Cycle Route fully open

Cycle Route fully open
The local cycle route – called the Hanson Way – runs from Oxford to Didcot via Abingdon and is part of Sustrans national route 5 which stretches 381 miles from Reading to North Wales. The work to upgrade part of the cycle route between Sutton Courtney and Abingdon is now complete and fully reopened.
Cycle Route fully open
The cycleway is now wider and smoother and free from overhanging trees. There are also bright spots in the tarmac which will make it safer when cycling in the dark.

It is a safer route for cycles than the roads, and is a more direct cycle route, than the roads, between Abingdon and Milton Park – where many people work, and from Abingdon to Didcot train station – for people who cycle and commute to London.

14 thoughts on “Cycle Route fully open

  1. Phil

    This, and the resurfaced track behind Kennington is a good start.

    Next, we need a route of equal standard that connects Kennington to the Hanson’s Way. Alleged cycle routes that you are not permitted to cycle along don’t count!

    Reply
  2. Trevor

    A vast improvement, great job. Are the “bright spots “ solar lights? Some have already come out & have been replaced but not all.

    Reply
  3. newcomer

    I rather liked the old ‘rustic’ route, but this looks very good.

    I hope they’ve put in bollards/obstructions to stop motorcyclists using it.

    I used to cycle the Grand Unoin Canal towpath in West London and parts of it got used by teenagers as a speed drag for their 50cc put-puts and bigger motorcycles as a shortcut. Not very comfortable with some nitwit biker roaring up behind you.

    i hope this isn’t going to become a double-edged improvement.

    Don’t mistake me … I think this is a realy useful application of public funds … it’s just the lunatic fringe you’ve got to protect yourself against..

    Reply
  4. Mike

    They could have designated a strip down one side for pedestrians. The better surface will encourage faster cycling. I’ll probably have to avoid it.

    Reply
  5. Sarah

    They seem to be putting in a cycle path that cuts the corner from Kennington Road to Sandford Lane. Does anyone know when it’ll be finished?

    Reply
  6. Daniel

    Sarah; it’s likely that that cycle path was part of the commitment by the developer that is building houses just there. As such they likely won’t get it finished, now the houses are being built. They just said they would to help get planning permission.

    Reply
  7. Sarah

    Both ends have been started, but the Sandford Lane end just has the entrance and the “don’t cycle straight out into the road” barrier. I hope they join the ends. It would be nice not to have to slog up the hill …

    Reply
  8. PPJS

    I do understand (and approve of) providing safe routes for cyclists, but what was a quiet and rural walk seems to have been transformed into a highway and the obstacles that were placed at the end of the section shown in the video clip (very good, Grunkp) to give some protection to pedestrians appear to have been removed.
    I hope that it will regain some of its gentler aspects and that cyclists using it will make sure that they have bells to warn walkers of their approach.

    Reply
  9. Phil

    The issue with placing barriers on cycle routes is that not only do they make them award to cycle along, they pose difficulty to anyone using a mobility device, from a wheel chair to a tricycle.

    They also increase conflict with pedestrians as they filled people through the same narrow space.

    Reply
  10. Phil

    I see that the place where a cycle route upgrade was needed most, outside the gravel pit, Tuckwells, no changes have been made.

    The surface continues to be rough and with potholes and puddles. When there are lots of HGV movements you, and your bike, gets covered in mud when cycling through.

    Not to mention that the cycle route continues to be shared with HGV’s.

    When it comes to providing cycle routes, it seems the budget remains very limited and ambitious need to be low.

    Reply
  11. Sarah

    I suspect that it looked just as raw when the previous tarmac track was first laid. It’ll soften fairly quickly.

    Reply

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