Majority of Bristol-Bath Railway Path users "frustrated" with each other

The B2B is so sucessful as it links two cities that are close enough to commute between by bike and have enough of a bike culture that the route is well used. There are, however, points that, in my view, really let it down.

The first is the way in which it has been marketed. Labelling it as a 'path' doesn't really give an acurate impression of what it is for. I associate paths with ambling along on foot, maybe with the dog, and not really having to concern myself very much with my surroundings. I'd prefer that it was labelled as a 'road' or 'highway'. Perhaps the name 'cycle road' or 'human highway' would be appropriote. We need to be clear that exists primarily as a piece of transport infrastrucure and is likely to be used as such. It's also marketed as 'traffic-free' which is a term that I dislike. Let's be accurate and change that to 'motor-traffic-free'. Walkers and runners should expect to encounter cycle traffic. When considering the language currently used to describe the 'path' it's unsurprising that walkers are found wandering all over the place, dogs are allowed to run loose and runners are plugged into their headphones and oblivious to those around them. These are all reasonable behaviours on a 'traffic-free path'.

On the subject of speed, there is a balance to be struck. I wouldn't condone the behaviour of the Strava-heads but there is also a requirement for infrastucture such as this to be able to carry users at a reasonable speed in order that journey times are acceptable. To me, an acceptable commute time wouldn't exceed about an hour so anyone commuting between Bath and Bristol would need to average speeds that would put them in line for some critisism from certain quarters. Assuming that the powers that be want to encourage active travel (which I don't think they do) it's vital to make infrastructure like this work at at least 15+ mph.

The B2B is good but it could be great if Sustrans and the local authorities started to treat it as a real piece of transport infrastrucure rather than a leisure facility.

Interesting series of comments. I think true to say that, really it is a backhanded revelation that the cycle path is so succesful that it now needs a "lane widening scheme".

I do not know this particular cycle path, but I think this is not altogether uncommon on others as well. For one thing, I think that as this is a "public highway" the highway code needs to be enforced - amongst cyclists as well as pedestrians. Perhaps signs at all the entry points mentioning that this applies might be a start.
Also, as others have implied, these routes are an extension of the cycle network we already have - they are pretty useless for actually getting anywhere - but good for diddling along with children e.t.c. I think their is no good reason to not accept that cyclists can easily be cruising along at in excess of 15Mph plus - if I wanted to walk, I would.
Problem is that if we are really to be taken seriously it needs to be acknowledged that we already have a superb cycle network; problem is it is cluttered up by dangerous machines that are far to freely allowed the PRIVILEDGE of using it (unlike us cyclists, pedestrians and horses - who have a right to be there).

Accordingly I personally think that all our highways that create problems for either cyclists, pedestrians or horses, should now have a lane closed and devoted to those who use them by right.
The PRIVILEDGED users can then sort out their own problems and should not be allowed to occupy them (the "highways") unless they can undertake and deliver a "no harm" mode of operating - in proven practice, promises are not good enough.

I think we do need some clear, established protocol. I use Sustrans 65 most days and various issues (especially but not exclusively with pedestrians) come up and you have to react in a split second (and I am a sedate, middle aged leisure cyclist on a hybrid, not got a road bike and not trying to beat a Strava time).

If pedestrians knew which side they are meant to be on, and off-lead dogs were not allowed, younger children more adequately supervised... Life would be easier for everyone.

Last week, for example, in a single 20 mile ride, I had a few things happen. A runner, wearing an iPod, running fast and bang n the centre of the track at its narrowest point. I have a loud Pashley ding-dong bell - you can hear that thing from space. Usually it even manages to break through to people with iPods... Rang it several times, no reaction. He continued bang in the centre of the track. No way could I get round him. This went on for several minutes til mercifully he hit a bridge across the river when I could get past.

Same ride: some people with about five Westies, all offlead, all exciteable and bombing around.

