Cycle lanes on pavements
Why I almost never use cycle lanes painted on pavements
You know the cycle lanes I'm referring to. A white line painted down the middle of the pavement, so that cyclists and pedestrians can share it. Some of them are quite good, but the inner-city ones are generally a waste of time
The main problem is that these lanes give way to every side road, so you have to slow down and look over your shoulder at every side road. It is also annoying if traffic is waiting to pull out the side road.
Other annoyances are limited space to overtake slow cyclists or pedestrians spilling over from their side of the pavement, and a bumpier road surface than the main carriageway, tight corners and "Cyclists Dismount" signs.
Luckily, in the UK "use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills" (The Highway Code for cyclists (61)), so you don't have to use them. They are sometimes useful as a legitimate way to bypass red traffic lights though.
I recommend that you instead use bus lanes instead. "Most bus lanes may be used by cyclists as indicated on signs ” (65), so if there is a picture of a bicycle on the blue sign at the start of the bus lane, you can use it, and it'll be a smoother, faster ride.
comments
Yes but it also says: "Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so."
There's nothing worse for a car driver than a cycle weaving all over the road when there is a perfectly good cycle lane that tax payer's money has been used to pay for.