always blocking everything. Often I will ride on the street and not a protected bike lane because the intersections are extremely dangerous - drivers won't really look and definitely won't yield when making a right or left into a dedicated bike path which makes it harrowing every 2 blocks (manhattan is a grid, with one-way streets alternating each block). Take a look at 7th avenue south (which goes through times square) for example. And even if you're "slowing down" a driver - theyre going to hit a red light a block ahead of you anyway, so it's almost always reckless for drivers to attempt to go faster than 20mph since that's roughly how fast most traffic moves most of the time.

[@hawk2million]

Superb video, thanks for helping to get the word out. For me, it's the start-stop nature of most bike lanes that make them less attractive. Stopping at every T junction even though I'm following the main road makes no sense to me.

[@bcvanrijswijk]

I can't agree with you more. Even cycling in the so-called cycling paradise of the Netherlands, all the points made except one also apply there. Only the last point does not apply to the Netherlands, because there is a traffic sign that obliges cyclists to use that path. To my great sadness, because very often the road surface for cars is smooth asphalt while the cycle path consists of poorly laid cobblestones and street tiles.

[@lf1980]

YES THIS!!! roads are smooth...even paths with those grooves in them (like concrete footpaths or driveways) I find frikkin annoying even though for the most part they are smooth.

[@hendman4083]

The vast majority of the bike lanes in the the Netherlands have the famous red asphalt. Maybe you live in an area where the roads are in a dire need for an update to the latest design standards, because I also don't see the points mentioned in this video at all in the area where I live. The only one that comes to mind is the occasional delivery van that blocks a bike lane.

[@paulbradford6475]

You just can't paint a line on the road and declare it a "safe space" for cycling.

[@JakeMay]

Tell that to every council across the country 😅

[@paulbradford6475]

@@JakeMay They won't listen. And usually, they're not cyclists.

[@jbloggs4161]

Yet they expect every driver to make an imaginary 1.5 metre barrier

[@Dave-bu6bc]

we need to stop calling them cycle lanes and call them vanity lanes or virtue signal lanes, that's all they are, some local authority wanting to boast about how many hundred miles of cycle lane they have created, virtue signal their green credentials.

[@paulbradford6475]

@@Dave-bu6bc I agree with your terminology. We cyclists have to take to the streets with all their inherent dangers and do the best we can to survive. Squeezing a bike lane onto an already crowded street is more of a vanity/politically correct issue for fat bureaucrats than a question of making cycle commuting safer.

[@markfletcher4605]

Excellent video. In the Fresno/Clovis area of California, USA, the state/county/city puts lots of effort into building the bike paths, which vary considerably, even within a short distance (appear and then disappear), but they put no money and effort into maintaining them. They do not clean them, so the debris from the road ends up in the bike paths. Also, they patch and resurface the roads (ocassionally) but do not do the same for the adjacent bike path.

[@Clockster70]

Hello mate. Hope you’re good. Im so pleased you’ve made this. So many car users shout and swear at me for not using the cycle lane and many of the reasons you give is why I normally steer clear. Number one for me is how poorly maintained they are, it always appears to me that all the crap and broken glass gets shoved in the lane and what with drains and parked cars, I always feel it’s safer to remain in the road so I’m not swaying in and out of the lane. Good work mate 👍🏻

[@JakeMay]

Cheers - safe and happy riding!

[@terryb392]

I can guarantee that no risk assessment has been carried out on cycle lanes, totally inadequate for purpose, definitely not been designed by cyclists

[@j-genmod8493]

Cycle lanes are for the convenience of drivers not for cyclists. That's why they're narrow, rutted, shared with pedestrians (and fucking dogs), constantly yield priority to the carriageway they're supposed provide an alternative to, covered in debris, full of obstacles that are impassible to non-conventional types of cycle (recumbent, tricycles, cargo-bikes, ect), and often deviate significantly from the desired route. And not to mention the on-road lanes that actually INCREASE the risk of cyclist death/injury by 34% because they're usually narrower than your handlebars but drivers view them as a separate lane and don't think they need to give you any extra space.

[@terryb392]

@@j-genmod8493 your 100% authorities got no idea they think that a bit of white paint solves all problems

[@iwonderwhy9681]

Slowness is usually the deal braker for me, as an amateur road racer, I really hate having to switch from one bike lane to another, then having to cross the road. When I'm doing a workout, I just want to be able to god damn cycle.

