by I love that more cities across the world are recognizing the importance of bike lanes and bike paths. Commuting by bike reduces traffic congestion, wear and tear on the roads, makes people healthier, and makes cities more liveable.
Though I’m sure each bike lane below started with the best of intentions, there are clearly some growing pains when it comes to introducing them in car-centric cities. The results are, at times, amusing, confusing, and downright hilarious. Enjoy these 31 most ridiculous bike lane fails from around the world.
1.
I am a big believer that paint is not infrastructure. If you want to create safe bike lanes, they have to be physically separated from cars. That requires the cycle path bollards to be placed between the lanes, not as a weave test for cyclists (not gonna lie, I would have fun trying though).
2.
It’s obvious to anyone who cycles that some planners really don’t like it. Rarely do they get to be this honest with what they’d like to see happen to us.
3.
The people who checked this off as a good plan have far more confidence in my bike handling skills than I do.
4.
Oh, ok. This is worse. Much worse. I could maybe manage going downhill (though some fillings might shake loose), but uphill? I don’t know who has the leg strength for that, but it’s not me.
5.
It’s amazing to me that someone was able to set out these signs with a straight face.
6.
Carbrains: “We built cycle lanes and the cyclists still ride on the road!”
Also carbrains: “Just gonna park right here. I won’t be too long.”
7.
I can’t imagine any way that this could possibly go wrong.
8.
Shout out to this wild bike lane in Hungary a few years ago. Why choose between riding your bike or going on a roller coaster when you could have both?
9.
Soooo…how good are you at keeping your bike straight? Confident enough that you’d ride on 1 meter between 100km traffic highway and a tire-grabbing grate? I can only assume the planner for this help a lot of stock in the local funeral home.
10.
Clearwater, Florida showing lots of love for cyclists. No need to leave your bicycle behind when going from one restaurant to the next. They’ve got you covered!
11.
Hey Bucharest. I can’t say I hate your priorities, exactly. We all need to protect greenery in urban environments. Though I hope you don’t mind me saying that perhaps there might have been an alternative solution here for the bike lane? Maybe?
12.
Oh dear. The line “He a little confused, but he got the spirit” comes to mind. The only thing that would make this better is if it was a sign warning cyclists there’s a sign in the cycle lane.
13.
Yup, exactly like that. How incredibly helpful of you, little sign. Thanks for announcing your existence.
14.
The only people who should plan bike lanes are people who ride bikes themselves. I think I will avoid being pancaked by merging traffic thank you very much.
15.
Credit: ladyfleur
Someone didn’t quite think this through. On the plus side, the cyclist reports that the city replaced it with a safer grid grate after alerting them to the issue. Success!
16.
Credit: DailyMail
I thought this deserved two photos because…. well just look at it! The world’s shortest bike lane in Cardiff. At only 8 ft long, it cost the council £2,000 to paint.
17.
I don’t think going out with my bike needs to come with a side quest. Especially not a swim in the canal.
18.
It’s the preciseness of the arrow point that really gets me.
19.
Credit: r/JimmySchwann
The original poster of this photo writes “To add insult to injury, there’s an 8 lane road (4 lanes each way) right beside the sidewalk.”
20.
Credit: ladyfleur
I’m sure they had good intentions with this sign, but the result is forcing cyclists directly into traffic. Maybe a rethink is in order?
21.
Does anyone else think that it’s kind of an adorable bike lane? Impractical, but I’m not mad at it.
22.
Oh good, because every cyclist loves a brain injury or two on their morning commute. I wonder how many wheels that grate has grabbed onto.
23.
When cities go “fine, we’ll put in a bike lane to shut cyclists up,” they forget the important detail that it actually needs to be usable.
24.
I accept that this isn’t completely relevant here, but it made me laugh and I make the rules so I’m throwing it in.
25.
I think for every sign, post, or tree that is put in the middle of a bike lane, the same needs to be put directly in the middle of a car lane.
26.
If this is part of your daily commute, I hope you have a solid bunny hop.
27.
I am NOT that brave and I am terrified of anyone who is.
28.
I am not sure what you’re asking me to do here, but I am positive the answer is no.
29.
Any guesses on how many cyclists look up too late and flip over the rail? I would be a victim for sure. It would be real cool if bike lanes weren’t randomly blocked off.
30.
Top-tier bike lane infrastructure from Aberdeen, Scotland.
31.
For obvious reasons, I have questions. Yet, something tells me even the designers of this bike path don’t have answers.
