Img_1145jpg
Exit from subway into Woolborough September 06, 2003
Not a very wide gap, plenty of glass around and what are those lorries doing?
A few examples of the bad and ugly in Crawley's cycle paths. Unfortunately lots more to come. Most of these photos are of cycle paths that in theory are part of the National Cycle Network route from London to Brighton. I hope the rest is better.
Exit from subway into Woolborough September 06, 2003
Not a very wide gap, plenty of glass around and what are those lorries doing?
Exit from subway into Woolborough September 06, 2003
Ah, lucky I waited for him to reverse into that yard
Exit from subway into Woolborough September 06, 2003
Maybe I'll wait for you to finish manouvering as well.
This is a problem with a cycle path joining the end of a road in an industrial estate, lots of parked vehicles and manouvering lorries who are not looking for you at all.
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Another narrow gap, when on the tandem or with the trailer this one is quite tricky as I have only 1" space per side.
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
An example of several places where after work the surface was covered with fine loose gravel, now mostly swept away, but was tricky on 2 wheels.
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
This is supposed to be wide enough for 2 way cycle traffic on the right of the white line. I don't think it was ever wide enough, but with the overgrown side is certainly is not now.
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Now a blind corner, narrow path for pedestrians and narrow cycle path combine to make it dangerous when you suddenly meet someone coming the other way. Unless, as our planners obviously assume, you cycle at less than 5 mph.
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
The whole of the (far too narrow anyway) lane for cyclists coming towards the camera is overgrown
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Nasty bumps caused by roots accross the whole width of the cycle path
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Another even bigger bump combined with lots of overgrown stuff mean cyclists will intrude on the space for pedestrians, even when there is only 1 cyclist. What happens when 2 cyclists meet?
Cycle path Woolborough to Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Another narrow gap at the end of the cycle path as you exit to cross the pavement. Hidden sight lines as you approach and no right of way all combine to force you to a stop.
Cycle path alongside Manor Royal September 06, 2003
I find this path scary. You keep going down to cross entrances to industrial units. The lowered kerbs are not very well done and you have no right of way. There is very little indication to drivers that there is a cycle path and so you have to look right behind your shoulder to check it is safe to cross. Unfortunately there are sometimes bushes in the way making that dificult.
Cycle path alongside Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Of course no only do you have to give way to cars but also to pedestrians and it is always at bumpy crossings
Cycle path alongside Manor Royal September 06, 2003
Very bumpy pavement to cross where people cross to the bus stop.
There is some form of crossing for which you have to give way every 20 to 50m.
Cycle path alongside Flemming Way September 06, 2003
I can't even get through this gap with my narrow XXL, that means it is also impossible for our Tandem, Child trailer, child trailer bike and cargo trailer. It is very narrow for anyone who9 is not very confident on 2 wheels as well.
Cycle path alongside Flemming Way September 06, 2003
This cycle path keeps joining and then leaving the road. What a waste of time! Not only that but it seems the aim was to make sure cyclists were off the road whenever there is a side road. This means that instead of being on the road and visible with right of way the cyclist loses out in everyway.
Add to all this a really poor surface (had been painted pink but this has worn off in a lot of places leaving it worse than the old concrete surface that preceeded it.
The turns on and off the road are tricky with a tandem or a trailer.
Cycle path alongside Flemming Way September 06, 2003
An example of very poor surface and having to continually give way due to not being on the road. It is hard to believe the designers have ever ridden a bike.
Cycle path alongside Flemming Way September 06, 2003
Its not exactly very wide is it. Not much fun when a car, van or lorry tries to pass you at one of these pinch points.
In my opinion the cycle path should get wider at these pinch points forcing cars to slow down and give way to the cyclists. After all the whole point was to slow cars down so why not make it safer for cyclists at the same time.
I cannot ride fully in this cycle lane on my narrow trike, let alone on the tandem or towing the trailer.
Its pathetic.
