Hull commuter...a shot in the dark

[ClichéGuevara]

I was driving home tonight, or rather I was stationary in the nearside lane of a queue of traffic on a dual carriageway just at the exit of a roundabout, when a cyclist went past on the inside shouting at cars. including me. who he seemed to think were blocking his way. There is a separate adjacent road that's signed as a cycle lane and effectively skips the roundabout (granted I don't use it when cycling) and also the outside lane was clear. It's a busy, slow moving junction, and in edging out, I would have been close to the kerb.

If you're reading this, (it was Cleveland St) I'd be intrigued to know what you thought the issue was.

It was interesting how I reacted, as I'm quite a laid back driver, but the actions of the cyclist left me tempted to stop him to ask what the issue was when I caught up with him a bit further up the road. I wondered what perceptions the other drivers/passengers were left with.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Ive cycled in Hull a few times and think its one of the best cities in england to do so, massive mix of cyclists who just seem to want to get around.

Also mostly flat lol which helps.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Ive cycled in Hull a few times and think its one of the best cities in england to do so, massive mix of cyclists who just seem to want to get around.

Also mostly flat lol which helps.

The highest point in Hull is about the height of a medium sized flyover, but with a longer run up.

There's some cracking rides to be had around here. Quite often, on weekend and evening rides, I reckon I see more bikes than cars.

 

[Soltydog]

It wasn't me, but there must have been something in the air yesterday I was cycling home down Holderness Rd & there was a cyclist a little ahead of me who was doing a fair bit of 'weaving in & out of traffic' He seemed to have words with a motorist at one point, but couldn't see what had gone on, but when you are constantly changing road position by weaving then its quite easy for motorists not to see which side your at, or maybe I'm just a bit windy

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Quite a few months back, I had one shouting at me and others down James Reckitt because he couldn't get up the inside!!

For those that don't know it, at peak times, it's a slow moving road just over three cars wide, but with cars parked right along the westbound side, so east bound traffic has to be in the gutter or nobody gets through.

Shouting in such situations really does wind up car drivers, and for no good reason as far as I can see. I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

It's telling, that car drivers, cyclists, people in general , the majority of decent folk get forgotten, and we all get lumped in with the bad ones.

There's a term for where 'my behaviour affects your behaviour, which affects my behaviour etc. (Betari Box?) but I'm guilty of being more defensive with the next vehicles if the previous one was too close. If they'd seen the close pass, my slightly more defensive positioning could leave them 'understanding' why the last driver did as they did.

 

[GreigM]

Bit OT, my GF is from Hull and we are often down visiting her family, friends. I often say I am going to take my bike with me, so if I did then can anyone recommend some nice rides around the 30 mile mark? Her family stay Bilton Grange area of Hull.

 

[Soltydog]

Bit OT, my GF is from Hull and we are often down visiting her family, friends. I often say I am going to take my bike with me, so if I did then can anyone recommend some nice rides around the 30 mile mark? Her family stay Bilton Grange area of Hull.

from Bilton Grange you can head out of town on the A165, then take any right turn from a couple of miles past Bilton. You could end up near Buton Constable Hall on quiet roads, or up through Old Ellerby & head out to the coast & you are not that far off the TPT too if you fancy that, but its a little rough for a road bike

 

[wiggydiggy]

TPT Hull > Hornsea is tarmacked IIRC?

 

[Soltydog]

TPT Hull > Hornsea is tarmacked IIRC?

Leaving Hull much of the TPT is tarmac, but tree roots growing under it make it very uneven & cracked in places. I very rarely ride it myself, but think from Hull to the A165 is tarmac, then its a 'track' all the way into Hornsea & a little rough in places

 

[wiggydiggy]

Leaving Hull much of the TPT is tarmac, but tree roots growing under it make it very uneven & cracked in places. I very rarely ride it myself, but think from Hull to the A165 is tarmac, then its a 'track' all the way into Hornsea & a little rough in places

Ah deteriorated a bit since I was on it, bout 3 years ish when I last did it....

 

[GfromHull]

If you're reading this, (it was Cleveland St) I'd be intrigued to know what you thought the issue was.

Wasn't me, but have come across a....... Unpleasant cyclist on that route.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Leaving Hull much of the TPT is tarmac, but tree roots growing under it make it very uneven & cracked in places. I very rarely ride it myself, but think from Hull to the A165 is tarmac, then its a 'track' all the way into Hornsea & a little rough in places

Have you seen the route the TPT takes through Hull?

It's as though they want people to avoid the many good bits. If they sorted out the mile stretch of track between St Andrews Quay and Hessle, it'd be a lovely traffic free ride from North Ferriby to the Ferry, or turn off at the Deep to pick up the Hornsea track at Witham.

 

[BrynCP]

If I remember rightly from when I was cycling on Cleveland Street earlier in the year, those roads have a very faded green cycle lane painted on. Perhaps the cyclist thought the traffic was in his lane. Personally I did use the adjacent road just to avoid that roundabout, even though it's easier, and slower, than the busier roundabout near B&Q which I loved as a beginner.

The TPT on the edge of Hull near Swine is terrible on a hybrid and I have never even bothered on the road bike, due to the tree roots. However, if you want to head out to the coast, to Hornsea, the 'B' roads are not bad at all, and the roads between Aldbrough and Sproatly are very quiet and have a very good surface.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Its over 20 years since I lived in Hull so my knowledge of roads these days is rusty (plus being a West Hull Tiger I'm not that au-fait with Bilton and roads that side of the river.

But for a 30-miler, you could try something like http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/479797820 (just don't take my exact mapping as gospel). Once over to Cottingham, the Skidby - Little Weighton route is a pleasant enough one, used to go out that way regularly. Drop down Dale Road into Brantingham, then back along the TPT into Hull and back up Holderness Road to Bilton Grange

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Sheff, that's not a bad route, but I'd stay on the track at Hessle, and get to East along the foreshore. It's bumpy for a mile, but just passable on a road bike, and worth it to avoid the peculiar TPT route. To get to the pier, you need to detour onto the footpath hiding next to the A63 to English St, or carry your bike up the steps to have the unusual experience of riding along the rooftop footpath.

Other bits worth a detour, are to go north of Skidby and along Risby Ponds, and (on a mountain bike) dip down to Raywell and go through Nut Wood and follow the track down through Melton Springs.