[@richardsimpson3792]

Is the road the best place to use as a playground?

[@iwonderwhy9681]

@@richardsimpson3792 ever heard of road cycling? You can try googling that

[@richardsimpson3792]

@@iwonderwhy9681 I just 'wonder why' you think your playing in the road should have priority over people going about their business?

[@iwonderwhy9681]

@@richardsimpson3792 dude, it's impossible to cycle on most bike lanes / paths. I use them whenever I can, but I do often take the road instead. And no, the road does not only belong to those who purchased a 2-ton chunk of metal.

[@KekusMagnus]

@@richardsimpson3792 why do you think your driving on the road should have priority over people going about their business?

[@jimenojaime7268]

Great video. I agree with a coupe of commenters that say that motor vehicles pass closer to you if you are in a cycle lane - the 1.5 metre rule is forgotten.

[@garebear422]

Also, often there can be debris in the lanes kicked over by vehicles. Trash, gravel, dirt, leaves, branches, roadkill, etc. I also find that sometimes it's actually safer to ride in the middle of a lane when the bike lane may be too small/dirty. Rather than risk being sideswiped in a portion of poorly maintained/designed bike lane (especially when a lot of oncoming traffic makes it difficult for cars to put adequate space between me and the other cars when passing) I find it more comfortable to have vehicles not try and pass me until I can find a safer area to ride my bike.

[@FiveMinuteVelo]

Hi Jake, nice video and I can think of only one other reason why cyclist may not use a cycle route. That reason is, especially in towns, that the official cycle routes are often indirect. They both figuratively and actually go round the houses. Having said that I do know of cycle routes that are direct and actually short of them going on the road. Here is an illustration of some of the things you talked about kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5S7aoqrnJJnaZY

[@ntphong999]

cycling lanes are dangerous for real cyclists They're meant to be used by casual slow cyclists, elder, children, ...

[@unsafecast3636]

'real cyclists' lol

[@wonjez3982]

@@unsafecast3636 Well as the dutch say there are the "cyclists" and there are the "people on a bike". Saying this a a cyclist myself, cyclists will be a minority when good bike infrastructure is finally build like in Amsterdam, but in the end i'd rather have bikes all around than cars. And don't forget the 4m speedways that come with it!

[@DarkMatter280]

Whereas main roads are super safe 👍

[@unsafecast3636]

@@wonjez3982 I agree, I just don't agree with the distinction between cyclists and _real_ cyclists. It's kind of like saying normal drivers aren't real drivers, racecar drivers are.

[@jbloggs4161]

@@wonjez3982 so what you're saying is there are wankers and people on bikes

[@williamfritz1876]

Something I have learned very quickly now that I have begun riding much more is that I would rather be a bit annoying on a road than have to deal with possibly hitting and/or taking out pedestrians.

[@JakeMay]

Exactly

[@essex9]

Think you have nailed most reasons , i have to say i have minimal punctures , but when i have it has always been on a cycle lane , they tend to have a lot of broken bottles etc , glass !

[@8martinp1]

You really have hit the nail on the head with this. Hopefully road planners will see it so they can design good cycleways. I am a motorist, but cycle about 100 miles/week. My cycling is done on pre -planned safe roads. If I want to pop to the shops or go in to town, I use the car, it's safer. When we get in to cars we become bullies. The attitude is, 'you might have right of way but I'm bigger than you, also if I cut you up you can't catch me'. In any other situation, bullying would not be tolerated.

[@wendfrancis7423]

Thank you for that! I totally agree with everything you said. I cycle in the centre of Bristol and it's just as described

[@nimthiriel9]

Great video! All of these factors are true where I live in the US too.

[@jujujay]

Good film saves me making one haha 😂 I’ll share it on my Fb page! Well done 🎉

[@stevengroeneveld8717]

Excellent and succint video. It covers all the main points I could think of.

[@bexmountford1656]

Such a great thorough video. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@edgartretorn74]

Perfectly summarised mate. Thanks.

