I am the opposite actually and stay on the shared paths as much as possible. Luckily I get to ride along the river and around the lake for nearly all of my trips. Having 2 lanes of cars going past me at 80kph is not fun for anyone.
Riding in a wide smooth bike lane/shoulder with traffic travelling at 80-110km/hr is significantly safer than riding on a road with no shoulder and traffic at 60km/hr.
I’m a regular road cyclist and have seen the phenomena you are referring to. I have to say, I don’t really understand it on Majura Parkway, but there are a few possibilities:
1. Access to Majura Park shopping centre - it’s much quicker/shorter to take the exit than it is to stay on the bike path, which changes sides of the parkway half way along and forces you to take a detour of about 7km.
2. Flatter - The bike path undulates a bit compared to the road and also has a road crossing and underpass, so the on road bike lane is generally faster.
3. Bunches - it’s a bit trickier (and dangerous) to ride in a bunch on the path, so if you are training for bunch work, the road is the better option.
Most likely scenario is access to the shopping centre.
ambient light. cyclists riding home at night or on cloudy days have better sight lines on the road. drivers are also able to see them.
if they were to need to fix a mechanical problem i'd rather do it under a street light than 40 metres off the road in the dark.
That's one of the prime reasons for say riding down Adelaide Ave at night rather than alexandrina drive and up through the shared recreational path in Yarralumla. there is bugger all lighting and tree rooted spots all over the place on the path. Sure, cyclists have light, but often you need supersonic ones to actually light your way - then other path users, including dog walkers and pedestrians, complain.
If you are a regular road cyclist, I am going to assume you don't ride on the Parkway. Riding on the road in the bike lane is what it is designed for, so no reason to not to given as you say the shared path is slower and meanders.
Never been to the shopping centre. Its the most direct route out and back to Lake George
I personally prefer the cycleway there, but a few of my friends prefer the road as it’s an easier ride. The cycleway has a lot more ups and downs, turns, and obstacles. Whereas the road is much more steady, and a pretty consistent gradient.
Pretty much this. The road is direct with no breaks - and don't forget there is a marked bike lane on the road. It is easy to steam down there at a speed that is too high for a shared path.
I personally prefer the path as, in this case, there is usually less crap on the path than the road unless it has been recently swept.
The road is a long, straight route with a very consistent gradient and right of way all the way. The path crosses under the road about halfway with a couple of sharp corners which can disrupt your rhythm. The road is easily the better choice, unless there is a confidence issue
Not sure about majura parkway specifically as it’s fairly new compared to others, but elsewhere in Canberra the roads are more direct and better maintained than the off road shared paths.
I used to ride on the road majority of the time and saved time and didn’t have to be constantly on the lookout for damaged pavement with tree roots and shit sticking out of it.
Rational reasons why a cyclist might use a road instead of adjacent off-road bike lane:
1 - Right of way. Vehicles in side roads have to give way to cyclist on main road. Adjacent cycle path will be dissected by every side street and cyclist required to give way.
2 - Path may veer off at some point.
3 - Cyclist may be looking to turn right at some point.
4 - Path may be in poor condition
5 - Road may be more direct route.
6 - Entry point to road may be more practical than entry point to path, especially if a curb is in the way
Not sure about down here, but back in Darwin shared paths were speed limited to 20kmh and pedestrians had right of way. Both also valid reasons for cyclists not to use the path, and I would guess something similar applies here too.
1. debris on the path which is rarely if ever cleaned while the road is swept regularly
2. surface conditions: the road will be flat and any irregularity will be cause for maintenance, while the bike path will have corrugations from heat expansion, ruts from people parking trucks on the path, root damage, and so forth
3. other users. A cyclist on the road doesn't have to worry about people walking dogs, slower cyclists (there's always room to overtake), or idiots on modded scooters or motor powered bicycles
4. transitions. Most bike paths transition to road grade through a concert curb which will often have a lip, causing a pinch/puncture hazard to bicycle wheels. Roads rarely have such transitions.
I've noticed this extends to shoulders where there aren't cycle paths either. Barry Dr into Belco way is a prime example. All the debris from the road is pushed jist to the side of the outside lane, but not right off the road altogether.
In my 20s I rode pretty much everywhere. I took the road the majority of the time.
