tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32491170753747784942024-03-16T01:09:47.226+00:00RadWagonRadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-10301702423293855792020-06-23T15:37:00.000+01:002020-06-25T20:59:51.306+01:00Mediocre Mountain Challenge<br />
<h3>
#CamRideHome Challenge!</h3>
<br />
So <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTimTraveller">@TheTimTraveller</a> has challenged people over the world to take part in a "Mediocre Mountain Challenge". This seems to fit in perfectly with Cambridge, so let's do it for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CamRideHome">#CamRideHome</a>!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lkCVqLsjHL4" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
So, you can choose your highest place and do a selfie or bike shot (or both) of you there with a description.<br />
<br />
Or follow the meanderings I had to make to find Cambridge's highest point (or just jump to the end). I'd really like us to do lots of pictures at Cambridge's highest point but I leave it up to you!<br />
<br />
So, what is the highest place in Cambridge? That should be easy I hear you say. Nope. Not a bit of it.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Where is Cambridge</h3>
<br />
We'll start with "Where is Cambridge?". Easy really, it's that city in East Anglia on the kink in the river Cam. Well, it is, but where are the boundaries?<br />
<br />
Let's look at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%2211Y9yeYvZArCSLzn39Hl3PsJG2FjqsYt6%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22106478561789005510423%22%7D&usp=sharing">parlimentary constituency borders</a> (in red). The highest point is the south-east point on the Gog-Magog hills up Worsted St (or Worts Causeway). That's obvious and it's a lovely place. However, it's surrounded by fields with a good view of the city. It's not really "in" the city. On top of which, the nearby houses in view are NOT in the constituency. This really does make me feel like this isn't the place.<br />
<br />
No, I think we need to look at what <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%2211Y9yeYvZArCSLzn39Hl3PsJG2FjqsYt6%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22106478561789005510423%22%7D&usp=sharing">"feels" like the city</a> (in blue). I don't think Grantchester should be included, or more importantly, the road over Lime Kiln Hill. Trumpington, Orchard Park, and Girton, yes. This is very subjective, I know, I just can't see how else to do it sensibly. And it's the latter location that provides our next dilemma.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Highest Place?</h3>
<br />
So, it's simple, look at the map and find the highest place. Well, not quite. Which map? Surely, they all agree. Nope. I looked at two that I trust the most, and they don't agree.<br />
<br />
Looking at the <a href="https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/52.21944,0.09468,16">Ordnance Survey map</a>, they have a few places around Girton peaking at an enormous 25 metres. However, looking at the <a href="https://opentopomap.org/#map=16/52.22311/0.09379">Topological map</a>, they have a DIFFERENT place topping out at 30 metres. And both maps do NOT agree with each others points.<br />
<br />
The highest point is either on Huntingdon Road directly outside Girton College or on the Ridgeway track to Eddington where it crosses the north-south access to the university farm.<br />
<br />
So, I did a barometric altitude check by cycling between the two places. I know it's not accurate, but it shouldn't vary by much in a few minutes. The results favour the Ridgeway track, but only just. I think it fair to say, I still don't know. <br />
<br />
<h3>
So, What's the Challenge?</h3>
<br />
Go to either you're highest local location. Or go to Girton and take pictures at either Girton College Gate, or the Eddington Ridgeway track, or both as they are 5 minutes apart.<br />
<br />
Take a selfie, bike photo, or both, and send them in on the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CamRideHome">#CamRideHome</a> hashtag.RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-25331488103564446412019-05-08T12:54:00.002+01:002019-05-08T15:44:58.204+01:00Reach Ride 2019<br />
So the Reach Ride 2019, woo hoo!<br />
<br />
Again, lots of people grab hold of their bikes and ride out to Reach to see the 800 year old fair. It's around 14.5 miles in length, but that's not the thing people take away from this ride. What is the big thing is cycling with so many others enjoying the chat as we go along.<br />
<br />
I had so many conversations with people I knew and people I'd never met before and may not meet again. Some people I'd recognise from previous years, and they'd always be new people coming with joyful ideas and positive involvement with riding.<br />
<br />
Here's the route, with the main route in red and my short cut home in blue. Note that the shortcut home isn't possible as the busy road through Stow-cum-Quy is not passable by our larger group with a wider range of abilities.<br />
<br />
It really is worth opening this up larger in a separate window.<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1reH6MW9Yq_66kfs9uIWGsUKbDz93PstY" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1reH6MW9Yq_66kfs9uIWGsUKbDz93PstY&usp=sharing">Open Map Larger</a>.<br />
<br />
So this year's video is a combination of the view forward and the reverse "faces" view. I do like ot see where we are going and it brings people in seeing what's about to happen in the facecam, possibly making it easier to spot yourself!<br />
<br />
Here's the video of the route. Look out, music! <i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KhWNyY15_jc" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>00:11 Starting from The Guildhall<br />
00:30 And onto Sidney Street<br />
01:30 Explaining the TdF bunting<br />
01:45 The first jam<br />
02:30 A patient and happy taxi driver!<br />
02:45 Zooming along at 8mph on Jesus Green<br />
03:45 Camera fail!<br />
05:00 Further jams at Cutter Ferr Bridge<br />
07:00 Getting up to the front in a record distance<br />
07:40 New path approach to Fen Ditton Lane<br />
08:00 Loosing the leader's flag<br />
08:45 Stopping in Bottisham<br />
09:35 Final big pedal in a group to Lode<br />
11:10 Reaching Reach!<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-64698122845146065102019-05-03T00:32:00.000+01:002019-05-03T00:33:49.989+01:00Easter Suffolk eBike Ride<br />
So, eBikes, eh? It's just cheating, isn't it! You're on a bike but don't have to do anything as the battery powers everything.<br />
<br />
Well, that's what a lot of populist opinions will say, and who's to argue? Well, these studies for starters.<br />
<br />
Switzerland's University of Basel worked out that <a href="https://newatlas.com/ebike-fitness-study/55662/">e-bikes get you just as fit as non-electrics</a>. A small sample, but reasonably vigorous with it's <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180726161118.htm">conclusions</a>.<br />
<br />
Another Norwegian study confirms that <a href="https://cyclingindustry.news/study-confirms-that-electric-bike-riders-experience-physical-exertion-95-of-the-time/">electric bike riders experience physical exertion 95% of the time</a>. The conclusion speaks volumes.<br />
<ul>
<li><i>“Cycling on the E-bike resulted in lower trip duration and exercise intensity, compared with the conventional bicycle. However, most of the time was spent in MVPA*. This suggests that changing the commuting mode from car to E-bike will significantly increase levels of physical activity while commuting.” (* Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity)</i><br />
<i></i></li>
</ul>
And a bigger study shows that there's <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2018/12/06/major-study-shows-electric-bikes-good-for-health/">evidence from studies that they are healthier than non-cycling alternatives</a>. <br />
<br />
One thing that can be said is that it's not a good for fitness as riding a normal bike. However, what happens when you don't feel capable of riding a normal bike in your local neighbourhood? This is what happened to my parents as they got toward the end of their 70s. The short hills and inclines in their area just made getting on the bike just too much. So, they would naturally go back to driving a car. And they did, and didn't as will follow.<br />
<br />
Another study (which I've seen but have lost the link, damn it!) talks about how eBikes help soften the heartrate changes. When we go uphill, we exert more and our heartrate goes up.When we go downhill the reverse happens. With an eBike, this change in heartrate is flattened out. This is ideal for older people who need to exercise still, but the higher heartrates of going uphill put more stress on them than is healthy.<br />
<br />
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, here's me with my mother on a 14-mile ride around their local neighbourhood. This simply wouldn't happen without the eBike. Look at the amount of pedalling happening. Without that the bike just doesn't go. This was well over an hour of moderate exercise that wouldn't happen without the eBike.<br />
<br />
Here's the video of the route. Look out, music! <i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A3X3kGMTa2I" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from Wenhaston, near <a href="http://www.wenhastonstar.co.uk/">The Star</a><br />
0:28 Ah, uphill<br />
1:02 Flat riding<br />
1:28 Another incline<br />
1:45 Into Darsham<br />
2:45 Smaller inclines towards the end<br />
3:30 Last incline, I can't keep up!<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
So, lots of populist opinion can be split on he "it's cheating" meme. And lots of purists can take about how riding a "proper" bike is better. But neither of them cater for my parents, so I'm not interested.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-33569082209139358542019-04-29T20:20:00.004+01:002020-01-19T15:14:49.499+00:00#CamRideHome April 2019 Great Kneighton and Trumpington Meadows Permeations<br />
So with a lot of the development in Great Keighton and Trumpington Meadows getting closer to completion, how about a little look around to see what it's like cycling (and walking) around these places.<br />
<br />
Here's the route, with the main route in blue and cut-throughs marked with sissors. There are a couple of exploratory routes and an idea for a fantastic linking route on the East bank of the Cam. It really is worth opening this up larger in a separate window.<br />
<iframe height="500" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1KjSTSXWAeUgENLvRfNeiO6MeG9BxVv6p" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1KjSTSXWAeUgENLvRfNeiO6MeG9BxVv6p&usp=sharing">Open Map Larger</a>.<br />
<br />
Lots of good traffic concepts with these developments. <br />
<br />
First, all the sides roads are narrow, winding, and have only a small amount of parking spaces. This slows all vehicles down and ensures not many will be coming in anyway. An interesting caveat to this is the main junction into Kneighton, a huge multi-lane affair with traffic lights. And it's hardly used. For some reason the developers simply couldn't get their head around that lack of vehicle transport mixing here.<br />
<br />
Also, there are a lot of cut-throughs for people walking and cycling. Specically ways that make journeys like this shorter and more convenient. There were a few niggly bits, but mostly pretty good.<br />
<br />
We did stop to look at the new cycle racks in the Trumpington Park & Ride. This does look like a big step backwards. Poor access, fewer racks, and all to add in a few more parking spaces.<br />
<br />
Finally finishing at <a href="https://twitter.com/bbgrantchester">The Blue Ball</a> in Grantchester for a chat and a beer. <br />
<br />
Just for comparison, here's a <a href="https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=52.1759&lon=0.1182&layers=193&b=1">local link</a> to the National Library of Scotland maps from the late 1940s to 60s.<br />
<br />
Here's the video of the route. Look out, music! <i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ENBDz78tQM4" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam">The Mill</a><br />
0:24 Lathams Lane, a nice new surface<br />
0:57 Accessing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson%27s_Conduit">Hobsons Conduit</a> Path via uni road<br />
1:09 Hobsons Conduit Path, lots of care and slow speeds<br />
1:36 Stopping on the start of Vicars Brook<br />
2:11 Builders access directly opposite, should have been opened up by now?<br />
2:24 First cut into <a href="http://www.greatkneighton.co.uk/">Great Kneighton</a>, but gravel?<br />
2:33 Narrow winding streets to slow vehicles<br />
3:08 Dual-use "segregated" path outside (secondary) school<br />
3:32 Onto the original public bridleway from <a href="https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=52.1744&lon=0.1216&layers=193&b=1">Addenbrookes</a><br />
4:27 Crossing the Guided Busway and on towards Shelford Road<br />
5:15 Cut-trough from new to old developments<br />
5:37 Up Bishops Road to last <a href="http://www.greatkneighton.co.uk/">Great Kneighton</a> cut-through<br />
6:11 Poor barriers forcing active travellers into conflict without slowing vehicles<br />
6:28 Loking at the new poor P&R bike racks<br />
6:50 Out the back of the P&R and into Trumpington Meadows with lots of cut-throughs<br />
7:34 Turning down onto the Meadows themselves <br />
8:00 Heading onto <a href="https://twitter.com/bbgrantchester">The Ball Blue</a> in Grantchester<br />
<br />
<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-44101407361803609552018-05-26T20:44:00.000+01:002018-05-27T19:45:56.214+01:00#CamRideHome Visits Trumpington Meadows Country Park<br />
Finally we get a pleasant, sunny, evening ride after a wet couple. So, what better than to look to the sun and the south city Trumpington Meadows Country Park?<br />
<br />
The start point, as always, is from from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam">The Mill</a> by the river in the centre of town. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbDlY-JW4AAr90c.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="800" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbDlY-JW4AAr90c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>The Mill in Sunnier Times (<a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam/status/986540540643758080">from their twitter stream</a>)</i></span><br />
<br />
Here's the route.<br />
<iframe height="500" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1dPhTeVs-KAvR6cJ6qsDSw7ih2KBpBVJQ" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dPhTeVs-KAvR6cJ6qsDSw7ih2KBpBVJQ&usp=sharing">Open Map Larger</a>.<br />
<br />
A short meander around west Cambridge, with the sun dripping off the tops of the hedges and verdant trees, but constantly heading towards Grantchester. Getting out of the city feels great on this lackadaisical Friday early evening, even cars are a rare and hardly noticed event. <br />
<br />
Once through the beautiful Grantchester and across the river valley, the turn ito the route to Byron's Pool was welcome. We decided to drop the bikes (quite hard!) and walk down to the pool. Discovering ducks and the fish route round the weir was a <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_nuttall/status/1000067936734900225">little special</a>.<br />
<br />
So then off across Trumpington Meadows Country Park. It was just lovely. And clearly not well known about. When I had a look for any online activity about it I could only find rather <a href="http://www.trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org/TrumpingtonHistoryTrail6.pdf">awkward PDF</a> history, and the <a href="http://www.trumpingtonresidentsassociation.org/TrumpingtonMeadows_countrypark.html">local residents association run down</a> which, whilst enabling lots of images, could really do with someone with website design experience (a bit like I might need to!).<br />
<br />
So, it's great for people to walk and ride for a place to go. In some sense, it also could be used as a route through for people cycling from Harston and beyond into the city centre. Staying away from the awful road from the M11 to Trumpington High Street would be great. This could be the beginning of a green route in just like the other end of the river going out across Ditton Meadows. Of course it needs to be done right, but that should be easy with the space that's here.<br />
<br />
On the way back we had a look at the new <a href="https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/clay-farm-centre">Clay Farm</a> developments near the Guided Busway. It's great to see a new community centre appear, I hope it's well used. <br />
