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Escape lanes on UK ...
 

Escape lanes on UK roads.

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Offline  Ambrose
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I'm sure that theere was a gravel filled escape lane on the A465 near Glyneath BITD. A very quick Google suggests that there are none left in the UK. Has anyone ever had cause to need or use one?

Five up in a Fiat Panda coming down from Bwlch yr Groes from Bala it would have been useful. Likewise coming down the Col du Telegraph in the world's worst Fiat Punto laden with camping, biking and kayaking gear.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 10:58 pm
Offline  jambourgie
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Some near Bakewell I think.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:02 pm
Offline  allyharp
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I had to use one on my road bike once. On the 25% Lynmouth Hill descent in Devon, after boiling my (Sram) brakes whilst carrying heavy panniers full of camping gear.
That was 2015 or so. Can't confirm if it's still there.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:07 pm
Offline  GlennQuagmire
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A169 in North Yorkshire heading down from Fylingdales moor into Sleights has one.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:07 pm
Offline  aka_Gilo
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Quite a few on the steep descents on Exmoor, Porlock Hill and Contisbury Hill for two.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:09 pm
Offline  theotherjonv
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IIRC there used to be one on the A217 (Reigate hill) and another on the M5 maybe - when my Nan and Grandad lived nr Plymouth we used to regularly go down for weekends and I vaguely remember one on the way.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:09 pm
Offline  jeffl
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Sort of one here in High Wycombe
24 A404
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jDXAyhgyYNPQbNrF6

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:10 pm
Offline  jamiemcf
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Berriedale brae

https://flic.kr/p/2oiAzow

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:11 pm

Online  wheelsonfire1
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On The A6 Taddington, installed after a Coach crash in 1978.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:15 pm
Offline  Retromud
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Theres a second one on the A9 just north of Berriedale mentioned above - on the descent northbound to Dunbeath.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:16 pm
Offline  fazzini
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There's one westbound on the A69 just outside of Brampton

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:23 pm
Offline  Ambrose
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Yay, good to know. I'm near Plymouth at the moment, I'll keep my eyes open.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:25 pm
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One dropping down towards Burnley from Rossendale - the gravel runoff is there but it's not signposted anymore.

Thread of the week?

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:31 pm
Offline  hightensionline
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There's a soft escape bed on the A46 heading towards Bath. It was gravel, but it was covered in grass/weeds last time I went past.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:31 pm
Offline  mashr
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Haul Rd down to Coulport still has one. Several inside Coulport itself. The Haul Rd heading to Faslane also used to have one but it’s just been left to nature now (interesting given the traffic on that road)

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:34 pm
Offline  Ambrose
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"There’s a soft escape bed on the A46 heading towards Bath. It was gravel, but it was covered in grass/weeds last time I went past."

Now you mention it- yup, I think I've seen it in the last two/ three years.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:43 pm

Offline  jambourgie
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Posted : 23/02/2023 11:44 pm
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Online  martinhutch
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A59 down past Beamsley to the Bolton Abbey roundabout still has one, I think.

 
Posted : 23/02/2023 11:57 pm
Offline  hot_fiat
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There’s one on Whickham bank in Gateshead. I drove past it today thinking “it’d be an absolute arse to end up in there”.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 12:17 am
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Offline  robertajobb
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Definitely a couple on the A6 between Buxton and Bakewell. Inpass them from time to time both in the car and on the push bike.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 12:28 am
Offline  reeksy
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Posted : 24/02/2023 12:47 am
Offline  CountZero
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Here’s the A46 one dropping down into Batheaston:

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 12:49 am
Offline  dyna-ti
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Theres one on the big ring road that leads into the port of Dover. I think its because its a ring on an incline and used by trucks coming into the port, so in case of brake failure.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/51%C2%B00 7'34.3%22N+1%C2%B019'37.7%22E/@51.1263002,1.3269139,57m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d51.1261944!4d1.3271389

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 12:49 am
Offline  phil5556
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One here still 🙂

https://maps.app.goo.gl/by6fcW3vHosoX2Uy7?g_st=ic

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 12:52 am

Offline  Ambrose
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Magic stuff, cheers.

