Manchester Cyclists: Cycling on the A56 / A556 / A50 between Altrincham & Knutsford?

[Jezston]

50mph dual carriageway all the way - safe to ride on?

 

[ColinJ]

Not meaning to be rude, but ... why!

(I mean why, when you could take a really nice, quieter route through Tatton Park, for example.)

 

[Melonfish]

I've used it loads before m8 yeah, a56 out of warrington, a556 round delamere etc also the top end by altringham heading to the m60 (nice downhill) never really had a prob its good and wide.

 

[Steve Malkin]

It's not a road I would be comfortable cycling along, the A50 near Knutsford might be OK, but I wouldn't entertain cycling across the Bowden roundabout which is a busy junction for getting on the M56 and the stretch of dual carriageway between there and Bucklow Hill seems to be treated pretty much like a motorway by most drivers.

I am a complete coward when it comes to busy roads though..... others may have personal experience of using the road that they can share.

 

[Origamist]

I'd go down Ashley Rd and then Manchester Rd (A50) if heading from Altrincham to Knutsford. It's pretty much country lanes all the way and even in the rush hour it's not busy. You pass Tatton Park and could detour through there if you want miss out the A50 (however, the A50 is wide and I have had 0 issues on that road).

The A556 is not that bad, but Ashley Rd is much better.

 

[fossyant]

I wouldn't do the 556. Used to drive it every day. Its not that wide in places. Go via Ashley, much nicer.

 

[dan_bo]

I did it on Sunday- but that was a Sunday. No good in the week to be sure to be sure.

 

[Leaway2]

I do on Sundays out of Alty and over the M56, its pretty quiet but I get off it as soon as I can, towards Ashley.
If you are coming out of Atly you could go though Hale and along Seamons road.

 

[PaulSB]

50mph dual carriageway all the way - safe to ride on?

Personally I wouldn't go near it. I travel from Altrincham to Knutsford frequently for work and even by car prefer the quieter roads. I rode various routes for a year when an epileptic fit stopped me driving - if you can be a bug more detailed about where you want to be I'm happy to suggest a route

 

[Matthew_T]

50mph dual carriageway? How about a 70mph whilst cycling downhill at 40mph?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkC-RxvxDwg

 

[Schneil]

50mph dual carriageway all the way - safe to ride on?

To echo everyone else, the A556 between the M56 and M6 I'd avoid.
It's busy, narrow and fast.

 

[potsy]

Not meaning to be rude, but ... why!

(I mean why, when you could take a really nice, quieter route through Tatton Park, for example.)

Same advice here, no way I'd want to ride that road when there are much nicer alternatives

 

[400bhp]

50mph dual carriageway all the way - safe to ride on?

Generally no. I'd compare it to the A30 in Cornwall.

It's used as a trunk road between the M6 and M56 and therefore not only is it busy but it's busy with the heavier vehicles.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this road when the new bypass is built though.

 

[Jezston]

Thanks for all the pointers, all. Route I've ended up going for my commute up here for the next few weeks is thus:

http://goo.gl/maps/8meG3

And it is delightful! Tatton Park with all the deer and stuff particularly nice. To think I was going to take dual carriageways all the way ...

Cycling here really is a different experience from other places I've ridden regularly, particularly when it comes to other riders and driver behaviour.

Nottingham and Derby, where I started commuting by bike - particularly Derby - was pretty terrible really. Decent cycling facilities, but an almost non existence of other cyclists save for the occasional BSO mounted hoodie riding like an arse meant drivers were almost completely unaware of cyclists. The amount of near misses, close passes and generally shitty attitudes I encountered there due to I guess ignorance was often unpleasant.

London was quite a change - busy streets and lots of generally fast moving (and often aggressive) commuter cyclists, and drivers who whilst aggressive and often rude were generally very aware of cyclists around them - much, much more than the east midlands in comparison. I felt a great deal safer riding in London than in the East Midlands, although I did have a couple of nasty shouting matches with some morons, including a couple of proper nasty w*nker cab drivers.

South Manchester / Cheshire wise is a different thing again - lots, lots more utility and leisure cyclists, and loads of mountain bikers and roadies - seems everyone round here has a passing interest in cycling. And driver behaviour has been exemplary - I think I've had one pass that made me slightly uncomfortable but would be considered fairly normal anywhere else, but I've had tons of patient waiting and almost unnecessary considerateness. And the countryside is lovely. Bloody great place to be a cyclist.

 

[Hacienda71]

Thanks for all the pointers, all. Route I've ended up going for my commute up here for the next few weeks is thus:

http://goo.gl/maps/8meG3

And it is delightful! Tatton Park with all the deer and stuff particularly nice. To think I was going to take dual carriageways all the way ...

Cycling here really is a different experience from other places I've ridden regularly, particularly when it comes to other riders and driver behaviour.

South Manchester / Cheshire wise is a different thing again - lots, lots more utility and leisure cyclists, and loads of mountain bikers and roadies - seems everyone round here has a passing interest in cycling. And driver behaviour has been exemplary - I think I've had one pass that made me slightly uncomfortable but would be considered fairly normal anywhere else, but I've had tons of patient waiting and almost unnecessary considerateness. And the countryside is lovely. Bloody great place to be a cyclist.

Shhhh keep it quiet, we don't want all and sundry descending on the area.