Loughborough and District Cycle Users' Campaign

LA Cycling Assessment based on notes by Tim Birkinshaw

These comments are largely based on new and changed cycle routes around Loughborough, the major urban centre in Leicestershire

Leics CC took over as highway authority for Loughborough (from Charnwood BC) only 15 months ago.

Epinal Way Extension (A6004)

Opened July 2004. Superficially an improvement to NCN6 (replacing dog-legged "muggers' paradise" route), but has major design faults. NCN6 crosses a very busy minor road, 4m short of Shelthorpe roundabout 'on the level'; while a Pelican is provided 10m away. A Toucan crosses one arm of the road, but leads to no cycle path! Many conflicting cycle/pedestrian spots here. No cycle facilities were provided on the arm that leads into the centre of Loughborough (a cycle fatality occurred here 3 weeks ago). NCN6 passes between a car lay-by and busy shops. There are numerous right-angle bends on the route. The main part of the facility is a shared pedestrian cycle path (contrary to council's own strategy), 4m wide in the urban area (dual carriageway), and 3.4m on the rural stretch (single carriageway). A shared foot/cycle path, 3m wide, leads to the new housing development that funded the road. Unfinished but looks as if it just fades into the road where the houses start. The main Shelthorpe roundabout has just been re-laned as it was so poorly laid out. It may still not be safe for cycles in anything but the lightest traffic Minimal sign posting. Non-shared areas are not colour-coded or marked leading to pedestrian/cycle conflicts.

Shared foot/cyclepath (3m wide?) leading from new Toucan on Epinal Way through new estate, including 2 raised table crossings. One arm leads to over-grown footpath <1m wide which links to overgrown cycle/foot path. No signs; I am assuming this is a cycle route!

This cuts across the Epinal Way Cycle path, and was widened last summer to incorporate two exit lanes and a central refuge. The previously excellent kerbs are now 2cm bumps, while the central refuge, shared with pedestrians, is less than a bike's length wide, and so potentially dangerous. This may be the university's work but county have done nothing to ensure safety or compliance.

Speed bumps and tables have led to increased hazards for cyclists due to erratic behaviour of many motorists (cutting in then slowing down for the next hump, going wrong side of bollard). Cycles are forced into kerb-side strip, which is often poorly maintained, or with sunked grates. Humps and tables can be difficult to see at night due to poor markings and contrasts. Mini-roundabouts should we hate them?

Poor cycle access (I had to walk my bike up the steps - narrow ramp is alternative, and came out through the underground car park)

Poor. CBC trimmed the grassed edges of the cyclepaths every spring when it was Highway authority; this did not happened with LCC this year. Pyracantha hedges along Epinal Way (NCN6) have reduced the width of the shared foot/cyclepath to less than safe passing width; requests to have them trimmed have fallen on deaf ears. Other cycle routes (e.g. Woodbrook path) are becoming overgrown. Nothing has been done to improve the inferior quality of paths inherited from Charnwood

Shelthorpe Roundabout looking SW. NCN6 runs behind Toucan - a point of conflict with pedestrians on narrow path (2 metres).

Shelthorpe Roundabout looking south. Separate Pelican and "Vulture" (for cyclists) crossing. The unmarked cycle path in the foreground is well used by pedestrians. It was not until the lights were erected that we realised this was the Pelican and not the previous crossing as this was counter intuitive.

Shelthorpe Roundabout looking south east from the same postion as the photo above. Recently changed lane markings are in evidence - sharp right angle bend is evident beyond 2nd half or road. Access to NCN6 from Park Road (to right) is difficult.

Shelthorpe Roundabout looking south east along Ling Road (A6004) towards Quorn. Unusually quiet scene (4pm Saturday holiday week). Cycle path cuts through busy pavement. The anti ram raid bollards in front of the Newsagents further narrows the space.

The Pelican crossing to the left was originally inserted in scheme due to pressure on local politicians who insisted that a crossing be added over riding the Highway engineers objections. Exit from parking/service road is out of sight in foreground. Speed is nominally 30mph for this short stretch.

Shelthorpe Roundabout looking north east across A6004 Toucan (SK536182). No signs, no cycle paths.

Ling Road ( Map Ref. SK537181). General view looking north west towards Shelthorpe roundabout. 4 metre shared use path with limited signage. Toucan crossing incorporated into traffic lights. This route is now the shortest to senior school (in the next village) for many children in South Loughborough.

Woodthorpe Roundabout looking south east (SK544177). Single carriageway stretch of road with 3.4 metre shared path. One of the 4 right angle bends that need to be negotiated by my bike. This junction requires a 180 degree head turn to see all traffic.

Access road to new Grange Park estate (SK542176). 3 metre wide shared path on brand new road. Disappears into road behind camera.

Forest Road looking south east (SK531189) to find that we are being led up the garden path! (Most cyclists go right with the traffic flow.

Forest Road/Woodbrook Way looking north west (SK531189). This is not strictly speaking new but is our most glaringly ludicrous cycle route feature - installed by Charnwood Borough Council and left unchanged by Leicestershire County Council.

The cycle route (on road, unmarked on dual carriage way) comes from the left, turns 180 degrees onto the pavement (0.1metre radius?) for a 90 degree turn right past the sign. Most people access the pavement at the entrance where the previously dropped kerb was removed "for safety reasons".

The reverse route is nearly as bad - 2 right angles and 135 degree head twist (to come towards the camera). The footpath is quite busy particularly with students on bicycles.

Woodbrook Path between Forest Road, Ingle Pingle and Leisure Centre (SK533191). Overgrown foot (left) /cycle (right) path. Hedge is hawthorn with stream to left.

Emmanuel Way cycle/foot path (SK533185) from A6004 Epinal Way. No sign. Path to Toucan is only 1metre wide dog-leg.

Epinal Way A6004 looking south east (SK533184).Showing overgrowth of joint cycle/foot path. Nominal 3 metres but now less than 2 metres in places.

Hedge is Pyrocanthe (Fire Horn) with long strands hanging loose bearing 2-3cm spikes.