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

[ianrauk]

Not sure where the waterlink way is but the small park at the bottom or armpit vale in lewisham is a no go for me after dark. Two friends (both coppers) have warned me of kids tying fishing twin between the trees to dismount riders (either for sport, or more menacing reasons).

So I tend to avoid it

That's Brookmill Park.
Had a run in with a few kids there my self and so has Her_Welshness.

 

[Smurfy]

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.

I used to live near there. It's a very fast road if you're in a car. If I was cycling along there I'd be listening out, hearing each car approaching from behind at 60mph, and hoping that a car doesn't come the other way at the same speed.

When I lived in Bristol, after a couple of near miss SMIDSYs, I decided to never ride across the swing bridge ever again if I could help it. Fortunately there is another way, which involves taking the footways over the lock gates, a disused railway bridge and Greville Smyth Park

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I usually do a circular route, along, or should I say up Rusper through the north of Crawley and then down south along forest road. Haven't found the Horsham - Crawley cycle route yet.

look out for the blue finger posts with the writing spray painted out in grey... go up the road from the frog and nightgown and it crosses the road. it's shown on opencyclemaps...

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Good advice. My work are relocating to Feeder Road in a couple of months and had thought I might commute in on Church Rd, might have to find a different way!

ive had lots of close calls etc down there but take the more scenic route. if im running late i'll run the gauntlet (i have to come out the saddle for most of it though! lol.)

where will you be travelling from to get to the feeder?

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Funny,I have now,never used to have no go zones but I just want a quieter life away from the idiots.Though I use these routes when need be.

Also generally avoid the canal.

 

[summerdays]

I avoid bits of the A38, but more because they are stop/start, cars parking as near as possible to the shop they want, traffic lights, zebra crossings - and if I take a back route I get a clearer run. I've no idea if it is quicker but it seems less hassle, and then I join where it is wider and I've the bus lane to get past the queuing traffic.

When ever I'm in the direction of Church Road or Feeder Road I'm generally crossing them rather than cycling any distance on them - however I choose my crossing/joining points with care.

 

[roscoh]

ive had lots of close calls etc down there but take the more scenic route. if im running late i'll run the gauntlet (i have to come out the saddle for most of it though! lol.)

where will you be travelling from to get to the feeder?

I'm coming in from Mangotsfield, so might take the cycle track instead. Still I've a couple of months to find a route!

 

[Kiwiavenger]

I head down the cycle track past mangotsfield when i commute normally, nice and easy and no cars to play dodge with! i used to live in mangotsfield just on the end house on rodway road

 

[Schneil]

Why ?

The Floop is excellent. I sometimes avoid it though it makes a nice change having traffic free

+1 on the Floop. With in being traffic free and not stop-start you can get quite a quick run. Heaton Chapel to Sainsburies Fallowfield in 7 mins on a good day.

 

[Schneil]

I have two for different reasons.


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.

I'm sure I've posted this before, but two vids from Wilmslow Road.
Evening

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N1y26ws0Jk


Rush Hour

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH1HDRrFTO4


In the morning& evening rush hour, Anson Road (A34) is Ok and it has a bus lane going South.
Yesterday however I finished work at 3:00 and hit Anson Road at the same time as schools closing. The buslane where Blockbusters is, was full of cars (some double parked) as children were being picked up. So with a case of "Friday legs" I had an impatient lady tailgating me all the way to the roundabout at the end.

I'm still trying to get the knack of A34 Kingsway Southbound. It is a 2 lane 40mph dual carriageway. The inside lane is pretty wide, but I keep getting close overtakes. Any advice from the South Manchester crew? Should I take primary??

 

[The Eco Worrier]

I cycled from Chesham to Berko yesterday due to broken trains - never again! The roads in Bucks are appalling. As soon as you cross into herts they actualy do resurfacing, same crappy driving though. Close overtakes by Chelsea tractors all the way back.

 

[scotty110788]

I'm sure I've posted this before, but two vids from Wilmslow Road.
Evening

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N1y26ws0Jk

if that was my route, i would turn my bike into something that looks like it should belong on deathrace

 

[Schneil]

Wilmslow Road in Rusholme makes the MEN as Manchesters hot spot for cycle accidents.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...-hot-spot-for-cycling-accidents-in-manchester

 

[Hip Priest]

I avoid a shared-path through a rough area that'd lop a mile off my journey, purely because there is just too much broken glass.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The A82 unless it is something like 3 in the morning. It is THE main road in the area, so EVERYTHING is flying along there at a great rate of knots. It is more like a motorway really.

There is a well paved cycle track between Balloch, Dumbarton and Bowling. It really is quite good, like a little road really, but unfortunately after that, going towards Glasgow, the surface changes to close packed dirt/stones, so not so good for those road tires!
Fortunately, another road forks off at the A82 roundabout at Bowling and heads through Old Kilpatrick, Dalmuir, Clydebank, etc, but still, that road can be quite busy, particularly during the mornings because there are several schools along there.

If the idiots just paved the track in the same way as Balloch - Dumbarton - Bowling, I wouldn't have to leave the ruddy thing!! (unless it was flooded), but that would be far too obvious and if I ever win the lottery, Euromillions perhaps, I'll pave the ruddy thing myself, because, you see, it has been like that for as long as I can remember, so it clearly has nothing to do with a lack of funds.