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NEWARK NOTES from the Secretary

May 2004 - More Cyclepathology

Bob Chadwick's piece on cycle paths in the last Cyclonda struck a chord with me, as I'm sure it did for many. (hey, we could get a correspondence column going here). Of course, many of these are designed with the best of intentions, and their instigators should be commended for trying to make life better for us, even if sometimes the results leave something to be desired. But just as many give the impression that they were put there so that the council can achieve its targets. And we all know motorists who believe that the purpose of these things is to get us out of their way. (We don't pay road tax - Ed)

My pet hate is those facilities, usually converted from pedestrian ones, featuring frequent sharp bends, ramps, oh, and a good measure of 'give way' lines. Add signing which can't be seen until you've passed it - if it's there at all - and you've a sure recipe for frustration. The things often end up like something from "It's a Knockout" (sharp left, up the ramp, duo a U-turn, zigzag round the trees, wait for the traffic to pass, another U-turn and so on. All you need are the contestants dressed as Dutch milkmaids with two bucketsful of ping-pong balls on a yoke on their backs to complete the illusion.) Sure, these might be making the best of what's available, and may provide a way round a tricky situation on the road, but more often than not, I for one find staying on the road a lot less hassle.

Here in Newark, there's good news and bad news on the cycle path front. Good news in that the delayed extension of the disused railway path to Cotham is now open. As I write this it's not properly surfaced, though I'm told that will be done shortly, but the barriers are down and people are using it.

I thought I had more good news in that work on the path alongside the A1 between North Muskham and Cromwell had been started. Whilst along the A1 may not seem the best place for a cycle track, it's a lot better than riding along the carriageway. (Trust me, I've done it many times..) The alternative to the one-mile dash is a lengthy diversion over the steep Norwell Hill, a mere nuisance for us stalwarts of the CTC, but greatly increasing the distance for those living in the villages along the old Great North Road who are the ones who've been asking for this path.

Anyway, we'd understood that the path had been approved but wouldn't be built until the next phase of re-surfacing the main road, so I was quite surprised in March to see workmen constructing what they confirmed to me was the cycle path. Now we have a nice stretch of fine tarmac, complete with the obligatory 'give way' markings, another pet gripe, at every gap in the hedge (entrance to farm fields! ed), for about two thirds of the way! The remaining third, we're told, won't be built until the next re-surfacing - in 2006. What was that record that was no.1 over Christmas? And once again, the tax-paying public sees two thirds of a good facility ending in the middle of nowhere, which does nothing to dispel the widely held misconception that cycle paths are an expensive exercise in political correctness.

I can hear you all asking "But have Newark section actually got out of the pub and done any cycling recently?" Well, after waxing lyrical about winter riding in my last piece, rain and strong winds meant that I had an opportunity to catch up on the housework for the next two Sundays. The Saturday rides fared little better those weeks but, as ever, still enjoy greater popularity than Sundays.

Plans for a Youth Hostel weekend in June are going well, after a false start when it was found that the preferred destination, Beverley, was full. (A fairly common problem from Geoff's troubles finding a hostel for the DA weekend, it seems. We've now booked a car (or van) assisted run to Scarborough instead. Hopefully, the others, who know that neck of the woods better than me, will come up with some flat routes in the area.

Mike Graham

Page updated 18/05/04