Same ride: two cyclists riding abreast - a man on a more decent bike, who looked like a cyclist and a very wobbly, unsure woman on a rusty, wobbly mountain bike he's presumably found at the back of the shed and forced her onto to show her The Benefits Of Cycling. He's riding protectively alongside her as if she is very, very valuable. No problem - I slow down. As I approach them from behind and ring my bell, they look round, clock I'm there, the woman wobbles a bit more and I assume the man will move to the left, behind or in front of her but no - he stays protectively next to her at a point too narrow for 3 bikes. At the last minute he veers to the right, forcing me to ride between them (so exposing the woman to an even more dangerous situation, as he was so determined to stay abreast of her, whatever the consequences). I was forced to ride between them which I then had to pick up speed to do so I could get past her fast as she was so unconfident. I taught one of my kids to ride on the path but picked wide points and would never have forced a faster cyclist to go between me and the learner. Some people really have no brains.

Once in York, there is a clearly demarcated shared cyclist/pedestrian part of the path with, as a slight clue, big pics of pedestrians painted on the wider side, and bikes on the narrower. Countless, countless pedestrians walking happily slap bang down the centre of the bike lane (I helpfully pointed out the metre tall picture of a bike to one, as I passed. Keeping my face neutral and friendly). I think that happened maybe 5 times in about a mile of track.

I think Sustrans should develop their Highway Code and post it at various points at the start/end of tracks and midway. After a while on a track you recognise the regulars, and the regular pedestrians on 65 seem to be sensible, in the right place, and will exchange a friendly hello quite often as we pass... I generally have had more problems with serious runners running centrally at narrow points, than I have had with casual walkers, too - just an observation.

Have also seen more than once in the past week - people out cycling with 3 or 4 year olds, who look very wobbly and unsure indeed and letting them bomb, totally out of control, down hills on any side of the track - having to stop and lose momentum cos I'm coming up the said hill. And also, a woman sitting texting at one of the BMX bits, totally oblivious to child, whilst her 3 year old wandered across the path of cyclists - some adults, some older teenagers trying to do their thing on the little hills.

The other thing to factor in is horse-riders. As a cyclist I'd like some guidelines. Do I ring my bell when approaching a horse that is in front? Will that scare it?

We need clear guidelines to make these tracks safe and fun for everyone.

I use this path daily to commute & frequently as part of a weekend BathCC club rides. The vast majority of cyclists, runners & walkers (including school children) realise it is a shared facility & show mutual respect. A bell or polite 'on your right' is effective 99% of the time. Many walkers even have the insight to carry a torch & wear reflective clothing when using the path after dark. My only gripe is with dog walkers who allow their dog off the lead or worse, use an extending lead.
The cycle path is fantastic facility & the envy of those who have to share their ride route with cars.

Why the use of the word 'hate' in this page's URL? (http://road.cc/content/news/129039-majority-bristol-bath-railway-path-us...)
Using the Brief add-on for Firefox (a news feed manager add-on), the headline appears as 'Majority of Bristol-Bath Railway Path users hate each other'.
The Daily Mail would be proud of you.

It sounds like a fantastic facility somewhat ruined for some by the cyclists who have no concern for other people using it and Barabus has the answer

‘I ride the path Bath to Bristol at 5am every week day and it's lovely as it's just me and a few other fairly fast moving commuters. I then return at 4pm and it's a busy multi use path and you go slower and try and respect the other users'.

Also I bet many of the reckless and unthinking cyclists don’t respect the fact that on shared paths bells are essential

I do wonder why road.cc sponsored by Evans decided to report this small peice of research this way when it could have been used so positively as a reminder to look out for others on shared paths by using bells, cutting speeds and being friendly to other users?

PS we have a great 10 miles circular of off-road shared path in Nottingham alongside the canal and river - it is severely restricted in width under bridges but it still works so long as cyclists respect every pedestrian has an equal right to use the paths - some of us don't always remember this

It's such a shame to hear such disquiet and continued tribalism after all the hard work and charitable giving, in money as well as time, by willing volunteers to make this brilliant cycle path a reality. Why can't people collaborate? Do we really need signs? It's simple: as it is a shared use path - keep left, cyclists slow down for pedestrians and use the bell, particularly if there are children (who can often be a little unpredictable with their growing world experience), parents hold hands of small children, pedestrians beware and walk in single file in narrow areas or when you see an oncoming cycle to ease space and flow. NB It may be of course, that there is confusion between pedestrians walking on the left with a shared use path (as a part of the flow) and the general rule of walking on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic.

