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

[roscoh]

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.

It's been about 14yrs since I moved from Dumbarton. I think the Balloch to Bowling bit of the cycle track was probably unpaved then so give it another 14 and they might recah Clydebank!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

It's been about 14yrs since I moved from Dumbarton. I think the Balloch to Bowling bit of the cycle track was probably unpaved then so give it another 14 and they might recah Clydebank!

Certainly the bit between Dumbarton and Bowling has been paved for many years, well over 14 anyway, I can assure you, but I am not so sure about the whole of the path between Dumbarton and Balloch, seeing as I didn't really cycle that bit when I was younger.

Of course, there is the detour through Dumbarton which I always forget to mention because I'm so used to it, but that is all paved too, with it being on a footpath and roads.

The paving runs from Balloch to Bowling, but then changes to the closely packed earth and stones between there and Clydebank.
At Clydebank, where the path splits, the southern path through Yoker, past the SECC, Glasgow City Centre and out to Newton is paved, but the north one through Anniesland, Maryhill etc, isn't until it gets to a point further on, which is crap.

Then again, it is luxurious compared to the path south of Newton, my gawd!! It is practically non existent in places, not to mention the road section! (a short stretch of a country back road admittedly).

I have had the misfortune of finding that one out the hard way by cycling home from Strathclyde Park one evening. I was on the Felt so I flew, but only once I knew where to go.

 

[dellzeqq]

you're right about the A272 - you have to ride it like Chuck Norris. If Mr. Norris rode a bike, that is.

B2139. Just horrible. Something happens to drivers on this road. And the A13 and North Circular are no fun except when they're jammed

 

[GrumpyGregry]

you're right about the A272 - you have to ride it like Chuck Norris. If Mr. Norris rode a bike, that is.

B2139. Just horrible. Something happens to drivers on this road. And the A13 and North Circular are no fun except when they're jammed

A272, ain't all bad, parts are quite nice in fact of an early sunday morning.

Nothing happens to drivers on the B2139, that doesn't happen to them everywhere else in Horsham District.

 

[al78]

A272, ain't all bad, parts are quite nice in fact of an early sunday morning.

Nothing happens to drivers on the B2139, that doesn't happen to them everywhere else in Horsham District.

I didn't think the B2139 was bad at all, I've used it several times if I need a direct route down to Storrington.

It is also ideal for chain gang rides as it is nice and straight with hardly any junctions.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I didn't think the B2139 was bad at all, I've used it several times if I need a direct route down to Storrington.

It is also ideal for chain gang rides as it is nice and straight with hardly any junctions.

Simon (Dellzeqq) and I have quite different views on what constitutes dangerous/unsafe on the roads of Sussex. I suspect you and I have been 'inoculated by usage' to the execrable performance of local drivers.

I nearly always take the B2139 to my sister-in-law's place in Bognor. It's actually quite a nice road,as you say, though peak time the drivers are nuts.... as they are everywhere round here.

 

[Graham]

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.

The A56/556 between Northwich and the Bowden roundabout is nuts (part of which is the road that links the M6 with the M56 - everyone's been on that road - Man U fans coming up from Surrey?) I did it once. Just the once. I go round the lanes via High Legh which are a lot quieter - I even saw a phat pheasant sat on a gate this morning. Which was nice.