Maybe I could somehow make a map of them. Dunno why, but maybe it's doable.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 1:26 am
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Offline  reluctantjumper
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See plenty of them on my travels with work, most are poorly maintained though so look like just a clearing. A lot are on roads that have had weight limits put in them to negate the need for them, the Tumble between Blaenavon and Govilon has one by the hairpin from when it was a HGV route but it's now got a 7.5t limit so it's been left abandoned is one example. There's also a brand new one on the Heads of the Valley road on the new dualling of Clydach Gorge too.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 4:46 am
Offline  squirrelking
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One on the A66 on the westbound slip down to the A685 at Brough.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 5:37 am
Offline  lister
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There’s one in Pembroke. Installed after a squaddie driving a tank transporter had to crash into several trees, breaking his legs, to avoid smashing into a community centre.
I think some oil tankers (wheeled not floaty!) have had near misses there too.
Bottom of the B4319.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 5:57 am
Offline  leffeboy
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Maybe I could somehow make a map of them. Dunno why, but maybe it’s doable

Try looking at them in OpenStreetMap and then seeing how they have been tagged.  If they have all been tagged the same then you can probably create something using uMap (i I haven't used it, i used to use mkgmap but that was for Garmins)

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 6:03 am
Online  Bear
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Yup the one in Dover is still there, three in Folkestone too I think, two on roundabouts as you enter the top of the town from Capel and Hawkinge and one on Capel hill itself

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 6:05 am
Offline  timba
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A52 at Froghall, just NE of the B5053. Needs weeding

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 6:09 am
Offline  nickjb
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Not in the UK, but there's a massive gravel trap as part of the 24 hour circuit just south of Le Mans on the D140. Been used quite a few times.

[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 6:17 am

Online  oldnick
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@nickjb 🎼now that's what I call an escape lane/gravel trap🎶

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:30 am
Offline  bensales
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There’s one on the A44 Fish Hill as you come down towards Broadway. Pretty overgrown these days but it is signed.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:35 am
Online  winston2005
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Crawleyside Bank in Stanhope Weardale has a couple. Site of a tragic coach crash (walked past the memorial plaque last weekend)
Also on the B6309 at Ebchester.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:45 am
Offline  spooky_b329
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My nearest one is turning into a small forest, can't remember if it had been bushwhacked last time I went past.

I wonder if the maintenance has been passed to local councils as it would be easily missed if you were in trouble.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:50 am
Offline  richardkennerley
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B6478
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xzkQ86MgS4vYQugD9

Waddington fell, forest of bowland

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:51 am
Offline  wooobob
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If you're going to map them, maybe you could do it whilst visiting each by some novel means, perhaps by bicycle, and broadcasting your adventures on youtube. Then publish a plush coffee table photo book, followed by a series of calendars, an appearance on The One Show, fame, wealth and glory.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:52 am
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Offline  leegee
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A20 near Brands Hatch is the first one that comes to mind.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:53 am
Offline  lister
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Ride across them all on a fat bike?

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:53 am
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Offline  peteimpreza
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A419 / Cowcombe Hill into Stroud.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:53 am
Offline  qwerty
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We have one one the A419 as you drop into the 5 valleys from Cirencester at the bottom of Cowcombe Hill, it's overgrown but definitely there. Never seen it in use.

They may be a left over relic from overheating drum brakes in HGVs and the like?

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:57 am
Offline  crazy-legs
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[url= https://www.google.com/maps/ @53.5419274,-1.5820442,3a,75y,79h,78.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOnlOsp6o5gyOaHep0_S6zg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192]A628, Barnsley Road[/url]

It's a long descent off the moor heading east just before you come into a small village with some narrow roads. Used to be quite overgrown then a few years ago they did a thorough job of tidying it all up. It's well signed from about 1 mile back!

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 7:57 am
Offline  verses
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There's one between Foxholes and Scarborough on Willerby Hill. I passed it at the speed of light last year, clinging on to my drops for dear life! My frame had started shaking like mad as I came down the hill, how I stayed on the bike, I'll never know...

B1249
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xx5zmwmjGx53conMA

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 8:02 am
Offline  kayak23
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Fish Hill, Broadway still has one.
Can get a good lick on down there.
Quite good going up too on the motorcycle.

 
Posted : 24/02/2023 8:07 am
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