General Discussion
Parking and Driving over Cycle Lanes
I see the Dawlish Neighbourhood Police have requested that drivers do not park or drive over the cycle Lanes along the Exeter Road Nr Sea Lawn Terrace.
It's not just a problem there it's the whole of the Exeter Road, cars use the paths and grass verges as car parks.
Yesterday i watched a Taxi driving down the cycle path for 2 or 3 hundred yards. I t is a offence to park or drive on a cycle path and a FPN can be issued under obstruction of cycle path its time the Police started dishing out a few.
Maybe that's because you don't live the Exeter Road side of town Huw?
I've seen cyclists using those paths (and remember they are also pedestrian areas as well) and I have to say there are noticeably more and more what I call leisure cyclists (as opposed to the lycra clad cyclists) using them even at this time of year outside of the tourist season.
There is also a problem with cars parking on the yellow zig zag area by the Marine Garage/Exeter Road shops when the parking area by the shops is full.
I noticed the PCSOs issuing tickets at Marine Garage for drivers obstructing the cycle path. I am not a cyclist but maybe we need legislation to ban cyclists from the highway when cycle paths are available. In responce to User4549 you are correct but it takes minutes for a officer to stop and issue a ticket maybe cyclists need to complain more about obstruction of cycle paths. How about naming and shaming drivers who obstruct cycle lanes i am great friends with a cyclist who has a large number of photos of vehicles parked on the Exeter Road cycle path how would he stand if he downloaded those photos onto this page any ideas
Perhaps he should send them to the Gazette. See if they would use them. Get more coverage there than on here.
And of course it is not only fully abled cyclists and pedestrians that are adversely affected by motorists parking where they shouldn't. What about those pushing buggies/having small children walking with them/wheel chair users/ mobility scooter users etc.
Name and shame??? I'm all for it, but not everyone round here likes it - even when reproducing published convictions on here, so imagine the furore!!!!
@Nelson - yes I remember that thread.
Let the paper run with the story then. I seem to remember they covered this same issue a few years back. Perhaps they should revisit it. Reg. numbers can always be pixled out. If the police are on the offensive about this matter they could always make a contribution to the article. Letting motorists know that they will be fined etc if they park where they shouldn't do.
And/or send those photos to the police. They can then trace the offenders.
Hi all,
The cycle paths are fine for leisure cycling, I use them when I'm on my off road bike, however using a road bike on a cycle path is a no no as they are too rough also continual kerbs, cyclists would damage their wheels or possibly come off then potentially make a claim against the council as 'forced' to use said path.
A pack of cyclists can easily be doing 30mph on the flat imagine trying to avoid pedestrians at such speed.
It would be like saying pedestrians can walk onto the road without looking and its the motoristists responsibility to avoid said pedestrian.
My opinion wouldn't work.
Before you start most lycra clad cyclists insure their bikes for damage to 3rd parties, and it costs more to insure than a car.
I use the cycle path most days and I have almost ridden into cars that are parked on the cycle lane, as you just don't expect them to be there.
Very selfish to park on cycle lanes and pavements. Any vehicle parked on them should be towed.
As said on here previously, when cyclists start paying to use the roads as do car drivers and are forced to have insurance, lights, and have taken a cycling safety test. Then and only then should they have any rights on the road. Till that day comes just shut up about it. The majority dont use the cycle paths anyway. How about photos of the lycra clad idiots weaving between cars turning a junctions etc. Pehaps Debbie and co should issue them with spot fines. Just remember nobody has total right of way on any road or pathway we all have to share
The subject of this discussion is cycles lanes. No vehicle should be parked on them.
See Teignbridge District Council Pavement Parking - http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11417
To report an illegally parked vehicle contact Parking Services, Tel: 01626 215859 - http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2168.
Cheers
Paul 
Parking on cycle paths is obstruction and i believe that the Police deal with obstruction i am reliably informed that the PCSOs have been informed and are planing to deal with it
Pity they dont do anything about the parents who cause obstruction in the vicinity of Westcliff School !!!!!!!
@Andysport, took note of thye cycle path along exeter rd today and guess what its tarmac just like the road!!!
Andysport its actualy a better surface than the road we should have legislation forcing cyclists onto cycle paths if available in fact there should be a raft of legislation to cover ,maintainance, helmets, insurance etc
Well said Leatash in total agreement. Its not the motorists the PCSOs should be harrassing its the lycra loonies. On the point of PCSOs my understanding is that they are not Police and have no more rights than normal citizens so how can they issue penalty notices for obstructing cycle paths. Most of us have parked around Marine shops for years long before cycle paths, so why should we have to give way to the minority group. This nanny state country is going bonkers.
No-one's saying cars shouldn't be parked around the Marine shops area. What is being said is that they shouldn't be parked there illegally (or illegally parked anywhere else for that matter).
Are you saying that an illegally parked car which, by being parked where it shouldn't be, and which then causes an accident is an okay thing?
Whether or not cyclists should have compulsory insurance , must wear helmets etc is a different issue to that of cars parking illegally on cycle/pedestrian areas as Paul has already pointed out several postings above.
I went for a bike ride today. My average speed was 19mph. The design speed for cycle paths in this country is 12mph. 19mph is far too dangerous a speed to cycle along a shared path and at times I was going much faster than this. This is why I do not use cycle paths when on my road bike. However when I do cycle on the road I abide by the law and highway code at all times unlike some others.
@dave 19mph is far too dangerous to drive on Dawlish roads at the moment! The potholes are horrendous (and yes I have reported them online).
Personally its not single bikers I have a problem with it's the groups that can be quite abusive and obstructive. I wish they wouldn't drive so close to each other as we already know what can happen if they bang into each other.
As for parking illegally at Marine Stores, you'll often find the main offender is the Mei Lai delivery car. He seems to abandon his car wherever he wants.