[@alanmayes6822]

I'd add constant dropped kerbs for driveways and side roads where have to constantly slow down or stop. Great video

[@wondersgtagaming]

Hiya mate. Great video. This got recommended on my feed. I have never owned a car and have always cycled. I agree with every point in this video. From my experience most drivers are good to cyclists. Myself and everyone I have ever cycled with have also been very good to drivers. Allowing them to pass by pulling in and using the correct signals and gestures to show our intended path. I know there are plenty of crazy cyclists out there though that do not follow road rules and are all over place. Just a quick note to any drivers reading this that the vast majority of cyclists do care about everyones safety and happiness while on the road. However a one thing this video didnt mention is the infamous "left hook". Most cycle lanes are on the left hand side of the road. Often leading up to junctions cars often do not check their mirrors at all and turn left at speed. Sometimes accelerating past and braking hard just to get ahead of a cyclist. Leading up to junctions (even if turning left). You can expect me to take the middle of the left lane to discourage this behaviour. The "left hook" has nearly killed me multiple times and I do not have enough time (or space) to talk about how many times there have been outrageously dangerous stuff that drivers have done that has also nearly ended my life. Moral of the story is that there is always going to be those who are entrenched in the belief that cyclists are unpredictable or that most drivers are dangerous. Best thing to do in any situation is to drive/ride as safely as possible and to not get enraged when something doesnt go your way on the road and de-escalate road rage wherever possible. If all drivers and cyclists were of this mentality then there would be far less issues on the road but sadly I dont think this can ever happen as there will always be a driver or a cyclist with a recent story about something ridiculous they have seen a driver or a cyclist doing. The "must get one back" attitude seems to run strong on the road. Once again I enjoyed the video buddy and I look forward to seeing more.

[@ExtremeMoneySavingGuy]

A great video that explains things very well. Cheers!

[@JimiPresha]

Excellent video agree with you 100% I rarely use cycle lanes or paths as an experienced faster rider I find them dangerous. I’m more comfortable sharing the road with cars etc. I also hate when they separate the lane with posts sometimes plastic sometimes metal, they are a disaster waiting to happen… catch one with your body or bars & be prepared for serious injury as you smash into the next posts or even get flipped out into the road 🤕

[@marystuart426]

Great explanation. Have shared this, asking car drivers to watch this. Thanks.

[@scottvessey915]

I agree with all the things you said. I would add that many cycle paths are shared with pedestrians, can include MANY junctions which slow you down and be more dangerous to navigate, or cross the area between dropped kerbs and driveways where a motor vehicle could cross at any time.

[@powernab8457]

Jake May: Thanks so much for producing this video!

[@brettgoyne9761]

Very good video. Should be adopted by road safety campaigns for driver education. Thanks.

[@JakeMay]

Thank you!

[@Igor-ps5cd]

Great video sir,couldnt agree more. Good luck.

[@theinspector1023]

Excellent. Well presented. Well argued and true. I think I saw somewhere that if you are cycling above a certain speed (18 mph?) you shouldn't use the cycle lane. If true I don't know whether it's a legal obligation.

[@d314159]

Very well said. Absolutely nailed the issue!

[@DjRudeboy254]

great video, preach for tolerance on the road.

[@nosforatu101]

Great vid well presented. some issues that I have encountered, pedestrians weaving about walking 3 or more abreast, and not moving for cyclists. Dog walkers with dogs either not on a lead or on a long exuding lead, and not taking control of their animal as it runs at you, causing you to have to stop abruptly. Then have them complain at you for riding to fast. and quite a few more mums with buggies , an on....

[@whazzat8015]

Great with great examples of the issues

[@Bluuuz]

Excellent video. Cumbrian and Lancashire cycleways are rarely worth using for any serious cyclist, although I loved your point about them being a bit like the slow lane in the pool, and definitely useful for some/the less experienced/slower riders. Bad design puts me off… Many are simply widened pavements that pedestrians spread more widely across and give you an indignant look if you ring your bell. My local cycle lane has several up and down ramps (all with give way’s), then crosses the main road to the other side and goes past a secondary school (it’s shared with pedestrians), so you can see how that can actually make it very dangerous to use from time to time. I want to see cycle lanes given priority at junctions and intersections, so don’t have a ‘down ramp’ for the bike to the road level, bring the road level up to the cycle lane. At the very least, it will slow down crossing traffic

[@growtwopointow]

great video, really informative, if you are after constructive criticism I would shorten the black screen chapter maker sections a few beats, I think they drag a bit and slow the video down

[@sgordon8123]

