Can I actually cycle here?

[Xiorell]

I wanna cycle along the A361 coz there's some nice villages etc down there, but I'm a bit unsure if I am in fact OK to cross the RAB that takes me to the 361, it's basically a Mway junction, look...



http://maps.google.c...1,0.021136&z=16



Can I cycle over that to get to the 361 or would that be bad times (IE Illegal) ??

 

[HLaB]

Its perfectly legal to cycle over the motorway folk do it all the time (myself included) you are not joining it, which is illegal, just be cautious of folk heading toward/exiting the motorway slip roads their mind can be switched off to intermixing with pedestrians/cyclists etc.

 

[martint235]

I wanna cycle along the A361 coz there's some nice villages etc down there, but I'm a bit unsure if I am in fact OK to cross the RAB that takes me to the 361, it's basically a Mway junction, look...



http://maps.google.c...1,0.021136&z=16



Can I cycle over that to get to the 361 or would that be bad times (IE Illegal) ??

No it's just a roundabout. It might not be a particular pleasant roundabout to cycle round with motorway sliproads entering it but it's perfectly legal to go around it.

 

[Xiorell]

Oh, I have just realised I can get on the A361 via Daventry road and bypass that RAB completely, so I'd just do that. But, the question still stands anyway

 

[Xiorell]

Cheers for that guys, I am still a bit unsure as to what is and isn't really ok to cycle on

 

[Norm]

Nothing illegal about cycling round that one, but I'd watch the sequence of the traffic lights from the motorway just before the A361. They can be a bit keen to go from your amber to amber from the M40 and drivers coming off the motorway will have got used to driving at 70, so might not expect to see a cyclist.

I'd still ride it (I've cycled round the Handy Cross junction many times, which is a few junctions down the M40), just be aware of the way those lights change.

 

[StuartG]

Remember you can cycle on any road where cycling is not prohibited. And there has to be a sign prohibiting you. At this junction you will see the blue prohibition sign on the entry slip roads to the motorway not on the roundabout itself. It is a list. Stay on the writing side of it and you are OK.

So you can cross - but be extra careful of lorries turning onto the sliproads. There are a lot of long artics on the roundabout AFAIR. Would going south to cross on Overthorpre Road be an option?

If not check whether your local council runs a free cycle training lesson. Many do. The idea is that a trained instructor takes you on your journey to work or wherever and helps you choose the best way to cycle it. A trained instructor may turn this junction from a nightmare to something you just do assertively, confidently and at significantly lower risk.

 

[Xiorell]

check whether your local council runs a free cycle training lesson. Many do. The idea is that a trained instructor takes you on your journey to work or wherever and helps you choose the best way to cycle it. A trained instructor may turn this junction from a nightmare to something you just do assertively, confidently and at significantly lower risk.

That's not a bad idea actually, I've become alot more confident on the roads in the short time I've been cycling but there's still certain RABs (anything with 3lanes) and bits of road I avoid if I can help it at all which is really going to hinder my cycling if I don't get on top of it, I've had my "couple of months to break myself in" and now I want to start clocking up the big miles.



Back to the point of reaching the A361, I investigated the Daventry Road a few mins ago as I seemed to remember it was blocked off. Turns out Peds and Cycles CAN still go down it just not motors and it does join the 361 so that's handy. Where Dav'Rd meets the 361 traffic is currently diverted down the Banbury Rd into Chacombe then joining back on the A-Road just before Williamscot, so should be a nice ride when I get a day off.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

... I've become alot more confident on the roads in the short time I've been cycling but there's still certain RABs (anything with 3lanes) and bits of road I avoid if I can help it at all which is really going to hinder my cycling if I don't get on top of it...

When it's a case of cyclists being designed out of the road system - and many motorway exit/access roads fall into that category - don't blame yourself for being nervous or for avoiding them. Your cycling is not at fault, nor is your risk-assessment. The fault lies with the the highway engineers who have designed roads which a) discourage cyclists and b) encourage drivers to forget that roads are for all users.

If ever you feel you have to get off and push your bike round a difficult traffic system then it's not your fault - you've decided what level of risk to take - and it's not up to you to feel like the bravest of the brave simply to use the roads - and you've probably also decided that the road layout doesn't encourage drivers to consider the risks their driving presents to other road users.

Though highway engineers should be legally obliged to cycle all junctions annually at peak traffic times before roads and junctions can be given a continuing roadworthiness certificate*...

*just dreaming....

 

[Night Train]

The RAB just up the road from me is J2 of the M602 Motoway.
I cycle around it most times that I go out on the bike. It has cycle lanes around it but they cross the motorway slip roads and have traffic crossing on all changes of the traffic lights so it can be a very long wait to get across safely.

http://maps.google.c...004823&t=h&z=18

I once tried it and heading north back across the RAB I stopped a the crossing next to a woman on roller skates and who was carrying her shopping. After about ten minutes I gave up, back tracked and went on the road route. Unfortunately the rollerskating woman couldn't do likewise and had to keep waiting.

 

[markg0vbr]

i find the duel carriageway 40mph through town a lot safer at rush hour, than going along the industrial estate road single carriage way 40mph. as long as you do not trundle along the gutter and make the cars do proper overtakes, not just squeeze by.
nether are pleasant but cars and vans do insane things to get past you, on the industrial estate, usually to turn immediately left so quickly you have to hit all the brakes or run in to them

i have a bit of hassle at the end of the duel carriageway as it splits in to three, they have put traffic lights on it now and a lot of drivers in the cars seam to believe that bikes are not allowed in the middle lane for going straight on you just have to be firm indicate with a proper full arm out and pull across looking the driver behind in the eye if you can and ride in the centre of the lane, it becomes easer with the miles a relaxed confidant rider seams to have the ability to slice through traffic and quickly develops a "ho my god what is this twit going to do" sense.
with the big roudabouts it is all about eye contact, have they seen me or looked through me?

 

[Xiorell]

Thanks for the advise and words of encouragement people, good to know I aint just being a pussy about it and others feel a bit warey of certain roads, I thought I might have been over thinking it!

 

[Black Sheep]

Basically, you can not go on a road that says Motorway or 'no cyclists'

you may find some routes (the A46 south of Coventry for example) that say "cyclists advised to find alternate route"

this means you legally can cycle it, but it might not be a good idea (often these are A roads that feel like motorways when you're on them, as such people treat them like motorways and panic when they see a tractor.