UK and Europe · Public discussion

High Barnet to St Albans

dannyfrankszzz · 2004-04-16T17:25:16+00:00

The route I'm talking about is High Barnet, Elstree, Watling Street up to St Albans, and then across to Hatfield, Potters Bar, and back to High Barnet. I often cycle this route as it's quite a good distance, quite pleasant, and nice and straight in places to build up some good speed. When I was cycling the route last weekend, and I came up to the roundabout where the M10, Watling Street and A414 all intersect, I noticed a "Cycling forbidden" sign on the exit from the roundabout on the continuation of Watling Street up to St Albans. I found this odd because the sign was on the exit to the roundabout. I was just wondering if there might have been any recent accidents involving cyclists in this area that would have prompted the local authorities to put a sign up such as this. Thanks.

Started by dannyfrankszzz · 16 April 2004 · Last activity 29 April 2004 · 11 posts · 864 views

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01 / Original postHigh Barnet to St Albansdannyfrankszzz · 16 Apr 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11Zaphod · 29 Apr 2004

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 16 April 2004
Last activity: 29 April 2004
Original author: dannyfrankszzz
Posts: 11
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 864
Views / 30 days: 0

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Original post
dannyfrankszzz
Archived post

16 April 2004, 17:25 UTC #1

The route I'm talking about is High Barnet, Elstree, Watling Street up to St Albans, and then across to Hatfield, Potters Bar, and back to High Barnet.
I often cycle this route as it's quite a good distance, quite pleasant, and nice and straight in places to build up some good speed.
When I was cycling the route last weekend, and I came up to the roundabout where the M10, Watling Street and A414 all intersect, I noticed a "Cycling forbidden" sign on the exit from the roundabout on the continuation of Watling Street up to St Albans.
I found this odd because the sign was on the exit to the roundabout.
I was just wondering if there might have been any recent accidents involving cyclists in this area that would have prompted the local authorities to put a sign up such as this.
Thanks.

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

16 April 2004, 20:07 UTC #2

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:26:03 GMT, dannyfrankszzz
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:
Quoted message said:
When I was cycling the route last weekend, and I came up to
the roundabout where the M10, Watling Street and A414 all
intersect, I noticed a "Cycling forbidden" sign on the exit
from the roundabout on the continuation of Watling Street
up to St Albans.
Scene of my most serious prang. No idea when the sign went
up, didn't see it last week, but there used to be a very
short track from the Hatfield side of that exit, which takes
you to Coningsby Bank, turn left onto Watling View, which
runs up the hill to Vesta Avenue parallel to Watling Street.
No doubt the "cycling forbidden" bit is to stop those
pesky cyclists from slowing down the Almighty Car as it
grinds up the hill.
Quoted message said:
I found this odd because the sign was on the exit to the
roundabout.
/To/ the roundabout? That roundabout is a complete bugger,
due to clueless half-blind attention deficient tossers in
cars - obviously the only sane thing is to leave them being
clueless etc. etc. and restrict the movement of their
victims. Anyone for night curfews for women to curb rape?
Quoted message said:
I was just wondering if there might have been any recent
accidents involving cyclists in this area that would
have prompted the local authorities to put a sign up
such as this.
Mine were all years ago ;-)
--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

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Richard Bullock
Archived post

19 April 2004, 18:13 UTC #3

Might this be to do with the M10's re-classification as
an A-road??
The M10 had its special road status revoked in January (so
it is no-longer a motorway), as far as I can tell - although
the Statutory Instrument which revoked the special road
order is a little vague.
legislation.hmso.gov.uk20033339.htm
It is now part of the A414 Trunk Road - but still has
certain restrictions imposed on it - like no cycling, no
agricultural vehicles etc. Maybe the sign was indended for
this road?
Richard

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Zaphod
Archived post

20 April 2004, 12:07 UTC #4

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:26:03 GMT, dannyfrankszzz <usenet-
[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:
Quoted message said:
When I was cycling the route last weekend, and I came up
to the roundabout where the M10, Watling Street and A414
all intersect, I noticed a "Cycling forbidden" sign on
the exit from the roundabout on the continuation of
Watling Street up to St Albans.
Scene of my most serious prang. No idea when the sign
went up, didn't see it last week, but there used to be a
very short track from the Hatfield side of that exit,
which takes you to Coningsby Bank, turn left onto Watling
View, which runs up the hill to Vesta Avenue parallel to
Watling Street.
No doubt the "cycling forbidden" bit is to stop those
pesky cyclists from slowing down the Almighty Car as it
grinds up the hill.
Quoted message said:
I found this odd because the sign was on the exit to the
roundabout.
/To/ the roundabout? That roundabout is a complete
bugger, due to clueless half-blind attention deficient
tossers in cars - obviously the only sane thing is to
leave them being clueless etc. etc. and restrict the
movement of their victims. Anyone for night curfews for
women to curb rape?
Quoted message said:
I was just wondering if there might have been any recent
accidents involving cyclists in this area that would
have prompted the local authorities to put a sign up
such as this.