<br />
We did wander up Limes Avenue and were quite disappointed. For a new development with so much space, why no dedicated cycle infrastructure? This would have been so easy to do, but there's absolutely nothing. On top of that, the development sticks to 1970s design models by making lots of straight roads, encouraging speeding by drivers. Again, and I know there are other issues, why not look at Cambourne? A place where few people drive faster than 20mph because it's too hard to go faster. Just like Eddington we seemed to have gone backwards. And this is a town where you'd have thought they would be thinking about these kind of things. But no. A poor development, infrastructure wise.<br />
<br />
Here's the video of the route. Look out, music! <i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6jddBzvF25I" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam">The Mill</a><br />
0:43 The road to Grantchester<br />
1:01 <a href="https://twitter.com/bbgrantchester?lang=en">The Blue Ball</a><br />
1:14 <a href="https://whatpub.com/pubs/CAM/90/green-man-grantchester">The Green Man</a><br />
1:37 Heading for <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjX5v-nkaTbAhWHDsAKHYZVB_QQFgg1MAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Flnr.cambridge.gov.uk%2Fnature_reserve%2Fbyrons-pool%2F&usg=AOvVaw26AygHnupmMwvRaqZI4BcW">Byrons Pool</a><br />
2:03 Entering <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_zNG4kaTbAhXLK8AKHe2_C3sQFgg3MAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trumpingtonresidentsassociation.org%2FTrumpingtonMeadows_countrypark.html&usg=AOvVaw1e0NB6EximK13suPsOLF0w">Trumpington Meadows Country Park</a> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>2:25 The Lark Sculpture<br />
2:36 The Hare Sculpture<br />
2:48 Pool<br />
3:42 Harston cycle route<br />
3:53 Clay Farm Centre<br />
4:14 Limes Avenue<br />
4:45 Returning to The Mill for a pint and a natter<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-3612151478843773112018-04-29T13:32:00.000+01:002018-04-29T15:47:23.966+01:00#CamRideHome Visits Arbury<br />
After a really rather damp day, the ida of going out for a social ride seemed a bit too much. However, the experience was very different. There's something about doing things in a group that makes fun and worthwhile, despite the potentially inclement weather. In fact the adversity may actually bring about more pleasure as you seek to beat it as a group.<br />
<br />
The start point, as always, is from from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam">The Mill</a> by the river in the centre of town. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbDlY-JW4AAr90c.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="800" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbDlY-JW4AAr90c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>The Mill in Sunnier Times (<a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam/status/986540540643758080">from their twitter stream</a>)</i></span><br />
<br />
Here's the route.<br />
<iframe height="500" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=19iXfgthIfyFLizuuXXxbN98ThaIKacCq" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=19iXfgthIfyFLizuuXXxbN98ThaIKacCq&usp=sharing">Open Map Larger</a>.<br />
<br />
Whilst we did meander around a lot of cycle infra around north east Cambridge, the primary aim was to look at the new cyclepaths on <a href="https://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/124/article12.html">Arbury Road</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/124/images/article12a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="570" src="https://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/124/images/article12a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Plan for the new cyclepaths</i></span><br />
<br />
And there are a few more photos of this bit of our ride <a href="https://www.cyclestreets.net/photomap/tags/camridehome/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
It was good to note the works at the end of the cyclepath, it's the <a href="https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/news/arbury-road-cycleway-moves-to-next-phase-of-construction/">extension going ahead soon</a>.<br />
<br />
And here's the video of the route. Look out, music! And inspired by the water all around us, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIwUfeGFyWY">little ditty</a> by <a href="https://www.newmodelarmy.org/">New Model Army</a>.<i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xbwNV4JanD8" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMillCam">The Mill</a><br />
0:30 Passing Kings College<br />
0:44 By the river on Jesus Green<br />
1:22 Green Dragon Bridge<br />
1:33 Fen Road Cyclepath<br />
1:41 Snack break on the Guided Busway<br />
1:59 Getting to the Arbury Road Cyclepath<br />
2:30 Returning to The Mill for a pint and a natter<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
A slightly sad part was coming back down Mere and Carlton Way, although it didn't spoil the evening mood generally. Several close passes as people driving risked (us) getting round us on a narrow road with oncoming traffic. <br />
<br />
One particular fine example of driving was someone passing us close at high speed and parking up in a bus stop. Reviewing video frames against nearby street items and measuring on satellite images showed they were doing at least 37mph (in a 20mph limit). <br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db4vOUcWkAADfcu.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db4vOUcWkAADfcu.jpg:large" width="500" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="450" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Large car being driven well over the speed limit</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-59191542707647101522018-04-18T21:43:00.001+01:002018-04-18T21:44:09.781+01:00Sunny Ten Mile Cambridge Ride 2018<br />
So, the delights of early spring in Cambridge when the sun comes out. This ride has lots of cycle paths, quiet streets, open spaces, very pleasant in the early spring sun. Even the speeding close cars on Gilbert Road didn't spoil the mood. Every interaction other than that was with a smile, drivers included!<br />
<br />
The start point is from Hills Road near the railway bridge, heading down Brooklands Avnue.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuJ4Nd664QM/Wtek39OrnbI/AAAAAAAAJNY/xkp3U0S_ELc6jEIbm0DMfqmoPQFVDMJkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Flower%2BBeds.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuJ4Nd664QM/Wtek39OrnbI/AAAAAAAAJNY/xkp3U0S_ELc6jEIbm0DMfqmoPQFVDMJkwCLcBGAs/s320/Flower%2BBeds.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Flower Beds</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcWsTTThU4o/Wtek4Okj0HI/AAAAAAAAJNg/0M0sMk9_2Ws0N3tCPmu9fj6gHJIz298_ACLcBGAs/s1600/Keirin%2BAnyone.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcWsTTThU4o/Wtek4Okj0HI/AAAAAAAAJNg/0M0sMk9_2Ws0N3tCPmu9fj6gHJIz298_ACLcBGAs/s320/Keirin%2BAnyone.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirin">Keirin</a> Anyone?</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--S35cSInYY8/Wtek43uJCcI/AAAAAAAAJNk/jpDSUDSS33MqZ7rAGOA4W440YVFNM9Z6wCLcBGAs/s1600/Picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--S35cSInYY8/Wtek43uJCcI/AAAAAAAAJNk/jpDSUDSS33MqZ7rAGOA4W440YVFNM9Z6wCLcBGAs/s320/Picnic.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Stourbridge Common Picnic</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anWNavL-p0A/Wtek4NJUiuI/AAAAAAAAJNc/tcZQ9Hd9ElAddx8jCC9dcHBHeU8jcdNgwCLcBGAs/s1600/Fen%2BDitton%2BMeadows%2Band%2BRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anWNavL-p0A/Wtek4NJUiuI/AAAAAAAAJNc/tcZQ9Hd9ElAddx8jCC9dcHBHeU8jcdNgwCLcBGAs/s320/Fen%2BDitton%2BMeadows%2Band%2BRiver.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Fen Ditton Meadows and River</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNB93qrGCkM/Wteq8vOwI9I/AAAAAAAAJN8/Q5nOKed4OCk-iETGeppm9LYUlRiut4YLACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2BCycle%2BArrow%2Bon%2BSedgwick%2BStreet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNB93qrGCkM/Wteq8vOwI9I/AAAAAAAAJN8/Q5nOKed4OCk-iETGeppm9LYUlRiut4YLACLcBGAs/s320/New%2BCycle%2BArrow%2Bon%2BSedgwick%2BStreet.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>New Cycle Arrow on Sedgwick Street</i></span><br />
<br />
Here's the route.<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1wmJ_jvs5xAXbHgjCCk-TPjV9pyVmWEvY" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wmJ_jvs5xAXbHgjCCk-TPjV9pyVmWEvY&usp=sharing">Open Map Larger</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
And here's the video of the route. Look out, soundtrack!<i>(Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/db0jZerkg6U" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from Hills Road near the Railway Bridge<br />
0:27 Crossing into the Coe Fen<br />
0:41 Over the river<br />
1:06 Cutting through the colleges to Burrells Walk<br />
1:44 Up Madingley Road<br />
2:00 Through the back of hte Astronomy<br />
2:26 Crossing Huntingdon Road<br />
2:51 Gilbert Road, speeding close cars, uggh<br />
3:30 Over Fort St Goerge Bridge onto Midsummer Common<br />
3:50 Keirin anyone?<br />
4:05 Stourbridge Common with picnics<br />
5:00 Onto Coldhams Common<br />
5:36 Sedgwick Street with it's new counter flow cycle arrows<br />
8:00 Railway Cycle Bridge<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-63270693705078221582018-01-04T17:42:00.000+00:002018-01-04T17:42:16.104+00:00#CamRideHome on New Years Eve Along the Quy-Lode Cyclepath<br />
So a few decided to make the trip up to the new cycleroute that has been set up between Stow-cum-Quy and Lode. This was changed from a Friday evening to a Sunday lunchtime ride as it was New Years Eve (and few could do the Friday slot!). It had the benefit of ending at <a href="https://twitter.com/theshed45">The Shed</a>, a new pub in Lode, just about lunchtime. Hey Ho!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuqUNZQcxmQ/Wk4owQPNOfI/AAAAAAAAIoo/Gn70em8leugR1isFGmWHxw9Tz_XmAhTPwCLcBGAs/s1600/01.%2BSetting%2BOff.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuqUNZQcxmQ/Wk4owQPNOfI/AAAAAAAAIoo/Gn70em8leugR1isFGmWHxw9Tz_XmAhTPwCLcBGAs/s320/01.%2BSetting%2BOff.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Setting Off (photo by Simon Nuttall)</i></span><br />
<br />
Here's the route planned. A fairly simple jaunt along NCN51 out from Cambridge, which is mostly off-road, and when on- it's very quiet. Note that we came back along the road to the <a href="https://twitter.com/themissingsock1">Missing Sock</a> (another great venue), merely to see waht it was like (very quiet).<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1kOV5GcpGBYnZLNkdhQ46KukTAf9yqC2m" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
So to the route itself. It starts where the offroad NCN51 crossing of the B1102 in Stow just north of the A14 roundabout and makes it's way through Stow towards the Quy end of the village (good history <a href="http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol10/pp230-233">here</a>).<br />
<br />
This first section can be a little intimidating. People driving have only just slowed down for the village and still have expectations of making fast progress. There are not many easy places to pass, especially with oncoming traffic. Why wasn't the off-road path started here? Well, probably for a number of reasons. Could it change, I hope so, although it may be more difficult to do so as a secondary change.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1WcTDcAajMsoXQJmC_cfONEYyhScvxOih" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Just about where Stow becomes Quy, there's a turn off onto a small, quiet side road. It's still direct and makes for a nice relaxing change from the previous section. This continues into Quy Court Business Park, which also has slower speeds, although also suffers from reduced visibility and the likelihood of people driving not looking as they park.<br />
<br />
After that is the off-road path itself. This is lovely. It starts off being separated from the road by a hedge, a great reduction in noise. Sadly, this doesn't go for the whole length, but it does do it's best and it's clear why it can't.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRfLXVw7U2Y/Wk4owj2SaDI/AAAAAAAAIos/bVqvJVdjTUwh8finBaAjEoyXIHeEcq-pgCLcBGAs/s1600/04.%2BStart%2Bof%2Bthe%2BCyclepath.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRfLXVw7U2Y/Wk4owj2SaDI/AAAAAAAAIos/bVqvJVdjTUwh8finBaAjEoyXIHeEcq-pgCLcBGAs/s320/04.%2BStart%2Bof%2Bthe%2BCyclepath.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Cyclepath Start</i></span><br />
<br />
At the Lode end, near Anglesey Abbey, the route crosses back over th B1102 and then proceeds to the Lode turn. In fact the off-road path continues for around 50 metres into the village. From there it's a quiet ride down to The Shed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QkZJnSrT2ok/Wk4pWH8iNJI/AAAAAAAAIpI/cf12cfqB_3IFlio0VzyBHfs1ihrC2jjFACLcBGAs/s1600/09.%2BThe%2BShed%2BArrival.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QkZJnSrT2ok/Wk4pWH8iNJI/AAAAAAAAIpI/cf12cfqB_3IFlio0VzyBHfs1ihrC2jjFACLcBGAs/s320/09.%2BThe%2BShed%2BArrival.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Arrival at The Shed</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
And here's the video of the route. A few glimpses to the route itself, then a quick look at the good (of which there's a lot), the bad (and there is a bit), and the ugly (thankfully none!). Look out, soundtrack!<br />
<br />
<i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4HdyNZwdoAk" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:11 Starting from Cutter Ferry bridge<br />
0:56 Stow Road Section<br />
1:32 Turning onto quiet road in Quy<br />
1:50 Quy centre<br />
2:00 Start of the off-road section<br />
2:40 Anglesey Abbey Road Crossing<br />
3:09 The Shed, Lode<br />
3:14 Some return clips</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
So, the new path should be welcomed, it's a helpful addition to the route network. It should mean more people ride, although it's not really going to include quite a few people who really won't like that first road section. If it's to be a route, it's only going to be as good as it's weakest point.<br />
<br />
So, looking at the road section, why wasn't it changed. Simply, it's quite difficult. However, it's not that difficult, and there is space. Sticking with the same side as the built route, and there is room most of the way. True, it means costly moving of lamp-posts and other street furniture. Opposite The Wheatsheaf, the space on that side runs out. There is still roadspace, so it's a question of moving the kerbs, again costly for cyclepaths.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSEbPKpX_pI/Wk4owGMFx9I/AAAAAAAAIok/RdXywlmyZu80MKpEwVHYUJV3Z8B9MgRdgCLcBGAs/s1600/02.%2BSpace%2Bon%2BRight.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSEbPKpX_pI/Wk4owGMFx9I/AAAAAAAAIok/RdXywlmyZu80MKpEwVHYUJV3Z8B9MgRdgCLcBGAs/s320/02.%2BSpace%2Bon%2BRight.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Space on Right</i></span><br />
<br />
Could it be done later? Yes, I hope so. After all, we are just finishing up the same kind of project, with similar issues in Harston. And I'd suggest the idea of a quick win was the reason why this wasn't done to start with.<br />
<br />
Once at the turning onto the quiet road, there's plenty more space on both sides. And this continues along the main road apart from a small section just after the crossroads. Again, some clever considerations here would enable this to be a fully linked path. Of course, the quiet road could still be used, which wouldn't be absolutely ideal, but would allow for some of the less confident riders.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLo2Ryzgx38/Wk4ovvxVbsI/AAAAAAAAIog/ZSjTogvSUYsgGSqibMz_BjdMQN31svakgCLcBGAs/s1600/03.%2BSpace%2BEither%2BSide.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLo2Ryzgx38/Wk4ovvxVbsI/AAAAAAAAIog/ZSjTogvSUYsgGSqibMz_BjdMQN31svakgCLcBGAs/s320/03.%2BSpace%2BEither%2BSide.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Space Either Side</i></span><br />
<br />
There are a couple of potential issues with the path itself.<br />
<br />
