Crap Cycle Paths in Rochdale – An update!

Access still denied

Was it really over a year ago that I took a very similar photo? Yes it was… way back in May 2011 I wrote about closures on NCN 92, one of Rochdale’s own answer to The Netherlands.

Crap cycling in East Lancashire

Having tackled the climb and descent into the Calder Valley, in the nicer weather of Thursday I went over another hill into the Irwell Valley. I started by using part of Sustrans (regional) route 92, though Kingsway Business Park, complete with anti-cycling gates.

Anti-cycling gate at Kingsway Business Park

Not long and I was onto Route 66 again, this time following the Rochdale Canal to skirt around the edges of town before picking up the A680 main road towards Blackburn and tackling the climb to Owd Betts/Ashworth Moor. It’s a longer and shallower climb so I managed it without pushing (unlike Blackstone Edge) though I did have to stop a couple of times, not least because my chain has developed an annoying habit of jumping off when I gear down…

The Windmills of Ashworth Moor

From up here it was down into the Irwell Valley into Rawtenstall where I stopped for a cup of tea before climbing the valley to Bacup and dropping back towards Rochdale. Just north of Whitworth I picked up route 92 again, but only stuck with it for about 1 mile before returning to the road. Too circuitous and far too many obstructions – I think there were 6 kissing gates in 1 mile! For me this is a footpath, not a cycle path – I certainly didn’t get on wheels to stop every few minutes to lift my bike over an obstacle!

The Whitworth cycle track - route 92 at Shore

After another cup of tea and some advice, I went back to route 92. Thankfully on the other side of Whitworth the trail does improve following more closely the ex-railway line over the stunning Healey Dell viaduct and the much less stunning, glass lined, Syke Tunnel. The signs then disappeared for a while whilst I weaved my way through the one-way streets of Hamer back towards the business park.

Access Denied - route 92 is closed

Here I found my earlier route had been a connecting route, with the main route 92 actually blocked through the business park. Shame as from either end it looked like a reasonable (if a little windy) off road route.

Closed

Notching up a little over 30 miles in one day, including a reasonable hill I’m getting much closer to being confident enough to cycle the c2c in 4 days.  Next challenges are to push the distance out to 40 miles in a day and to start to cycle every day. This will be hard!

Paint no action

Painted cycles on the road

Oh goody, it’s been ages since I wrote about any crap cycling infrastructure.  I really don’t get what is going on above – this is Storey St, Bankside (just behind Borough Market/Vineopolis). Cycle lane, sure  can understand that but why have the other bikes in the road and why going both ways? Just seems like a bit of a waste of paint to be honest…

I can only guess that whoever instructed the painting of those cycles doesn’t ever ride one…

Crap cycling: Woodford New Road

 

Pedestrian's beware

 

This weekend we went for a walk through Epping Forest on the way to pick up some posh tea (Ruth and I were 8 years old this weekend!) we came across this classic Waltham Forest cycling intervention. The road here is basically wide enough for two lanes and as the cars reach the lights at the end, they often spread out ready for the junction as if they were.  But apparently there isn’t enough space for cyclists, so they have to share cyclists the limited pavement space with pedestrians!

 

Pointless end

 

Quite what that waste of paint is meant to achieve I don’t know.  The kerb isn’t dropped to allow you onto the road… and the cycle lane actually continues so it isn’t the end at all.

 

Almost as pointless end

 

As you approach the junction the pavement becomes a proper shared space – probably because of the road sign with the helpful supportive pole in the middle of the path.

Is it any wonder, when cyclists are encouraged to ride on the path they do so all over the place?