Selecting Safe Roads

[BrynCP]

How do people generally go about selecting roads for their journeys if they don't know the area?

I use tools like Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS but I don't always trust them. (Garmin has on more than one occasion tried to send me the wrong way down one way streets or pedestrianised roads)

My natural instinct is to avoid any 'A' roads, but sometimes they're very quiet even if they're 60mph, equally 'B' roads can be very busy and not only that fairly narrow and also 60mph. There are also dual carriageways which are 40mph and reasonably safe! I have used the Sustrans maps which is fine for "main" routes, but then you have to come off at some point!

I am just trying to go on longer, more interesting rides, which takes me out that 5 mile comfort zone radius of my city.

 

[welsh dragon]

For me trial and error.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Have a butchers with Google Streetview

 

[BrynCP]

Thanks. Just what I have been doing then.

Ended up on an 'A' road today I had deliberately tried to avoid when planning the routes, and it was actually a nice ride with the odd car here and there.

 

[avsd]

Try joining a local club run. They tend to stay of dangerous roads.

 

[summerdays]

I don't think there is a sure way, even the nicest route only needs a couple of speeding drivers to spoil it that day.

Just take a map with you and explore - I find it difficult to pass little alleys, small roads etc without wondering where they lead! Most motorists stick to a few well known routes, on my route there are temporary traffic lights, (for several months now), but there is several back street routes to by pass them, yet most are sitting in that queue every day (I'm glad, so I have the peaceful route mostly to myself).

 

[ianrauk]

For me trial and error.

^^This
You soon get to learn.

 

[welsh dragon]

^^This
You soon get to learn.

Thats half the fun of it. Going out and finding roads that you like and ones that you don't. Looking at maps can make you over analyse things to the point where you spend so much time looking at maps and online that you don't actually go anywhere.

 

[topcat1]

where are you? send out a shout for any cc peeps in your area to join you on a sunday morning ride for coffee,

the distance doesn't matter

 

[addictfreak]

Local knowledge, plus a bit of trial and error.

 

[BrynCP]

Thanks all. I guess I am just still building my confidence, of the 800 miles I've done it's nearly all on the same routes and weekdays are boring around my city and I am looking forward to lighter evenings so I can branch out a little.

Today's ride turned into a lot of trial and error, as the cycle path wasn't cycle friendly so I took to the "main" roads with no problem (except for getting lost).