First, in two places trees come close to the route. Has enough been done to ensure there's no root damage from the trees. We've recently suffered from this on the Guided Busway (yes, that short time and we have it) and can see many examples around town where this is the case. You don't see it as often in roads, why would that be? A better substructure?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FC4VHmNCZc0/Wk4oxLdFLbI/AAAAAAAAIo0/MP8lVJZ4AZEqhJHazorYZU9tVdfWP-WlQCLcBGAs/s1600/06.%2BPotential%2BRoot%2BDamage.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FC4VHmNCZc0/Wk4oxLdFLbI/AAAAAAAAIo0/MP8lVJZ4AZEqhJHazorYZU9tVdfWP-WlQCLcBGAs/s320/06.%2BPotential%2BRoot%2BDamage.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Trees very near path, has sufficient been done to stop root damage?</i></span><br />
<br />
And second, There is at least one tractor crossing. Again, with several tons moving across the path, not too regularly, just enough, has the path surface and substructure been designed to deal with this? I'm not sure. I have seen what other places do to protect fomr this kind of damage, and it doesn't look like we've done anything like enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_ipEQzw3dA/Wk4owmFYP3I/AAAAAAAAIow/tyeLiJZjWzkdNhbxi_OW0KwmWRhCNAFvwCLcBGAs/s1600/05.%2BInadequate%2BSurface%2B%2526%2BSubstructure.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_ipEQzw3dA/Wk4owmFYP3I/AAAAAAAAIow/tyeLiJZjWzkdNhbxi_OW0KwmWRhCNAFvwCLcBGAs/s320/05.%2BInadequate%2BSurface%2B%2526%2BSubstructure.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Tractor Crossing, is their adequate surface and substructure here?</i></span><br />
<br />So, onto the last section, the crossing and the route up to Lode.<br />
<br />
After the nice section away from the road, the crossing comes at you quite quickly. It's quite difficult to see through the trees and work out when it's okay to cross. People riding do like a good chance to look around, see whether they can plan a route across and do it quickly without stopping. This isn't possible here. There is an island, but we were all too nervous to use it. It looks very small and there's a worry about being clipped whilst waiting. And if we want this facility to be used by lots of people, we need to make it so lots of people can use it at the same time, not one or two.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5N-SHZdvto/Wk4pXHgWQDI/AAAAAAAAIpM/2E4gF5ZK5MozkVKHcjO8EHxfAIETnnIWACLcBGAs/s1600/07.%2BCrossing.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5N-SHZdvto/Wk4pXHgWQDI/AAAAAAAAIpM/2E4gF5ZK5MozkVKHcjO8EHxfAIETnnIWACLcBGAs/s320/07.%2BCrossing.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Road Crossing near Anglesey Abbey</i></span><br />
<br />
Finally, the path up to the Lode turn. This is well known for being the Anglesey Abbey overflow car park. Cars will litter this place at busy times. I hope some contingency has been made to deal with this issue.<br />
<br />
Here is an example. Now, the car isn't parked all the way across the path, but it does take the whole space up. When passing a parked car, riders are taught to be at least an open doors width away, in case someone in the <a href="https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/2017-09-10/cycling-uk-calls-greater-public-awareness-%E2%80%9Ccar-dooring%E2%80%9D">car opens the door</a>. The Dutch Reach, as good as it is, will only reduce the numbers of poeple who do open doors without looking. It's still better to avoid the area when riding.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxwMyqUa7Ow/Wk4pVxU0c2I/AAAAAAAAIpE/XhcZWW40GMkuFmJeezO8RQRfFkcKEUPaQCLcBGAs/s1600/08.%2BParked%2BCar%2Bat%2BAnglesey%2BAbbey.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxwMyqUa7Ow/Wk4pVxU0c2I/AAAAAAAAIpE/XhcZWW40GMkuFmJeezO8RQRfFkcKEUPaQCLcBGAs/s320/08.%2BParked%2BCar%2Bat%2BAnglesey%2BAbbey.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>Parked Car on Cyclepath</i></span><br />
<br />
Finally, we did see the sun, if only for a bit and a bit muted!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPM_jmB7L-M/Wk4rSOkjN0I/AAAAAAAAIpY/uuuoBlk1YS0h_3pv4oOy45vehtqsCI0AQCLcBGAs/s1600/10.%2BSun%2Bon%2BReturn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPM_jmB7L-M/Wk4rSOkjN0I/AAAAAAAAIpY/uuuoBlk1YS0h_3pv4oOy45vehtqsCI0AQCLcBGAs/s320/10.%2BSun%2Bon%2BReturn.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>The Hint of Sun on Return</i></span><br />
<br />
All in all, a lovely ride out, and I like the new path, with some reservations. Convivial chatter along the way and great food at The Shed made it all a pretty good New Years Eve.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-70074425361993940312017-09-07T11:33:00.000+01:002017-09-07T11:33:08.273+01:00Eddington<br />
<br />
So the new Eddington development is opening in West Cambridge. We had a chance to look around a couple of weeks back. It was still a bit closed off but there was a cycle route through.<br />
<br />
It is great that there will be new cycle routes, completely separated from roads into town (through the Cambridge farm site?) and to the north west. And it's great to have a place where everything is so close. People are encouraged to make small trips and it looks distinctly difficult to do by car.<br />
<br />
Whilst good work has been done to secure off-road space for people riding, it is quite compromised in places, and quite confusing in others. And that makes all the difference. Routes are only as good as their weakest point. <br />
<br />
Here's the <a href="http://www.nwcambridge.co.uk/files/open_eddington_wayfinding.pdf">map of the site [PDF]</a>, which does look good, bar one striking point (below). The map descriptions look like they've done the right things. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5jRIVZq55k/WbEauj0DsQI/AAAAAAAAICI/302Hagj5aZsIZPUQ1xTWyojGBAu95eeEACLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2BMap.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1126" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5jRIVZq55k/WbEauj0DsQI/AAAAAAAAICI/302Hagj5aZsIZPUQ1xTWyojGBAu95eeEACLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2BMap.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Eddington Map</i></span><br />
<br />
However, when actually riding it on the ground, several issues appear that are completely different to the map.<br />
<br />
1. "Shared Pedestrian/Cycle Network". This is really not clear at all. Surface separated (by a thin kerb) and marked as separated. Some signs say different, some a few metres away confirm the surface layout. People will see it as the surface is laid out, segregated, it's a much stronger indicator.<br />
2. The resulting segregated areas are narrow. Even if the whole space were shared, it's still narrow, but not by much. Even if the space is legally defined as shared, it's still not going to be the way people see it, creating conflict between walking and riding.<br />
3. It doesn't come out to the road fully at Huntingdon Road, there are clear signs prohibiting riding, differing from the map's diagram.<br />
4. It doesn't have priority of side roads (like Five Acres), differing from the map's diagram.<br />
5. The long straight roads encourage speeding, even if narrow in places. This is something that seems completely at odds with other new developments.<br />
6. This is a through route for people in cars. If I were commuting from North of Cambridge, I've suddenly got a route that takes me to the Madingley Road Park and Ride. The queuing traffic for this place from the south is pretty bad. Isn't this going to create another queue form the north?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qs_5BiEOs7E/WbEatgD9yCI/AAAAAAAAIB8/qprnNaFs8aYceEmofI-W4MEqO1Oh46-PACLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2B1.%2BCycle%2BArrow%2BMarkings.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qs_5BiEOs7E/WbEatgD9yCI/AAAAAAAAIB8/qprnNaFs8aYceEmofI-W4MEqO1Oh46-PACLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2B1.%2BCycle%2BArrow%2BMarkings.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Huntingdon Road: surface arrows suggests people should cycle onto the pavement here</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WtwJ47qdAM/WbEatgFu_vI/AAAAAAAAICA/HHXU8fZ42nsKTvDcd_IyH-3sS5OWL4pMgCLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2B2.%2BCycle%2BSigns%2Band%2BSurface.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WtwJ47qdAM/WbEatgFu_vI/AAAAAAAAICA/HHXU8fZ42nsKTvDcd_IyH-3sS5OWL4pMgCLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2B2.%2BCycle%2BSigns%2Band%2BSurface.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Huntingdon Road: s</i></span>igns (other side!) says you can't cycle on the pavement here</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRyBLPxZJI8/WbEatacXojI/AAAAAAAAIB4/aAA2AE8a5dclGTE6RY-gRLrxdKWHGUOKgCLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2B3.%2BSide%2BRoad%2BPriority.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRyBLPxZJI8/WbEatacXojI/AAAAAAAAIB4/aAA2AE8a5dclGTE6RY-gRLrxdKWHGUOKgCLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2B3.%2BSide%2BRoad%2BPriority.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>No side road priority next to Eddington Avenue</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jh3eC4_Qjs/WbEat9GIvmI/AAAAAAAAICE/W6DwcqCJg3oMkMzSQqKOfTvUjmgFju3_wCLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2B4.%2BSegregated%2BSigns.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jh3eC4_Qjs/WbEat9GIvmI/AAAAAAAAICE/W6DwcqCJg3oMkMzSQqKOfTvUjmgFju3_wCLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2B4.%2BSegregated%2BSigns.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Segregated sign on Turing Way, not shared use space</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jPXrsDJPR8/WbEaux98ASI/AAAAAAAAICM/5RNlFAfrmO8Y1Mj1kvNMTFCdlhWbZ8mTQCLcBGAs/s1600/Eddington%2B5.%2BConfusing%2BSigns.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jPXrsDJPR8/WbEaux98ASI/AAAAAAAAICM/5RNlFAfrmO8Y1Mj1kvNMTFCdlhWbZ8mTQCLcBGAs/s320/Eddington%2B5.%2BConfusing%2BSigns.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Two different signs close to each other saying different things</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
So, why haven't we learnt from previous developments on these issues. It's not like we don't have great examples not very far away.<br />
<br />
Just half a mile south of here, on the West Cambridge cyclepath (to Coton), there's a great peice of Pedestrian/Cycle infrastructure. A large kerb, clearly defined space for people walking and riding. And, the really silly things is that it's only a little bit wider than the space given in Eddington. <br />
<br />
I work around quite a lot, and see lots of different infrastructure in new developments. Every other new development I've been to recently (Cambourne, Hargate, Red Lodge, and more) have roads that change direction at least every 100 metres. Every time I drive there 20mph seems fast. So that's the speed I don't even want to exceed. We know that long straight roads means motor vehicle speed increases, making it awkward for everyone else to negotiate crossing or joining them.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-37375779848801975532017-07-01T18:50:00.000+01:002017-07-02T18:31:21.946+01:00#CamRideHome on 30.06.2017 The Rush Water Course and Trumpington Road Cyclepath Video<br />
As <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/06/camridehome-on-30062017-rush-water.html">planned</a>, the June ride this year was to The Blue Ball in Granchester looking at a couple of sites along the way. And yes, I've spelt it deliberately like that.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1-E0ypNFPM8HWhnO7miPv9zvMB1Q" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
And here's the video of the route!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">##CamRideHome Does Cambridge North on 30.06.2017</span><i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qT5XRj3spxc" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:12 Start up Laundress Lane<br />
0:33 Through a poorly placed No Entry sign to get to two-way cyclepath<br />
0:52 Onto Sheeps Green<br />
1:03 Progress temporarily halted by boggy bit<br />
1:16 The newly rejuvenated "The Rush" stream<br />
2:27 Simon goes for a paddle which interests the locals<br />
2:57 Back onto Fen Causeway shared-use path<br />
3:15 Onto Trumpington Road shared-use path, lane opposite not yet finished<br />
3:25 Floating bus stop still being built<br />
3:45 Onto cyclelane from new crossing place<br />
4:00 Up ramp to shared-use path, is it all the way?<br />
4:22 A little known shared-use path to St Faith's School<br />
4:52 Over and up Lathams Lane<br />
5:25 Back onto the Coe Fen<br />
5:52 Brief rain coat stop<br />
6:19 Simon's bike decides to stop<br />
7:25 Turning over the field to The Blue Ball<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
So we spotted a No Entry sign that's to stop people cycling and driving the wrong way down Malting Lane. However, it also covers the entrance to the two-way shared-use path along Church Rate Walk. <br />
<br />
The first main site was on Sheeps Green. In <a href="https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sheeps-green-watercourse-consultation-poster.pdf">March they renewed The Rush water course</a> by adding in rocks and building the banks with logs and hazel. It looks like it really does rejuvenate the stream, and I spotted an Egret at the bottom pool. I do find it a little incongruous to have rocks in a stream in a flat, fen area, but it does make the stream work.<br /><br />UPDATE: More video <a href="https://youtu.be/qaariAWzmKI">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The second site is the new cyclepath along the east side of Trumpington Road. This change gets rid of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IhP_jist40&t=0m41s">awful doorzone cyclelane</a> and connects to the Brooklands Avenue cyclepath enabling loads of local school kids to avoid the busy main road entirely. Here's <a href="https://youtu.be/PokX8EXwKss">Mike Davies talking about the scheme</a>.<br />
<br />
We do note that the <a href="https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/transport-projects/cycling-&-pedestrian-improvements/cycleways-on-trumpington-road/https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/transport-projects/cycling-&-pedestrian-improvements/cycleways-on-trumpington-road/">west side of the road still needs completing</a> as they intend to widen the offroad route. Also, the floating bus stop area isn't yet complete, that should improve it even more. Let's see how the end of Bateman Street works, with loads of school traffic coming out in busy times. It's good to see that they have already removed the railings on the west side shared-use path, there's now a lot more space.<br />
<br />
At the end of these sights of sites we'll take a leisurely ride across Granchester Meadows to the delightful little independent <a href="http://www.blueballgrantchester.co.uk/">Blue Ball pub</a> with it's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlueBallFT1/">excellent atmosphere</a> and great beers. Simon's bike decided to give us a little fun as we almost get onto Grantchester Meadows. And we were shamed that none of us were carrying spanners!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-58452133996088288952017-06-25T12:06:00.001+01:002017-07-01T18:39:27.293+01:00#CamRideHome on 30.06.2017 The Rush Water Course and Trumpington Road Cyclepath<br />
So for the June ride this year we are making our way to The Blue Ball in Granchester seeing the sites along the way. And yes, I've spelt it deliberately like that.<br />
<br />UPDATE: <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/07/camridehome-on-30062017-rush-water.html">Video and story here</a>.<br /><br />
The first site at The Rush on Sheeps Green where in March they renewed the water course by adding in rocks and building the banks with hazel. I remember seeing the work taking place and thought it well worth a look to see how this <a href="https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sheeps-green-watercourse-consultation-poster.pdf">improves the widllife habitat [PDF]</a>.<br />
<br />
The second site is the new cyclepath along the east side of Trumpington Road. This change gets rid of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IhP_jist40&t=0m41s">awful doorzone cyclelane</a> and connects to the Brooklands Avenue cyclepath enabling loads of local school kids to avoid the busy main road entirely. Here's <a href="https://youtu.be/PokX8EXwKss">Mike Davies talking about the scheme</a>. We can note that the <a href="https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/transport-projects/cycling-&-pedestrian-improvements/cycleways-on-trumpington-road/https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/transport-projects/cycling-&-pedestrian-improvements/cycleways-on-trumpington-road/">west side of the road still needs completing</a> as they intend to widen the offroad route.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1-E0ypNFPM8HWhnO7miPv9zvMB1Q" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
