A Roads

[Tasker]

Being retired I decided to have a day out on the bike today simply because it was such a lovely spring day. Perhaps due to high spirits at seeing a bit of sun I went much further than I normally would, despite knowing my own limitations and so due to finding myself totally knackered, I chose the most direct road home, (the A53 should anyone be interested) but I think my horrendous experience must apply to loads of other A roads that are in effect little more than motorways in that traffic whizzes by your elbow at up to 70/80 MPH.

This particular road snakes left and right, up and down with loads of dangerous blind spots. There was one particular section that was very narrow, double white lines with no grass verge that was a steep uphill climb with the result I held the traffic up for a good ten minutes – there was literally nowhere to get off the road to let the traffic by. When I did eventually find somewhere I naturally pulled in to let the traffic by, and the abuse I got for holding everyone up was unbelievable but perhaps understandable.

My point is this: it seems to me that if this state of things continues we won’t be able to travel from one town to another without resorting to country lanes which meander all over the place adding miles to the journey, stuck to ‘cycling approved’ routes within our own localities, Sustrans notwithstanding.

For example, I’ve been considering cycling down to London to stay with relatives and should like to do the journey within a reasonable time. This inevitably involves going on A roads a lot of the time but after this afternoon’s experience I’m not so sure.

Therefore it occurs to me that it’s high time some sort of legislation was introduced whereby the powers that be are obligated to provide some sort of footpath running alongside these now dangerous to all but motoring traffic, so the cyclist and pedestrian can should he/she feel so inclined, be able to walk, cycle, horse ride etc. – Which is surely our right, these roads being the Queen’s highways, thus open for all to use?

Does anyone know of a pressure group that supports this? What do others think?

 

[the_mikey]

it's not just A roads, I was driving along the B4465 today while working and encountered two cyclists, it wasn't safe to pass since I couldn't see the road ahead, so I sat and waited behind until I could clearly see the road ahead and any oncoming traffic, this road is narrow climbs up the side of the cotswold ridge, twists and turns and has no safe refuge, it's a road I'd like to cycle along myself only I'd fear for my life because it seems most people don't want to slow down, even on blind bends. I was envious of the two cyclists I passed though.

 

[ZIZAG]

Hello tasker .
My only advice to you Is If you want to enjoy your retirement . As I am retired myself . And I am really enjoying the benifits of cycling In the last year .
Stay off A roads as much as you can . For your own safety . I have gone on Some A roads In Cheshire ,to shorten the route . And I have had quite a number of Close encounters !!!!!!!!!!!!!
with all sorts of vehicles . I have just felt the downdraught of mainly heavy goods wagons. And felt very uncomfortable and Nervous . . And had to get off pronto . I only felt better and safe on the Cheshire cycleways and lanes .
So take It from me . " You are dicying with Death ".
So forget about time and meander take time chill out ,you will get there In the end ."Safely " .................

P.S . have you not done enough rushing about to timetables when you were at work .
Please enjoy your retirement and all the cycling thats In front of you .
Best Wishs

 

[Banjo]

Its hard to tell from the map what the road is really like. Some A roads are fine to cycle others are a nightmare.

 

[Tasker]

P.S . have you not done enough rushing about to timetables when you were at work .
Please enjoy your retirement and all the cycling thats In front of you .
Best Wishs

You're right of course. Just that I see this nightmarish situation where we cyclists/pedestrians can't exercise our perfect right to travel from one town to another without taking our lives into our hands. It's not fair, it's unjust and in my opinion the powers that be are in neglect of their legal obligations. I know that some brave people would and will, continue to insist on cycling on these dangerous roads. I hate 'Peeps Rights' type demos but I wish a load of walkers would exercise their rights and set off too, creating absolute havoc on a Monday morning. I'd be there because I honestly support their perfect right to do so but to be realistic we have to accept that motorised traffic has to have priority so why not an alternative route provided at least on the dangerous sections?

I think it so important that all new roads at the very least are built with the acceptance that non motorised traffic also paid towards it's costs - and that doesn't mean simply putting in non maintained paths so often strewn with rubbish and broken glass.

