The Winnaway Is Now Open

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The County Council have confirmed that the Winnaway is now open for use. However there will still be a works crew there for a couple of weeks, completing the verge and other minor works. There may be some disruption and at times you may have to wait for machiney to move out of the way.

This is welcome good news. The new path and extension to the A4185 crossing has been built to a good standard.

 

As you may be aware, the works were originally delayed whilst the Council tried to get an agreement with the landowners to convert the legal status to a bridleway. This did not happen, so currently the Winnaway remains a footpath. This should not affect us as we have been cycling along the path for over 50 years and we don’t intend to stop now.

It is not illegal to cycle along a public footpath (as opposed to a footway which runs generally along the side of a road), however the landowner, and only the landowner, could ask you to dismount your cycle and could bring a civil case of trespass. It is worth noting that apart from the where the path runs past the three houses at the top, all other landowners were OK about changing the path to a bridleway.  For more information please see the following CTC web pages: cycling-on-footpath-trespass and briefings – public-footpaths

It is also worth noting that the upgrade project was funded specifically to improve cycle access to the Harwell Campus.

The path now allows you to cycle a lot faster, especially down the hill. Please slow down and be courteous to other users of the path when passing, give them a cheery thanks. Use your bell to let other users know you are there. As a cyclists you are obliged to give way to pedestrians and horses on Bridleways (although it is not a Bridleway we should act as though it is). For more information about passing horses, always tricky, see the following British Horse Society web page: BHS – Cycles

The section alongside the A4185 is officially designated as a shared use path but watch out for pedestrians when passing the bus stop.

If you do get challenged by anybody about cycling on the path, politely explain that the funding was to improve cycle links and let HarBUG know of any issues.

Enjoy cycling on the Winnaway.

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    • January 31, 2016 at 9:25 pm #2836
      admin
      Member

      Good news. There will still be works going on for a couple of weeks but the path is open.
      More information in the post.

      [See the full post at: The Winnaway Is Now Open]

    • February 1, 2016 at 1:32 pm #2837
      NP
      Member

      I came across the path this morning so thought I’d post the video of the section so people could have a look. The surface is good (no flint in sight) and the path is a nice width at the top of the hill.

      On the hill, the kerb drop to the road is quite high and the path is pretty narrow so I’d be tempted to use the road going downhill at busier periods. There is probably enough space for 2 bikes to pass carefully but pedestrians and dogs would be more of a challenge. The path appears to give way to side roads so if you’re going to wing down the hill then again the road is probably the better option.

      On the flat part of the path at the top the mud at the sides is already over the height of the path. I can see it getting muddy on the top if they don’t reduce the height of the verge a bit. Still a big improvement on what was there before.

    • February 1, 2016 at 1:56 pm #2838
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      I take it the surface is not designed to puncture?

    • February 1, 2016 at 2:00 pm #2839
      NP
      Member

      No problems from my perspective, I didn’t get a puncture (but I am using durano+ tyres). There certainly aren’t stone chippings everywhere and I saw no sign of any flint.

    • February 2, 2016 at 9:15 am #2840
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Sorry to break it to you guys, but this is what Puncture Alley looked like for about a month – it was left like this (really, very nice, smooth tarmac) for about 4 weeks before the surprise further visit from the contractors who then put flint all over it…

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