Thank you for this. It's a great way to try and get drivers to understand. A few extra points though. Cyclists can be a serious hazard to each other yet many cycle lanes, even well maintained ones, expect cyclists to go in both directions in a single lane. No indication of what to do if you meet head on. One near me has a blind bend... I meet children on bikes who don't drive yet... Its a coin flip as to whether they will go left or right when approaching... I have been getting wrist injuries from the potholes on some cycle lanes and the same hazard is common on the roads at the moment therefore staying to the left is dangerous. By cycling I increase the danger to myself but massively decrease the danger to pedestrians whereas cars continue to be a huge risk to all including themselves. Fatal car accidents rose in 2020. I drive AND cycle so it's not that I don't pay towards the roads... A common complaint by some drivers who dislike cyclists.

[@Socaltrainwatcher]

Great video. Nice to see you have the same issues in the UK as we do in Southern California. The local governments have been "creating" lots of bike lanes in the past few years and it's quite apparent they are designed by people who do not ride bikes. A lot of the new bike lanes are actually dangerous for cyclists.

[@MorganBrown]

Great video Jake!

[@martintirpak1033]

The video is exactly right. I most often go on the road to avoid full cycle lanes and/or full pavement with mixed pedestrian /cyclist use when I ride fast. Constant overtaking is uncomfortable both for me and for bikes and people around me when I ride at 35 - 40 km/h. I got to either slow down or go with cars then.

[@raxa45]

I think you nailed it lad, another reason I might use the road is because i dunno how to get to the cycle lane or im in the wrong lane so may as well carry on

[@WestcliffGoPro]

You’ve nailed every point 💯%

[@andrewwhitby5837]

Thanks Jake, for encapsulating the many and varied reasons why people who cycle don't always use the bike lanes, with a great 'reasonable' tone .

[@valentinableidinger6972]

in Austria we do have a speedlimit on bike lanes of just 20 km/h, which is quite slow if youre are trying to train or just commuting on your bike probably around 30 km/h.

[@RichardHartl]

I'm in Toronto, Canada. Wow some of those bike lanes are insanely narrow!

[@iallso1]

I was on a stretch of road last week between Sumner and Ferrymead in Christchurch and stopped at temporary traffic lights. The road has a cycle lane on both sides separated by a white line and also a wide separated shared footpath and cycleway. The temporary lights were controlling a long (900m) lane drop. The cycle lane had been given up for the use of motor vehicles. I watched 6 cyclists come past me on the cycle lane to my left, they weren't together and they were different types after cyclist. The guy in training jumped over to the shared area, the couple in their hi-viz jackets the same and a lady with a basket on the front followed suit. What surprised me was that two other ladies, one with a child behind her decided to co tinge on the roadway rather than switching to the shared path. Not only did they put themselves in unnecessary risk but they held traffic up going through the work site risking the lights changing at the other end before the traffic had cleared. I felt it was stupid and selfish.

[@hoppygoodness]

***SUPER ON POINT!!*** Everything you said applies here in the U.S as well.

[@JakeMay]

Thanks!

[@TriStruggleBus]

Here in Singapore we do have the legal obligation. Very unfortunate. Those few lanes we have fall in one or more of the reasons you mentioned.

[@kerryeff407]

Spot on mate! As a Canadian cyclist, I 100% agree with the content of this video.

[@markholdsworth3486]

I love the fact that you make interesting points while managing not to insult other users.

[@eleven-eleven-eleven]

This is the single most sensible appraisal of bike lanes I've come across. Well done.

[@Hazehill]

A lot of the cycle lanes around where I live are just covered with hawthorns at certain times of the year when the hedges are being trimmed. No effort is made to sweep the paths clear after any cutting. You can end up with multiple double punctures in a single ride at these times.

[@paulfaulkner6299]

I am a cyclist and I basically agree. I live in the Chesterfield area. There is a cycle lane on Erin Road between Poolesbrook and Duckmanton. I've not use the cycle lane there for almost 2 years. Why? 4 punctures and a walk home 4 times in the space of 5 weeks in September & October of 2020. They are full of glass and other crap and never get swept. By riding in the roadway, I am riding on a surface which is cleaned of such detritus by the cars and lorries which are also driven over it. There are other cycle lanes round these parts too - but after dark they _COULD BE_ a mugger's paradise; again, I am likely to be safer just riding on the highway. In the winter, they don't grit the cycle lanes so they are full of ice too.