Are there any quiet roads left in England?

[yello]

Watching the TdF on tele, I was simply staggered by the number of people at the roadsides. Obviously, cycling is very popular and the tour captured the imagination but clearly it indicates also that there is a big population.

As someone living in rural France with an intention to return to England one day, I'm getting the impression that I'll find roads busy and towns crowded.

Is it possible to ride without cars passing frequently? If so, where?

 

[Flying Dodo]

Generally, anywhere outside of the South East of England. Although even here there are pockets of calm such as parts of Kent or Suffolk.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

watching cycling is much much more popular than doing cycling and the big population turned out in its cars and shuttle busses for the novelty value of the TdF. Watching the TV on Saturday, there were plenty of deserted stretches and half a mile down from the top of the mad busy spectator bus drop off point near the Cragg Vale climb there was oceans of space to watch in.

Barely any distance outside of the urban areas and connurbations you can still find plenty of quiet roads and fun to be had. Maybe not rural France quiet but you'll not be choking on exhaust fumes. Also 99%+ of drivers are decent enough and give you space & no hassle, we only tend to post and comment on the isolated bad incidents not the run of the mill good.

 

[Archie_tect]

You can ride quiet country lanes all day in rural Northumberland with just a handful of cars on the road. It's great, but you have to be mindful when you hear the splutter of a car approaching being driven too fast!

 

[yello]

Also 99%+ of drivers are decent enough and give you space & no hassle

Tbh, that was my experience when I rode from Llanelli to west London last year. It quite surprised and pleased me. It was only as I got closer to London that things started getting a bit silly.

 

[welsh dragon]

Wales is the place to be. Plenty of country lanes that have no traffic on them at all. You can go for miles without seeing another living soul, or vehicle.

 

[GrasB]

I live near Cambridge & besides crossings the odd busy A road you can stay clear of traffic with only a handful of car passes per hour, it's just about keeping to the smaller back roads.

 

[stephec]

Wales is the place to be. Plenty of country lanes that have no traffic on them at all. You can go for miles without seeing another living soul, or vehicle.

That's because you've scared them all away.

On a more serious note, before I read the dragon's post I thought, "do you mean England or Britain?"

 

[Brandane]

Forget the English rat race; you need to come a bit further north! Here is the traffic on my cycle commute (seriously):

 

[Ganymede]

Forget the English rat race; you need to come a bit further north! Here is the traffic on my cycle commute (seriously):

That sheep is totally hogging the road. Cuh! GIVE SPACE FOR CYCLISTS, WOOLLY-BRAIN!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Forget the English rat race; you need to come a bit further north! Here is the traffic on my cycle commute (seriously):

Yes, I see lots of sheeple on my commute, too!

 

[John the Monkey]

Depends - if you're near towns, you'll likely find them being used as rat runs.

Personally, I like to get out early on Sundays (7am - 8am) and aim to be back before lunch to avoid the worst of it.

 

[EltonFrog]

I don't know which bit of France you're in, but I'd stay there if I was you.

 

[stephec]

Depends - if you're near towns, you'll likely find them being used as rat runs.

This is it.

I spend a lot of my time travelling round for work and stick mainly to major roads.

When I have to visit out of the way places though all the tiny back roads have people blasting down them at rush hour, but in the middle of the day are nice and quiet.

A week ago when I came out of Hartlebury near Kidderminster I went for about ten minutes round the lanes and only saw one other car and an old guy plodding along on an old roadster.

 

[GentlyBenevolent]

Personally, I like to get out early on Sundays (7am - 8am) and aim to be back before lunch to avoid the worst of it.

Have to agree - Saturday or Sunday early doors is the best time to get some miles in, although you get less of a window on Saturday. In the north-west it's pretty quiet most of the time off the main A roads, but the few times I've got out at 6am on a Sunday it's been deserted.