North Yorkshire's bid for money from the third tranche of the Active
Travel Fund (ATF3) has failed. What are the likely reasons behind the
DfT's decision to send the cash elsewhere?
The Malton to Pickering Cycle route was only launched on 9th May
2022, so I may be one of the first people to test it out. It's a
pleasant ride between two charming Yorkshire market towns.
Active Travel England has swung into action - sort of. On Saturday,
there was a semi-announcement of the ATF3 allocations, and some
effective advocacy by Chris Boardman.
Drivers are cutting back on car trips because of high petrol and
diesel prices. Will people take to two wheels instead, and what impact
will electric cars have?
This is a fantastic ride in the Yorkshire Wolds, an
under-appreciated but beautiful area to cycle in. The ride starts and
finishes in Stamford Bridge.
There are plenty of sharp climbs to keep it interesting, but they are
only short because the hills are not very high. There are also some
flat roads around Driffield and Hutton Cranswick, in the middle of the
ride.
There's a possibility that HS2 access roads could be turned into
high-quality walking and cycling paths. What would be Benefit-Cost
Ratio of the paths be compared to the railway?
This is Stage 15 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire. It's an
easy, family-friendly ride on the trackbed of the old Great Central
Railway, and it takes you to the edge of the Peak District.
What do the local elections that took place on 5th May 2022 mean for
cycling in Harrogate? I don't know, but I think I've written an
informative article on the subject anyway.
The National Planning Policy Framework says that housing developments
should give priority to active travel, but does Persimmon's King Edwin
Park estate in Harrogate do that?
I noticed someone's interpretation of this crossing facility and
cycle path today. If the designer expects you to do something daft and
inconvenient, do you do it, or do you ignore them?
This circular road cycling route starts in Harrogate, and heads up
to Pateley Bridge then Lofthouse. It climbs the Côte de Lofthouse,
which featured on the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire, then returns via
Grewelthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard, Galphay, Studley Royal and Ripley to
Harrogate. It's on quiet, country roads, features beautiful scenery,
and there's the challenge of a steep ascent.
This circular road cycling route starts in Grassington, and heads
north up Wharfedale then Littondale to Halton Gill. It climbs to
Malham Tarn, then returns via Malham, Kirkby Malham, Airton, Hetton,
and Cracoe to Malham. The roads are quiet, and the ride takes in
lanes lined with dry stone walls, open fells, and villages of
limestone-built houses, as well as views of Malham Cove.
The best and most popular cycleway in Harrogate, the Nidderdale
Greenway goes about 4 miles to Ripley, using the trackbed of a
disused railway. It opened in May 2013.
Our guide to the bike trail on Yorkshire Water's land at Fewston
reservoir, through the Beecroft Plantation and Timble woods. Read
about the Fewston,
Beecroft,
& Timble woods bike trail.
It's quite terrifying cycling on the A170 near the White Horse, but
since North Yorkshire haven't provided any cycle infrastructure,
that's what you have to do.
When cycling in and around York, you come across disused railways -
some of them now bike paths, and others gradually fading into
invisibility. I thought it could be interesting to map out the old
railways around York.
York's new Local Transport Strategy is starting to emerge, but there
is a contradiction at the heart of it - between the stated objectives
and the projects and policies.
This mountain bike ride is simple and quite short, but very
enjoyable.
It takes you north west from Poppleton, on a path on the right bank
of the Ouse, to the confluence of the Ouse and the Nidd, then back
via Moor Monkton on farm tracks.
This is a 69-mile road bike ride, starting and finishing in York. It
takes in Ampleforth, the Howardian Hills, Castle Howard, Malton, and
Kirkham Priory.
Stage 3 of the 2022 Tour de France is a 182km flat stage from Vejle
to Sønderborg. Historic sights along the way include the Jelling
Stones. The race is likely to end in a bunch sprint.
Stage 4 of the 2022 Tour de France is a 172km hilly stage from
Dunkirk to Calais. It goes via Saint Omer to the Opal Coast. Windy
conditions on the coast, plus climbs at the Cap Griz-Nez and Cap
Blanc-Nez, could be decisive.
Paris's Plan Vélo for the next 5 years includes 180km of
new segregated cycle tracks, and a wealth of other good ideas too,
showing a real commitment to promoting cycling.
You only have to give way twice over the 18km of the Rijnwaalpad
Cycle Highway between Arnhem and Nijmegen. People like the smooth
ride with no stops. How do the UK's cycle links between towns
compare?
The Hudson Way uses the trackbed of the old Market Weighton to
Beverley railway line. It goes through pleasant Yorkshire Wolds
farmland, and the destination is the interesting and historic market
town of Beverley. Since the railway no longer exists, you'll have to
pedal back again!
A new Hedgehog Guide to the Cinder Track cycle route, along the old
railway from Scarborough to Whitby, with full-colour (!) photos,
including lots of Yorkshire sunshine. This 21.5 mile route has
beautiful views, and there's wonderful wildlife along the way, for
example house martins and swallows at Ravenscar. Read about the Scarborough to Whitby
Cinder Track.
There's a great cycle route from the centre of York to
Beningbrough, partly on tarmacked path by the river Ouse, and partly
on quiet roads. It ends up at Beningbrough Hall, an C18th National
Trust property (where cyclists are entitled to a free cup of tea).
Read the Hedgehog
guide to the York to Beningbrough cycle route.
The latest in Hedgehog's Sustrans Slow Tour of
Yorkshire series, Stage 6 is a nice ride on quiet back roads
from Settle to Clapham. There's just enough hill-age to make it
interesting, and there are plenty of options for a cup of tea or a
pint of beer.
A mountain bike ride in upper Nidderdale - from Lofthouse to
Scarhouse reservoir, and back via Middlesmoor. It's an enjoyable ride
in the countryside, with great views along the way.
