Cycling on the A3
Discussion
Back in the summer, I was driving along on the A3, not sure if it was specifically this part, but it may well have been.
I overtook a cyclist, which I was not expecting, and called the HA to report it, they send that they would send someone out to deal.
Just been having a conversation with someone on a Facebook group talking about cyclist on a different road (A331) and I mentioned this.
He was of the opinion that it's legal, so what's the problem.
Question 1) is it legal, I think perhaps it is, as only cycling on Motorways is illegal, but if it is, then why the hell has it not been made illegal. I realise that's it's unlikely that anyone would be stupid enough to put themselves so close to a vehicle at motorway speeds, but I know from personal experience that they do.
I overtook a cyclist, which I was not expecting, and called the HA to report it, they send that they would send someone out to deal.
Just been having a conversation with someone on a Facebook group talking about cyclist on a different road (A331) and I mentioned this.
He was of the opinion that it's legal, so what's the problem.
Question 1) is it legal, I think perhaps it is, as only cycling on Motorways is illegal, but if it is, then why the hell has it not been made illegal. I realise that's it's unlikely that anyone would be stupid enough to put themselves so close to a vehicle at motorway speeds, but I know from personal experience that they do.
Seesure said:
There are some odd folks out there who do things just because they can... cycling along the A3 would be a "no thanks" from me....
And wasn't this filmed along part of the A3, albeit with camera cars around which would have added a bit of protection.......
My colleague occasionally sees a Twizy on the M3.And wasn't this filmed along part of the A3, albeit with camera cars around which would have added a bit of protection.......
The further south you go there a few patches of cycle lane that run alongside the A3 away from the traffic. Even then, it really isn't the most pleasant place to be riding a bike so actually sharing the carriageway must be awful.
I can't think why anyone would deliberately put themselves in that position.
I can't think why anyone would deliberately put themselves in that position.
Cycling on the A3 is legal. Except where it becomes the A3(M) at it's southern end, and through the tunnels at Hindhead.
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/you-a...
There IS a cycle lane running alongside a lot of it's route. But sadly between the M25 and Guildford it's in a terrible state. Last time I tried to use it, the bits that weren't fully overgrown were like a moonscape and strewn with broken glass. The bits further down are better, sometimes they are purpose built cycle paths, other times they run on quiet roads which used to be the A3 before they were bypassed.
You can tell cycling is legal on the road, because there are painted "short cuts" for cyclists to get across the on-slips without having to cycle the full width of the sip road at it's widest point...
As you can see in this link, there's a marked crossing of the slip-road for bicycles. Yet the approach to it is a NSL two-lane DC with no hard shoulder, and no space for a bike tyre on the "wrong" side of the solid white line. Even a pretty militant cyclist like me would think a few times more than twice about riding down there... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1486143,-0.70099...
...I mean, the bit where they get you across to the nearside of the slip road? That's great for stopping you from being hung out to dry between two articulated lorries in a fast disappearing space, but the rest of the section you're left on your own in a live lane with cars doing 70 mph +++ approaching from behind you, and probably not expecting to find a bicycle doing less than a third of their speed.
More pictures here, showing just how narrow, and quite frankly unsuitable for cycling, some parts of the A3 cycle lane are...
http://cycle-geography.blogspot.com/2017/02/a3-cyc...
Frankly, though, if you're driving along and paying proper attention, then you'll see these information boards for cyclists, and therefore should be expecting at least a few hardy souls to be braving the A3... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1526715,-0.69173...
Some bits have a half decent path alongside the carriageway, but even then it's rarely protected by anything more substantial than a curb, and can still be a scary experience to ride on... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1522659,-0.69309...
I've never ridden the whole length of the A3, but cycled on it quite a few times. I use the cycle lanes where they're provided and fit for purpose, and I'd be less keen to ride it now than when I used to (before the Hindhead Tunnel). I'd still use the cycle path bits, but only to join up sections of nicer road well away from the A3. In my view, the A331 (BVR) is far worse to ride on, and with the Blackwater Valley Path following the road quite closely I don't need to ride on the DC. I also have to ride parts of the A31 too, between Bentley and Farnham, on some rides, as there truly isn't a realistic alternative.
I think that all new road building should provide for cycling facilities alongside, but separated from the road. In fact, you could extend that to railway infrastructure improvements too. Build a lane wide enough for a Network Rail engineer to drive down, and it'd be useful for repairs and maintenance on the permanent way too. I'm not saying spunk a load of money building the bike paths in retrospect, but if they were included in all future works then soon enough we could have an extensive network of long distance traffic free (or at least low traffic) cycle routes, keeping cyclists happy and keeping motorists happy too by keeping cyclists off high speed roads. Some lobbying cyclists might say no, as a "thin end of a wedge" thing, but I'd say that if there's a well maintained suitable alternative to cycling on roads like the A3, then it does no harm to ban cycling on those roads. Having cycled, and driven on it extensively, I have to be honest and say that it's no longer suitable for cycling on, due to high vehicle speeds, and the high density of modern traffic.
