Cycle path blocked?

Love this video made by Casey Neistat in reaction to being fined $50 for not using the bike lane.  It looks like that in NYC, like in Belfast, blocking the cycle lane is totally fine for both other road users and anyone else who wants too.

fortunately we do e these ridiculous rules – but in addition to the obstructions illustrated – we also have the “un-rideable” and the “disapearing” cycle paths.

Both are finely illustrated in Belfast by the stretch of cycle path in both directions outside the Odyssey.

Traveling past the Odyssey towards Dee street the cyclist is directed onto the pavement. 

Looks Great
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Further along the pavement degenerates, there are un-ramped kerbs and basically the path becomes un-rideable.  To add to this it’s often impossible to get back on the road because of parked cars.

But then you end up on this!
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In the other direction the path simply disappears at the lights leaving the cyclist to somehow magically cross four or five lanes of traffic to rejoin the “National Cycle Route” over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

Where’s the cycle path gone?

That’s not to say that there are not some great cycle paths in Belfast.  The Comber Greenway, the Lagan towpath and the Belfast Lough offer miles of traffic free or well shared routes for commuting and leisure riding and I have to say that the Antrim road bus lanes are fairly well respected and policed so work well during rush hour.

However, in Belfast, parts of the city centre routes are a bit shambolic and are poorly policed with vans and cars blocking them and absolutely no consideration given to cyclists during road or pavement works.