New Campus Cycle Path

Morning all,

Re. the part of the path between the car park and Icknield Way: Apart from the muddy bit in the dip, my perception is that the surface is now worse to cycle on than it was before they started work. Previously, it wasn’t in great condition but you could pick a reasonably smooth line through it. Now it’s like a washboard with patches of large loose stones on it. Anyone else agree/disagree?

Steve West

I completely agree with you Steve, it is now really uneven with big loose stones poking up. I would have expected them to grade the dip to provide some drainage but it was already starting to pool this morning.
My thoughts on the new piece of cycle track is that it will get used by less than 10% of cyclists as it has tight bends and drops back right into the traffic line and is not wide enough to pass side by side. (anyone know if this was Campus Facilities or OCC?)
Cheers
Andy

A washboard surface is a good description! It might bed in in time of course but there might have been some way of hurrying it along via a roller or a vibrating plate. Oh well…

The other thing missing is that the strip of tarmac pavement that they have put in along the side the short stretch of one way road which is intended to provide a contraflow doesn’t work because they haven’t put in a drop curb so you can access it. I am not going to attempt to bunny hop up the curb when I habitually have two panniers full of camping kit. I cycle the wrong way on the one way instead.

Hi Steve,

I wanted to write a similar post but couldn’t figure out how and given up. I quite agree with you, the path may smoothen out on the most ridden line by time but the loose stones will never bed in. Once they are knocked out new potholes will form and we are back to square one.
I seriously wonder why the building of cycling infrastructure, at least in the Wantage direction, are contracted out to companies who have no idea about cycling.
Re path next to car park, I think it is quite useless, at least I have never had any problems cycling the wrong way through there. The new path is so narrow and bendy that it is not comfortable to cycle at normal speed.

Happy cycling,

Tamas

Can I suggest, if you haven’t done so already, to register these issues on the Didcot Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation page:
https://app.placechangers.co.uk/campaign/312/overview