Progress?

Cycling’s priorities.

If you compare cycling with motoring there is distinctly different attitude.   Motoring is done primarily as a means of transport, with a massive network of roads, necessitating huge government expenditure. The devotion to motor racing, as a sport, forms a relatively small part.  But in the case of cycling, huge sums of money have been applied to the building of indoor stadiums for the elite, and for training professional cyclists; whilst attention to the needs of the mass of cyclists, and, even more, wood-be cyclists has been relatively small.  Remembering that that cycling is beneficial to all age groups, is a very healthy activity (without it being a sport), and it even provides mobility to people who can’t drive, or who are disabled.

Cycleways do not just also benefit disabled cyclists, but also anyone who uses a battery powered scooter, or is confined to a wheelchair.

Changes are happening.

Things are improving slowly around here, but oh so gradually.

In the South East the first reasonable cycle link was created about 15 years ago, and that was the 10km linking Canterbury to Whitstable (part of NCN R1).   A fair proportion of which was on a disused railway track.

It is now possible to cycle 7 km across Ashford on cycleways (NCN R18), when the M20 underpass is not under water (it floods after heavy rainfall).   After some pressure, this M20 underpass was built, but then it was barricaded off for another 7 years before it was finally opened.   However to continue on out of Ashford to the North East (eventually to Wye and then Canterbury), and the next suburb of Willesborough is still (at the time of writing) something of a hazardous obstacle course. 

A proposal for a route alongside the River Stour to link Ashford to Canterbury was submitted to the then president of Sustrans (John Grimshaw), in 1994 (it may have been earlier); a route that avoided major hills, and the heavily trafficked A28.  Much of the route was already there in the form of Bridle paths, and white roads, but there was a section, which was only a graded as a public footpath.  All that was needed to overcome this blockage, was a change-of-use order and the cooperation of the farmer/land owner and we could complete the route (or more-or-less).  There were also meetings with the owners of an area of land at the Canterbury end that housed a disused gravel quarry. 

The River Stour and NCN R18 as they pass under a railway bridge, close to Canterbury.   This section of the route has been open as far as Chartham for about 3 years.    

    This route’s missing link (Chartham to Godmersham plus a section of roadway) was officially opened during the latter part of 2013.  Almost 20 years later.  The point I am making here is that, even though we are lagging so behind, these things don’t necessarily happen over-night!

  AND, the route from Godmersham to Wye runs along a fairly busy and fast moving road until it reaches Wye.  That needs some attention. 

     As this route approaches Willesborough/Kennington, it is most unsatisfactory. 

     Hastings and Bexhill.

     A much needed safe cycle route between Bexhill and Hastings was surveyed, and proposals in 1994.  It was not a physically difficult cycle route to establish, and it was not a great distance; but it was not finally opened until 2013, nearly 20 years later! 

     The cycle-route along Hastings and St. Leonards sea front, which forms part of this route (NCN R2), was created about 15 years earlier.

So we may be encouraged by the fact that improvements are being made, but much more needs to be done, and what we do manage to do, seems to take an extraordinary length of time.    

Why does it take so long?   How can we speed things up?

Now take Switzerland as an example.

In the early 1990s, the Swiss Cycling Bureau had started to develop cycle routes, and by 1988 (when this next picture was taken) they were well established.

  Romanshorn on thesouthern shore of lake Constanze (Konstanz)

    A set of detailed maps were available from Kümmerely and Fry, which showed: gradients, and road surface, amongst other details.   And a book was produced which was especially aimed at the cycling tourist, which included Velo Hotels, bicycle repair shops, Ferry timetables,  train connections, and special bus services that also carry bikes.

    Cycle tourism is very popular, and it generates big business in Germany and Switzerland, etc.  

Tourists gather in the Swiss part of Konstanze.

 

                                                        Waiting for a ferry.

The above three pictures all taken in the town Konstanz, within a few minutes of each other.

The tourist information office in Minden, Germany, said that many thousands of touring cyclists pass through their town every year, and they formed the greatest part of their tourist business.  I know Dutch cyclists who refuse to cycle in the UK , because they believe that it is too dangerous. 

Lake Constance is a popular cycling venue, cycling facilities are good.  Circumnavigation of the lake is about 200 km; some cyclists do it in a day!   Circumnavigation takes the cyclist through Germany, Switzerland and Austria.  There are plenty of B & B  (Bett und Bike), and camp sites en route.