 

[dellzeqq]

My point is this: it seems to me that if this state of things continues we won’t be able to travel from one town to another without resorting to country lanes which meander all over the place adding miles to the journey, stuck to ‘cycling approved’ routes within our own localities, Sustrans notwithstanding.

For example, I’ve been considering cycling down to London to stay with relatives and should like to do the journey within a reasonable time. This inevitably involves going on A roads a lot of the time but after this afternoon’s experience I’m not so sure.

I think you overstate the problem. A lot of A roads are perfectly do-able, and we have a network of B roads that do run a decent distance.

Try looking at google maps and hitting the walk option - then refining it a bit by choosing the B4100 and looking for routes parallel to the A41. Five minutes will give you a decent route.

 

[Tasker]

I think you overstate the problem. A lot of A roads are perfectly do-able, and we have a network of B roads that do run a decent distance.

Try looking at google maps and hitting the walk option - then refining it a bit by choosing the B4100 and looking for routes parallel to the A41. Five minutes will give you a decent route.

Thanks for the advice, will do but have already and don't altogether trust it insofar to be a good guide to non motorised traffic. Perhaps my bad experience coloured my post. My question though still stands: what about the now completely uncyclable - let alone - unwalkable parts of our 'Queens' Highway' that have been rendered totally and utterly dangerous to all but motorised traffic?

I/you too pay our tax: just because I haven't got a car now, how come I find I can't take off for another town along the roads by bike or by foot that I've contributed to all my life?

 

[steve52]

thye abuse is not understandable or warented but saddly the norm, i cycle often on a road and apart from the noise quite like the duel carridge ways as there is room for the buggers to move out aroundme (most do) and often a bit inside the edge i can cycle on, i do put a bit of wax on my right elbow, it helps lessen the friction from the 30% that do come a bit close, too close is actually clipping me,sad but it is the world we live in

 

[Tasker]

i do put a bit of wax on my right elbow, it helps lessen the friction from the 30% that do come a bit close, too close is actually clipping me,sad but it is the world we live in

Steve! Yeah! But the problem is, as an old age pensioner, (Hero of Waterloo, the D day landings, etc,etc,) - I can't afford the elbow grease!

 

[Davidc]

I went out yesterday, and did 88 miles on a mixture of roads and a couple of miles of off-road paths. This included about 20 miles of A roads and 40 of B roads. I was surprised, I didn't get any abuse from drivers all day, only had one close overtake all day, and had drivers giving way and being nice most of the time. I wish it happened all of the time. I did get some abuse from a pedestrian who thinks that bikes should be banned from a section of shared use path though.

I didn't even get any hassle when a queue of cars got stuck behind me going at 4 mph up a particularly steep hill (Burrington Coombe)!

I'm fussy about which A roads I use and there are some I just won't go on because they're either unsafe or unpleasant. I usually find that drivers are more accepting of the bike on B roads, but most are well behaved on the smaller A roads. The country roads are slower and slightly further but I like them best for cycling and put up with that for the greater enjoyment of the ride.

Where I find drivers less friendly is on the trunk A roads, the ones coloured green on OS maps. These roads seem to carry the bulk of the lorries and car drivers in a hurry, and seem to be designed and laid out to be as unfriendly as possible to anyone travelling without an engine. I do sometimes use them when I have to (the situation in the OP being one) and although I've never had a serious problem with drivers other than verbal abuse I find the experience very unpleasant.

There is never an excuse for abuse. No-one owns the roads, and drivers of cars and fast vehicles need to accept that tractors, cyclists, pedestrians and horses are slower than them and wait to get past. I know they don't accept it and do get abusive, nonetheless there is never an excuse or a good reason for it. If you've retired you've probably contributed more in tax over 40 years or more to the road being there than most of the other road users have!

The problem with obligatory path provision is that the next progression would be attempts at compulsory path use, and the contour and cleanliness of those paths makes them all but unuseable. The Germans have had recent issues with this which went to court. Fortunately the cyclists won and can still use the roads.