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[url= http://www.sustrans.org.uk/shop/search?query=poster%2Bmap&sort_by=search_api_relevance&sort_order=DESC ]http://www.sustrans.org.uk/shop/search?query=poster%2Bmap&sort_by=search_api_relevance&sort_order=DESC[/url]
Albeit with £1.50 postage, useful for a cycling cave or cycling club or school.
Each one is double sided with the whole country on one side and the specified area on the other.
I love sustrans maps - the complete disconnect between some lines on a bit of paper and actual infrastructure on the ground that's fit for cycling on gets me every time.
I suspect they are some form of elaborate hoax.
I agree.
NCN 55 runs near me and they have sent it up an old railway line, which is fine, till it just ends where the original bridge was taken down.
It then involves a hike a bike up some steps to the canal. Don't mention the app they brought out. Following that it goes along an old railway which is in a cutting 6ft deep in water.
In reality, the signed route is 2 miles away running through a housing estate that like something off shameless.
Whilst I support Sustrans ethics, I think they need to spend more time actually studying the routes.
I love Sustrans, yeah the routes sometimes don't follow on too well on the less used ones but they are a charity and only have so many funds to work with.
I think what they do is make the route to start with and sign it up even though some bits aren't ideal or incomplete, hoping that they can improve sections later on when local councils/businesses can help out with funds - they've got to show people want to use it first.
I always buy their maps and add on a little extra to donate to them. I've done the Kennet and Avon canal route and the original C2C route and thought they were excellent.
You think Sustrans is bollocks, you should check out EuroVelo. Half the routes aren't even started, let alone finished.
Route 55 is near me. I decided to go check out the route to Stafford. I got to Gnosall via the road and I don't know if I missed a sign or something, as by the chippy and bmx jumps, the only way I could see was to Newport.
Is this a conversation about Sustrans or thier Maps ??
Well I started planning routes suggested by them early last year for both CX'er and Roadie. So far I've been reasonably impressed with the routes.
What I do find a little odd is that a route like NCN2 is broken in quite a few places, if you didn't/don't know the area where it's broken it could be a pain. So I tend to plan the route, check the map, trace the route onto Gamrin Connect and fill in the blanks. That at least gets me someway towards where I'm going/want to go to.
What I do like though is a lot of the routes cross each other, means planning a route can be really easy to do...
However I'd not follow a route without first planning it on a GPX file and follow it from there.
And that's another thing, GPX files of the routes.. Why not make them available ?? So what I also do is scour Strava/Garmin Connect for the route I'd like to do and search for routes with NCN in the title. Obvs this means I miss out on loads as people don't always log thier routes as "NCN.. Blah blah" but at least I get some of them.
Take your point about going through some rather odd areas or routes clearly that could be diverted along a much nice/simpler path/road but hey.. We do rely on voluntary input here don't we, and they're not all cyclists who help out either.
I've ordered those free maps as I know I'll use them and added a donation too.
OP- thanks! I've just ordered the North East one and stuck a fiver on too 😀
It's not exactly unknown for signs to be missing due to vandalism (not all of it my neds either). If you have suggested improvements please pass them on via the website. It's not possible to patrol the whole network regularly.
Anyway, here's what I was doing on Saturday afternoon
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7633/16903793247_7863449a79_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7633/16903793247_7863449a79_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rKJmPa ]P1010973[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/16488690394_1ce358f0b6_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/16488690394_1ce358f0b6_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r83Rcq ]P1010978[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/16903626027_f8f5857d67_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/16903626027_f8f5857d67_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rKHv74 ]P1010987[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
Pretending to be a policeman?
That's my "commuting" helmet. Very good in town.....
I would imagine so!
Nice one Scotroutes! Pretty nice place to be doing that work though, very jealous!
Oh and watch those signs that are attached to street lights by a clamp, kids just love turning them the other way around 😕
As a volunteer ranger for Sustrans , i attend numerous map giveaway days locally, report missing or damaged signs, and re apply new sticky signs, some of the routes are a bit weird as to where they go, and met many cyclists who want deviate off the route even though i show them shorter routes to the same place on quiet roads.
Lots of the metal signs are now fixed onto square posts, to stop the sign being twirled round.
A classic route is route 62 at Widnes steps numeropus steps and restrictors stop you riding down the steps and also stop wheel chairs and trailers and tandem cyclists getting down or up the steep bank
Another Sustrans Volunteer Ranger here.
Yes, the NCN isn't perfect. I think anyone working with Sustrans would acknowledge that, but it's a charity and most of the work is done by unpaid volunteers who do they best they can.
In other words, don't moan, help!
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/volunteer
You are right GrahamS, I've just looked on the sustrans site and they are asking for volunteers for Hampshire..
I have offered my services 😀
Good man! That's made my day. 😀
Charities don't need to be sh*t though, far better to reduce your scope but do it well. NCN 1 sent you down one of the scariest roads I've ever ridden and even if you looked at the map it wasn't the best way. Thankfully in the last year or two it has been corrected, but I do wonder if the routes are ever ridden or just plotted off a map from the folk in Sustrians HQ.
Monkeychild, at gnosall that route goes over the road and round to the right to rejoin the old railway track. That is one of the best sustrans routes there is, totally traffic free and beautiful to boot.
I too am a volunteer ranger, you get you're own section to look out for. I have a bit of greenway near newcastle under lyme, delightful! The work sustrans do is outstanding, can't believe people are moaning! The resource of national cycle routes is a great one to have and using the map you can easily work out where the traffic free bits are. I'd hazard a guess that the C2C is one of the most cycled longer routes in the country.
I do wonder if the routes are ever ridden or just plotted off a map from the folk in Sustrians HQ.
They try to have Rangers assigned to routes so that they ride them regularly, report issues and can correct anything that they have permission to.
But coverage will vary. My own route is part of Hadrian's Cycleway and C2C (NCN72) so it is ridden by thousands of people a year. Other more remote routes will be less well covered and resourced.
What section of the NCN1 was it dragon? The routes [i]should[/i] avoid scary roads and generally try to be completely traffic-free or use quiet back roads.
If a route concerns you then it is definitely worth contacting your local Sustrans branch and giving them some feedback. They will most likely be keen cyclists themselves and will listen to what you say.
Cheers for that. My post wasn't a moan BTW! I think what Sustrans do is good. I was just a tad confused as the sign only pointed to the left. The old railway line was awesome and I will be using it for family rides.