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

[potsy]

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.

I was 6 inches from being taken out on that RAB on Tuesday
Came off the tpt and driver coming from Decathlon direction had no view of me as she was to the left of another car that did see me, said driver decided it must be clear so pulled out just as I passed the first car, luckily my disc brakes stopped me in time

My no go areas are the tpt after dark, and Portwood RAB, too big and scary, will use the subways in the daytime, night time I will detour round.

 

[fossyant]

I was 6 inches from being taken out on that RAB on Tuesday
Came off the tpt and driver coming from Decathlon direction had no view of me as she was to the left of another car that did see me, said driver decided it must be clear so pulled out just as I passed the first car, luckily my disc brakes stopped me in time

My no go areas are the tpt after dark, and Portwood RAB, too big and scary, will use the subways in the daytime, night time I will detour round.

That's exactly the spot I was taken off - but by the nearest lane, so they had a clear view. Still occasionally use it when coming off the TPT in that direction, but really hate it.

Using the TPT after 'rush hour' - yep - I wouldn't. In the dark is ok at rush hour, but not when the local yoofs are out. I've done the section from Godley to Woodley in the dark, but I was tanking it (down hill) with the magicshine on full - no way was I stopping. Passed two MTB'ers coming the other way with 2 x MS or similar each - wondered what the hell it was with 4 big lights on the approach - guess they thought the same as they stopped as I came barrelling through.

Portwood RAB is another avoid - it's huge - I've sometimes done the Tiviot Way to Bredbury section (just two exits), but it's an all out sprint to stay ahead of the cars.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i try and avoid church road like the plague on the way into work, coming home is great training going uphill almost all the way for 3-4 miles and racing my workmates home and leapfrogging them is great!

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Any road with an A in its title ... A47, A605, A134, etc, also major junctions in town.

Most of my weekend trips are planned to avoid the sorts of roads that "lemmings", "zombies" and "bonnet watchers" use.

There's much more chance of being rammed up the rear by a half-asleep driver on a dead straight
road like the A15 near lincoln or on a dual carriageway, than you have round back roads requiring far more driver concentration.

I speak from 22 years driving (no points, collisions of convictions).

 

[daSmirnov]

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.

I've noticed that as well, now I go the somewhat quieter country lane route if I head down in the Haywards Heath direction.

Also at the top of the A23 where it becomes the M23 in Crawley is a favourite of mine I haven't figured out how to deal with yet, my brain says take the lane but my trousers don't like the speed people are driving at. I've been resorting to heading up Old Brighton Road, getting off, carrying bike down steps and crossing the road on foot to get into Crawley.

 

[biking_fox]

I wouldn't do Portwood at rush hour, although there aren't many nice options if you need to get across it. It's OK at other times though, the traffic lights. at. every. single. junction. keep the speeds down. The lane markings are crazy though.

Commuting wise I avoid cycle lanes, the Fallowfield Loop, and a cut through the back of Plymouth Grove to the uni. Just too slow, too many obsticles. Unless I'm pootling in tired on spare bike.

 

[Crackedheadset]

Only stuff that is illegal to ride on. Namely M ways, certain A roads and the pavement.

 

[martint235]

Only stuff that is illegal to ride on. Namely M ways, certain A roads and the pavement.

+1. If it's legal to ride on a road, I'll use it. If I riding recreationally I do tend to go for country lanes etc but my commute is almost a straight line between my house and my office along the A207 and A2.

 

[rb58]

Cannon Street in Central London. Too many peds glued to smart phones stepping into the road.

 

[Moodyman]

There no places I actively avoid. Though there's one busy junction with fast moving traffic that I take a primary to avoid being squeezed.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've noticed that as well, now I go the somewhat quieter country lane route if I head down in the Haywards Heath direction.

Also at the top of the A23 where it becomes the M23 in Crawley is a favourite of mine I haven't figured out how to deal with yet, my brain says take the lane but my trousers don't like the speed people are driving at. I've been resorting to heading up Old Brighton Road, getting off, carrying bike down steps and crossing the road on foot to get into Crawley.

HH for me is Rugby Club/Roosthole/Slaugham/Staplefield/Slough Green/Cuckfield/HH or more likely A281 southbound/Lower Beeding/Warninglid/Slough Green/Cuckfield/HH. All the trouble is in the first and last 2km.

Is there a reason you go that way to get to Crawley? Guessing maybe you're aiming for the K2 or somewhere south side. Because I grew up north side of Crawley I nearly always go via Rusper (or the fantastic if not quite complete Crawley - Horsham cycle route (caution; may contain nuts and traffic free sections)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

There's much more chance of being rammed up the rear by a half-asleep driver on a dead straight road like the A15 near lincoln or on a dual carriageway, like the A264 between Crawley and Horsham, or on the A24 south of Horsham than you have round back roads requiring far more driver concentration.

^This. Echoes my experience as driver, motor cyclist and cyclist. But lots of local cyclist don't agree and insist the dual carriageway is far safer then the two lots of back roads that run parallel.

 

[Tim Hall]

Is there a reason you go that way to get to Crawley? Guessing maybe you're aiming for the K2 or somewhere south side. Because I grew up north side of Crawley I nearly always go via Rusper (or the fantastic if not quite complete Crawley - Horsham cycle route (caution; may contain nuts and traffic free sections)

AOLing Greg. This is a really good route, although I'd use "motor free" rather than "traffic free". We're traffic after all. Or even call it a bridleway. Not entirely suitable to a spangly road bike (although I've taken my late fixer on 25mm tyres up there). And not entirely motor free - Mrs. Hall encountered a Range Rover in the woods earlier this week.

 

[Bman]

I avoid the RAB on junction 8 of the A1(m) :

It's a busy fast RAB, that is now light controlled. I prefer to avoid it as I have plenty of other routes

 

[Edwards80]

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.

This is next on my list to cut out of the commute. On the way to the office I come down past B&Q/Decathlon and turn left - it's ok from this direction for the most part but I have had a few hairy moments when coming from the Edgeley direction then up past The Crown on the way home. The kerb in front of the Crown is really high too and people squeeze past when exiting, I expect someone will come a cropper by catching their pedal on it at some point.

I switched to this RAB after getting tired of the lane free-for-all that is the Travis Brow RAB (where all the fast traffic for the crown RAB comes from!) - I had far to many people change lanes with no warning on that one, it happens far too often in the car too.

Which alternative route do you use?