The first stage of a cycle route from Barnet Wood Lane to Therfield School is in place.

A proposal to upgrade Linden Pit Path to provide a cycle route from Ashtead to Leatherhead is being worked on.

A proposal for a cycle path from the western end of Craddocks Avenue (Ashtead) to the Epsom boundary has the support of the Local Committee.

Completion work is under way. For the latest news see under Dorking Jumps on the Head For The Hills website.

The site: Located on gently south-facing sloping ground to the west of West Dorking Station the site comprises rough unmade ground with immature tree scrub across the top, and a few isolated immature trees and young saplings elsewhere. Although soil conditions are not ideal this location on the edge of town, close to stations and easily accessible from the town centre, has considerable potential and is acceptable to local BMX riders and mountain bikers. The site will feature six "freestyle" runs plus a 280m race track.

For further information contact Chris Turner (BMX club) 01306-884203, mob 07834-810469, James Hill (site engineer) or John Meudell (MVCF lead) 01306-640264 (change ' at ' to '@' in e-mail addresses).

The route from Brockham (via the Old Coach Road) to Dorking (Deepdene Avenue) has undergone minor improvements.

The Surrey Safe Routes to Schools (SSRS) initiative is about improving the journey to school experience for those who are not driven to school, and to enhance conditions so that some of those who currently go by car will choose another form which causes less pollution, causes fewer traffic problems and makes the roads safer.

It is part of the national Safe Routes to Schools initiative which supports projects throughout the UK. These projects enable and encourage children to cycle and walk to school by improving street design, calming traffic, creating traffic-free spaces and linking with the National Cycle Network.

The SSRS website has information about progress in Surrey including information on individual schools. Included on the website are some school travel statistics. Data collection appears to have patchy and unsystematic over the years, with at least 18 different survey methods under two or three different initiatives. As a result comparative data is patchy and variable quality. Individual school questionnaires seem to be more helpful, particularly when it comes to identifying issues, but the actual questions do seem to vary between schools and districts. Most notably there's some quite solid data from Surrey Heath, with a consistent methodology being employed over a number of years. Rather interestingly none of the three districts identified in the Interim LTP2 for cycle development have much in the way of good data before 2004....! We have pulled the statistics together into an Excel spreadsheet for download (also available as a zip file), which also has links to individual school travel surveys and travel plans. The SCC co-ordinator is David Sharpington.

In conjunction with SSRS we developed proposals for a route from the centre of Dorking to Ashcombe School, but this scheme is moribund at present.

The Local Transport Plan 2001/2002 committed Surrey County Council to progressing cross-district projects, with the emphasis on completing the National Cycle Network (NCN) in Surrey and developing links to it. NCN route 22, being developed, runs east-west across the county, crossing Mole Valley and providing links to Guildford and Epsom. Although much of the route is signed, the route between Dorking to Westcott, which potentially provides a much-needed safe route, remains undefined.

A highway improvement scheme is to be developed for the A24 Capel to Horsham. The proposal is for a wide single carriageway of total width 10.5 metres, with two-one metre strips. This would allow for a two-lane carriageway in one direction, and one lane in the opposite direction. There would be opportunities, probably at roundabouts and the like, to switch the direction of the two lanes.

The desire of long distance cyclists to stay on the A24 needs to be recognised and connections at either end of the new scheme need careful consideration, especially at the Great Daux (Horsham) roundabout (existing markings are not helpful). The one metre margins would be suitable for cyclists, providing they are swept regularly. The type of markings on the edge of the carriageway is under discussion. Rumble strips would be preferred by recreational cyclists, whilst plain white lines would be the choice of racers and long-distance cyclists. Shared use paths are not a favoured option.

The design of roundabouts for cyclists is generally unsatisfactory; two lane entry is more difficult to negotiate and, similarly, pedestrian crossing points on a two lane width carriageway can also be difficult. The Marches (Capel) roundabout is potentially very useful to cyclists and needs careful consideration. Because of the link to the A29, it is likely to experience additional traffic.

If you wish to comment on this scheme, contact us and we will forward your comments.

Cycle training courses are mostly organised through schools, both state and independent. They are open to all children aged between 10 and 13 years (i.e. before their 14th birthday) - ROSPA guidelines restrict the age. Above this age, you can get advice on an individual basis from the Cycle Training Co-ordinator, Jane Siegle on 020 8541 7111.

See also the Highway Code - Rules for Cyclists.

Next time you are in a car, look at the cyclists you pass. The ones that stand out a mile are in bright clothes, and have reflectors or reflective material on themselves and the bike. And they always have lights at night.

So:
 

Wear a bright jacket or reflective stripe and a helmet Fit reflectors on bike, panniers, pedals, wheels, etc. Always use lights at night, most experienced cyclists have 2 rear lights, "just in case". Ride on the road Keep away from kerb, don't hug the gutter and the drains