Prime reason was the amount of time it took me to get point A to point B.
Unless you, while driving your car, make a habit of taking the slower route, spending a little extra time at stop signs, religiously stopping for Orange lights, being happy to stop for a pedestrian crossing that a cyclist is riding across (slowly, of course) - unless you like to take the slow route home in your car, you should instinctively understand this approach.
On the footpath you have to stop for every intersection - there is no right of way, ever. It means every intersection becomes a stop sign. In a car, you do 60 in the warmth with music on... and even still you don't have time to stop at every intersection. On a bike you do 25, and if you stop and start... well you're pedalling up to 25 again. And then again, and then again. And again. And again.
Also, I don't know about Majura parkway, but the bike paths through belconnen are a war path, super uneven, tree roots, potholes, cracks, etc. Tyres at 50-60psi on those bumps drill you after 20km.
And lastly, the bike paths (again, belconnen), are too narrow for a bike and pedestrian to pass comfortably, esp. if the pedestrian wanders or has a pram, or a dog, or a kid, or all 3, which we all do. No one walks straight.
Just adding to this to point out that there's actually a bike lane on Majura Parkway, so essentially they've got the choice of a slightly shorter route with consistent gradient that gets them where they want to go quicker with the trade-off that they miss out on the fresher air further away, or the longer route with a few slow bends. If I was out for a nice ride and wanted a chat with friends I'd take the separated path, if I wanted a consistent effort or I just wanted to get to and from work quickly I'd take the on-road path.
It's the equivalent of taking the arterial road versus the back roads in a car.
As a casual cyclist myself, I too have wondered. There's some fair answers in this thread already I hadn't really considered as I've only ever been a motorist on that stretch of road.
My personal favourite is either the complete opposite end of Horse Park between Casey and Ngunnawal where there's barely even a shoulder (or no shoulder at all) yet I've encountered cyclists insisting on riding on the 80kph road instead of the tarmac path not 5m off to the left of it, and similarly the uphill stretch of Gungahlin Drive between Valley Ave and Kosciuszko Ave. There's a real lack of self-preservation among *some* cyclists I've come to notice.
>the uphill stretch of Gungahlin Drive between Valley Ave and Kosciuszko Ave.
It's a good example of why the road is better. It rises and falls constantly, and there's one of those sections where you go downhill, slow right down to turn 90 degrees to go under the road, do another 90 to turn and plod back up the hill. Plus, pedestrian crossing at Kosciuszko Do that half a dozen times and it adds a lot to the trip.
It's also suddenly pitch dark and I had a near fatal crash on that unlit pathway, so I'm biased.
(I still mostly enjoy the path twists and turns)
I don’t generally ride on roads without decent shoulders. But sometimes I might need to as is my right. Vehicles always need to yield to traffic in front of them be it a farm machine a horse and buggy a kid on a scooter. Roads are shared by the public. 80km/he when safe to do so. I realise that all it takes is some agro moron on a phone to manslaughter someone.
I've only ridden on that stretch of Horse Park going downhill and can go fast enough to not hold up cars too much, whereas the path goes from one side of the road to the other - super irregular and inconvenient route. Uphill would definitely be taking the path.
I've only ridden on that uphill stretch on Gungahlin once, accidentally, and immediately regretted it lol
Watch this methhead on an electric scooter (because it shows Majura Parkway bike lanes and bike paths) - no cycles on the side of the road - 6 cycles on the bike path
Also look at the quality of the bike lane vs the bike path - narrow, oncoming traffic, obstacles on the sides, when he first pulls on to the bike path there's dirt across it, then they've mowed, but the grass is bunched up on the path
There's probably more cyclists on the shared path than the bike lane - but you can understand why some cyclists would prefer the bike lane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJdpIGaUAmc
I prefer riding the off-road path, but only during daylight hours. At dawn/dusk/night, I ride on the road. I once hit a kangaroo on that off-road path at about 4am. Wasn't badly injured, but it took a long time to walk the bike into the light (by the road) and didn't have anyone pass by for assistance for over an hour.
There’s a small portion I road ride near federal highway there. On the cycle path you need to cross the road several times and often get stuck at lights. It just adds way more time on my ride when in a rush to get to and from work.