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/you-a...
There IS a cycle lane running alongside a lot of it's route. But sadly between the M25 and Guildford it's in a terrible state. Last time I tried to use it, the bits that weren't fully overgrown were like a moonscape and strewn with broken glass. The bits further down are better, sometimes they are purpose built cycle paths, other times they run on quiet roads which used to be the A3 before they were bypassed.
You can tell cycling is legal on the road, because there are painted "short cuts" for cyclists to get across the on-slips without having to cycle the full width of the sip road at it's widest point...
As you can see in this link, there's a marked crossing of the slip-road for bicycles. Yet the approach to it is a NSL two-lane DC with no hard shoulder, and no space for a bike tyre on the "wrong" side of the solid white line. Even a pretty militant cyclist like me would think a few times more than twice about riding down there... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1486143,-0.70099...
...I mean, the bit where they get you across to the nearside of the slip road? That's great for stopping you from being hung out to dry between two articulated lorries in a fast disappearing space, but the rest of the section you're left on your own in a live lane with cars doing 70 mph +++ approaching from behind you, and probably not expecting to find a bicycle doing less than a third of their speed.
More pictures here, showing just how narrow, and quite frankly unsuitable for cycling, some parts of the A3 cycle lane are...
http://cycle-geography.blogspot.com/2017/02/a3-cyc...
Frankly, though, if you're driving along and paying proper attention, then you'll see these information boards for cyclists, and therefore should be expecting at least a few hardy souls to be braving the A3... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1526715,-0.69173...
Some bits have a half decent path alongside the carriageway, but even then it's rarely protected by anything more substantial than a curb, and can still be a scary experience to ride on... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1522659,-0.69309...
I've never ridden the whole length of the A3, but cycled on it quite a few times. I use the cycle lanes where they're provided and fit for purpose, and I'd be less keen to ride it now than when I used to (before the Hindhead Tunnel). I'd still use the cycle path bits, but only to join up sections of nicer road well away from the A3. In my view, the A331 (BVR) is far worse to ride on, and with the Blackwater Valley Path following the road quite closely I don't need to ride on the DC. I also have to ride parts of the A31 too, between Bentley and Farnham, on some rides, as there truly isn't a realistic alternative.
I think that all new road building should provide for cycling facilities alongside, but separated from the road. In fact, you could extend that to railway infrastructure improvements too. Build a lane wide enough for a Network Rail engineer to drive down, and it'd be useful for repairs and maintenance on the permanent way too. I'm not saying spunk a load of money building the bike paths in retrospect, but if they were included in all future works then soon enough we could have an extensive network of long distance traffic free (or at least low traffic) cycle routes, keeping cyclists happy and keeping motorists happy too by keeping cyclists off high speed roads. Some lobbying cyclists might say no, as a "thin end of a wedge" thing, but I'd say that if there's a well maintained suitable alternative to cycling on roads like the A3, then it does no harm to ban cycling on those roads. Having cycled, and driven on it extensively, I have to be honest and say that it's no longer suitable for cycling on, due to high vehicle speeds, and the high density of modern traffic.
Edited by yellowjack on Friday 5th October 18:51
yellowjack said:
I think that all new road building should provide for cycling facilities alongside, but separated from the road. In fact, you could extend that to railway infrastructure improvements too. Build a lane wide enough for a Network Rail engineer to drive down, and it'd be useful for repairs and maintenance on the permanent way too. I'm not saying spunk a load of money building the bike paths in retrospect, but if they were included in all future works then soon enough we could have an extensive network of long distance traffic free (or at least low traffic) cycle routes, keeping cyclists happy and keeping motorists happy too by keeping cyclists off high speed roads.
Last I checked we are still running a deficit and can't afford to fully fund medicines and we have pensioners dying from the cold every year. Where do we get the money from for this - or what is the benefit that would justify spending the money over and above saving cancer victims and the elderly?Edited by yellowjack on Friday 5th October 18:51
Cold said:
gazza285 said:
It's not the road that makes it dangerous to cycle on, it's people with poor awareness while using it that makes it so.
Those people should probably use the cycle lanes. I spent most of my teenage life cycling 1 junction along the A3 to Wimbledon to go to school & see mates. All done without a cycling helmet although I don’t think they’d been invented back then...
It is a miracle I’m alive today. I did make the rash decision to overtake a car on a downhill section once, even my 16 year old self at the time realised I probably shouldn’t repeat that manoeuvre.
It is a miracle I’m alive today. I did make the rash decision to overtake a car on a downhill section once, even my 16 year old self at the time realised I probably shouldn’t repeat that manoeuvre.
caelite said:
Cold said:
gazza285 said:
It's not the road that makes it dangerous to cycle on, it's people with poor awareness while using it that makes it so.
Those people should probably use the cycle lanes. Graveworm said:
Last I checked we are still running a deficit and can't afford to fully fund medicines and we have pensioners dying from the cold every year. Where do we get the money from for this - or what is the benefit that would justify spending the money over and above saving cancer victims and the elderly?
The same place as the money for the new road?
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