Cycling UK Forum

In a perfect example of how billions are squandered on cars to enable huge profits for property developers, have a look at this new road/bypass/profit_generation scheme:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6npZg8xhsWU

BUT for just a day rumour has it that this will be opened to cyclists and walkers FOR JUST ONE DAY 29-Oct-17 from 10:00am to 16:00pm. Please check this information as I have not yet found confirmation of this cyclist/walking open day.

It looks like the 29th may be happening, but only a 3 mile section.

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/news/2017/10 ... orwich-ndr

I think we're all hoping that this will be one of the last A roads built in Norfolk without proper space for cycling. It has a botched pick-and-mix of provision and detours if you don't want to ride the 70mph dual carriageway:

• Northern arm of the Fakenham Road junction leads to a bridleway on the north side between Fakenham Road and Fir Covert Road, connecting to cycle tracks with "rush-and-pray" low-visibility high-motor-speed "informal" crossing of the FCR roundabout.
• Cycle track on the south side between FCR and Route 1, screened from the road by trees, detour south to cross Route 1 on old Breck Farm Lane bridge (the road gets a new bridge), dumps eastbound riders into oncoming traffic at Reepham Road.
• No provision between Reepham Road and Drayton Lane or between Drayton Lane and Cromer Road - possibly cyclists are expected to use Reepham Road / Holly Lane as a longer detour.
• Cycle track across the Cromer Road junction with rush-and-pray crossings of roundabouts, connecting tracks to Holly Lane, the former Holt Road and New Home Lane.
• No provision between Cromer Road and Airport Roundabout - possibly cyclists are expected to use New Home Lane / West Lane / Church Street / Bullock Hill as a lengthy detour.
• Cycle track from Bullock Hill connecting with service roads, bridleways and former roads along both sides from Airport Roundabout to Buxton Road.
• No provision between Buxton Road and North Walsham Road or between North Walsham Road and Beeston Lane - it appears cyclists are meant to go on a detour along winding old Beeston Lane to avoid this section. When land alongside the NDR is developed (there's a service road on the north side), either they're going to have to provide an expensive retro-fit bridge or some people are doing to jump the central barriers.
• Bridleway along south side between Beeston Lane and Wroxham Road, mostly hidden from the road by an embankment (I think). Equestrian crossing of Wroxham Road.
• Bridleway along south side between Wroxham Road and Newman Track, cycle track between Newman Track and Salhouse Road. Rush-and-pray crossings of roundabout arms.
• No provision between Salhouse Road and Plumstead Road. Possibly cyclists are intended to go on a detour at Newman Track or Salhouse Road northeast to Green Lane and Broad Lane, then join a bridleway at Reeve's Corner on Plumstead Road.
• Bridleway along northeast side between Plumstead Road and Smee Lane, cycle track between Smee Lane and Postwick interchange. Rush-and-pray crossings of the various roundabouts.

I don't think we know which bridleways will be tarmacked, stone or mud yet. I hope the cycle tracks will be tarmac but who knows?

mjr wrote:I think we're all hoping that this will be one of the last A roads built in Norfolk

Yep, quite right - you can stop there actually.

with the tens of thousands of new houses planned along it route and likely business parks/retail too it'll be such a haven for cyclists ... not!

The utility cyclist wrote:with the tens of thousands of new houses planned along it route and likely business parks/retail too it'll be such a haven for cyclists ... not!

Oh for sure, cycling near it will be a transport task. I suspect the parts of the detours using current free-access roads like Reepham Road and Beeston Lane will become distinctly nasty places to cycle as adjacent land is developed, dumping more motorists onto them.

That's why the whole NDR should have had IAN195/16-style cycleways built along it, not only the ends and a bit of the middle. Many of us told them that (most comprehensively NCyC's John Elbro and CTC's Tony Clarke) and we were basically poo-poohed as the thing was rushed through to approval in 2015 - well after Cameron's August 2013 pledge of cycling infrastructure on all future roads, but just before the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges was updated to include the detailed requirements in 2016.

Expect future falls in the Broadland cycling statistics as this makes it more difficult for residents in the nearby villages to cycle to/from Norwich (both Norwich City Council area and the suburbs in the Broadland district).

mjr wrote:.....Many of us told them that (most comprehensively NCyC/CTC's Tony Clarke) and we were basically poo-poohed.....

I remember several years ago (when it was in the planning stage) when I was participating in Norwich CTC that the issue was regularly raised, "frustrations" with the planning were expressed (even anger). People were participating (or trying to participate) in the process, people were writing, etc. and I had the impression they were all being ignored. But I can't remember names of the people involved.

Ian

mjr wrote:...Possibly cyclists are intended to...

...get cars?