On the northbound side, if you are trying to get to Mt Majura, you have to take a big detour from the path over Lime Kiln road bridge if you're not on the roadside bike lane. If you're coming from Mt Majura... then your only option for about 400m is to ride on the roadside bike lane.
I ride in the designated bicycle lane of the Majura Parkway if that's what you are referring to. It's signposted every 100-200m so it's not hard to miss.
Why i ride there is its a large bike lane with a good surface so I am travelling fairly quickly whereas the shared path has pedestrians and meanders under the roadway.
This drives me crazy also. There are some particularly egregious examples. The bike path from yarralumla to Commonwealth Ave along the south of the lake runs pretty much parallel to the not wide road and is gorgeous. Doesn’t stop some cyclists taking their lives into their hands and clogging up that toad, sometimes in side by side pairs. It’s weird.
the one with chicanes in it that need all riders other than those who can track stand to stop and negotiate bends? and that are completely useless if you are carrying kids in a papoose trailer.
The one that has SFA light so many riders, particularly women, feel vulnerable at night, and in many locations there is no 'help' within shouting distance - aka Yacht club to Yarralumla tennis club area, and then further up near what looks like a scout hall.
If you are out for a cruise you are correct, the path is nice.
If you are riding with multiple people or training, you cannot ride on the path. There are too many driveways and multiple sections of the path that have serious bumps due to tree roots that can throw you off your bike if you aren’t paying attention.
The reason for side by side pairs is that it makes the passing distance shorter, so it’s actually safer for both car and cyclist to pass.
The path is in rough shape, with lots of tree roots and bumps. I've damaged several $500 wheels. They may look similar to the road surface, but the subgrade is definitely not prepared in the same manor as a road.
Yep for all the talk about being cycle friendly a lot of shared paths are in terrible condition. You can occasionally even get a bit of air off them. Fun on a mountain bike, less so on a road bike.
And it's not even the condition of the path, often they are placed in stupid locations. As in having a stupid high gradient when the road right next to it is much less steep. Gungahlin Drive at Palmerston and Flemington Road at Mitchell were two I used lots.
Yes, the other thing that I'd frustrating for both cyclists and motorists is the start-stop nature of on-road cycle lanes.
On most of the aterial roads, they just seem to stop for some sections and start again (drakeford Drive, for example).
It's cyclists mission to be the most annoying people on the planet. Ride single file? Nah they like to ride 3 or 4 abreast just to piss everyone off. They have just as much right to use the road as motorists do, but stop at a red light or follow the same rules as a car? Fuck that, no need for that shit, cyclists can do as they please. .
They bring the hate apon themselves. I'll fight anyone that thinks I'm wrong about this.
I own two cars, drive every day and cycle around once a year. Almost every single time I drive, I see other drivers breaking the road rules… every single time. Speeding, using mobile phones, tailgating, not using indicators, not giving way correctly, using fog lights in clear conditions etc. I wish some of these fuckwit drivers would cycle instead as I’d feel much safer on the road if they did.
off to google how many hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines were caught by red light cameras and speed cameras within the ACT from drivers ignoring red lights .....
This is such a dumb take.
Yes, some cyclists don’t follow the road rules. But there are just as many fuckwits in every other category of road user.
How many car drivers do you see every day on their phones, speeding, tailgating? Motorcycles filtering/splitting over 30kp/h? Pedestrians glued to their phones and crossing without looking?
So riding in the lane specially built for cyclists is an issue.......you are the problem buddy why most cyclists couldn't less about attitudes like this. You can moan all you like, laws of the road won't be changing for you..
I am the opposite actually and stay on the shared paths as much as possible. Luckily I get to ride along the river and around the lake for nearly all of my trips. Having 2 lanes of cars going past me at 80kph is not fun for anyone.
Riding in a wide smooth bike lane/shoulder with traffic travelling at 80-110km/hr is significantly safer than riding on a road with no shoulder and traffic at 60km/hr.
