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'Lethal' cycle lane covered in 'slippery gravel'

The council said it was trying to compact the surface as far as possible

A cyclist has complained that a cycle path installed while roadworks are underway on the A40 is 'lethal'.

Rider Ian Barry said that the temporary cycle lane is covered in 'slippery gravel' and has 'unnecessary sharp bends'. 

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, he said: "To make matters much worse, the gate to access this bike lane from the north side of the A40 is closed at weekends and when there is no construction work going on.

“This means that cyclists approaching Oxford are forced into the main traffic stream, which is considerably narrowed anyway by the construction work, and therefore even more dangerous than usual.

“It shows total disregard for the safety of the considerable number of cyclists who use these paths to access Oxford.”

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “Cyclists using the temporary diversion along the A40 in fact have full access through the area seven days a week and the council can confirm that the gate is not closed or locked at all.

“In addition, the council’s contractor is taking steps to compact the surface as far as possible to improve the temporary path for cyclists.

“Once completed, cyclists will be able enjoy a next generation cycle infrastructure along the A40.”

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5 comments

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AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
1 like

Council states gate is open at all times and never closed or locked. Picture in the paper shows a gate closed and locked. The same gate?

Avatar
eburtthebike | 2 years ago
0 likes

Who to believe?  The cyclist who has ridden the route and found the gate locked, or the council planners sat in their office?

Reminds me of work on the Bristol Metro a couple of years ago, when the builders were given permission to use a short length of gated road which was a cycle/pedestrian path, but only as long as they maintained access for cyclists and pedestrians.  They left a path less than a metre wide, and when I pointed out that this was not acceptable and the company had breached their agreement, the council shot into immediate action and with no further ado, did absolutely nothing.

Avatar
Ryder | 2 years ago
4 likes

(Warning: Flippant response follows)

Councils taking cycling trends into account with this it seems.  I mean gravel riding is all the rage.

Avatar
Philh68 replied to Ryder | 2 years ago
4 likes

Applying that logic, why are they still paving roads given the popularity of SUV's?

Avatar
Awavey replied to Philh68 | 2 years ago
2 likes

well the state of some roads where it seems increasingly common for the top cms layer of tarmac to disappear once it gets a bit cold, and so its not deep enough to qualify as a pothole for repair, maybe roads are being left for SUVs

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