Tour de France, diversions?

[Mr Whippy]

Does anyone know if any have been set up yet?

It looks like anyone near the route on the A59 on the Sunday is just stuck at one side or the other with no way around. We're in the middle near Blubberhouses (just to the North) and it looks like it's a trip of about 120 miles round trip to just get to the other side of the A59... which unfortunately my wife might have to do on the Sunday for work... doh!


Then again I bet all the roads around will be blocked up with people struggling with the same issue, combined with oodles of people travelling to see the event on their push bikes!


As much as I'm looking forward to it, I think I'll be watching it on the TV any way. I hope it rains

[Mr Whippy]

benjj said:

I've seen the tour countless times (in FR) - it goes like this:

Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Zzzzoooooom for 120 seconds
Wait 5 minutes
Roads open

Exactly why I'll be watching it on the TV I think. I can't see any advantage to camping out or travelling to the track side to just watch 120s worth of action, likely out of context, surrounded by loads of 'general public'

[Mr Whippy]

I'd argue that as the time arrives and things are not running as planned, they'll just be closing roads or disrupting travel on them way before the suggested times to make sure they get ready in time.

I feel sorry for anyone living along the A59 boundary that needs to travel from Friday through to Sunday, it's either gonna be disrupted heavily or completely blocked on the only alternative routes around.

God help anyone who needs an Ambulance or Fire Engine around the A59 that weekend!

[Mr Whippy]

madbadger said:

Mr Whippy said:

I'd argue that as the time arrives and things are not running as planned, they'll just be closing roads or disrupting travel on them way before the suggested times to make sure they get ready in time.

I feel sorry for anyone living along the A59 boundary that needs to travel from Friday through to Sunday, it's either gonna be disrupted heavily or completely blocked on the only alternative routes around.

God help anyone who needs an Ambulance or Fire Engine around the A59 that weekend!

Good point.

I wonder if anyone has considered that possibility?

The medical team for the tour in Yorkshire is sufficient to staff 12 A&E departments and they aren't all there for the riders. In fact it is probably quite a good weekend to need medical help compared to normal.

I think if the French manage it every year we will probably be ok.

Yeah the French have had a lot of practice.

Harrogate Council couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery so I have little faith in measures put in place to assure emergency services will run completely un-hindered by the event.


Fair enough for all the heat stroke victims stood around waiting for a 2 minute long zzzoooommmmm, medical staff all around. But what are the expected transit times along all the feeder routes on/off the A59? There are scant few roads that run off the A59 and go anywhere useful, and they all block up in summer weekends at the best of times!

Lets wait and see I suppose

[Mr Whippy]

Thanks for posting, that adds more details to what I have found elsewhere.

4hrs after the race passes till the roads re-open though... approx as well

It'd be nice with an expected error range on those values


Looks like we might be lucky and have the Harrogate > Skipton A59 day 2 section re-opened by 5pm, approx

[Mr Whippy]

BadRotorFinger said:

This should be fun in Leeds, reduced access to LGI and Jimmy's, LGI is only the regional trauma centre as well as cardiac centre, We as Ambulance service front line staff are not aware of all the road closures yet! I'm on rota to work the weekend, gonna need those chill pills!!! Stay healthy.

I was told off for saying such things just on the previous page

They'll have planned for everything of course, why are you worrying... oh, you're an Ambulance driver, and you're worrying. Oh. Hmmmm... eek.

[Mr Whippy]

telecat said:

coppice said:

I am catching an 8am flight from Leeds Bradford on day two; travelling from Thirsk . Usual route out because of Tdf - don't mind a long diversion but really do not want to encounter Tdf traffic. So down to Leeds via A1 and in via Wetherby (probably not) or A64- then where from Leeds ring road ?

Couple of options. Best would be coming off at Wattle Syke and head towards Harewood House though Collingham and past the Hill climb. At Harewood House turn right towards Harrogate, turn left before the Bridge over the Wharfe towards Pool Bank and Left at the Roundabout up Pool Bank to Leeds Bradford.

Or Junction 45 take the A659 to Harewood. Then the A61 towards Harrogate. Back on the A659 to Pool Bank then turn onto the A658 to LBA.

Edited by telecat on Thursday 26th June 15:29

Just aim for mainly left turns and you should be ok

Only bottle-neck that I could think is the Pool roundabout. Then the lights up the hill could be busy too perhaps?

Maybe best to hop up left at Arthington, then into the back of Bramhope and round.

I might be tempted to walk down and watch from my Gran's house overlooking the road at Cote de Blubberhouses

[Mr Whippy]

BadRotorFinger said:

Mr Whippy said:

I was told off for saying such things just on the previous page

They'll have planned for everything of course, why are you worrying... oh, you're an Ambulance driver, and you're worrying. Oh. Hmmmm... eek.

Ambulance driver!! how very dare you, it's Paramedic! My clinical skills are better than my driving......

To say you're just a paramedic undermines your ability to drive under pressure in a range of difficult situations

No slur intended of course... but funny how we've just re-branded job names verbally in the last 15-20 years, but to all and sundry the meaning is the same any way.

I still hope it rains, it'll make it more exciting for the cyclists

[Mr Whippy]

I think it's not just the closures that are the issue, but the effect of then having a high volume travelling along the remaining routes which are now limited because of the closures.

Ie, the Pool > Otley > Burley > Ilkley route is the only horizontal across for a long way either side, just like the A59. There are no routes around that don't just mean everyone and their car, push bike and pedestrian will be filling them up.

So they'll be busy with cars, slowed down further with parked cars, further with cyclists out for 'fun' and then peds walking around to/fro their cars.


I guess I could be over-estimating the turn-out.

But you only have to gauge something like the Great Yorkshire Show and the impact on local roads. It's a nightmare and that is just high volume on non-closed roads at a central point.
Try a linear event over many miles (the course), with closed roads, AND high volume...


Will be very interesting to see how silly it gets!

Dave

[Mr Whippy]

Yorkshire, an area best accessed via it's road network, a network whose primary arteries are the very roads that are to be closed, is going to be a bloody mess all around this weekend.

If you go take a look at the maps it's all the major roads that serve as primary routes to the places people need to get to watch this event, that are the ones being closed.

Yet all the truly great roads are the ones being missed.

If it can go through a town, it does. Money money money!