I have just been out for a ride along the seafront Westcliff-Shoebury direction with my other half to test out his new IQ cyo light. We stayed off the cycle path and rode on the road.
....
That's one of the worst sections of road in town to ignore the farcilities. If you're not on that cycle path* then you will get abuse.
I get it every time I'm down there, and now almost go out of my way to avoid the area. A colleague also avoids that area now as he's fed up with
1) abuse
2) not being able to use the path as it's always dug up for gas works
3) not being able to use the path as it's used as a service road by the council bin emptying vans.
I agree with him on all these points.
The best time I had down there was a summer's lunchbreak with a tail wind. The path was full of kids on stabilisers. Even though I'd caught the queue up and was looking for the overtake the passengers in the car were angrily gesturing at the path. i shook my head, overtook, and left them for dust stuck behind the learner.
That was 5 years ago. The only way we'll improve matters is to get rid of dedicated paths alongside 30mph roads and head back towards a shared space. Unfortunately it seems to me that the local council are once again pursuing a regime of getting cyclists off of the carriageway and away from anywhere that they might cause delay to the motor car.
* for non locals this is what it looks like ---->
Daft cycle paths at nuttycyclist.co.uk