Stop for a break

A picture just to illustrate that a cycle ride isn't all get up and go:-

On a chilly but sunny January Day on the Front in Whitstable.

.

Who cares?

With so many faults, ones that adversely affect cyclists (10 examples within 5 miles on one particular road), direction signs wrong, danger spots and so on, and examples that have been around for years, one wonders if even cyclists accept this as a normal state of affairs.

Just look at the sate of that ~ but who cares?

On NCN Route 18 on a modern housing estate.

Not far from direction signs which are pointing in the wrong direction, and they have been doing so for more than 4 years.  And it is not route 18, and this isn't the only one.

Who cares?

and so on.

When is a cycle-lane a cycle-lane

When is a cycle lane a cycle lane? 

Does this look like a cycle lane on the right of the above picture?

That is the infamous Junction 10 of the M20 in the far distance.

There is also a signed cycle route on the lefthand side, but it is actually a narrow footway.

This is the self same cycleway looking in the opposite direction; tis a bit narrow!  Would you want your child to cycle along it?  It is a very busy road.

This is the very busy A2070, Badmünstereifel Road, Ashford.

One is never clear whether or not a white tramline down the side of a road is meant to be a cycleway of not.  It is where all the drain gratings are, and most of the debris.

This is the very same 'cycleway' (looking back to the site of the picture above) which is terminated by shooting the cyclists(s) off this arterial road onto the berm just before it arrives at a roundabout.

In my opinion this is just not good enough, and it gets worse after it gets further on after the roundabout etc.

If we want to increase cycling we need to do one hell of a lot better than this.

Bikes to make you wonder

Sights to set one wondering.

Outside at the front of a house were seen no less than 5 bicycles all for sale.  Had they suddenly given up cycling?  Were they emigrating?  Were they in desperate need of money?  Was someone starting up  business?  They can't have all outgrown their bikes.

I've not seen this one around before;  a tricycle recumbent ~ power assisted I think.  Looks like a scorpion.

Cycleway? What's that?

Cycleway?  What's that?

There was absolutely no need to park on this cycleway, there was plenty of available spaces nearby.

NCN Route 18, Ashford.

We have cycled right across Holland from The Hook to Berlin, and I would recommend it. The only difficulty was getting from Home(UK) to Harwich.

A way-mark for a similar long distance, one which links Holland to France.  

Crossing a waterway in Holland, bikes are always well catered for, even for the long distance tourist.

Cycle Touring (Wishful thinking)

CycleTouring as it not done in the UK

But could be.

Take any town in Holland, Belgium, and Germany, especially at the weekend, on a fine day and apart from a few exceptions it will look something like this:-

 This Market square is surrounded by hundreds of parked bicycles.

Bikes outnumber cars, they ride against the flow up one-way streets.

Cafes do a roaring business.  All ages are cycling.   During a period of about an hour we saw lots of cyclists coming and going, but only one Lycra clad.   

Cyclists were coming and going continuously, few, if any were obese.

Bikes can be very personal and something of a fashion statement. Note that this one has two baskets, handy for carrying shopping or dogs.

In Germany it is much the same, the facilities are generally excellent.  The two dogs arrived in this market square in those wicker bicycle baskets.  But, it is in Germany where Touring Cycling is in a big way.

This grand display of key cycle routes (maps and information packs) is In a typical book shop in Germany.  Touring cycling is Germany's number one leisure activity and they have the cycle network to match it.

   every two minutes a touring Cyclist travels along the Weser Radweg in Minden.  Which means 25,000 to 35,000 cyclists need provisions and accommodation, ll good business for the local economy.

Touring cyclists explore the town, Take photos, buy a meal, etc.

A family of cyclists arrive at the Tourist Information Office.

 many stop for a snack.

Touring cyclists of all come in all types and classes of society.

It is nice to see so many families of cyclists touring together, and this is not in a town which is renowned for cycling.