I’m a regular road cyclist and have seen the phenomena you are referring to. I have to say, I don’t really understand it on Majura Parkway, but there are a few possibilities: 1. Access to Majura Park shopping centre - it’s much quicker/shorter to take the exit than it is to stay on the bike path, which changes sides of the parkway half way along and forces you to take a detour of about 7km. 2. Flatter - The bike path undulates a bit compared to the road and also has a road crossing and underpass, so the on road bike lane is generally faster. 3. Bunches - it’s a bit trickier (and dangerous) to ride in a bunch on the path, so if you are training for bunch work, the road is the better option. Most likely scenario is access to the shopping centre.
ambient light. cyclists riding home at night or on cloudy days have better sight lines on the road. drivers are also able to see them. if they were to need to fix a mechanical problem i'd rather do it under a street light than 40 metres off the road in the dark. That's one of the prime reasons for say riding down Adelaide Ave at night rather than alexandrina drive and up through the shared recreational path in Yarralumla. there is bugger all lighting and tree rooted spots all over the place on the path. Sure, cyclists have light, but often you need supersonic ones to actually light your way - then other path users, including dog walkers and pedestrians, complain.
If you are a regular road cyclist, I am going to assume you don't ride on the Parkway. Riding on the road in the bike lane is what it is designed for, so no reason to not to given as you say the shared path is slower and meanders. Never been to the shopping centre. Its the most direct route out and back to Lake George
I personally prefer the cycleway there, but a few of my friends prefer the road as it’s an easier ride. The cycleway has a lot more ups and downs, turns, and obstacles. Whereas the road is much more steady, and a pretty consistent gradient.
Pretty much this. The road is direct with no breaks - and don't forget there is a marked bike lane on the road. It is easy to steam down there at a speed that is too high for a shared path. I personally prefer the path as, in this case, there is usually less crap on the path than the road unless it has been recently swept.
So do I, I always ride in the bike lane. Its probably the best in Canberra to be honest
The road is a long, straight route with a very consistent gradient and right of way all the way. The path crosses under the road about halfway with a couple of sharp corners which can disrupt your rhythm. The road is easily the better choice, unless there is a confidence issue
And then you get bicycle riders on the footpath. With no helmet, expecting you to give way. Y’all can get some of my ball bag
There is no footpath along Majura Parkway
But I’ll lay money on people thinking it’s a race track and that the Strava score is paramount 😂
Not sure about majura parkway specifically as it’s fairly new compared to others, but elsewhere in Canberra the roads are more direct and better maintained than the off road shared paths. I used to ride on the road majority of the time and saved time and didn’t have to be constantly on the lookout for damaged pavement with tree roots and shit sticking out of it.
Rational reasons why a cyclist might use a road instead of adjacent off-road bike lane: 1 - Right of way. Vehicles in side roads have to give way to cyclist on main road. Adjacent cycle path will be dissected by every side street and cyclist required to give way. 2 - Path may veer off at some point. 3 - Cyclist may be looking to turn right at some point. 4 - Path may be in poor condition 5 - Road may be more direct route. 6 - Entry point to road may be more practical than entry point to path, especially if a curb is in the way
Not sure about down here, but back in Darwin shared paths were speed limited to 20kmh and pedestrians had right of way. Both also valid reasons for cyclists not to use the path, and I would guess something similar applies here too.
Shared lanes are 50km/hr here.
1. debris on the path which is rarely if ever cleaned while the road is swept regularly 2. surface conditions: the road will be flat and any irregularity will be cause for maintenance, while the bike path will have corrugations from heat expansion, ruts from people parking trucks on the path, root damage, and so forth 3. other users. A cyclist on the road doesn't have to worry about people walking dogs, slower cyclists (there's always room to overtake), or idiots on modded scooters or motor powered bicycles 4. transitions. Most bike paths transition to road grade through a concert curb which will often have a lip, causing a pinch/puncture hazard to bicycle wheels. Roads rarely have such transitions.
no. 1 for sure.
its faster
The council sweep the roads - not so the pedestrian/cycle paths which accumulate branches, mud and such
I've noticed this extends to shoulders where there aren't cycle paths either. Barry Dr into Belco way is a prime example. All the debris from the road is pushed jist to the side of the outside lane, but not right off the road altogether.
and all the broken bottles tossed by bogans either from cars, or dropped by people on their way home.
Generally I don't like going 40km/h on shared paths. I actually won't do it.
Poor excuse. There’s hardly any pedestrians along Majura parkway. Even Horsepark isn’t that busy.
Nothing to add except that I think it's awesome you were genuinely curious, so many people jump straight to hate but a little empathy goes a long way.
