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The cycle lanes are not compulsory, you don't have to be corralled into waiting an age to head in the same direction as other road vehicles just because you don't have an engine.
I went all the way around Parliament Sq today instead doing my usual hang right. I flew past about 50 cyclists jammed into that narrow segregated path waiting at their own set of lights for the privilege to use the same piece of tarmac that I just cycled past them on.
The mind boggles.
Antidotes-
I was probably among them! Yeah aware using the lanes isn't compulsory, just wanted to try it out. Safe to say I won't bother until they change it.
The segregated stretch along Embankment I do enjoy, however. Nice to chill out a bit.
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I'm having similar at E+C, first time I went the wrong way and ended up on a dodgy shared use part, next time I went the right way but got stuck behind some people walking who knew I was behind them they just didn't give a damn and I know if I went to cycle around leaving the narrow cycle path they would have turned and shouted or stepped out to be more annoying. If it wasn't for being able to miss the lights I'd have ignored it, it's nicely tempting to use it rather than sit at the lights.
Bezzin
Clockwise
Parliament Square cycle lanes are a right pain in the arse. Took about 5 minutes to get from Millbank side onto Embankment today when it used to take about 30 seconds. Hope they speed up the sequence of the lights...