Day 9: Please use the bicycle path

Today was the first time I was stopped by the police. I was cycling on the road in Tarnow and they told me to use the bicycle path. The problem with polish bicycle paths? They are horrible (yes, there are some exceptions, Krakow for example had quite good bicycle paths). Often the bicycle paths just end without any way to continue. Or they suddenly move to the other side of the street. Changing the sides without stopping is only possible if you are suicidal. And Tarnow is especially bad. Don't go there on a bike. 

From afar it wasn't even obvious how deep the depression is.

Also the cycle paths are not flat but have many steps and holes. Big enough to damage my bike. I like to complain about german cycle paths as well, but this is way worse. And sometimes they put up a sign that cycling is forbidden on the road without offering any alternatives.

So most of the time I just use the road. On the larger roads (that most of the time don't have cycling paths) with all the trucks this is no fun either. If there is only one lane in each direction and both are full of cars and trucks, there is no way to overtake for the trucks. This is annoying for all involved.

The only way to get around this is to find the small roads that are not used by many cars. But from the map it is not always obvious how much traffic is on a given road.

So I am sorry this post became a bit of a rant. Actually the day wasn't all that bad. It started with some nice  cycling and included some pretty churches in different styles (in this area there are many wooden ones). But in the end the high temperatures (no storm, rain or hail. Just sunny 33°) and the traffic weared me down.  

Somewhat exhausted after climbing a hill.