Today, I didn't use the Cyclepath

[John the Monkey]

Got out of the house, and realised I'd left my mitts on the shelf :/

So, I unlocked the door again, ran in for them and set off late.

As I actually needed to get somewhere on time, I eschewed the Cyclepath along Nantwich Road (from Crewe Green to Crewe Railway station). I have done this before, mostly in the cold weather last year/beginning of this year, as the council grit the roads but not the cyclepath. The outcome was a journey that was about half a mile shorter, according to the bike computer, and some 3 or 4 minutes quicker (my usual journey time along the cyclepath being 9 to 10 minutes - using the road isn't quite twice as fast, but it's close).

It occurred to me that this is mostly down to design choices - the cyclepath gives way to road traffic at every junction I can think of, even where traffic on the adjacent road travelling in the same direction would have priority. The phasing of the lights (where crossings are toucan type) invariably favours traffic on the road over that on the paths and pavements too.

 

[HLaB]

When I want to take things easy or can't be bothered with traffic I take the Roseburn path, its fairly continuos, an old railway line. The path is a bit longer than my road route (1.2 miles longer) but a constant 2% gradient. The road route being shorter is a lot steeper (I think around 12.5% at Dundas St) but I really enjoy it, the only problem is its too short (3.3mls). It useful to have my road alternative for when I'm running late (like today) or I think the path will be slipery or want more time to myself in the morning.

 

[goo_mason]

The Roseburn path's nice - since April I've been on it between South Groathill Avenue and Russell Road, rather than being on the path all the way from Leith. It's a handy route between Roseburn and Telford Road.

There's so little glass and very little chance of meeting any of the local wildlife on it, compared to the path down into Leith which was always strewn with broken bottles, burnt-out motorbikes and patrolled by all the neds of the day.

I've actually really enjoyed my summer on the roads rather than the paths, as it's much less hassle !! I'm actually considering making my summer road route into my year-round route...

 

[BentMikey]

Since I've been using main roads for my entire commute, and not using the cyclepath, I've had perhaps 1/10th the normal number of UDE's. I still get them, just far less often, and it's been lovely to avoid so many of the stops, gloves, horrible pumping with a minipump, etc.

Car drivers, I thangkyew for sweeping the road.

 

[hackbike 6]

Very nice and you just reminded me to check my tyres for glass.I did notice a bit this morning while I was faffing about with the bike at Bow Road Tube.

 

[HLaB]

I've only had 1 UDE in 4000 miles of commuting (touch wood) but guess what it was on a path. That was a half a broken bottle in the middle of the path that I really should have noticed . Typically Mondays, ie after the weekend the paths nearest me are strewn with glass and I tend to avoid them then.