Ask Dutch people whether they're frustrated with other people whilst cycling. I bet they are. Especially at commuting times when it's busy. We all hate humanity.

All shared paths are the same.Monsal Trail in Derbyshire is awful at weekends. Loose dogs in the tunnels. It's like an anarchic motorway.
These routes need some basic rules, they are highways and should have a code or at least an accepted etiquette.

Anway as the weather gets colder and the daylight shorter the path will once again return to a far less congested thoroughfare. I do think there are plenty of places where the path could be widened which would help with issues with walkers and cyclists. There could be some signage which would help advising walkers which side to walk as opposed to the current free for all that leads to most of the confusion and probable ire on both sides. I see BANES council added some painted signage on the canal path to stop conflicts under one of the bridges and I think also at the two tunnels.

Basically as far as I can see the path is a victim of its own success as previous posts have stated but I wouldn't want it anyother way. The increase in traffic this summer was far higher than I can remember over the past few years and maybe that is the combined efffect of a good summer and more people taking up cycling both of which are a good thing. And if the strava boys want to set records on the path or use it as part of their training then I suggest they get up earlier as they will find it empty especially on a weekend morning and then they can get a coffee at Warmley waiting rooms on their way home.

shared use paths that have high volume of use shouldn't be held up as problems but successes - sadly where user conflict occurs it is then being used as an excuse for not providing better facilities - contrast this with problem roads with high traffic volumes where the outcome will be investment in the road sometimes simply to protect drivers from the dangers they create by their own impatience

as a half cynical aside would be interesting to establish what proportion of those complaining about cyclists on shared paths drive to use the facility and are possibly simply extending their road hatred of cyclists to those they meet on shared paths

If bikes aren't allowed on motorways why are pedestrians allowed on cycleways?

The conflicts on the Bristol Bath cycle/ railway path demonstrate the need for segregated cycle paths. Shared use paths are fine for leisure routes but are not acceptable as real commuter routes.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to travel by bike at 15+ mph without having to share with cars/busses/lorries.

Some cyclists ride too fast, scaring peds

Some cyclists make questionable overtaking decisions

Some pedestrians create chicanes by walking in the same direction but on the other side of the path from another pedestrian

Some dog owners remove the lead and let their dog run around everywhere

All are true and all are stupid and unnecessary. Many users need to use their heads a bit more and consider the 'shared' aspect of the path. Some need to develop patience. Others need to take their dogs to a park!!!

Quote:

the Railway Path..a crime-ridden rubbish-strewn gutter, used mainly as a wheeled Cresta Run by slavering Strava fanatics

That's the one

Today was a Classic case in point, last day of the school holidays, lots of young kids enjoying a day time ride, then come 'rush hour' they're joined by the Wacky Racers (wannabe speed freaks who should come-and-have-a-go-(at Odd Down)-if-they-think-they' re-fast-enough.

It's not the 'Cycle Path' it's the Railway Path, the first - the one that led to the creation of Sustrans. It's a Shared Use Path, it's absolutely fantastic that it's now so heavily used and it's really not that hard to ride sensibly and get along with everyone (even dog walkers)

So is it saying that cyclist hate pedestrians and vice versa or that all users hate all other users regardless of which mode? I can understand cyclists being frustrated by pedestrians because they don't stay on the correct side. Maybe some cyclists don't either but in my experience pedestrians tend to walk side by side occupying the full width and don't bother to move over until you've almost hit them when they scowl at you. My main issue is that the paths are shared and not separately dedicated. It's a Heath Robinson approach by the local authorities who don't have the funds to build proper cycle roads and we have accepted it just like everything else in rip-off britain.

What's worse than all of this is that at the end of the bath end of the cycle way the cyclists have priority over the cars and the number of near misses I experience every day is amazing. Make the CYCLISTS give way and make the pathway a bit safer. Some of the cyclists just rocket out of the gate and go straight out in front of the cars and don't give them a chance.being a cyclist for more than 40 years I can why Sustrans have done this but it is wrong and somebody is going to get hurt soon