M
Murk
Guest
Although I live only four miles from the Forth road bridge I had never cycled over it, never had the
need, but I thought I'd try it a couple of weeks ago. Decided to do the loop, ie over the Forth road
bridge, down the Fife coast and back over the Kincardine bridge.
My main concern (in terms of quality of design, rather than safety - I hate being treated as a
second class citizen because I cycle) was the transition from the 12 lane wide approach road at the
bridge tolls to joining the cycleway over the bridge, and returning to the road after the bridge. It
turned out to be no problem at all and the provision for cyclists and pedestrians over the bridge is
pretty good, not merely an afterthought, but what are all those 15mph speed limit signs about?
My planned journey down the coast seemed to coincide with a marked cycle way, which unfortunately
led me onto a dirt track section of several hundred yards which was barely passable on a road bike.
Otherwise the route was good, on quiet roads all the way into Kincardine, rejoining the main road
only a hundred yards before the Kincardine bridge. Now things took a turn for the worse.
About forty yards before the bridge is a sign, effectively commanding cyclists to leave the road (I
forget the exact wording) and use the footway. This sign is immediately followed by a 30mph limit
sign which is in force over the bridge. Though suspicious, I acquiesced. My suspicions were
confirmed, the footway over the bridge is extremely narrow, no passing is possible for pedestrians
or cyclists, but worse was to come.
Once over the bridge the footpath continues for about a hundred yards then just stops. There is
nothing to suggest a means for rejoining the road, not even a lowered kerb. Meanwhile, the 30mph
limit over the bridge has been lifted. So, you are left with the choice of dropping off the kerb
into the path of a relentless flow of rapidly accelerating traffic, or dismounting and lowering
the bike onto the road and then rejoining said traffic flow from a standing start. I opted for
the latter.
If I choose to repeat this route, I have no intention of leaving the road. I won't be much below the
speed limit, so I *shouldn't* cause any delay to traffic, however, I'm sure the aforementioned sign
will provoke a sense of moral outrage (or worse) in the motorists, that I should dare to use *their*
exclusive space.
Does anyone cycle this bridge regularly, and if so, how do they choose to negotiate it? Are there
similar problems with bridges elsewhere?
M
need, but I thought I'd try it a couple of weeks ago. Decided to do the loop, ie over the Forth road
bridge, down the Fife coast and back over the Kincardine bridge.
My main concern (in terms of quality of design, rather than safety - I hate being treated as a
second class citizen because I cycle) was the transition from the 12 lane wide approach road at the
bridge tolls to joining the cycleway over the bridge, and returning to the road after the bridge. It
turned out to be no problem at all and the provision for cyclists and pedestrians over the bridge is
pretty good, not merely an afterthought, but what are all those 15mph speed limit signs about?
My planned journey down the coast seemed to coincide with a marked cycle way, which unfortunately
led me onto a dirt track section of several hundred yards which was barely passable on a road bike.
Otherwise the route was good, on quiet roads all the way into Kincardine, rejoining the main road
only a hundred yards before the Kincardine bridge. Now things took a turn for the worse.
About forty yards before the bridge is a sign, effectively commanding cyclists to leave the road (I
forget the exact wording) and use the footway. This sign is immediately followed by a 30mph limit
sign which is in force over the bridge. Though suspicious, I acquiesced. My suspicions were
confirmed, the footway over the bridge is extremely narrow, no passing is possible for pedestrians
or cyclists, but worse was to come.
Once over the bridge the footpath continues for about a hundred yards then just stops. There is
nothing to suggest a means for rejoining the road, not even a lowered kerb. Meanwhile, the 30mph
limit over the bridge has been lifted. So, you are left with the choice of dropping off the kerb
into the path of a relentless flow of rapidly accelerating traffic, or dismounting and lowering
the bike onto the road and then rejoining said traffic flow from a standing start. I opted for
the latter.
If I choose to repeat this route, I have no intention of leaving the road. I won't be much below the
speed limit, so I *shouldn't* cause any delay to traffic, however, I'm sure the aforementioned sign
will provoke a sense of moral outrage (or worse) in the motorists, that I should dare to use *their*
exclusive space.
Does anyone cycle this bridge regularly, and if so, how do they choose to negotiate it? Are there
similar problems with bridges elsewhere?
M