At the end of these sights of sites we'll take a leisurely ride across Granchester Meadows to the delightful little independent <a href="http://www.blueballgrantchester.co.uk/">Blue Ball pub</a> with it's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlueBallFT1/">excellent atmosphere</a> and great beers.<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-60851647807243817512017-05-29T20:10:00.002+01:002017-05-29T20:17:37.833+01:00#CamRideHome Does Cambridge North on 26.5.17<br />
<br />
For the Bank Holiday weekend, #CamRideHome explored the new North Cambridge station, the supporting cycle infra, and some useful links in the locality.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1ammDKiv7CfKW6BBYkoHuYrkj-K8" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
And here's the video of the route, with pictures along the way!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">##CamRideHome Does Cambridge North on 26.05.2017</span><i> (Go HD see * below)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fv514WklWr8" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i>0:12 Setting off<br />
0:22 Small child behind parent (wrong way round!)<br />
0:47 Park Terrace cycleroute<br />
1:08 Turning down Mud Lane to wiggle through to the Grafton<br />
1:47 Heading across Midsummer Common and up the river<br />
2:25 Past a busy Thirsty bar<br />
2:58 Using new Water Street cyclepath and river path to get down Fen Road<br />
3:30 Turning into Moss Bank and through to the new connection to the station<br />
3:46 The station and cycle parking appears, some desire lines are going to take riders wrong here<br />
3:55 Up the Guided Busway cyclepath, with connections to the left<br />
4:25 Down into the underpass to get round, this may change<br />
4:41 Turning down the Cowley Road cyclepath, without any connections to the businesses here, sigh<br />
5:19 Back to the station<br />
5:39 Second time through, taking the link to Nuffield Road<br />
5:44 Turning down Discovery Way to go through Bramblefields Nature Reserve<br />
6:08 Heading along Bourne Road and a cut through to Anglers Way<br />
6:23 A missed cycle cut through to Franks Lane<br />
6:35 A brief stop to look at the floating bus stop on Green End Road<br />
7:03 Turning along a brief section of cyclepath on Milton Road<br />
7:25 A final cut through from Warren Road to Eastfield<br />
8:00 Finishing with a pint in the Haymakers<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a>RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-62177227424408966932017-04-11T17:24:00.000+01:002017-04-11T17:24:11.981+01:00Green End Road<br />
This is a notoriously bad space for people riding bikes. It's always made me feel nervous on it, and I'm quite an experienced, confident rider. Quite how anyone who's not confident is meant to use it is, well, reason to upgrade the space!<br />
<br />
So, I was really pleased to hear that there was a plan to do this, and really pleased to start seeing paintwork appearing. My assumption was that it'd be a high quality physically segregated build, putting into practise what was learnt through the Hills Road and Huntingdon Road developments.<br />
<br />
I'd not been up it in a while and was very disappointed when I did. All that's been done is a low grade, just paint, adaption of the road space. This will do nothing to improve the road space for riding.<br />
<br />
We should have learnt, from Cherry Hinton Road, from Milton's Cambridge Road, and many other places, that a simple paint job doesn't protect people riding in the slightest. People regularly just <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2014/10/cherry-hinton-useless-cyclelane.html">drive along in the cyclelane</a>.<br />
<br />
It's even likely to make the space MORE risky to people riding. People driving sometimes think a cyclelane is a separated space, as <a href="http://road.cc/content/news/220506-thats-human-being-chris-boardman-slams-sainsburys-response-close-pass-video">this PR disaster from Sainsburys shows</a>. And this leads to horribly dangerous close passes.<br />
<br />
The reasons for Highway Code Rules <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203">163</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225#motorcyclists-and-cyclists-rules-211-to-213">213</a> do not suddenly disappear when a cyclelane appears.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car"</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make."</i></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/559afd05e5274a155c00001f/the-highway-code-rule-163.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/559afd05e5274a155c00001f/the-highway-code-rule-163.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Anyway, how does the space work on Green End Road? Let's take a look at a few of my experiences from the road. Note that these aren't rare events, they are quite regular.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/04/green-end-road.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WO0zzM9JDvs" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO0zzM9JDvs">Open in YouTube</a></i></span><br />
<br />
So, these new lanes are an unfortunate backwards step. I'd recommend that people ride centre lane & ignore them. It's likely some people driving will take exception to this and hassle people riding to be out of "their space". That's still preferable to having them ignoring you completely, close passing, not quite judging it to the millimetre, and clipping you. And that could be with you anywhere in that cyclelane.<br />
<br />
Sadly yet more infrastructure that doesn't learn from the Goverment guidelines and training about how to ride a bike.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-55482102540790440512017-04-04T17:25:00.000+01:002017-04-04T17:26:41.385+01:00Back Out on the Hildersham Circuit<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">Contents</span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/04/back-out-on-hildersham-circuit.html#Intro">Intro</a></li>
<li><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/04/back-out-on-hildersham-circuit.html#Map">Map</a></li>
<li><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/04/back-out-on-hildersham-circuit.html#Video">Video</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="Intro"></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">Intro</span><br />
<br />
So, I work outdoors with bikes. Yee haa! Lucky me!<br />
<br />
However, this isn't all the roses and happiness it can be. Sadly, over the winter term, I'm really rather reticent to spend my weekends going outdoors very much. Whilst friends are shooting off for a good time in fields and on tracks, I'm sat there going "No thanks, just done that for the past five days". <br />
<br />
Then Spring comes along and all that "stay in" feeling disappears. This weekend was very much that time. The blooms where blooming and the blossom, er, blossoming. It was time to be outdoors on my bike for the fun of it!<br />
<br />
I usually end up on a simple 20 mile circuit to the south of Cambridge. Luckily, there's plenty of decent off-road routes, bike paths, and (at worst) quiet roads. I get down as far as Hildersham on my way dropping through Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn on the way there, then Abington and Babraham on the way back, This time, I had the new Babraham Institute path in mind, rather than Stapleford and Shelford. It's more direct and I wanted to find out what it was like.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="Map"></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">Map</span><br />
<br />
<iframe height="500" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=179vbwY0dEMUwjCOMgdpuQB75ScM" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
So the clip starts near the station on Hills Road (and ends in the same place!) and heads out through Cherry Hinton. The first bit shows how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Feqj2HFFg_4">poor the station area has become</a> with the new development. The cycle bridge is a welcome removal from that poor environment taking us over to Romsey Town and then on to the pleasantries of The Tins. A final wiggle through Cherry Hinton and we're on the cycle route to Fulbourn. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCFSgG2AvfE/WOO8G3i2mmI/AAAAAAAAHWY/HTyomF4DePYY0dIFdIJrCljOa71PdnhLwCLcB/s1600/GOPR4554.MP4_snapshot_06.11_Marmosa%2BPath.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCFSgG2AvfE/WOO8G3i2mmI/AAAAAAAAHWY/HTyomF4DePYY0dIFdIJrCljOa71PdnhLwCLcB/s640/GOPR4554.MP4_snapshot_06.11_Marmosa%2BPath.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Path from Marmora Street </span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbhtzNiIlt8/WOO8GXLzZuI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/V7I8qhnX6_kXtQldHGAZxhUQ--ZyinATgCLcB/s1600/GOPR4554.MP4_snapshot_09.58_The%2BTins.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbhtzNiIlt8/WOO8GXLzZuI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/V7I8qhnX6_kXtQldHGAZxhUQ--ZyinATgCLcB/s640/GOPR4554.MP4_snapshot_09.58_The%2BTins.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"> The Tins </span></i><br />
<br />
After Fulbourn, it's up into the hills. Well, what counts for hills in these parts. They are still very pleasant with lots of people enjoying the outdoors, with all kinds of animals! The roman road of Worsted Street affords a great route south with stunning views over the landscape. Small hillocks dot the landscape, along with the odd majestic wind farm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UY4ZswMqXR0/WOO8HWzJRWI/AAAAAAAAHWc/ZowikrC3OZwtKuDNqFZ0KLOKit14uVmwQCLcB/s1600/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_05.34_Daffodils%2Bsouth%2Bof%2BFulbourn.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UY4ZswMqXR0/WOO8HWzJRWI/AAAAAAAAHWc/ZowikrC3OZwtKuDNqFZ0KLOKit14uVmwQCLcB/s640/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_05.34_Daffodils%2Bsouth%2Bof%2BFulbourn.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Daffodils south of Fulbourn </span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJZ96Xrxxxc/WOO8IPGqdCI/AAAAAAAAHWk/Jf84Y26BU-wCmD6uFURUX2klDoUx67zJQCLcB/s1600/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_06.18_Horses%2Bout%2Bfor%2BWalk.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJZ96Xrxxxc/WOO8IPGqdCI/AAAAAAAAHWk/Jf84Y26BU-wCmD6uFURUX2klDoUx67zJQCLcB/s640/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_06.18_Horses%2Bout%2Bfor%2BWalk.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Horses on a Walk </span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-egLil6hw4jo/WOO8HnY8nkI/AAAAAAAAHWg/1QcbdzgDDf0vvwujkvAIVb_Y6JMD9UZ5gCLcB/s1600/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_11.18_Woody%2BTrack.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-egLil6hw4jo/WOO8HnY8nkI/AAAAAAAAHWg/1QcbdzgDDf0vvwujkvAIVb_Y6JMD9UZ5gCLcB/s640/GP024554.MP4_snapshot_11.18_Woody%2BTrack.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Woody Worsted Street</span></i><br />
<br />
Hildersham is a delightful little village, with a pretty bridge (and ford for over 12 tons) at the centre. And then the Pampisford Road round behind Abington towards Granta Park, which is pleasant enough. Then, a short section of unpleasant road, often with 1 or 2 cars only but doing 70mph, sometimes far too clsoe for no reason gets us to the footbridge over the A11.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIGUn14lDo/WOO8I3UQxzI/AAAAAAAAHWs/5Lj6ltX4AmQr36PlmBkdB_l91spBimeGgCLcB/s1600/GP044554.MP4_snapshot_05.17_Hildesham%2BBridge.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIGUn14lDo/WOO8I3UQxzI/AAAAAAAAHWs/5Lj6ltX4AmQr36PlmBkdB_l91spBimeGgCLcB/s640/GP044554.MP4_snapshot_05.17_Hildesham%2BBridge.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Hildersham Bridge </span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJEupPidJ5A/WOO8IkWB1tI/AAAAAAAAHWo/y90DeZQ7IDMEXAT0hdMNo1tQKV863bcPgCLcB/s1600/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_05.23_A11%2BBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJEupPidJ5A/WOO8IkWB1tI/AAAAAAAAHWo/y90DeZQ7IDMEXAT0hdMNo1tQKV863bcPgCLcB/s640/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_05.23_A11%2BBridge.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">A11 Bridge </span></i><br />
<br />
And this is the one weak link here. It's a "converted" footbridge. It's a long distance up and down on very steep metal tracks. Not something I can do with a normal commuting load. The down section is just as difficult, as I can't brake even with walking the bike. I was working nearby recently, and simply had to drive because this isn't a choice when commuting. And sorry too that this blocks cargobikes, different ability bikes, young and old people, and anyone that can't hold onto a lot of weight.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kUrpsEJ3I8/WOO8JKOQuAI/AAAAAAAAHWw/9MpYuQ3xoi4hGKQ7fZStLWxRymBBaxsYwCLcB/s1600/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_06.59_A11%2BBridge%2BPath.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kUrpsEJ3I8/WOO8JKOQuAI/AAAAAAAAHWw/9MpYuQ3xoi4hGKQ7fZStLWxRymBBaxsYwCLcB/s640/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_06.59_A11%2BBridge%2BPath.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">A11 Bridge Path </span></i><br />
<br />
Once in Babraham, turning left towards the Institute entrance felt odd, I'm used to heading to Sawston. Avoiding the narrowed spaces near the school is good though. And it's into the Institute!<br />
<br />
I've done this in more detail <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm2lwl67SeU">here</a>. The funny little start section is possibly good, not quite sure. I'd think it adds to the option if traffic is backed up on the main road, but does lose the priority as you come back out again. Then I was a little concerned about where to go. There were bike symbols on the road, but people ride into the Institute itself so didn't give me a strong feeling of going in the right dirction. Then, a sign appeared in the distance and helped guide across a rather odd "Stop" line and onto the path itself.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGkLxiRS6ho/WOO8JUcCRjI/AAAAAAAAHW0/LVCE6mIbD1AMQDAw-JBtA8ko6AVYHwvnACLcB/s1600/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_09.52_Entry%2Bto%2BBabraham%2BCampus.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGkLxiRS6ho/WOO8JUcCRjI/AAAAAAAAHW0/LVCE6mIbD1AMQDAw-JBtA8ko6AVYHwvnACLcB/s640/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_09.52_Entry%2Bto%2BBabraham%2BCampus.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Babraham Institute Entrance </span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrIp5Nl3GZg/WOO8Jwd7FpI/AAAAAAAAHW8/ydWTV_f9L3oNaKuN17kiUwXUbcTr0WWmQCLcB/s1600/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_10.36_Access%2Bto%2BBabraham%2BInstitute%2BPath.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrIp5Nl3GZg/WOO8Jwd7FpI/AAAAAAAAHW8/ydWTV_f9L3oNaKuN17kiUwXUbcTr0WWmQCLcB/s640/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_10.36_Access%2Bto%2BBabraham%2BInstitute%2BPath.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Access to Babraham Institute Path </span></i><br />
<br />
The path was open, smooth, and thankfully not absolutely straight. It's not near trees, so root damage is unlikely. The park is quite pleasant to ride through and there's plenty to look at. Changing angles regularly helps that as well as to stop the boredom sinking in of constantly going in exactly the same direction.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5PfG7Mqq-k/WOO8JmvYZPI/AAAAAAAAHW4/o9FSXm83DdYY-RxWG7eInHRd89cUkzHrQCLcB/s1600/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_12.14_tree.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5PfG7Mqq-k/WOO8JmvYZPI/AAAAAAAAHW4/o9FSXm83DdYY-RxWG7eInHRd89cUkzHrQCLcB/s640/GP054554.MP4_snapshot_12.14_tree.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Tree on Babraham Insitute Path </span></i><br />
<br />
At the end, the route out to the cyclepath over the Magogs seems sensible. You have to cross the A1307 and having it just a few metres form the roundabout is fine. There is a central refuge, and thankfully it's not staggered the way town street designers get wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VGQ0JL4VPM/WOO8KNJaOsI/AAAAAAAAHXA/dwTBoRmPHuEMxA4iv_dwZ3bYHVD9DTILQCLcB/s1600/GP064554.MP4_snapshot_01.53_Exit%2Bfrom%2BBabraham%2BInsitute%2BPath.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VGQ0JL4VPM/WOO8KNJaOsI/AAAAAAAAHXA/dwTBoRmPHuEMxA4iv_dwZ3bYHVD9DTILQCLcB/s640/GP064554.MP4_snapshot_01.53_Exit%2Bfrom%2BBabraham%2BInsitute%2BPath.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Exit from Babraham Insitute Path </span></i><br />