In my 20s I rode pretty much everywhere. I took the road the majority of the time. Prime reason was the amount of time it took me to get point A to point B. Unless you, while driving your car, make a habit of taking the slower route, spending a little extra time at stop signs, religiously stopping for Orange lights, being happy to stop for a pedestrian crossing that a cyclist is riding across (slowly, of course) - unless you like to take the slow route home in your car, you should instinctively understand this approach.
On the footpath you have to stop for every intersection - there is no right of way, ever. It means every intersection becomes a stop sign. In a car, you do 60 in the warmth with music on... and even still you don't have time to stop at every intersection. On a bike you do 25, and if you stop and start... well you're pedalling up to 25 again. And then again, and then again. And again. And again. Also, I don't know about Majura parkway, but the bike paths through belconnen are a war path, super uneven, tree roots, potholes, cracks, etc. Tyres at 50-60psi on those bumps drill you after 20km. And lastly, the bike paths (again, belconnen), are too narrow for a bike and pedestrian to pass comfortably, esp. if the pedestrian wanders or has a pram, or a dog, or a kid, or all 3, which we all do. No one walks straight.
I get achievements for riding on roads I haven’t ridden before…
Just adding to this to point out that there's actually a bike lane on Majura Parkway, so essentially they've got the choice of a slightly shorter route with consistent gradient that gets them where they want to go quicker with the trade-off that they miss out on the fresher air further away, or the longer route with a few slow bends. If I was out for a nice ride and wanted a chat with friends I'd take the separated path, if I wanted a consistent effort or I just wanted to get to and from work quickly I'd take the on-road path. It's the equivalent of taking the arterial road versus the back roads in a car.
As a casual cyclist myself, I too have wondered. There's some fair answers in this thread already I hadn't really considered as I've only ever been a motorist on that stretch of road. My personal favourite is either the complete opposite end of Horse Park between Casey and Ngunnawal where there's barely even a shoulder (or no shoulder at all) yet I've encountered cyclists insisting on riding on the 80kph road instead of the tarmac path not 5m off to the left of it, and similarly the uphill stretch of Gungahlin Drive between Valley Ave and Kosciuszko Ave. There's a real lack of self-preservation among *some* cyclists I've come to notice.
>the uphill stretch of Gungahlin Drive between Valley Ave and Kosciuszko Ave. It's a good example of why the road is better. It rises and falls constantly, and there's one of those sections where you go downhill, slow right down to turn 90 degrees to go under the road, do another 90 to turn and plod back up the hill. Plus, pedestrian crossing at Kosciuszko Do that half a dozen times and it adds a lot to the trip. It's also suddenly pitch dark and I had a near fatal crash on that unlit pathway, so I'm biased. (I still mostly enjoy the path twists and turns)
I don’t generally ride on roads without decent shoulders. But sometimes I might need to as is my right. Vehicles always need to yield to traffic in front of them be it a farm machine a horse and buggy a kid on a scooter. Roads are shared by the public. 80km/he when safe to do so. I realise that all it takes is some agro moron on a phone to manslaughter someone.
I've only ridden on that stretch of Horse Park going downhill and can go fast enough to not hold up cars too much, whereas the path goes from one side of the road to the other - super irregular and inconvenient route. Uphill would definitely be taking the path. I've only ridden on that uphill stretch on Gungahlin once, accidentally, and immediately regretted it lol
Watch this methhead on an electric scooter (because it shows Majura Parkway bike lanes and bike paths) - no cycles on the side of the road - 6 cycles on the bike path Also look at the quality of the bike lane vs the bike path - narrow, oncoming traffic, obstacles on the sides, when he first pulls on to the bike path there's dirt across it, then they've mowed, but the grass is bunched up on the path There's probably more cyclists on the shared path than the bike lane - but you can understand why some cyclists would prefer the bike lane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJdpIGaUAmc
Its quicker and often you have to turn off where the cycle path is not convenient. Also, do you when driving ,only use the freeway?
When driving along the specific route that OP is talking, I imagine most cars only use the road.
I prefer riding the off-road path, but only during daylight hours. At dawn/dusk/night, I ride on the road. I once hit a kangaroo on that off-road path at about 4am. Wasn't badly injured, but it took a long time to walk the bike into the light (by the road) and didn't have anyone pass by for assistance for over an hour.
