Commuting in Manchester....

[Charlotte Dobson]

Wow! Thanks so much for your feedback and sorry for my late reply. I wasn't getting the reply alerts on my email. I completely agree with your comments about Wilmslow Road, during rush hour it's incredibly hectic.

The article will be published on www.mancunianmatters.co.uk as soon as I hear back from the council and TFGM.

Thanks again and keep your comments coming!

Charlotte

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Judging by the video, that Wilmslow Road cycle lane just looks plain hazardous. There doesn't seem to be enough room to cycle a safe distance from the cars parked up to the left of the lane. Where do you go if a car door suddenly swings open?

That part of Wilmslow Road is a nightmare in the evenings. I cycle on the line of the cycle lane (essentially in the traffic). I have almost had a car door open on me hence the caution (and of course it gives you better line of sight for the side roads and parked cars pulling out). On the bright side the cars are going nowhere slowly so it's fairly easy for even a slow cyclist to take an aggressive line without really annoying the drivers. The bad point of course is that new cyclists will think 'must stay in cycle lane' when it's clearly unsafe. If you want a worse patch of turf it's Withington Village as the road there is narrower and there is no cycle lane, but drivers seem to think you should be in one.

 

[Msmancunia]

That junction is terrible no matter what you're in/on - if it's the one I'm thinking of it should really be a set of 3 way lights - Deansgate both ways, then Liverpool Road, then the road that goes past the Hilton. For people that don't know the area it's not clear at all which way 'straight' is and who has right of way.

You're right re threeway lights - it's grim trying to get across the way it is. I did complain to the council about repainting the green lanes, and they said they'd have a look, but they've not been done yet. To be fair, I think MCC tries its best - one of the main problems is that Gtr Mcr consists of (I think) ten local authorities, all with different budgets and different priorities. To get from home to work I cycle through Oldham, Manchester, Salford and Trafford boroughs, so there is nothing in the way of consistency in how they treat cyclists.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I travel from the north (Bolton) and don't actually cross the border into Manchester, but it's all in Greater Manchester, mostly down the A666 to Salford (25 miles round trip). When I started, I had frequent problems with left hooks and drivers trying to go through pinch points alongside me. Since I read Cyclecraft just over a year ago and started riding more assertively, taking the lane when appropriate, I don't have as many problems like that, but I do often get road rage from motorists who think my sole purpose in life is to delay their getting to their destination (which is usually the next traffic light). Close passes are still too frequent and tend to be especially bad when I am riding out in the road to avoid an obstacle that the driver cannot see, such as bumpy or broken tarmac. When going out for long rides with my daughter, we have noticed that driver attitudes are far worse inside the Greater Manchester boundary than outside of it, so I think there is a particular problem in GM in that respect.

I did have a lot of problems with First buses, but they seem to have got a lot better since I had some dealings with their management earlier this year. The improvements were significant from July onwards and, although there are still some instances of bad driving from them, they are few and far between. On the route I take to work and back, I seem to have more than my fair share of bad experiences with trucks passing too close or cutting in before they have got past.

I often get motorists saying the reason they passed me too close was because I was "riding in the middle of the f*****g road", and some even try to claim that I am breaking the law by not riding in the gutter.

Much of my route has cycle lanes painted on the road. However, most of these are significantly narrower than specified in the national guidelines, some of them pass along the outside of parked cars, and a lot have cars parked in them 24/7. The main effect they seem to have is to make drivers think they an excuse to pass even closer than they otherwise would. On balance, I would prefer it if they got rid of them all, and I think that would make my journey safer.

I wear a video camera and you can see examples of my experiences on my YouTube channel (MrGrumpycyclist). So far, I have not actually had an accident, but have had some very near misses, especially in the days before I started riding more assertively.

 

[Schneil]

I'd say Wilmslow road is much more hazardous in the evenings than rush hour. During rush hour the traffic is almost at standstill, however in the evenings you tend to get more crazy driving and inconsiderate parking. The cycle lane on Wilmslow road in Rusholme is as Loop says, just plain hazardous. It's ignored by drivers and sometimes used as a parking space. I've nearly been doored there and I've also been a victim of a hit and run whilst using it (not injured thankfully).

I've found another map with danger zones in this article:
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1072505_citys_most_dangerous_cycle_routes

It follows what myself and Fossyant have said - the A34 is safer than the A6 and Wilmslow road.

I think Manchester does have a problem with inconsiderate drivers. As Mr Grumpy says, many don't understand that you shouldn't be in the gutter. Most of my incidents are for the same reasons.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

It follows what myself and Fossyant have said - the A34 is safer than the A6 and Wilmslow road.