<br />
The path over the Magogs is, well, next to a busy road. It's pleasant enough when a Sunday, not quite sure how it'll be on a weekday. And, from this direction, it feels like quite a way up! It's really not very far up, totalling 45 metres, it's just it starts about a mile out and slowly ramps up. It feels like it's gone on for ages! Still, it's next to pleasant beech woods for the steeper second section. And also, there's all that potential energy to release on the way down!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UCy6Q0mqsC8/WOO8KZkCNzI/AAAAAAAAHXE/i2llxLFEn9k7o46g0CX2BHl7kUwhLYWuQCLcB/s1600/GP064554.MP4_snapshot_11.00_Bench%2Bat%2BTop%2Bof%2BMagogs.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UCy6Q0mqsC8/WOO8KZkCNzI/AAAAAAAAHXE/i2llxLFEn9k7o46g0CX2BHl7kUwhLYWuQCLcB/s640/GP064554.MP4_snapshot_11.00_Bench%2Bat%2BTop%2Bof%2BMagogs.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Bench at theTop of the Magogs </span></i><br />
<br />
Finally, the route into Cambridge has it's pros and cons. Whilst it's a good route as you start to come into town, you suddenly have to switch sides. Although there's a section around 200 metres long with cycle routes on both sides, it's just not long enough to find a gap. Getting onto the new Hills Road Cyclepath is great, although there's no guarentee it'll be clear, and you have to mix it again at the bridge.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anPDUB4XIc0/WOO8G8Z271I/AAAAAAAAHWU/o0hTF4nHeJAVq-ZcNFgQYBNsFLLlttT7gCLcB/s1600/GOPR4555.MP4_snapshot_10.35_Floating%2BBus%2BStop.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anPDUB4XIc0/WOO8G8Z271I/AAAAAAAAHWU/o0hTF4nHeJAVq-ZcNFgQYBNsFLLlttT7gCLcB/s640/GOPR4555.MP4_snapshot_10.35_Floating%2BBus%2BStop.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;">Floating Bus Stop </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="Video"></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">Video</span><br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/04/back-out-on-hildersham-circuit.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cG6NgtGbgfg" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=00m32s">00:32</a> Cycle Bridge<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=00m57s">00:57</a> Marmora Path<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=01m07s">01:07</a> The Tins<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=01m40s">01:40</a> Cherry Hinton High Street<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=01m58s">01:58</a> Fulbourn Cycle Path<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=02m27s">02:27</a> Fulbourn<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=03m05s">03:05</a> Babraham Road Avenue South<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=04m07s">04:07</a> Worsted Street <br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=05m01s">05:01</a> Crossing the A11<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=06m15s">06:15</a> Path to Hildersham (stunning views)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=06m50s">06:50</a> Hildersham<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=07m12s">07:12</a> Crossing the A1307 to Pampisford Road<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=07m36s">07:36</a> Abington<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=08m05s">08:05</a> Granta Park<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=08m20s">08:20</a> A11 Footbridge<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=09m00s">09:00</a> Entrance to Babraham Institute<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=09m30s">09:30</a> Crossing the A1307 to Cyclepath<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=10m39s">10:39</a> Top of the Magogs<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=11m16s">11:16</a> Back into Cambridge<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=11m49s">11:49</a> Hills Road Cyclepath<br />
<br />
</i></span><br />
The music is in sections too, all from the Film "Moulin Rouge" and they roughyl follow different areas of the video.<br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=00m12s">00:12</a> Sparkling Diamonds, getting out of Cambridge and through Fulbourn to open country<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=03m05s">03:05</a> Spectacular Spectacular, riding up into the hills<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=04m12s">04:12</a> Because we Can, riding along the off-road section and back towards Cambridge<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG6NgtGbgfg&t=07m40s">07:40</a> Bolero, the Institute path and steadily getting back into Cambridge<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-44890102489102501872017-01-27T15:45:00.001+00:002017-01-27T15:45:43.554+00:00Exam Questions<br />
So, <a href="http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html">AdExcel</a> put a series of questions into an exam paper that are designed to imply people cycling cause pollution. Here is the central quesion, but there is more to it <a href="http://www.bikeboom.info/air/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3AjXEWWQAARQv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3AjXEWWQAARQv2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The premise seems reasonable, until you think for about a millisecond. Wait, during a ten minute journey there's an average of 3 cars behind? No, sorry, not in any world I've ever experienced!<br />
<br />
So, I thought we'd take a look at something that looks like reality a bit more. Here's a clip from a morning this week, showing traffic coming through Cherry Hinton into Cambridge.<br />
<br />
And here's the clip with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2017/01/exam-questions.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/W0JZyiEsltM" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0JZyiEsltM">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0JZyiEsltM&t=0m42s">0:42</a> From Perne Road<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0JZyiEsltM&t=1m56s">1:56</a> From Cherry Hinton High Street<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
So we'll start with some simple questions.<br />
1. How many people riding bikes are holding up this queue of cars?<br />
2. How many people driving cars are holding up other people driving cars?<br />
3. How many cars are single occupancy?<br />
<br />
And some answers, so those hard of analysis capabilities (like maybe some AdExcel exam setters) might keep up. <br />
1. I'm hard pressed to spot a single rider holding anyone up here. The clip shows over a mile and a half of queuing traffic, without many people riding at all. And where there is the odd rider they aren't interacting with motor traffic at all.<br />
2. Pretty much all of them.<br />
3. The figure for rush hour traffic in Cambridge is 1.2 people per car (near the bottom of <a href="http://www.connectedcambridge.com/solving-cambridge-congestion/">here</a>). In other words, in every 5 cars there are 6 people. That's 4 cars with one person, 1 car with two. <br />
<br />
Then, some more complex questions. <br />
1. Speculate why there are jams like this if they are not caused by people riding bikes.<br />
2. If we halved the number of people driving here, how much less carbon dioxide would be pumped into the air?<br />
3. What do those people who would be driving do instead?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="320" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1hbZXkO1OqYf44fjb4AOZfjm2m8M" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
And again, some answers.<br />
1. Well, this map shows the three jams in a bit more detail (in red/purple). They are coming up to intersections. That is, they are caused by two lines of traffic having to merge and/or manoeuvre around each other. So, it's all about people driving vehicles that are large enough to require management when they intersect. Not an issue that faces anyone on a bike.<br />
2. I've not done the maths here. Anyone not think this number will completely overwhelm the number the AdExcel paper comes up with? It does make it look slightly ridiculous.<br />
3. There are a number of pleasant parallel cycling routes (once I spotted a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36dcqyMJDL0">watervole</a>!). I use them often (in reverse) when travelling under 10 miles. They are well used, yet have no jams.That's because the "vehicle" (bicycle) isn't large and doesn't require management when many come together.<br />
<br />
It does beg the question, what is going on with <a href="http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html">AdExcel</a> such that they decide to put this "alternate" analysis that implies an "alternate fact", where they could do some equally good maths that actually supports the real evidence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-23086279842217734032016-12-07T11:07:00.001+00:002016-12-20T21:47:39.177+00:00Is BikeAbility Useful<br />
So, there was a little come back on the <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/12/volvo-road-safety-programme.html">Volvo "educational kit" post</a> I made last week. I did bring into question the nature of the Volvo idea and how it lacked substance compared to what we already do in the UK, <a href="https://bikeability.org.uk/">BikeAbility</a>. And the comeback was not about how bad the Volvo programme was, but how they don't like BikeAbility.<br />
<br />
So, there was a little comeback, just not to me at all. I spotted it going back and forth on Twitter amongst people I know and often share discussions, enjoyment of riding, and fun with. They didn't include me for whatever reason, although that was a little disappointing. And it reminded me that there is a strong anti-training bent to some cycling advocacy people, some with good reason, and some a little less so.<br />
<br />
So some of the issues fall down as follows.<br />
<ul>
<li>Training doesn't increase the numbers of people riding.</li>
<li>The money could be better spent on building infrastructure.</li>
<li>It's just the foundation of vehicular cycling which for decades now hasn't worked for the UK.</li>
</ul>
Now, a few years back, I'd agree wholeheartedly with these concepts. However, having spent a considerable amount of time since then involved in <a href="https://bikeability.org.uk/">BikeAbility</a>, I think it's a lot more nuanced than that. There's just a lot more to it, it needs more consideration than just simple statements.<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3txGj8VZN4/WEcNfaf_MOI/AAAAAAAAHVo/cSu7_HafNC8EGnHMfZwoPiAH0Z-KOwUYACLcB/s1600/Bikes%2Band%2BKids.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3txGj8VZN4/WEcNfaf_MOI/AAAAAAAAHVo/cSu7_HafNC8EGnHMfZwoPiAH0Z-KOwUYACLcB/s320/Bikes%2Band%2BKids.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Cycling Levels</h2>
<br />
We'll start with cycling levels. First, a <a href="http://www.bikehub.co.uk/uncategorized/bikeability-linked-to-more-children-cycling-to-school-again/">study</a> has shown that BikeAbility <i><b>does </b></i>increase numbers riding to school.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: black;">"the survey results show trained children reported they cycle more often, cycle more to school, cycle more on the road, cycle with more confidence on the road, and enjoy cycling more"</span></span></blockquote>
This is something I've seen a lot of people denying. But it is there, BikeAbility <i><b>does </b></i>increase numbers riding to school (⁰ extra below). The obvious caveat is that this is still nothing like the revolutionary change in numbers required to make ourselves a cycling nation. What's important to note is that The Association of BikeAbility Schemes <i><b>agrees </b></i>with that <a href="http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/training-is-not-an-alternative-to-good-infrastructure-confirms-tabs/018915">last caveat</a>. That's right, the people who deliver this training do not think it's the be all and end all of cycling. Training is not an alternative to good infrastructure. And that brings us on to the next bit, surely it's better to build infrastructure.<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CF2lFvAqJbw/WEcNfFrU4bI/AAAAAAAAHVk/RXQmMIVPl9k7xVgwhiq9aAqdcwGsdclygCLcB/s1600/Bikes%2Band%2BKids%2B3.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CF2lFvAqJbw/WEcNfFrU4bI/AAAAAAAAHVk/RXQmMIVPl9k7xVgwhiq9aAqdcwGsdclygCLcB/s320/Bikes%2Band%2BKids%2B3.png" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Infrastructure </h2>
<br />
Infrastructure <i><b>is </b></i>the way forward. Full Stop. It is the way in which we get more people riding, more often, and further. This needs to be done at a national level, with national standards, with joined up thinking between different authorities. At the moment we have small schemes, that do help locally, but are a long way from delivering the cycling infrastructure needed to make a difference, nationally.<br />
<br />
So, what would it take to do this? Well, the Dutch experience tells us a <a href="http://news.sky.com/story/uk-lags-200-years-behind-dutch-on-cycling-10228454">minimum of £20 per head per year</a> is something like it. That's around <a href="http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2010/05/487-million-euros-for-cycling.html">£2bn per year</a> across the country (¹ extra below). And we'd need to do that for decades to catch up with the Dutch. What if we dropped BikeAbility for a year or two and took that money and put it into building? Well, at the last round BikeAbility got <a href="http://www.bikehub.co.uk/news/cycling-to-school-news/bikeability-secures-50m-in-funding-from-department-for-transport/">£50m for 4 years training</a>. So that's £0.0125bn we could add into that £2bn per year, or just under 1% more. Anyone think that's going to make an iota of difference? No, me neither. And in the meantime children everywhere are not involved in any kind of formalised cycling fun (and I'll back that up later).<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcUFWj1b3xw/WEcNe0BZMJI/AAAAAAAAHVg/BH5Utgqyx5s9RwW4mCdPrXZNOBQuQWSiQCLcB/s1600/Bikes%2Band%2BKids%2B2.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcUFWj1b3xw/WEcNe0BZMJI/AAAAAAAAHVg/BH5Utgqyx5s9RwW4mCdPrXZNOBQuQWSiQCLcB/s320/Bikes%2Band%2BKids%2B2.png" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Vehicular Cycling </h2>
<br />
So, is it all about forcing children in front of lorries, getting them battle-scarred so they will either adapt (like the 2% of vehicular cyclists) or run away? This premis would suggest that the majority of kids learning will never do it again. But we know that doesn't happen. And actually BikeAbility is so much more than that.<br />
<br />
For a start, level 1 never goes near a road. It's all about helping kids get to grips with controlling a bike, usually in a playground setting. It's a laugh! It's fun, it's riding around when they might have had Maths, English, or whatever. And that's a big point. <b>It's fun!</b><br />
<br />
Playing games during this is aimed to cover a series of simple outcomes, but it's still fundamentally bike control. Something you <i><b>need </b></i>to ride a bike, wherever you are. You'll be surprised just how many kids may have most of these, but still not quite it all. I think those who've ridden their bikes for a decade or three since, cannot remember those initial learning moments. Some do think there's no need for any training, just get on the bike and pedal. Well, at an early age there can be a lot more to it than that. True, it might not take long, which is why this course is just 2 hours.<br />
<br />
So level 2 starts getting the kids on the road. Years 5 & 6 enrol to do this course, often decided by the school, and usually with around 70-80% uptake from the class. Most of them start a little nervous but end up loving it. One or two do keep those nerves through the course, and a tiny amount stop. I'd suggest around 1-2%. This is usually on quieter roads, although sometimes they can be a bit busy. Kids actually respond much <i><b>better </b></i>in those circumstances.<br />
<br />
In addition to that, part of level 2 is looking at use of cycle infrastructure. This is where we get to point out how bad some of it is, and how to deal with it in all circumstances, both on- and off-road.<br />
<br />
