I've marked on a few proposed new cycle lanes in Reading on the attached map. Do you have any comments? When I've had a some feedback I was going to send this to the council as a proposal, perhaps with a petition.
Currently the cycle routes do not join up, some exist in West Berkshire or Wokingham but not in Reading. Without the canal and River towpath we would have far fewer. So I want to get the Council to join up the existing routes, and add some new ones, to make cycling in Reading far more pleasant.
UPDATE; Ive scanned in a better quality map, hopefully that will make it easier to read. See link below also as suggested in comments. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?t=h&om=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100441106778999719466.00000112a9366ecf7e5c2&z=19'
12 comments:
Cycle routes over Reading and Caversham Bridge and even a seperate bridge for foot and cycle would be ideal.
Hi Adrian, you say some good stuff. On cycling, do you have a higher resolution cycle map (eg pdf)? I find the problem with cycle routes is in the detail which can't be shown on a map at this scale.
I sometimes cycle between Reading town centre and Theale, along the A4 cycle route. The most dangerous part when cycling east for example is where the cycle path north of the A4 (Bath Road) runs out just after the dual carriageway bit, see gmap .
Could we use this google map for people to add comments to? You might also be able to add your cycle route proposals to it, or create another one for this purpose.
cheers Julian
Thanks for the comments. Ive just had a quick look at the costs of building cycle paths. I'm proposing something like 10 miles, which might cost £400,000 i.e. a fraction of the cost of the one-way IDR.
I thoroughly agree with the idea of having a route between North West
Caversham and B&Q around the IDR. I have tried once taking the A33 and IDR and found it too dangerous.
I understand the Cow Lane requirement and have seen cyclists struggling to go under the bridge tailed by angry car drivers, but pedestrians might also fight for just a pedestrian only path.
Gosbrook Rd (which I think you have marked) is dangerous for cyclists since Tony Jones had the islands brought out into the road to force cyclists trying to overtake buses to aim head on for the on coming cars. Parked cars opposite the Tory club make that bit of road very dangerous.
Excellent plan - i'll support pretty much anything to do with cycling!! Adn would add more cycle lanes on to the map as well, but from the point of practicality/council acceptability what you suggest looks good.
Looks good, especially the IDR route under the railway bridge west of the station, I find that bit of road very hairy. Also, the cycle path linking Caversham Bridge to Church Road is laughable. It includes narrow ally ways with 90 degree turns and seems less safe than braving the traffic.
Something worth asking for might be that the pavement is split between pedestrians and cyclist on both sides of Caversham Bridge. As it is, with a cycle track only on one side, using the cycle track travelling north involves a right turn at the roundabout, then crossing traffic with no signal to help at the northern end. I think it's safer to ride with the traffic than use it.
looks very sensible Adrian. It will be nice to have one marked through the town center as well.
i
Joining the routes up would make such a difference, Adrian. The size and geography of Reading make it an excellent town to use a bike. The only problem is that the paths do not join up, so you are frequently left stranded in the middle of dangerous traffic. Also, many of the paths that are attractive during the day (by the river and through Palmer Park for example) are dark and lonely at night, and need better lit, more public alternatives.
Along the Oxford Road, were you thinking of using the road space or the (very generous) footpath space? I have never managed to figure out why some of the huge footpath isn't at *least* shared-use. Much of it is wide enough on *both* sides of the street to become shared-use.
My plan was more of a wish list than to say what exactly should happen to each road. As you say, much of the Oxford Rd could accomodate a cycle path, but not all. Every little helps though, it would seem so easy and cheap to do some bits, then follow the rest later.
where did you get the original map with the existing cycle routes on it? i have been trying to find one everywhere!
thanks
The Civic centre and town hall have copies miss mac. They are useful.
Post a Comment