A30 in central Cornwall

[Mike Sales]

Why aren't cyclists allowed on the A30. It's not a motorway.

It is quite a few years since I was there, but I remember the dualling of the A55 between Conwy and Bangor.
Round the headlands of Penmaenmawr and Penmaenbach the road was a single carriageway through tunnels, and cyclists shared it.
New tunnels were bored to make a continuous dual carriageway and cyclists were banned and routed on to a much older, superceded road.
It seemed odd that we were evicted from a much more spacious road, than the previous confined route.
especially since our new route involved crossing both carriageways a short distance from the tunnel exit.
As I remember this was the only non-motorway road that we were banned from.

[ChrisF]

I'm still unsure about the idea of having no provision at all for some vehicles to get from A to B. Whether it makes sense to close the new road to non-motorised traffic is one question. But whether it should even be legal to do that when there is no alternative for more than half a year is another.

Fortunately, I don't live anywhere near Cornwall...

There is an alternative route - it's just very badly signposted, and involves both a mile of off-road gravel/mud, and two very dangerous roundabouts. And, as I mentioned up thread, nobody seems able to say what plans are in place to solve these issues- even though they're due to be solved in 6 months.

[ChrisF]

Update 23 July 2024

I have checked this out again today and it's a bit better now - you can use a few more bits of the old A30. Suggested route is shown here https://cycle.travel/by/chris/a30july24 which is only a couple of miles further than it will be along the A30 .
For the eastern end of this section, if you really need to do a fast LeJog, you can ride on the existing dual carriageway from Carland Cross to Penhale (and all the way to Exeter if you want!)

[ymfb]

Has the project been completed with the cycle routes fully open ?

[pwa]

I was driving along the A30 a few weeks ago, and even if it were allowed, you really would not want to be on that on a bicycle. It has a motorway feel about it, which means many drivers will not be using whatever degree of caution they can normally muster for roads that might have cyclists, horses and slow tractors. And it isn't flat, so it doesn't even have the attraction of being a particularly fast route. Being prohibited from it really is no loss. It wasn't an asset in the first place. Even in the late 1980s I avoided using that road for a LEJOG. It was bad even then.

[ChrisF]

Has the project been completed with the cycle routes fully open ?

No, not quite yet, sorry. I have asked numerous times about how the cycle paths will work around tehy major junctions but haven't received any satisfactory reply. It's due to be finished mid-summer ..... but then it was due to be all finished last year....
Probably still best to use the route I posted here last July.

[ChrisF]

I was driving along the A30 a few weeks ago, and even if it were allowed, you really would not want to be on that on a bicycle. It has a motorway feel about it, which means many drivers will not be using whatever degree of caution they can normally muster for roads that might have cyclists, horses and slow tractors. And it isn't flat, so it doesn't even have the attraction of being a particularly fast route. Being prohibited from it really is no loss. It wasn't an asset in the first place. Even in the late 1980s I avoided using that road for a LEJOG. It was bad even then.

No, you aren't allowed to ride on the new road. This thread is about resurrecting the old A30 to ride on, which you still can't do.

[pwa]

I was driving along the A30 a few weeks ago, and even if it were allowed, you really would not want to be on that on a bicycle. It has a motorway feel about it, which means many drivers will not be using whatever degree of caution they can normally muster for roads that might have cyclists, horses and slow tractors. And it isn't flat, so it doesn't even have the attraction of being a particularly fast route. Being prohibited from it really is no loss. It wasn't an asset in the first place. Even in the late 1980s I avoided using that road for a LEJOG. It was bad even then.

No, you aren't allowed to ride on the new road. This thread is about resurrecting the old A30 to ride on, which you still can't do.

Ah right, so that had a ban on it too and it hasn't been lifted? Thanks for that clarification Chris.

[ChrisF]

Has the project been completed with the cycle routes fully open ?

No, not quite yet, sorry. I have asked numerous times about how the cycle paths will work around tehy major junctions but haven't received any satisfactory reply. It's due to be finished mid-summer ..... but then it was due to be all finished last year....
Probably still best to use the route I posted here last July.

I had a meeting this week with one of the site engineers (liaison officer). The completion date for the new routes (both North/South connectivity and links around the new roundabouts on the E-W route) is now 'November' - well that's what's pinned up on a board in their office. "Don't take any notice of that" I was advised.....

Even when it's all finished, it isn't going to be very pleasant. The 'Old' A30 is still pretty busy, and I was advised that it will probably have a 50mph speed limit.
So you're probably best sticking to the route I posted 12 months ago.

[drossall]

In UK law, a highway allows users (of whatever reasonable type) to travel "without let or hindrance". Where the road itself is a hindrance, could it be said that the relevant authority has failed to create a highway, and therefore has not fulfilled the mission of a highway authority?

[Jeremy Bond]

Personally, I think the old A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross will be fine for those doing the E2E. The road between Chiverton and Chybucca is yet to open, so a detour on the A3075 and B3284 will get you onto the old A30. Going East, at Carland, I diverted onto the country lanes to get me to Mitchell, and then it's lanes next to the A30, all the way to Indian Queens. I have been on a lot worst roads than this. These are just my personal thoughts.

[ymfb]

I keep dipping into this thread as we are starting to plan our 2026 LEJOG, I see MickF hasn’t been active since May, but ChrisF has recommended MickF route of July 2024 is the best solution until the cycle routes are finished.

I may get a chance to ride this section in October and was hoping I could see it in more detail, does anyone have it on Strava or a.gpx or anything other than the screenshots which I’m struggling with, probably because I don’t know that area of Cornwall well.

Thanks in advance

[ChrisF]

I keep dipping into this thread as we are starting to plan our 2026 LEJOG, I see MickF hasn’t been active since May, but ChrisF has recommended MickF route of July 2024 is the best solution until the cycle routes are finished.

I may get a chance to ride this section in October and was hoping I could see it in more detail, does anyone have it on Strava or a.gpx or anything other than the screenshots which I’m struggling with, probably because I don’t know that area of Cornwall well.

Thanks in advance

Sorry for late reply; I have been away for a couple of weeks. I'm planning to ride up to the A20 later this week and report on the current situation. I'm hopeful that it's all going to be OK, and if so I'll post a new GPX.

[ymfb]

I keep dipping into this thread as we are starting to plan our 2026 LEJOG, I see MickF hasn’t been active since May, but ChrisF has recommended MickF route of July 2024 is the best solution until the cycle routes are finished.

I may get a chance to ride this section in October and was hoping I could see it in more detail, does anyone have it on Strava or a.gpx or anything other than the screenshots which I’m struggling with, probably because I don’t know that area of Cornwall well.

Thanks in advance

Sorry for late reply; I have been away for a couple of weeks. I'm planning to ride up to the A20 later this week and report on the current situation. I'm hopeful that it's all going to be OK, and if so I'll post a new GPX.

Many thanks

[ChrisF]

I cycled up to the A30 again today and, sadly, a 3-mile section of the old A30 (northeast of Chiverton roundabout) is still not open, I don't know why, it's been finished for ages (I've even cycled along it although not allowed to).

Still, I don't suppose anyone is planning to do a LEJOG now until the spring. Watch this space for any updates. I'll also try to keep OpenStreetMap updated as changes occur.