So, it's not all about roads. It's aimed at what the kids need for today's cycling. Not next year's, not a decade from now, but right now, in the environment we have. If we decide to wait until the infra is built, there will be no riders left to get on it. <br />
<br />
So what if we get loads of new infra? We adapt to training to suit, like it's already being adapted. And this is again, how the Dutch deal with it. Yes, they do <a href="https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/bicycle-training-in-the-netherlands/">cycle training over the North Sea</a>. In fact, it's pretty clear they do something similar to BikeAbility, including being on roads, albeit with a change of focus for the amount of infra they do have. Use a route to school and cope with the differing hazards along the way. This is pretty much how level 3 is delivered here. This will involve less roads but clearly not none and have the same kind of hazard perception learning that BikeAblilty is all about. <a href="http://www.tabs-uk.org.uk/findings-from-the-research-into-the-impact-of-bikeability-training-on-childrens-ability-to-perceive-and-respond-appropriately-to-hazards-when-cycling-on-the-road/">Hazard perception</a> is another thing linked with BikeAbility successes. So this is something that the Dutch seem keen on as well. Again, this isn't just about motor traffic but it does form a key part.<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3SPGsoCtj0/WEcOSe98KKI/AAAAAAAAHVs/Z3SQaVr9ews4iwMY0MzMtVpBI6VWOnoiwCLcB/s1600/Benefits%2Bof%2BBikeability.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3SPGsoCtj0/WEcOSe98KKI/AAAAAAAAHVs/Z3SQaVr9ews4iwMY0MzMtVpBI6VWOnoiwCLcB/s320/Benefits%2Bof%2BBikeability.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>BikeAbility does a lot more educationally that just bike riding</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Summary</h2>
<br />
One final thing that could be levelled at BikeAbility is that it
gives those in charge the excuse to do nothing else. Again, this is the
argument of defeat. Dos anyone really think that if we stopped training
we'd have loads of time from people in authority deciding they need to
now spend time working on cycle infrastructure? No, I don't think so. We
do need to do push to do more, we need to do it all. Cycle Training for kids is
not the most important thing, but it is part of the solution.<br />
<br />
<br />
So let's go back to those issues.<br />
<ul>
<li>"Training doesn't increase the numbers of people riding." - Well it does, but we do need to do more.</li>
<li>"The money could be better spent on building infrastructure." - Well, not really, it's just not enough to make a difference. We do need lots more to do infrastructure.</li>
<li>"It's just the foundation of vehicular cycling which for decades now hasn't worked for the UK." - Again, no longer really the case. Whilst some of it is based around realistic training, there's lots outside of that.</li>
</ul>
I do still get why people feel uncomfortable as BikeAbility was born out of a vehicular cycling manual. However, it's changed a lot since the start, and actually wasn't as VC as some people might suspect. Put simply, BikeAbility is fun, does get more kids cycling to school, is a good use of money, is realistic in training needs, isn't all about roads, and the kids love it!<br />
<br />
We have the firm blueprint from over the North Sea, infrastructure <i><b>and </b></i>training, let's get on with it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
⁰ Newly developing courses such as BikeAbility Plus, which has an even more holistic approach, have been shown to <a href="http://outspokencycles.co.uk/node/4092">really improve cycling numbers</a>.<br />
<br />
¹ Whilst we get this figure from the Dutch, it's interesting to note that similar schemes in the UK to those in NL seem to cost around 5 times as much. The suggestion is the <a href="http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2010/05/487-million-euros-for-cycling.html">Dutch spend a lot more</a>, just don't see it as part of cycling building. It's folded into other budgets but benefits cycling as part of something else.RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-3264885158854596122016-12-03T10:04:00.001+00:002016-12-04T14:09:19.478+00:00Volvo Road "Safety" Programme<br />
Fantastic! Some altruristic company that makes trucks is finally acknowledging their part on keeping vulnerable road users safe. I can't wait!<br />
<a href="http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/levis-commuter.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/levis-commuter.jpeg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
But then I looked through the "educational kit" material. Oh, it's for people riding only, with a few notes about how hard it is for people driving, because obviously they are the only people thinking about this. Hmmm.<br />
<br />
Well, let's keep going. I was thinking there would be lots of "see and be seen" actions that are taught in #BikeAbility, about moving out and holding the right part of the road from an early position, about getting eye contact, about signalling, about knowing when you have priority. And how people driving respond to that.<br />
<br />
But no, there's none of that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A Bit More Analysis</span></h2>
<br />
There's lots of pretty pictures, lots of photos showing sharks have sharp teeth and cactuses have sharp needles. Yes, I hear you asking, quite what that has to do with cycling? I've no idea too!<br />
<br />
The only bit that has any relevance to road cycling is a few diagrams showing where truck drivers can't see people low down. Yes, this is just a sexed up version of Exchanging Places.<br />
<br />
So, let's just get this straight. A company that can design a truck so that the driver could see people lower than their cab, doesn't do it. Something in their control and THEY DON'T DO IT. They just tells others that their lorries are designed NOT TO SEE YOU.<br />
<br />
To show you just how poor this response is, look at the way one truck company in Cambridge, the cycling capital of the UK, is working on this. <a href="https://twitter.com/mickgeorgeltd">Mick George</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/Comm_Motor/status/748551701364240384">phasing in these lorries</a> where the driver can see much clearer.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/Comm_Motor/status/748551701364240384" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmNjzYiUoAA9FLZ.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">In Depth</span></h2>
<br />
The presentation is very flash, there are lots of very cool images and videos, although embedded in a Powerpoint presentation so there's no way of pulling them up and analysing them bit by bit. Then, to add to the confusion, they are all based on the European standard of driving on the right. This does get very confusing, and probably especially so to any child that this is aimed at. Why do all this flash photo and video stuff, then not get it the right way round for the UK? It's not hard to do!<br />
<br />
So, onto the key frames that are important. Here they are in one diagram.<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHM94Fzy81A/WEHiIDTWNoI/AAAAAAAAHVM/9j19Yw1aLigSjyOLxNbAJrOsSkLhOgiEwCLcB/s1600/All%2BLorry%2BPositions.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHM94Fzy81A/WEHiIDTWNoI/AAAAAAAAHVM/9j19Yw1aLigSjyOLxNbAJrOsSkLhOgiEwCLcB/s320/All%2BLorry%2BPositions.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
So, A and B are about people walking not riding. Let's knock them off for now, although they are also pretty <a href="https://twitter.com/RadWagon/status/804782766416134145">ridiculous</a>. C is a definite stupid move from someone riding. I'm not sure anyone disagrees with that and also it's pretty obvious. What's the education statement here? Even young kids know this. Don't move out in front of a large vehicle. Duh!<br />
<br />
Then there's D and E. Oh gosh, I don't know where to start. The diagram at D is a classic example of just very poor driving from the LORRY DRIVER. How did they overtake, then turn across the rider? When looking at the notes, this is not what the lesson is meant to be about, the diagram is very misleading. This is meant to show a lorry stopped at traffic lights, then a rider coming up the inside (on the wrong side for the UK), then the lights changing and the driver turning to the inside (on the wrong side for the UK). Has the driver indicated they are turning whilst stopped? No idea. Why are there no lines on the diagram showing a traffic light scenario? No idea. What educational value does this have set out like this? Really, really not sure it has any the way it's presented.<br />
<br />
And then E. Again, not very clear what on earth this is about. Looking at the notes, this is meant to be a quick lane change due to something going on ahead. So, this is ON THE DRIVER again. They shouldn't be doing emergency moves into vulnerable road users, whatever is ahead.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://activeazur.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/tignes-mountain-biking.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://activeazur.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/tignes-mountain-biking.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And, as a final point to the absurd, the presentation has lots of film of people mountain biking. What on earth has that to do with utility riding? And, just to push another irrelevancy, one section starts with the silliness of not wearing a helmet. YES, I'd use a helmet when off-road jumping and risky riding. This has no relevance to road riding. Go on, show me how well that'll go down in The Netherlands. The land of cycling that virtually no-one uses helmets because they are not relevant. Or, importantly, will do ANYTHING FOR YOU IF YOU ARE HIT BY A LORRY.<br />
<br />
So, to parody Macbeth, this a a flash, pretty presentation <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_and_tomorrow_and_tomorrow">full of sound and fury signifying nothing</a>. And yes, you need to look at the quote just before that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What Should We Do When Riding?</span></h2>
Well, the first thing would be to not accept these dangerous lorries on our roads. They are designed dangerously. Simple. Another thing would be to press for places where people cyling and lorries do not mix. Again, design the danger out.<br />
<br />
And, what's the positive thing to do right now? Simply put, read the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225">Highway Code (221)</a> that says don't ride up the inside of HGVs. Make sure you are seen by putting yourself in a position where you can see drivers. Look for mirrors. That's it. That's more than this presentation is about.<br />
<br />
Further training, if you want it, is through <a href="https://bikeability.org.uk/">#BikeAbility</a>. This is so much more than this presentation. It involves quite a bit and teaches so much more. It's also taught to ~10 year old pupils in the UK, and <a href="https://plus.google.com/103096960733144370276/posts/ckAx4jrJKew">around 2 million</a> have been through it. Which does bring up another issue with this presentation. They are aiming it at 12 year olds. This is well behind the UK aim for training.<br />
<br />
One thing can be said, there's no mention or visual image of hi-viz clothing or paint. I think Volvo got their fingers burnt when they did that little promotion a year or so ago. That's <a href="http://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1016/does-fluoro-kit-make-you-safer">another story</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Final Marks</span></h2>
<br />
So, what's the final score for this? How much educational benefit does it have to people riding? Well, I think I'd give it a 1 out of 10. It does cover "don't pull out of a side road in front of a lorry".RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-57001712623965047062016-12-01T11:56:00.000+00:002016-12-01T13:20:49.386+00:00Traffic Calming<br />
So NICE have come up with some important things about how <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/01/trees-may-increase-air-pollution-on-city-streets">poor our road infrastructure</a> is and how it increases pollution.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/01/trees-may-increase-air-pollution-on-city-streets" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4ef281a9d1a585bc26e29ff5e4ac15d1daafa4cc/0_0_5315_3189/master/5315.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=8632980d88c7635738d77590aa1acbe2" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I'm especially pleased to see they've pointed out the negative issues speed humps cause. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Traffic calming measures such as speed humps ... may increase emissions by adding to decelerations and accelerations,” it says. “Ensuring motorists drive steadily at the optimum speed can reduce stop-go driving and reduce emissions.</blockquote>
I'm sad to see they don't talk about the better alternatives, just what doesn't work. I'm sure a lot of motorheads will start yelling "Rip them out now, pollution, think of the children (and let me speed without concern for others)". Obviously, completely the opposite of what NICE is suggesting, although it'd be "nice" if they pointed that out. <br />
<br />
Again, we've not got far to go before we see what does work, it's just over the North Sea in, yes, The Netherlands.The Telegraph did a piece (all the way back in 2012) on how they work it out <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/9086705/Why-woonerfs-will-change-how-we-drive.html">with something called "woonerfs"</a>. There are 3 principles behind these areas:<br />
<ul>
<li>traffic speeds are forced down to "footpace", typically well below 12mph. </li>
<li>the principles are applied consistently nationwide so they are instantly recognised by road users everywhere. </li>
<li>legal liability is heavily weighted against the motorist in the event of an accident. </li>
</ul>
It's interesting to note that this has support from the population and professional drivers organisations.<br />
<br />
The piece then talks about how this is engineered on the ground. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Clever use of planting, play areas, chicanes, even the position of the houses, means there isn't a straight road in sight. </blockquote>
And it's praise of the result is great!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
there's little need for speed signs; our pace automatically falls to a crawl, underlining the designers' dream that children should roam the streets in safety</blockquote>
Note that this starts to sound like UK schemes like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/nov/11/london-exhibition-road-cultural">Exhibition Road</a> which many speed campaigners really don't like. But compare the "Clever use" quote above and look at the picture of this development and you can easily see how the UK scheme totally fails. It's a massive straight space, encouraging speeding and, as a result, pushing other transport modes out of the way.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Archive/Search/2011/11/11/1321011475106/Exhibition-Road-London-007.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=671d4f69da3fb58b8e5992483cf2369b" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Archive/Search/2011/11/11/1321011475106/Exhibition-Road-London-007.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=671d4f69da3fb58b8e5992483cf2369b" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
So, why can't we do this in the UK? Actually we already do. Look at new developments in St Neot's and Peterborough.<br />
<br />
In <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.5310006,-0.2693268,3a,75y,295.41h,79.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soXWP76sYvUVh3DKVQ4oW7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">Hargate</a>, a new development south of Peterborough, you'll find it hard to find a place with a straight road. Additionally, there are no quick routes through, no road to start on that'll take you all the way through. You have to know your way and make a variety of turns.<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoLTtLN8KOo/WEAI9ElfKsI/AAAAAAAAHU4/jjrNxuoYC04lpFRYKlc-kVkJ4zgOsTEdACLcB/s1600/Peterborough.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoLTtLN8KOo/WEAI9ElfKsI/AAAAAAAAHU4/jjrNxuoYC04lpFRYKlc-kVkJ4zgOsTEdACLcB/s320/Peterborough.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Entering (picture shows leaving) <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2276112,-0.2447523,3a,75y,98.3h,78.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGva2ZHbahtjRogjZojUdfA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">St Neots from the east</a> and the road wiggles around, for no obvious reason. There's space for it to go straight, but it doesn't, it has an open space with trees instead. This naturally slows everyone driving down without thinking about it.<br />
