Transport Direct Crazy Route Planner

[MrHappyCyclist]

Had a try of the route planner on the government's Transport Direct site. The fastest route by bicycle from my home to work includes the following instruction:

Take second available left on to A666 (Slip Road), continue for 0.1 miles 16:18
The street is generally busy

which is down here:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...=XbjqA3T1g_tKrYr6rz0nCQ&cbp=12,167.86,,0,8.74
I'll say it's busy! It's also illegal!

 

[400bhp]

So it's telling you to take the left hand lane for the short distance from the lights to the turn off?

That's not illegal?

 

[ianrauk]

Why do you say it's illegal?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

So it's telling you to take the left hand lane for the short distance from the lights to the turn off?
That's not illegal?

The map shows the route going all the way along St Peter's Way to Kearsley, which is most definitely not allowed.

Why do you say it's illegal?

The sign showing a little bicycle inside a red circle seems to indicate that it is.

 

[Dan_h]

I just tried it for my route to work. It came up with a 15 mile route that involves some pretty busy roads and a couple of sections where you can't ride but have to push. The route I take is mostly on quiet roads and is 13 miles. I think I will stick to my route!

On the OP's map link there is a 'no cycling' sign to the left of the image. Is that what makes it illegal or is that referring to the path?

 

[ianrauk]

I would say that the no cycling sign is for the path, hence the peds only sign.

 

[Monkspeed]

Try http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php
In options select Open street maps and cycling, hopefully it will give you a better and safer route.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I would say that the no cycling sign is for the path, hence the peds only sign.

No, that's a "no pedestrians" sign.

 

[ohnovino]

I would say that the no cycling sign is for the path, hence the peds only sign.

That's not "pedestrians only", it's "no pedestrians".

^^^ beat me to it!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

So it's telling you to take the left hand lane for the short distance from the lights to the turn off?

Note it says second left, which the one after that one, as shown on the map. (The red arrow shows the first slip road):

 

[ianrauk]

Hmm it certainly is confusing, though I would still say it's for the path not the road

 

[ohnovino]

Just tried it for my commute, on the "quietest" setting. Rather than the direct route on empty residential roads, it sends me along a busy main road just so I can get to a small stretch of cycle path, then it completes the route by crossing two more busy roads. So not only is it far from quiet, it's also 40% longer than it needs to be.

CycleStreets is far, far better.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Try http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php
In options select Open street maps and cycling, hopefully it will give you a better and safer route.

Thanks, I've not used that one before. It gives me pretty much my existing route. Interestingly, when I correct it to my existing route, it says my commute is nearly a mile longer than MapMyRide says it is! Perhaps I'll go with that then; it will improve me average speeds!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Hmm it certainly is confusing, though I would still say it's for the path not the road

Well, in any case, cycling was banned on St Peter's Way about 10 years ago.

 

[ianrauk]

Well, in any case, cycling was banned on St Peter's Way about 10 years ago.

For the reasoning?
Looks like a normal busy cyclable A road to me.