Do you have 'no-go- zones on your commute?

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
stretches of road, junctions, housing estates, towns, town centres, that could be on your commute route but which you choose to avoid?

Where and why?

For me it is the A272 between Cowfold - Ansty - Cuckfield. The traffic, driving standards not quantity, on that stretch, especially the eastern bit past the A23 simply scare the bejayzus out of me.
 

subaqua

What’s the point
Location
Leytonstone
the opposite really. one bit that i have to use as there really is no other way , that scres me ridgid. the ride home is better as i can avoid that bit due to the one way system
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
I'm lucky that I don't have any no go zones.

The Waterlink Way in Catford/Lewisham can be a bit dodgy after dark with people hanging around..A friend of mine was pushed off his bike a few years back resulting in broken nose and cheekbone. But i'm a big boy and like to think I can handle myself.
 

al78

Guru
Location
Horsham
Not exactly no-go zones, but roads I tend to avoid are the A25 between Gomshall and Dorking and the A24 between Horsham and Capel. Both cases are examples of narrow fast roads with lots of blind corners, blind summits, and drivers not necessarily expecting to encounter cyclists.

Unfortunately when I have to cycle between Holmbury St Mary and North Holmwood it is either the A25 or the nasty descent down the hill from Coldharbour, so it is a choice between risking abuse from drivers on the main road or risking a fall on a poor quality country lane.
 

mistral

Guru
Location
Esher
My commute in to the Strand takes me from Putney Bridge along Kings Rd, past the Palace and along the Mall before Trafalgar Sq - usually at work by 8am, so traffic is bearable. The same route returning - just after 6, is a no-go for me; mainly due to buses & taxis in the Strand/Trafalfgar Sq and then the Victoria one way system, Sloan Sq & Kings Rd are horrible at that time. I have to add a mile to the journey home taking the Embankment all the way to New Kings Rd.

I won’t go into the nightmare that is Richmond Pk – in the winter it’s pitch black, it’s lonely as roads are closed to traffic, and there are beasts that wander freely – be warned.
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
I'm lucky that I don't have any no go zones.

The Waterlink Way in Catford/Lewisham can be a bit dodgy after dark with people hanging around..A friend of mine was pushed off his bike a few years back resulting in broken nose and cheekbone. But i'm a big boy and like to think I can handle myself.

Yeah, I bet that copper who knocked you off was thinking "Oh no, please no" when he saw you clearly. :biggrin:
 
I'd love to find a quiet alternative to the Wandsworth one-way system - especially on the way home where I have to negotiate my way across 4 lanes of traffic dashing between lights - it's that incline that results in my highest heart rate on every commute as it's generally a balls-out sprint to stay safe.
 
I'm lucky that I don't have any no go zones.

The Waterlink Way in Catford/Lewisham can be a bit dodgy after dark with people hanging around..A friend of mine was pushed off his bike a few years back resulting in broken nose and cheekbone. But i'm a big boy and like to think I can handle myself.
It's pretty lovely on a Sunday morning though - if I'm heading into town I'll generally go that way.
 

400bhp

Guru
Yes I do.

I generally avoid the A56 from my house into Manchester. It is undoubtedly the shortest and likely to be the quickest route (perhaps 7 miles). It's a horrible road which is far too busy and poorly maintained and would seriously diminish the enjoyment of the commute. For the sake of an additional 2-3 miles I can go on much more pleasant routes. Perhaps traffic volume 70% lower than the above.
 

bicyclos

Part time Anorak
Location
West Yorkshire
I avoid a busy main road and dual-carriagway on my old route to work which heads toward the motorway and ring road. Traffic jossling for space and racing to the next lights with disregard for anyone else is the norm. I commute to work in the opposite direction now with a lot of back roads thrown in which I enjoy and have had no trouble in 5yrs.
 

wiggydiggy

Legendary Member
Yes

I actually cycle a completely different way home so I can avoid sitting in the middle of a 40mph lane waiting for a gap so I can turn right accross traffic - too many idtiots squeeza through, there are currently works to add a 'turn right' centre to it but they are part of a much bigger scheme and won't be finished for another 2/3 months.
 

Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
No real no go areas as such, I use a cycle path near Meanwood road leeds to avoid the incline and heavy traffic with parked cars every 50-100 yards. This way also cuts out a steepish part of the ride and I can generally on the path do this in stages.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
I have two for different reasons.

One particular roundabout in Stockport Town Centre (near the George pub under the 'famous' Viaduct) I won't ride round it coming from the Edgeley direction to the back of the shopping centre - this is where I was knocked off, and the 3/4 way round put's you in the firing line of a dual carriageway entering the roundabout as the traffic is mostly coming off the motorway and is usually travelling way too quickly. I still ride it every morning in a different direction, and some evenings by coming down the dual carriageway, but I won't go 3/4 round which exposes you to the folk speeding towards the roundabout. It's a disaster waiting to happen, and I eventually was a victim.

The other is Wilmslow Road through Rusholme. There are loads on here who use it, but it's not a route where you can get some speed on - way to risky - I use the A34 as there are less side roads, and very few shops/takeaways etc.

Wilmslow Road is supposed to be OK in the mornings as the shops aren't open, but it's Europes busiest bus route, and then add in students on bikes - no thanks. In the afternoons/evenings then it's stupid. The curry houses are open, there are loads of crazy peds, students on bikes, and the worse parking/driving you've ever seen - it's just not worth the hassle. If you actually want to get some speed on, and some training, then avoid it. Just to pootle along then it's OK, but you can't really relax.

Wilmslow Road is even worse than the A6 in Levenshulme - which is another road I avoid in that area for the above reasons.
 
Top Bottom