<img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-yKtQ9BRdc/WEAI9R57PuI/AAAAAAAAHU8/Iba68e1g5Vs0cdWE-OsU8CSNxcK6NoT5ACLcB/s320/St%2BNeots.jpg" width="500" /><br />
<br />
These two areas are showing the main signs of the engineering of woonerfs, although still have a few things to work on. And, of course, it's missing the principle priority issue. The result is ground breaking, as The Telegraph points out.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
woonerfs are not only possible but desirable, because they transform neighbourhoods into garden cities</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
underlining the designers' dream that children should roam the streets in safety</blockquote>
Not only do The Netherlands do this with new developments, but they retrofit older neighbourhoods. The've figured out it's not that difficult to do, unlike our country that seems to accept the blank myth that "we don't have space". We do, we just choose not to be clever about it. The Dutch have been clever.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Woonerfs have been retro-fitted over several square miles of side roads</blockquote>
And to complete the quote from above.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Amsterdam proves that retro-fitted woonerfs are not only possible but desirable, because they transform neighbourhoods into garden cities</blockquote>
So, while we moan about pollution, invest <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjT8M2n9tLQAhXKChoKHcGIDwoQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2F2016%2F11%2F19%2Fautumn-statement-britains-roads-to-get-13bn-investment-to-tackle%2F&usg=AFQjCNFgvx-22Mati_hj94TAR8DCbidkcg&sig2=YksDVF6UjdrQq3hzwXmWaA">vast sums of money in speeding up our journeys on major trunk roads by a few minutes</a> for a few years only (before it returns to the same old congestion), there's great examples of what we can do to transform our neighbourhoods and remove urban pollution at the same time.RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-65568469007369707822016-11-23T17:38:00.000+00:002016-11-23T17:52:30.019+00:00Lincolnshire Police Give Really Poor Cycling Advice<br />
<br />
So <a href="https://twitter.com/beztweets/status/801443090091409408">this appeared recently</a> as a clipped section from Lincolnshire Police safety advice to children. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4-QLyckqBE4/WDXNYFgyoqI/AAAAAAAAHUk/-CLnndQ9bQwdtyUmfP3ISnMG61UaDpxVwCLcB/s1600/lincs.police.cycling-safety-for-children.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4-QLyckqBE4/WDXNYFgyoqI/AAAAAAAAHUk/-CLnndQ9bQwdtyUmfP3ISnMG61UaDpxVwCLcB/s320/lincs.police.cycling-safety-for-children.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I thought the tweet comment was a reasonable summary of their poorly thought out leaflet. I thought it also deserved a lot more analysis and a good run through on how it directly and indirectly contradicts the GOVERNMENT advice on cycling practices, importantly the Highway Code and BikeAbility training.<br />
<br />
<b>Lincolnshire Police Leaflet.</b><br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.lincs.police.uk/media/113036/cycling-safety-for-children.pdf">leaflet is here</a>, although I've just focussed on the "on road" statements. It's rather telling that they choose to advertise to children by showing someone falling off. This is well known to play on children's fears and put them off riding. Not exactly a good way to encourage children.<br />
<br />
So, the 4 statements they have asserted.<br />
<ul>
<li>A. Never ride on the pavement. Keep to the cycling lanes or ride in the same direction as the cars. This is the law.</li>
<li>B. Before you turn a corner, check the way is clear (look behind you) and signal to tell people where you are going.</li>
<li>C. Keep a wide distance near parked cars they may siddeenly open a door.</li>
<li>D. Keep to single file on the roads, this is much safer.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Statement A.</b><br />
This is just a really poorly written statement and easily misinterpreted. The "This is the law" bit makes it look like all parts of this are legal requirements. They are not.<br />
<br />
1 "Never ride on the pavement". Except when it's a designated cycle path. As written in Highway Code rule 62: Cycle Tracks. These are normally located away from the road, but may occasionally be found alongside footpaths or pavements".<br />
<br />
2. "Keep to cycling lanes". No, not a legal requirement at all or even good advice. BikeAbility says ride an arms length from the kerb. For multiple reasons this is the optimal position and is often at odds with poorly designed cyclelanes. This is subtly admitted in Highway Code rule 63: "Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills".<br />
<br />
3. "Ride in the same direction as cars" is the only bit that gets close to a legal requirement. Although I know many places that have one-way streets for cars that allow people to cycle the other way.<br />
<br />
<b>Statement B.</b><br />
Again confusing. "check the way is clear (look behind you)" just doesn't make sense. It's because it's missing the reasoning and talking about what you are acutally doing.<br />
<br />
It is good advice to look behind you and signalling is a good idea. However, the reasons why are completely overlooked and may result in riders doing completely the wrong thing. The idea about looking behind is to enable a rider to move out to a controlling position to stop poor overtaking close to a junction. Also, if there's no-one to signal to, don't do it, keep your hands on the handlebars.<br />
<br />
<b>Statement C.</b><br />
The only statement that has my support. Always "a open door and a bit more" when passing a parked car. This is one of the biggest collision risks with people riding. I will note that advise to look behind when pulling out, vital if passing a parked car, is completely missing. <br />
<br />
<b>Statement D.</b><br />
This is just plain wrong. Doubled-up riding is recommended when dealing with hazards. Making a group of riders look more like a car or bus means a great reduction in risky or rushed overtaking and from oncoming traffic (see <a href="http://ukcyclelaws.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-laws-according-to-highway-code.html">here</a> for more details why). Reguarly, BikeAbility instructors will move groups of children around on the road, and they'll employ doubled-up riding quite regularly and when appropriate.<br />
<br />
In Highway Code Rule 66: "never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends". So, that's not <b>more </b>than doubled up, and don't do it when it might be difficult to do. And to complement this, BikeAbility will teach riders to ride in the centre of a lane when narrow or round a bend to stop poor overtaking then.<br />
<br />
<b>In Summary.</b> <br />
It's really important that organisations of authority in the areas covering good cycling practices act and promote consistently. Whilst Lincolnshire Police probably were trying to do this, their half-handed attempt is, at best, poorly thought through. At worst it's just downright dangerous.<br />
<br />
Here are all the GOVERNMENT sources of this advice for people cycling, which does seem at odds with what Lincolnshire police believe.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cycletraining/article/ct20110110-cycletraining-Bitesize-Bikeability--Part-4--On-Road-Positioning-0">https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cycletraining/article/ct20110110-cycletraining-Bitesize-Bikeability--Part-4--On-Road-Positioning-0</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/.../section_6_moving_trainees_15-01-07.docx">www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/.../section_6_moving_trainees_15-01-07.docx</a> [DOC]</li>
</ul>
RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-53762047951146728142016-11-05T18:09:00.003+00:002016-11-05T18:14:13.400+00:00Cycle Parking in CB1Developers at CB1 are coming down hard on people locking bikes the the tree guards around. They try to claim it's all rail commuters that do this. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a68wF7L_SYM/WB4hEVFArnI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/H3VBQ7Qa2lEs8e3NzovJuthvLsb-eXb5wCLcB/s1600/GOPR9582%2BCycle%2BParking%2BNear%2BStation.MP4_snapshot_04.19_%255B2016.11.05_18.11.18%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a68wF7L_SYM/WB4hEVFArnI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/H3VBQ7Qa2lEs8e3NzovJuthvLsb-eXb5wCLcB/s320/GOPR9582%2BCycle%2BParking%2BNear%2BStation.MP4_snapshot_04.19_%255B2016.11.05_18.11.18%255D.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I decided to have a look on Saturday, so no weekly commuters included. I find that there's still loads of bikes, a lot not close to the station. Clearly this isn't commuters but locals, a good proportion of which are a long way from the station cycle park.<br />
<br />
It's fairly obvious that there's inadequate local cycle parking stands. So this lies soley at the feet of the developers. And there's a clear way to improve the situation, put in more.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/11/cycle-parking-in-cb1.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bp2yeaYbJqk" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2yeaYbJqk">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2yeaYbJqk;t=0m40s">0:40</a> Mill Park<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2yeaYbJqk;t=2m00s">2:00</a> Station Place<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-42151000659663861082016-09-29T13:48:00.002+01:002016-09-29T13:54:20.220+01:00King William the Fourth and Braziers Lane<br />
I have to joy of volunteering at <a href="http://www.braziers.org.uk/">Brazier's Park</a> in Oxfordshire every so often. I usually take the Friday off to enable me to set up for our group, just in case the weather or other circumstances make it a hard job. However, the majority of the time, I get a few hours around lunchtime for myself. So, the bike comes out and I ride into the hills. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="320" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1npGU8fiX75Ef4EvfgjraWMxRV8A" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is located in the edge of the Thames valley, and is sited just below the Chiltern dipslopes near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goring-on-Thames">Goring</a>. Thus it has a bit of climbing, and I choose the pleasure of old tracks for the up and down sections. <br />
<br />
A short way into the journey up the first track, the <a href="http://www.kingwilliamipsden.co.uk/">King William the Fourth</a> offers the perfect opportunity to stop and lunch. With awesome Brakspears straight out of the barrel and a good menu it's great. And then the view from outside makes it perfect. The hills and valleys toward the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goring_Gap">Goring Gap</a> a spread out in front of you giving 10 miles of wooded and farmed landscape. And then, it just gets silly as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_kite">Red Kites</a> circle in front of you.<br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/king-william-fourth-and-braziers-lane_29.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Rd8oO_Lr1Tw" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=0m12s">0:12</a> Turning Out of Braziers<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=0m33s">0:33</a> Ipsden<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=1m09s">1:09</a> King William the Fourth<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=3m18s">3:18</a> Event Staff<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=4m03s">4:03</a> Turning Out of Braziers<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=4m30s">4:30</a> Great view from top of Braziers Lane<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
There was an odd thing going on at the farm (in *Homer*, I kid you not!), which meant I met with event staff at the top of the track.<br />
<br />
Also note that I met horses on my way round. I start flicking my brakes gently a good 100 yards away. The horses pick up on it first and start turning their heads. I doing it gently and slowing, as braking does, from a long distance out to make sure the animals are aware and the riders do pick it up from a fair distance as well. This gives everyone plenty of time to react, move and take care of all involved. <br />
<br />
Great fun for a mid day break from work!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-42235465134247069142016-09-29T13:48:00.001+01:002016-09-29T13:51:07.219+01:00King William the Fourth and Braziers Lane<br />
I have to joy of volunteering at <a href="http://www.braziers.org.uk/">Brazier's Park</a> in Oxfordshire every so often. I usually take the Friday off to enable me to set up for our group, just in case the weather or other circumstances make it a hard job. However, the majority of the time, I get a few hours around lunchtime for myself. So, the bike comes out and I ride into the hills. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="320" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1npGU8fiX75Ef4EvfgjraWMxRV8A" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is located in the edge of the Thames valley, and is sited just below the Chiltern dipslopes near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goring-on-Thames">Goring</a>. Thus it has a bit of climbing, and I choose the pleasure of old tracks for the up and down sections. <br />
<br />
A short way into the journey up the first track, the <a href="http://www.kingwilliamipsden.co.uk/">King William the Fourth</a> offers the perfect opportunity to stop and lunch. With awesome Brakspears straight out of the barrel and a good menu it's great. And then the view from outside makes it perfect. The hills and valleys toward the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goring_Gap">Goring Gap</a> a spread out in front of you giving 10 miles of wooded and farmed landscape. And then, it just gets silly as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_kite">Red Kites</a> circle in front of you.<br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/king-william-fourth-and-braziers-lane.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Rd8oO_Lr1Tw" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=0m12s">0:12</a> Turning Out of Braziers<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=0m33s">0:33</a> Ipsden<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=1m09s">1:09</a> King William the Fourth<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=3m18s">3:18</a> Event Staff<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=4m03s">4:03</a> Turning Out of Braziers<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd8oO_Lr1Tw&t=4m30s">4:30</a> Great view from top of Braziers Lane<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
There was an odd thing going on at the farm (in *Homer*, I kid you not!), which meant I met with event staff at the top of the track.<br />
<br />
Also note that I met horses on my way round. I start flicking my brakes gently a good 100 yards away. The horses pick up on it first and start turning their heads. I doing it gently and slowing, as braking does, from a long distance out to make sure the animals are aware and the riders do pick it up from a fair distance as well. This gives everyone plenty of time to react, move and take care of all involved. <br />
<br />
Great fun for a mid day break from work!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-33057760099220825002016-09-20T16:00:00.000+01:002016-09-20T16:01:07.268+01:00A10 M11 Junction Paths<br />
So as part of my cycle to work day (well, week, as that's where I was), I've looked at the <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/cycle-to-work-day.html">full journey there</a> and some <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw">relative speeds on the way back</a>. Some people noted that I used the rather poor cycle infra that crosses the M11 at the A10 junction and pointed out that there's a much nicer way. And they are right!<br />
<br />
