So, I have no excuse any more, work have given me a locker.
I live in Cirencester but work near the UWE/MOD/Parkway, so the plan is to park at M4 Jct18 and get on the bike along the B4465 Wapley/Westerleigh Road until it hits the Brizzle ring road, then follow that past Frenchay, under the M32 and into work. It's about 10 miles, so a nice distance.
I often see folks riding across the bridges over the M4 and there's loads of folks using the cyclepath by the ring road, so anyone wish to share any experiences of commuting in that part of town?
Anyone?
I live near Dyrham, just off junction 18 (southbound on the 46) and commute into work (EADS Filton) via bike a few times per week. The drivers on the B-roads are a little careless, but once you're on the cyclepath it's fine.
Be warned, there is ALWAYS a wind coming from the west!
It takes me about 30-40 mins to ride the 11-12 miles into work, depending upon climatic conditions and traffic.
Can't help for commuting but I often ride out of town that way. The cycle path is pretty good but a bit of pain crossing the various roads that turn off the ringroad. I prefer the path that goes past Bristol Parkway, not sure how that links up at your end.
Cheers Daffy. Do you rid in through Pucklechurch then? That would be my other option.
I was wondering about the cars on the B-roads, I imagine that they're a bit of a commuter rat-run
Yes, through PC, and yes, it's used as a rat-run by those heading east out of west-Bristol.
Fairly narrow roads with cars doing 60+mph in either direction isn't good. You just have to be well lit and rather selfish wrt positioning.
[EDIT] I lived in Leeds for 5 years and the souther lakes for a year.
In Leeds I was commuting 5 miles per day in congested trafic and got through 5 years without problems. In cumbria I was commuting 30 miles per day and again had no issues. Here in Bristol, I've been knocked off twice (both times on the B roads) and I've been here less than a year. [EDIT]
I know the roads very well.
You want to park on the little road heading towards Tormarton and not in the big lay by (cars have been known to get tickets there). You could probably park in Codrington (a little further on the Wapley rd towards the ring road) and be OK too. The Wapley rd isn't lit really well so make sure you have a powerful light and wear high viz, a number of people cycle to and from the Sainsburys depot and the slaughterhouse along the road so it's generally OK. As soon as you hit the ring road, there's dedicated cycle lanes all the way down to the MOD.
The Wapley road is a BRILLIANT way to hit the M4 and I use it whenever I head east but it's never usually massively busy, I certainly wouldn't suggest going through Pucklechurch to avoid it.
Hey Daffy, Dyrhams nice aint it? We looked at a place there quite recently.
[i]I've been knocked off twice (both times on the B roads) and I've been here less than a year. [/i]
Eek. That puts me off somewhat...
Mate that road is horrible for cyclists at the best of times. But the commuting periods are very busy with lots of HGV traffic.
I would not even entertain using the A46 on a bike at peak times though. That road is lethal in a car!
By Pucklechurch being my other option I meant to park up south of the M4 and ride in through/from somewhere like Hinton. Wouldn't want to ride on the A46.
My main worry is the commuter traffic on the Wapley/Westerleigh road, especially as the GF is thinking of doing it too and she's not the most traffic savvy...
Can't I stick the van outside your place Pete? You can even have a brew ready for me 🙂
Van yes, brew no.
That would be OK, you might find you have to drive into Hinton to park the car though.
I go round the ring road cycle path from UWE, then the A432 from the Willy Wicket roundabout out to Yate as the Eastern half of my commute. The cycle path is pretty good - a few pinch points, and can get very busy with bikes, pedestrians and the occasional horse, but OK.
I would echo comments about Westerleigh Rd + A46..... in fact a lot of the roads further out can be narrow and pretty quick in a car, so choose your route well.....
The hill down into Hinton is a fun. Back up, not so much...
I wouldn't commute along Wapley Road, it's not that it gets that busy, but it's a quick road and pretty narrow and with the fuel depot by the M4, it gets a lot of HGV's along it. My partner runs his business from an industrial estate on Wapley Road (by the A46 jcn), I know it well, and would never cycle along it.
However I do commute from the Warmley area to UWE (by bike and car), luckliy for me the Bristol/Bath cycle path practically runs past my house and I can link to the ring road path to get me to work. The cycle path is a great way to commute.
I'm liking the thought of my proposed route less and less...
What would the A432 from Chipping Sodbury be like bikey-commute wise?
The A432 would be a better option, I know it has a dedicated cycle lane along some of it. It's a slower road as it goes through Coalpit Heath, much safer for cycling.
[url= http://www.betterbybike.info/cycle-maps ]http://www.betterbybike.info/cycle-maps[/url]
Have a look at the South Glos maps there. The 'South Glos Rural' one might be of some help. The back roads in the area you want are rat runs at commute times and get some big traffic on them. Realistically you are only looking at the last 4 or 5 miles relatively safely on a bike and most of that is the ring road cycle path, which would mean you parking around where Westerleigh Rd hits the ring road and riding from there.
Good luck riding through yate. Pucklechurch still the best option IMHO
What would the A432 from Chipping Sodbury be like bikey-commute wise?
Not too bad, quite wide, 30 mph limit through Coalpit Heath and cyle lanes for most for most of the rest of it though. Do watch out for the staggered 4-cross-way by the Kendleshire golf course - real accident blackspot. Only been hit from behind by an HGV once there in 10+years, but once is enough! 😉