If you are a fast and experienced cyclist. For a beginner the A34 is terrifying. The alternate is Parrs Wood Road, which is the one with the useless cycle lanes. (sigh)

 

[400bhp]

I ride in from Timperley to Manchester.

The direct route would be along the A56, but I avoid this as it is too congested and has a poor road surafce south of the M60. These main reasons for me would make it an unenjoyable commute.

Instead I use a variety of back lanes that take me through Brooklands and Chorlton. Or, if on my hybrid, may use the canal to Stretford, then back roads into Manchester.

I generally find the roads a reasonably pleasant & safe place to be, however this (IMO) is has some correlation to the times I travel, in particular on the morning commute when I leave at 7 ish so the roads are naturally quiet.

I don't believe there should be more cycle lanes of the type that are generally around, mainly due to the reasons given by others.

My understanding is that there is some money available for cycle projects in Manchester. I read a few documents and consultations last month (which can be found online if you look) that promise investment in the cycling infrastructure of Greater Manchester.

One area that I would like to see expanded is a full cycle route into the city centre along the canal from Altrincham. They have spent money on this recently (£2m IIRC to upgrade) but it currently goes so far as Stretford (if going to the city centre) and on to Media City.

 

[Schneil]

If you are a fast and experienced cyclist. For a beginner the A34 is terrifying. The alternate is Parrs Wood Road, which is the one with the useless cycle lanes. (sigh)

Sorry I should have said the A34 between Hathersage Road and the roundabout at Fallowfield.
The roundabout at Fallowfield is scary. The A34 from Fallowfield onwards is a 40mph dual carriageway, scary yes!
I've cycled to Cheadle and did use ParrsWood Road, you're right the bike lane is a waste of paint.

 

[Hicky]

I cycle down Broadway from Chadderton, and then down Oldham Rd, through town, and then to Salford Quays. Most of it is fine - there's a wide off road cycle path for a bit down Broadway (although you've also got to contend with the M60 junction), and Oldham Rd isn't too bad because it's not got too many buses. The junction down by the side of the Hilton is a bitch though - it's got a very narrow faded bike lane that drivers just ignore, as well as a bike box at the front, that they also fail to notice. Crossing the junction to get down Liverpool Road is probably the most scary part of my route. Would like to have a moan about Northern Rail though - they "say" they take two bikes per train but have you ever tried getting a bike on a train at any stop between Rochdale and Manchester during the morning rush hour? I prefer to cycle in all the way during the morning, but on those "Friday Legs" days, when I could cycle to the station, get the train to Victoria and then cycle to SQ, I've got absolutely no chance. Sometimes I can't even get on when I've not got a bike....

I use Oldham rd(join at Thorpe rd) I think the surface is ok if you use the nearside wheel-line, anywhere closer to the curb and it is terrible....homeward bound and the surface is just as bad and I tend to have more close shaves in that direction.
Cycling through the centre of Manchester is a nightmare and best to simple dominate the lane and force people around you....know-one is going that quick unless they're red light racing.
There are lots of cretins out there but if you ride as defensively as possible then it isnt too bad.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Sorry I should have said the A34 between Hathersage Road and the roundabout at Fallowfield.
The roundabout at Fallowfield is scary. The A34 from Fallowfield onwards is a 40mph dual carriageway, scary yes!

Hmmmm I rode this patch for a change this morning (never done it before, but had to go to B&Q).
There is a cycle lane on the pavement in the dual carriageway section, which has an appaling surface and then ends suddenly just after a rise by running into the bus lane. Brilliant... or not.

The bit after that is actually quite pleasant, but has the downside of again being a non-mandatory cycle lane so cars have full right to park in it should they want to. Luckily most of the houses have off road parking.
The bit after Hathersage Road is a right mess. The cycle lane vanishes, there are huge puddles where you would normally cycle, and I had an upset driver in a black merc this morning hoot at me. Not sure why, presume it's because I was either on the road at all or wasn't ankle deep in puddle. I was ahead of him at the next two lights in any case... On the bright side that is a no parking stretch at peak hours and I'm pretty sure a traffic warden on a bicycle was about to ticket someone ignoring the rule

 

[fossyant]

I've never used the cycle lane on that stretch of the A34 - as you say it's terrible - more suited to a MTB than 23mm tyres. I find the dual carriageway fine - I'm normally doing 22-25 mph on it though, so real speed difference between me and the traffic is minimal. The road is also nice and wide.

 

[400bhp]

Charlotte-I note you have an identical thread in the Welcome section. In the interest of balance I would you suggest you ask a similar question in a bus driver forum (am sure one must exist) about their thoughts on bicycles using bus lanes in Manchester.