Wanna know why some 'routes' are a bad thing?

[ComedyPilot]

Riding from Beverley town centre to Driffield town centre? That'll be 12.5 miles please....

Unless you follow Sustrans National Route 1 that is.

That'll be 20.5 miles please....?

Now, I appreciate Sustrans find the quietest routes, but 8 extra miles on a 12 miles journey for the same start and finish point?

 

[Flossyrockstar]

Cool!

 

[HovR]

This is why I rarely use dedicated cycle paths or the NCN if I'm cycling somewhere to be there at an allotted time. The sign may say you'll end up in the village/town you want, but how long it will take to get there is a completely different question.

The mapping and signage also isn't great. I recently discovered a great cycle path between two local towns. I'd never been on the path, or even knew existed. The entrance to the pathway is really quite hidden, and I only found out about it after having a chat with a farmer whilst in the fields on my mountain bike!

 

[Peteaud]

I like the NCN

You never know where the signs (if any) are, what the surface will be like, or even if its a dead end.

 

[ComedyPilot]

The name Sustrans IIRC means sustainable transport, and how will we ever get more people cycling when they are given the run around going from A to B?

Routes like this are all very well for people training, touring or going for a leisurely bimble, but how can we ever prise people out of cars if they are then walloped with a 60% increase in journey length?

 

[Matthew_T]

Stop complaining and do the 20 miles.

 

[vernon]

Stop complaining and do the 20 miles.

You've missed the point Matthew. Think of your own commute, then think of the consequences of having it extended by 75%. Would it remain a viable journey?

It might be fine for leisure cycling but if cycle routes are to be viable alternatives to driving they do have to minimise the amount of extra time spent on the journeys when swapping from car to bike.

Apparently Leeds is bidding for funding for a cycle superhighway between Leeds and Bradford I await the publication of the proposed route with interest.

 

[snorri]

, I appreciate Sustrans find the quietest routes, but 8 extra miles on a 12 miles journey for the same start and finish point?

There are some who would say "Good training".

 

[ComedyPilot]

Stop complaining and do the 20 miles.

Matthew, I do the extra miles with no quibble.

My point is that the only people going to take up cycling (and reduce car dependency (which can only be a good thing) are current car drivers. If you said to them that a 5 mile commute by car would become either an 8-9 mile commute by bike, or 5 miles of terror and anxiety on an A road, then you can see why (although admirable as it is) the level of new cycling uptake is nothing to what it could be if the infrastructure was like the NL

 

[Matthew_T]

You've missed the point Matthew. Think of your own commute, then think of the consequences of having it extended by 75%. Would it remain a viable journey?

It might be fine for leisure cycling but if cycle routes are to be viable alternatives to driving they do have to minimise the amount of extra time spent on the journeys when swapping from car to bike.

Apparently Leeds is bidding for funding for a cycle superhighway between Leeds and Bradford I await the publication of the proposed route with interest.

I understand what you mean. On my commute to college, I use the NCN 5 all the way there because it runs right along the prom and is the quickest route.
However, on my commute to work, there is a shared path on the left of the road that cuts through a little forest. It is however the exact same distance as the road and the road is probably quicker because you dont have to mess about with getting on and off it. And the little bypass isnt really any safer than the road due to their being loads of stones and twigs and stuff.
I am going to test the little bypass I mention today, just to see if it is any use. It is relatively new and has cost quite a few bob to make.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Imagine the utility cycling uptake if this was indicative of the infrastructure provided?

Keep the annotations, they're full of info.

 

[vernon]

I've used similar facilities in France, Germany, Austria and Hungary. My first encounter with such facilities was in France and I quickly acclimatised to having a dedicated path so much so that I was incensed to find a slow moving vehicle on the path ahead of me blocking the path. When I caught up with it, it turned out to be a cycle path cleaning vehicle with rotating brushes sweeping the detritus off the path. Amazing! Now that is something that we can only dream about!

 

[Deleted member 23692]

I like to say that Sustrans NCN routes are fine for recreation cycling but not for utility due to their indirect nature.. but not far me from on Hadrian's Cycleway there is a steep flight of steps and 3 barriers in the space of 400m, that stop all but the fit and healthy from passing. If you have a standard adult bike you'll be fine if a little inconvenienced, but add a trailer or panniers to the mix and you're buggered.

On NCN 7 there is a lovely 5 mile blacktopped off road section that brings you right into the centre of the city only to dump you on a busy one-way road that heads back the way you've come. However it is signed against the flow of traffic encouraging you to cycle illegally up the one way street.

That's just two examples....

 

[Peteaud]

If i want to cycle to the coast, 16 milesd i can.

I go under!!!!!!!!!!!!! this

 

[compo]

Stop complaining and do the 20 miles.

You've missed the point Matthew. Think of your own commute, then think of the consequences of having it extended by 75%. Would it remain a viable journey?

It might be fine for leisure cycling but if cycle routes are to be viable alternatives to driving they do have to minimise the amount of extra time spent on the journeys when swapping from car to bike.

I don't think Matthew was being entirely serious (I hope).