Cycle path has been treacherous lately

Ater reading Joanna’s article in last week’s Chronicle about changing our transport options towards cycling and walking and the proposal to make North Road traffic free for cyclists (students) going to Bath University I have to say that they might be good ideas but that’s about it.

I walk the cycle track regularly (4-5 times a week) as far as the Bird in Hand at Saltford and must state that it is not the most welcoming place for cyclists.

Today was the first time that the three month accumualation of rotting leaves has to some extent been cleared. The track has resembled a muddy path for months and has been very dangerous and slippery.

The other day I walked from Rotork into town along the “Riverside footpath” in the pouring rain. What a dismal journey it is. Deep puddles everywhere, brambles and rampant budleia as the only greenery.

Some of the path has no fencing and must again be a little off-putting for cyclists. On the other side was the monotonous Eastern European developments all the way into town. In places it resembles a rundown industrial wilderness. Not the best entrance into Bath.

It is a shame on Bath that the cycle track controlled by Bristol City and South Gloucestershire has street lights from the beginning of the track at Easton all the way to nearly Bitton and out from Mangotsfield to Emersons Green.

The B&NES controlled section

runs through many areas that would benefit from lighting, for example the wooded area below Kelston.

B&NES seems to spend large amounts of money on seemingly useless schemes such as the bollards at the bottom of Malborough Lane which don’t really help cyclists much at all and cycle lanes on the way out of Bath rather than on the way in.

They also created a sweeping link from the A4 down to the track for a handful of cyclists (probably less than half a dozen on a good day) commuting from Bath Spa University.

The proposals on North Road will not make it any less steep and will probably only help a few serious cyclists with their hill-training and I’m sure there won’t be a surge in usage by casual cyclists.

Bath is a hilly city and as such does not lend itself to cycling (other than the main east-west corridor). As such cycling is the preserve of the fit and dedicated.

Perhaps B&NES could supply everyone with an electric bike. That would certainly help.

Mike Fear

By email