In my city the bike lanes and separated paths are mostly designed and routed for recreational cycling, not commuting.
In order to cycle in the typical commuting routes, you either have to go far out of your way, or travel on the most congested streets mingled in with the rest of the commuters.
Road biker here, for sport. Bike lanes are dangerous for us and unpraticable, at least in my country.
And too narrow very often. And full of people walking, dogs pissing, kids…
Because they’re mostly shitty and also we’re not obligated to.
Because people park their cars there “just for a minute”
Ah the bike lane, the least maintained part of the road with 100% of the sewer grates and man holes.
I’m not riding my bike over a grate, the wheels will fall through and I’ll be seriously injured.
Here’s an example of bike lane: a lane going into a large intersection with no exiting bike lanes. You’re required to go on the sidewalk and transition to the mixed use path going forward, which is technically illegal weight dismounting. If you take the lane on any of these roads you’re getting honked at or buzzed by trucks for slowing traffic.
The bike lane on the southern street is actually a decent route, but it hits a terminal point that leaves no safe options to continue riding.
Here’s another example of a bike path
What is a north bound cyclist supposed to do? They hit that path stop sign and they can’t cross the road safely, plus it has a physical barrier. They can’t continue straight on the sidewalk. The only official option is to dismount and walk 100m to the light, cross, then enter the bike lane.
These bike lanes are checkboxes on a planning form, not designed elements of a safe and effective cycling network.
Non-continous, no/wrong signs, bad surface, bike lane is slower than a road (e.g. extra traffic lights, extra intersection).
Because I ride my bike in the forests and there are no bike lanes there.
Bike lanes are sometimes too narrow for cargo bikes.
Bike lanes are often dirty, and increase the probability of punctures where I live, since I have been using the road I have not had a single puncture.
There are some bike lines in my city that are intertwined with normal roads, meaning I don’t feel safe riding in traffic whilst being close to a giant semi.