xposted to uk.local.hertfordshire 'cos it's a local group
for local people ;+)
WTF? I didn't realise there were any 'cycling forbidden'
roads (ie not motorways) in St Albans. St Julian's Hill
(which is the road referred to here) isn't particularly bike
friendly- and the roundabout is certainly challenging- but
that's no reason to ban bikes.
z

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

20 April 2004, 12:23 UTC #5

zaphod said:
St Julian's Hill (which is the road referred to here)
isn't particularly bike friendly- and the roundabout is
certainly challenging
Shurely Marlborough Hill? ;-)
(showing my age)
--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

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Zaphod
Archived post

21 April 2004, 12:42 UTC #6

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
zaphod said:
St Julian's Hill (which is the road referred to here)
isn't particularly bike friendly- and the roundabout is
certainly challenging
Shurely Marlborough Hill? ;-)
(showing my age)

Really? OS map shows it as St Julians.
z (feeling my age after sprinting *far* too hard up the hill
on the way to work.) No...not *that* hill.
z

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

21 April 2004, 13:00 UTC #7

zaphod said:
Quoted message said:
Shurely Marlborough Hill? ;-)

Really? OS map shows it as St Julians.
Do try to keep up at the back!
St Julian's School was "rebranded" to Marlborough in the
early 80s (from memory) in a largely successful attempt to
kill off its terrible reputation.
--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

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Peter Lawrence
Archived post

22 April 2004, 16:00 UTC #8

On 20 Apr 2004 04:50:23 -0700, [email hidden] (zaphod)
Quoted message said:
"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:26:03 GMT, dannyfrankszzz <usenet-
[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:
Quoted message said:
When I was cycling the route last weekend, and I came up
to the roundabout where the M10, Watling Street and A414
all intersect, I noticed a "Cycling forbidden" sign on
the exit from the roundabout on the continuation of
Watling Street up to St Albans.
No! It is a triangular sign so is just a warning to watch
out for cyclists.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Scene of my most serious prang. No idea when the sign
went up, didn't see it last week, but there used to be a
very short track from the Hatfield side of that exit,
which takes you to Coningsby Bank, turn left onto Watling
View, which runs up the hill to Vesta Avenue parallel to
Watling Street.
Still there.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
No doubt the "cycling forbidden" bit is to stop those
pesky cyclists from slowing down the Almighty Car as it
grinds up the hill.
(see below)
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I found this odd because the sign was on the exit to the
roundabout.
/To/ the roundabout? That roundabout is a complete bugger
(snipped)
Mosts motorists would agree! However there is a cycle way
underpass for those following Watling Street. Presumably the
OP missed this?
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I was just wondering if there might have been any recent
accidents involving cyclists in this area that would
have prompted the local authorities to put a sign up
such as this.
Likely. The said underpass/cycle way officially ends here
with a hair-raising right turn across Watling Street just
north of the roundabout exit - a piece of design which the
County Council should be ashamed of. They could easily sign
the cycle way as continuing via Coningsby Bank as someone
has metioned, or extend it to join the Watling Street
service road a little further North. Presumably only
strangers go the offical way!
Quoted message said:

xposted to uk.local.hertfordshire 'cos it's a local group
for local people ;+)

HTH
Quoted message said:
WTF? I didn't realise there were any 'cycling forbidden'
roads (ie not motorways) in St Albans. St Julian's Hill
(which is the road referred to here) isn't particularly
bike friendly- and the roundabout is certainly challenging-
but that's no reason to ban bikes.
As explained, no ban here!
--
Peter Lawrence

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R45six
Archived post

24 April 2004, 09:21 UTC #9

Quoted message said:
No! It is a triangular sign so is just a warning to watch
out for cyclists.
Doesn't it depend which way it is up ? It's been a while,
but pointing down's an order, pointing up is a caution ??

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Peter Lawrence
Archived post

24 April 2004, 17:21 UTC #10

R45six said:
Quoted message said:
No! It is a triangular sign so is just a warning to watch
out for cyclists.
Doesn't it depend which way it is up ? It's been a while,
but pointing down's an order, pointing up is a caution ??
Agreed. It is pointing up so its a caution, (The only down
poiting ones I can think of are Stop instructions at
junctions, Most prohibitions are circular.)
--
Peter Lawrence

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Zaphod
Archived post

29 April 2004, 12:01 UTC #11

"Peter Lawrence" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Likely. The said underpass/cycle way officially ends here
with a hair-raising right turn across Watling Street just
north of the roundabout exit - a piece of design which the
County Council should be ashamed of. They could easily
sign the cycle way as continuing via Coningsby Bank as
someone has metioned, or extend it to join the Watling
Street service road a little further North.
..but this would involve Herts Highways partnership/St
Albans district council having
a> an incling of a clue about how to design cycle facilities
a> worth the
name and
b> enough vision to realise that they need to link said
b> farcilities
with each other to create a contiguous network. and
don't forget
c> half a brain.
z

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