What side of the cycle path in UK?

[Watchman]

I don't think it's unreasonable for me to want to ride on the left hand side of cycle paths in the UK given that we drive on the left but the number of oncoming cyclists I encounter who move onto the grass to MY left, leaving an empty path to my right, has made me question whether I'm misguided.

Please confirm your understanding.

[4lf4-155]

I go left by default but it's a lottery by the time I meet the oncoming cyclist, pedestrian, dog, swan etc.

Most people seem to want to pass on the side with least danger. E.g on a tow path Other person tends to go to the side where they won't get wet if something goes wrong.

[Beyond Rational]

No set rule. If the path is uninterrupted for a long time, hope for left. If it involves joining and leaving an adjacent road to the right, it's not a necessarily a good idea if there are cyclists coming in the opposite direction.

[Watchman]

Beyond Rational said:

No set rule. If the path is uninterrupted for a long time, hope for left. If it involves joining and leaving an adjacent road to the right, it's not a necessarily a good idea if there are cyclists coming in the opposite direction.

No, I get that. There aren't any of that nature here that I can think of (Redditch, Midlands). The paths scythe through the local parks. Dog walkers and pedestrians are as random as to be expected but I'd have thought other cyclists of driving age would naturally choose left but 9 out of 10 choose right.

It is fair to say that some portions of the paths are smoother on one side or the other, and without anyone else in sight I choose that side whichever direction I'm heading, but default to the left as soon as I see someone on-coming.

Ah well, I know there are no official rules, as there aren't (many) for cyclists in general - and long may it continue - but I just thought self-preservation might kick-in with some common sense.

Thanks anyway.

[anonymous-user]

There are a few cycle paths in Bristol that have a bicycle painted on one side, and a pedestrian painted on the other thus regardless of direction of travel, eg commuting, you stay on the same side going to and from work. For some this is just too hard to fathom and they cycle on the left heading east or west. Those of us who abide by the markers then have these people pull out in front of us without a shoulder check when they over take pedestrians (who are walking on the correct side of the path), had some near misses recently too...

If its not clear I'll keep left.

[ewenm]

pablo said:

There are a few cycle paths in Bristol that have a bicycle painted on one side, and a pedestrian painted on the other thus regardless of direction of travel, eg commuting, you stay on the same side going to and from work. For some this is just too hard to fathom and they cycle on the left heading east or west. Those of us who abide by the markers then have these people pull out in front of us without a shoulder check when they over take pedestrians (who are walking on the correct side of the path), had some near misses recently too...

If its not clear I'll keep left.

However, on the Bristol-Bath path and the ring road path at commuter time everyone ignores the markings - runners and cyclists stay left, walkers tend to stay right (so facing the oncoming traffic).

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Seems entirely logical and sensible to go to the left - the same as we do on our bloody roads, no? Arrrggghhh!

However - I have always wondered at the logic / stupidity of London Underground escalators. They instruct you to stand on the RIGHT with people who wish to walk, to overtake you on the left? Why TFL, why?????!!!!

[Watchman]

pablo said:

There are a few cycle paths in Bristol that have a bicycle painted on one side, and a pedestrian painted on the other thus regardless of direction of travel, eg commuting, you stay on the same side going to and from work. For some this is just too hard to fathom and they cycle on the left heading east or west. Those of us who abide by the markers then have these people pull out in front of us without a shoulder check when they over take pedestrians (who are walking on the correct side of the path), had some near misses recently too...

If its not clear I'll keep left.

We have dual purpose pavements - white line down the middle with bikes on one side, pedestrians on the other.

Thing is, the peds don't remember which side they're supposed to walk on, so cyclists end up weaving from one side to the other anyway. Honestly, I'm less bothered about the peds, or even the dog walkers who don't control their dogs. I just view them as obstacles that need to be negotiated. I slow around dogs, and make my intentions clear to all walkers, smiling and thanking them if they consciously move aside to let me pass.

It's just the closing speeds of cyclists that worries me. There are lots of people on bikes (not necessarily "cyclists" as such) who just move along without much idea or care. As for the walkers, I slow down, make my intentions clear, and try to pass without causing offence. But when you see obvious "cyclists"... "enthusiasts" by another name, I'd sort of expect them to understand to keep left.

Well, they don't. But it was the sheer number of them tonight which led me to question my understanding.


Whatever... you know how you don't get upset with the "traffic" in a driving game? Well, that's how I approach driving. I never get road rage. Everyone else is just an obstacle to negotiate without getting upset about it. I try to approach my cycling that way too. It's not as though I'm particularly invested in a particular time when I'm riding you see - I'm not fast. I have an hour "leisure" time in the evenings to do my 12 miles loop, and it takes me about that time to do it.

But it would be nice if some common sense was applied to the cycle paths. Maybe, late one night, I'll grab a tin of paint and a brush and supplement the painted-on signs denoting the cycle paths with some instructions to keep left.

[Kermit power]

I would, as a driving adult, ride on the left.

As a teenager before I started driving, however, I had a particularly daft failure. I was cycling down a path (a nice, wide one across the middle of Gerrards Cross common for anyone who knows it) when I noticed someone of a similar age cycling towards me on the same side of the path.

I moved left to get out of his way, just as he moved right.

So I moved right, just as he moved left.

We completed this entire sequence two further times before cycling head on into each other and collapsing onto the path, at which point we both burst out laughing, much to the bemusement of a woman walking a labrador next to us.

[JMDWestley]

I always keep left and generally overtake on right.
When going past someone I always say/shout which side im going to take, normally works out ok.