Unexpected consequences of Coronavirus

We are hoping that the push to get more folks walking and cycling, and the funding might end up being spent up here. But not holding our breath.

It would be lovely if some roads were safer to cycle along, but even now, in lockdown you take your life in your hands here. We have quite a few shared pavements, but the rise of the phone zombie, the dog on a very long lead, the family that has to hold hands, those incapable of walking in a straight line, and vehicles emerging at speed from properties, mean that using these is not a pleasant experience. Spatial awareness is as lost a commodity as common sense I fear. 🤔

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We have a right of way as part of our property, at the beginning of lockdown there was a rush of unfamiliar faces but now we're back, mostly, to the locals with dogs. We have to keep the right of way in reasonable "nick" and we tend to put hedge trimmings, grass etc to prevent underfoot damage, no bikes are allowed. It hasn't been any worse than usual but the dry weather has helped.

A few more people are out on their bikes. We don't have any decent off road cycle trials near here so as the traffic increases once more the cyclists will probably decrease.

Sheep and lambs were stolen from our local country park during the lockdown. Country life goes on as usual....

Yes, with funding it can work, but sadly for other parts of the country, it does tend to be very piecemeal. London appears to get a lot done, and we have come across other places that are just brilliant for semi urban cycling. We have Trans Pennine Trail and lots of spurs off, but it can be a challenge joining safe routes up. 

Flat areas are ideal for cycling but I was just speaking to my sister in Bristol which has very good cycling policies...except it has hills, very steep ones and that is a bit of a deterrent.

You are welcome to come to Milton Keynes. We have 270 kms of cycleways called Redways (mainly because they are surfaced with red tarmac). There is hardly a house in the newer parts of MK which is not within a few yard of a path linking to the main network. The Redways were designed from the very start, the idea being to encourage people to get out in the fresh air  and to cycle to work. Here is a map of the network of cycle routes. The Redway between Wolverton and Newport Pagnell is built along the route of the old Newport Pagnell branch of the Grand Union Canal which later became the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell Railway branch line. The old station platforms are still in place.

David

Around this part of SE Kent , the police have issued warnings of increased thefts of Mh's and caravans from people's drives etc .

Very interesting. Shows what can be done if starting with a blank sheet, and thankfully they had the foresight (and the finance) to do it. 

We are well off for lovely bridleways, TPT Etc.... But making the actual roads safe for cyclists is rather woeful. Cars are allowed to park over the dedicated roadside lanes, although of course the road edges are where all the grates, gravel, glass and litter collects, so no experienced road cyclist would be in them to be honest, and there’s nothing between you and the cars doing 40mph alongside, so it’s not for the faint hearted.

OH used to use his bike all the time for commuting to work. Because he was in Fire Service, I never knew what time he might arrive home. One evening (still light) he limped in at around 7.30pm. He’d been knocked off his bike by a female driver who just drove over into him. Bike ruined, luckily relatively light injuries, but to add insult to injury she had a panic fit and he ended up having to look after her! 

Very interesting. Shows what can be done if starting with a blank sheet, and thankfully they had the foresight (and the finance) to do it.

As you say much easier starting with a blank sheet of paper. When new estates are built the Redways are designed in just like the roads which probably means the Council don't have to pay as its a condition of building. Having said that there are what we call the "old Towns" which form part of MK like Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell and Bletchley where it has been a bit more difficult so in some parts of towns you may have to revert to the roads. Margaret doesn't mind cycling on dedicated paths but is very nervous about using roads so that has tended to limit our cycling from campsites. We have had our new motorhome a year now and thus far I have not bothered with a bike rack.

David 

I seem to be getting a lot less junk mail!