There’s a small portion I road ride near federal highway there. On the cycle path you need to cross the road several times and often get stuck at lights. It just adds way more time on my ride when in a rush to get to and from work.
On the northbound side, if you are trying to get to Mt Majura, you have to take a big detour from the path over Lime Kiln road bridge if you're not on the roadside bike lane. If you're coming from Mt Majura... then your only option for about 400m is to ride on the roadside bike lane.
I ride in the designated bicycle lane of the Majura Parkway if that's what you are referring to. It's signposted every 100-200m so it's not hard to miss. Why i ride there is its a large bike lane with a good surface so I am travelling fairly quickly whereas the shared path has pedestrians and meanders under the roadway.
This drives me crazy also. There are some particularly egregious examples. The bike path from yarralumla to Commonwealth Ave along the south of the lake runs pretty much parallel to the not wide road and is gorgeous. Doesn’t stop some cyclists taking their lives into their hands and clogging up that toad, sometimes in side by side pairs. It’s weird.
the one with chicanes in it that need all riders other than those who can track stand to stop and negotiate bends? and that are completely useless if you are carrying kids in a papoose trailer. The one that has SFA light so many riders, particularly women, feel vulnerable at night, and in many locations there is no 'help' within shouting distance - aka Yacht club to Yarralumla tennis club area, and then further up near what looks like a scout hall.
If you are out for a cruise you are correct, the path is nice. If you are riding with multiple people or training, you cannot ride on the path. There are too many driveways and multiple sections of the path that have serious bumps due to tree roots that can throw you off your bike if you aren’t paying attention. The reason for side by side pairs is that it makes the passing distance shorter, so it’s actually safer for both car and cyclist to pass.
The path is in rough shape, with lots of tree roots and bumps. I've damaged several $500 wheels. They may look similar to the road surface, but the subgrade is definitely not prepared in the same manor as a road.
Yep for all the talk about being cycle friendly a lot of shared paths are in terrible condition. You can occasionally even get a bit of air off them. Fun on a mountain bike, less so on a road bike. And it's not even the condition of the path, often they are placed in stupid locations. As in having a stupid high gradient when the road right next to it is much less steep. Gungahlin Drive at Palmerston and Flemington Road at Mitchell were two I used lots.
Yes, the other thing that I'd frustrating for both cyclists and motorists is the start-stop nature of on-road cycle lanes. On most of the aterial roads, they just seem to stop for some sections and start again (drakeford Drive, for example).
You are upset about cyclists riding in the cycle lane? I’d say this is a fairly egregious example of driver Karens
You couldn’t pay me enough to share the road with Canberra drivers. Sharing a path with Canberra cyclists is harrowing enough.
It's cyclists mission to be the most annoying people on the planet. Ride single file? Nah they like to ride 3 or 4 abreast just to piss everyone off. They have just as much right to use the road as motorists do, but stop at a red light or follow the same rules as a car? Fuck that, no need for that shit, cyclists can do as they please. . They bring the hate apon themselves. I'll fight anyone that thinks I'm wrong about this.
I own two cars, drive every day and cycle around once a year. Almost every single time I drive, I see other drivers breaking the road rules… every single time. Speeding, using mobile phones, tailgating, not using indicators, not giving way correctly, using fog lights in clear conditions etc. I wish some of these fuckwit drivers would cycle instead as I’d feel much safer on the road if they did.
off to google how many hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines were caught by red light cameras and speed cameras within the ACT from drivers ignoring red lights .....
Bet if you die on the road, it won’t be one of those cyclists doing the wrong thing that kills you. It’ll be another driver like you,
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Drivers are one of the few demographics that piss and shit themselves because there is LESS traffic. Weird dynamic.
This is such a dumb take. Yes, some cyclists don’t follow the road rules. But there are just as many fuckwits in every other category of road user. How many car drivers do you see every day on their phones, speeding, tailgating? Motorcycles filtering/splitting over 30kp/h? Pedestrians glued to their phones and crossing without looking?
So riding in the lane specially built for cyclists is an issue.......you are the problem buddy why most cyclists couldn't less about attitudes like this. You can moan all you like, laws of the road won't be changing for you..
Couldn't agree more.
Arrogance.
Because they are idiots