Why?

[Vagus]

Every day I drive down a very busy 4 lane road. (2 lanes each way and loads of traffic lights.) a couple of years ago the council, at great cost, Converted the large grass verges at both sides of this road into a cycle lane and a smaller grass verge. (The existing pavement remained.)
So why today, as most days, do pedal cyclists use the road. Today’s idiot caused the extremely busy traffic to go into the outside lane to get past him yet 2 metres to his left there is an empty cycle lane.
Why?

[dannyk13]

Idiot on a bike.

[TonyV]

Maybe a secret death wish?

[weecalf]

Lucky he didn’t cause a chain reaction . Are you the spokesman for the drivers ? I’m afraid you are saddled with this . I’m sure the council are tyred with these complaints . Ok I’m on my my bike .

[scorpiojo]

:-))

[vulcan42]

Because most cyclists are arrogant and believe cycle lanes are only for children.

[douglas9401]

Someone will be along presently to put this in 'other vehicles'. :)

[Cloverjo]

I would guess they don't want to get caught up with the slower cyclists on the path. On the road, they can at least zig-zag around cars and whizz off.

I say this as a former bicycle rider - I wasn't one of those Lycra-clad people who risk death every day on the roads, though.

[ethandron]

And why don’t cyclists use their blooming bells?
We regularly walk our dog on a shared path, lots of signs telling everyone to be courteous, which we are, keeping the dog on a lead and moving to one side when we see a cyclist.
Most cyclists are also courteous, however some whizz past from behind without a ding of their bell or a shout to let us know they’re coming. One recently screeched to a halt about two metres behind me who I was completely unaware of, nearly jumped out of my skin. He actually had a bell...but didn’t use it! When asked why he said it was ok as he could see me!!

[bednobs]

you see im actually the opposite eth, we used to live by the canal and i HATED it when cyclists would come up behind you and ring their bell in a kind of " get out of my way" manner. It used to scare the dogs into trying to taste them

[CrapAtCryptics]

Probably on a par with motorcyclists who seem to think hatched areas in the middle of the road are their personal overtaking lane.

[spathiphyllum]

Bikes of a 24'' wheel circumference must ride on the road unless the road is a duel carriageway A road or a Motorway.

[bainbrig]

When pedalling, I often avoid cycle lanes as they are (naturally) full of drains, the bigger potholes, crevices and other hazards.

I try and keep close to the kerb for obvious reasons, but you try riding on two wheels when another hazard jumps into your path every few yards!

(DuEl carriageway? Maybe Freudian).

BB

[vulcan42]

In the area where I live they have gone to a
great deal of expense to double the width of the pavement so that the half designated to cyclist doesn't have drains, potholes etc. It still doesn't get used.

[retrocop]

A similar situation occurs in Richmond Park.For some reason cyclists are attracted to the large circuit it presents. The road speed limit is 20mph and cyclists cause much frustration, to motorists, when riding two or three abreast and preventing any safe overtakes. There is a perfectly adequate cycle track along the complete perimeter and adjacent to the road. The 20 mph is a sensible precaution because of the presence of herds of deer. Some cyclists,I am sure, sprint in excess of this limit on downhill stretches

[Hopkirk]

In the days when I used to ride a bike I never once rang the bell. I felt it would be rude and arrogant, as if to say "get out of my way"

[Cloverjo]

It's very difficult to ring a bike bell in such a way to let pedestrians know you're coming up behind them without it sounding like 'Get out of my way!'

[bednobs]

yes i get that :)

[bhg481]

If ever we are cycling where there are pedestrians we give a single "ting" when quite a distance away from them, just to let them know we are about and always a "Thank-you" as we pass.

[ethandron]

Exactly bhg, and that’s exactly what most of the cyclists using this path do...and I always thank them for using their bell.
I do sort of get it that some pedestrians think it’s the cyclist being arrogant but I really don’t see it that way at all. I’d far rather know a cyclist is approaching than potentially causing myself and the cyclist to fall (which I almost did in the scenario I mentioned).
Reading some cycling and walking forums it seems opinionons on bell ringing are 50/50 :/

[ethandron]

Some cyclist who don’t have a bell call out ‘cyclist approaching’ or similar, which works equally well.
If I wasn’t aware of a cyclist approaching then I’d be quite likely to change direction, or stop suddenly, while walking the dog as it’s what dogs do.