So, here's a map of the area, showing the alternative.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="600" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1jl_RRfknEwdDWP-ghQxHaZFAy7k" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
On this map, the <span style="color: orange;">orange</span> line is the narrow path next to the A10 road, which you can see either heading south from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=1m57s">here (until 2:41, music!)</a>, or heading north from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=2m26s">here (only to the roundabout, music!)</a>. The <span style="color: blue;">blue</span> line is the new path round, set up across farm land as a proper cyclepath (not just a permissive path according to <a href="http://cyclestreets.net/">cyclestreets</a>) and gets away from traffic going over a farm bridge just along from the main road bridges.<br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/a10-m11-junction-paths.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gUAYxq7Kw5E" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=0m08s">0:08</a> Turning In<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=0m13s">0:13</a> River Corner<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=1m04s">1:04</a> Bridge Ramp (and stop spot)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=1m24s">1:24</a> Onto Separated Cyclepath (and Trumpington Meadows Park entrance on left)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=1m38s">1:38</a> Building Site Centre<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=2m02s">2:02</a> Turning Out Across Road<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
So, which way's best? Well that depends on you!<br />
<br />
So, I've favoured going along the narrow path next to the road. Essentially, it's just that bit shorter to make it worthwhile. It's 20% less distance, although it's not quite as much timewise as there's no need to wait whilst crossing M11 sliproads. Again, this is a short distance and it's not much time, but it's still more towards my feeling whilst I'm lugging a reasonable weight around along a 7/8 mile commute.<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm crossing sliproads, which isn't too bad but does involve awkward observation and interaction with quick traffic. Also, I'm next to a noisy busy road all the way. And the grass significantly narrows the path (although interaction with other users seems to go fine). Finally, the layby is quikc awkward and I've experienced drivers putting their vehicles into the very narrow path. So there's a number of negatives.<br />
<br />
So the quiet path round is, precisely that: quiet and around. It is quiet lovely down by the river, albeit quite a short section. Then it's very much up through rural scenery. Not beautiful, but quiet and pleasant. As you approach the M11 the route joins a farm track and has a stopping spot (an extension of <a href="http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/environment/the-country-park.aspx">Trumpington </a><a href="http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/environment/the-country-park.aspx">Meadow</a><a href="http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/environment/the-country-park.aspx">s park</a>?).<br />
<br />
The farm track over the bridge is steep, and I'm always aware that farm traffic may be around. Coming off the bridge the route goes onto a separate track, something that may well indicate a level of farm and building site traffic nearby. There is the entrance to <a href="http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/environment/the-country-park.aspx">Trumpington Meadows park</a> on the left, although it's not particularly inviting at this end.<br />
<br />
So, to me, the quiet path is further, involves going more up and down, has a steep bridge, and could have some other traffic around on the same infra. It is generally quieter and potentially more pleasant, it's just not that much better to convert me.<br />
<br />
I know people put some effort into getting this path and I get why some will like it, it's just not for me right now.<br />
<br />
Now, there is something more to consider: where are people cycling to from here? Locally we have the hospital, the railway station (and rail corridor area), and the city centre are the three areas that spring to mind.<br />
<br />
Looking at the map, the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">green </span>routes show how to continue on separated infra to both the hospital and rail corridor area. There's a few poor links here. Having to go round the roundabout at the park and ride will put some off, although I find that traffic is slow here and it feels like crossing a road more than using one. Addenbrookes Road always seems like putting the cycle infra in last, the long way round, and not giving it any priority. However, it does get all the way, as long as you're happy to do a full loop round after the railway bridge.<br />
<br />
Onto the city centre? Well, following the railway corridor route does get you going roughly in the right direction, but it's quite a long way round. The best current route (in <span style="color: red;">red</span>) sadly involves a too much sharing with busy traffic. There is a good separated route just north of Trumpington centre, just no way through to get to it (block in <span style="color: red;">red</span>).<br />
<br />
However, there may be a longer term strategy in play here. The entrance to <a href="http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/environment/the-country-park.aspx">Trumpington Meadows park</a> is the clue. This has cycle routes that continue on to the Grantchester Road. The meadows do continue on up to the city centre, with lots of space given over to open (permissive!) access land. There is the potential to use more farm tracks up the east side of the river (currently not in use) and connect into current cycle infra in the Latham Road area. However, there's some pretty obvious big places that might not like that. Hmm, what to do?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-37108113627464342192016-09-14T16:53:00.001+01:002016-09-14T21:06:53.088+01:00Cycle to Work Day<br />
Okay, sorry to those looking for a essay on the issues of this day, I'm just going to enjoy it. I do get that there does need to be a lot more than a day a year where this is done!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">Going Out</span><br />
<br />
So my way out provided some excellent views, especially in quite glorious light. The autumn yellows, oranges, and golds are starting to kick in and my route takes me along some beautiful scenery. Bizarrely, for some of it, I'm right next to a road. I'm not sure if I'd appreciate the views as much if I was driving.<br />
<br />
The first section is in lower light, but has the fantabulous sight of seeing many people commuting into Cambridge as we go out along the Guided Busway. I'm a little suprised, there were more people riding and walking yesterday, I just must have hit a slightly different spot.<br />
<br />
Then the slightly dull section from Trumpington Park and Ride to Harston, via the M11 roundabout. I'm aware there's a separate path, it's just a lot further round so simply doesn't appeal on a commute.<br />
<br />
After that, Harston has a slightly small shared-use path. Lots of avoiding being near blind driveways, but still a good route away from most of the traffic.<br />
<br />
Finally, the route on to Foxton (railway crossing). The light here is just great.<br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/cycle-to-work-day.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VsvZFj8s0nI" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=0m17s">0:17</a> Guided Busway<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=1m41s">1:41</a> Trumpington Park and Ride<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=3m13s">3:13</a> Harston<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvZFj8s0nI&t=4m03s">4:03</a> Route to Foxton<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">Some Stills</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2aON2MKo8w/V9lwQm3m5OI/AAAAAAAAHSE/2N3NcjXkF2Awdpy2v7AQ9x2u7eV-PqmVgCLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2aON2MKo8w/V9lwQm3m5OI/AAAAAAAAHSE/2N3NcjXkF2Awdpy2v7AQ9x2u7eV-PqmVgCLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOrqBwnG_5c/V9lwQ99hDGI/AAAAAAAAHSI/4-eIiylWl1gJv_HHOy-a35XWIgIqqSbEACLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOrqBwnG_5c/V9lwQ99hDGI/AAAAAAAAHSI/4-eIiylWl1gJv_HHOy-a35XWIgIqqSbEACLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nmLpD6BjXg0/V9lwQEQVziI/AAAAAAAAHR8/7ag-RdxxuCwIMv2bK4fZVEBNjF-yqo0XQCLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nmLpD6BjXg0/V9lwQEQVziI/AAAAAAAAHR8/7ag-RdxxuCwIMv2bK4fZVEBNjF-yqo0XQCLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JDwyTxw2vY/V9lwQUD1LaI/AAAAAAAAHSA/DaTP5eNmyE8m3csGxffHiAFoO_MwvkB4QCLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JDwyTxw2vY/V9lwQUD1LaI/AAAAAAAAHSA/DaTP5eNmyE8m3csGxffHiAFoO_MwvkB4QCLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3SYOklmOWM/V9lwRLZa-UI/AAAAAAAAHSM/O-LSlgs0-hUCnM6c393TYZJCqME-rF2xACLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3SYOklmOWM/V9lwRLZa-UI/AAAAAAAAHSM/O-LSlgs0-hUCnM6c393TYZJCqME-rF2xACLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXBqBavDyTA/V9lwRXq53iI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/mCzkO-B81JUac3yjlde9dm1Dj1g42ysBQCLcB/s1600/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXBqBavDyTA/V9lwRXq53iI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/mCzkO-B81JUac3yjlde9dm1Dj1g42ysBQCLcB/s320/Cycle%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay%2B6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">Traffic on Return</span><br />
<br />
On the way back at lunchtime, there's the fun of the roadworks. Yes, I mean fun! I measure my progress against a well known beer companies van (other beers are available).<br />
<br />
And, yes, I know the roadworks favoured me greatly. However, Harston regularly suffers from slow traffic going into Cambridge in the morning commute. And from the end of this video clip onwards traffic peak speeds drop a lot. It's now quicker by bike.<br />
<br />
And some of the route back (music warning!). <br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/cycle-to-work-day.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LKVBOkmJ9dw" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=0m58s">0:58</a> Harston<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=1m24s">1:24</a> Queueing Traffic<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=1m45s">1:45</a> Back to van<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=2m02s">2:02</a> Roadworks<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKVBOkmJ9dw&t=2m56s">2:56</a> Back to van<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249117075374778494.post-37725594043147847422016-09-07T16:16:00.002+01:002016-09-07T16:18:56.038+01:00A Short Wenhaston Circuit<br />
I've written about the <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/halesworth-to-wenhaston.html">back route</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenhaston">Wenhaston</a> to the nearby town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halesworth">Halesworth</a>, with it's new (ish) cycleroute cutting out the unpleasant big roads. This is a short circuit taking in a lot of the above route, but allowing for a bit more back lanes on a pleasant sunny day.<br />
<br />
Here's the map, with the circular route in blue with my clip below going clockwise from the start in Wenhaston.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="400" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1hoRpFVnTWjv3wavcHK3Wln2ioWA" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
And here's the clip (music warning!) with a variety of start points which open YouTube in a separate window.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 80%;"><a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-short-wenhaston-circuit.html#HD">Go HD see * at bottom</a></span></i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_AQqRxW3i4E" width="500"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 80%;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E">At the start</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=0m20s">0:20</a> Rough road<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=0m25s">0:25</a> Back of Blackheath<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=1m12s">1:12</a> Bramfield<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=1m26s">1:26</a> Railway bridge<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=2m26s">2:26</a> Holly Tree Farm turn<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=2m53s">2:53</a> Edge of Walpole<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=3m37s">3:37</a> Mells Lane<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=3m41s">3:41</a> Route to Halesworth on left<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=4m0s">4:0</a> Letting car through<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=4m18s">4:18</a> A lot of slippy sand<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=4m32s">4:32</a> Heath Road<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQqRxW3i4E&t=4m47s">4:47</a> Back Road<br />
</i></span><br />
<br />
Bramfield Road, which loops west round the back of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenhaston">Wenhaston</a> and Blackheath from the centre, gets pretty rough near the farm entrance. A look across at the amount of very large vehicles parked up at the farm gives some indication why this is. <br />
<br />
At the next junction, we join <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Cycle_Route_42">Regional Cycle Network route 42</a> which has come from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunwich">Dunwich</a> (see other <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x903sGDUJCc">videos</a> and <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.com/2012/02/cycling-in-walberswick-nature-reserve.html">blogs</a>) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snape,_Suffolk">Snape</a> before that. Then the Low Road through to the back end of Bramfield is full of wildlife and sometimes pretty farm buildings. This continues on the back loop around Bramfield to the Warpole Road.<br />
<br />
The Walpole Road is probably the most likely place to experience poor driving as it's a bit wider than the other lanes. However, it's few and far between. Remember, always ride wide of the hedgerow, as per <a href="https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cycletraining/article/ct20110110-cycletraining-Bitesize-Bikeability--Part-4--On-Road-Positioning-0">DfT BikeAbility instructions</a>, you are better seen. The two short slopes go up to Holly Tree Farm where the turn north towards Halesworth appears. Now on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cycle_Route_1#Colchester_to_Norwich">National Cycle Network route 1</a>.<br />
<br />
This is a lovely route with some nice views, and drops down at the end. Take care as the road is littered with sand and gravel that makes it hard to stop by the main road at the end. There's a quick nip and back on the main road up to the corner before getting back onto a small lane.<br />
<br />
Again, more pretty little nooks and corners until the main A road into Halesworth. A short distance to the other side is the turn onto the <a href="http://radwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/halesworth-to-wenhaston.html">quiet cycleroute to Halesworth</a>, a welcome relief from the A road. This is where we leave <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cycle_Route_1#Colchester_to_Norwich">National Cycle Network route 1</a>.<br />
<br />
Then, the remains of the journey along Mells Lane into the back of Wenhaston. Note I see a lot more cars here, but none are scary or do silly things. At one point I get a car behind me and decide to find a place to pull over and let them through. I've no desire to have them wobbling around behind me, I'd rather the peace and quiet! Note that this is as I'm heading up hill, if I was in a going downhill at speed I'd keep going. Mainly as I'm going as fast as any driver at that point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="HD"></a>* How to go HD.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s1600/Going%2BHD.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyNKi4i2JGo/VUkYVtDPegI/AAAAAAAAGIA/dVzFMy7ntkg/s320/Going%2BHD.jpg" width="387" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RadWagonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988837097499697107noreply@blogger.com3