Hamble Lane: Review of Cycle Facilities

Hamble Lane stretches from Bursledon Village out to Hamble Village itself, and is near enough Southampton than many think it is actually IN Southampton. Its a windy, snakey road where in the past a couple of cyclists met their fate and the local council decided it would be best to put cyclists on the pavements and call them "Shared Facilities"

Duh duh duhhhh...!

The very fact of the matter is that these cyclists were hit at night whilst inadequately lit up. Effectively Ninja-Cyclists iirc. Having said that the road is a 40mph zone and many drivers WILL speed along here, sometimes up to 70mph, as there is often no-one around to stop them. I have ridden this road on cycle in the past and witnessed driver's roadrage (despite the law and the fact I was doing 30mph, something you cant do on a shared path).

One of the things that pisses me off about this facility is the sheer amount of times you're told to dismount. There really is no need. What should be put in place is a series of Give Way signs instead. Another thing that annoys me is the paint on the ground has worn in several places so you are unsure exactly if you're riding on the shared path or not at times.

Initial entry to the path is confusing for those who have rode the bike up Portsmouth road. There are no signs, and you assume the crossing ahead on the right and down a slight sideroad is for pedestrians only. If you're local to the area you will no doubt know it well, and I can only advise that cyclists who are out for a day in unfamiliar surroundings research their routes to make life easier.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• cycle
• cycling
• cyclist
• shared
• facility
• facilities
• path
• paths
• road
• hamble
• lane
• southampton
• uk
• bursledon
• village
• review
• pavement
• worn
• paint
• sign
• signage

[zonkieskattie]

There are a number of factors to be aware of on this road - it's the busiest B road in the country, with shift workers arriving at 5am. 85%ile of road traffic is breaking the speed limit, there are two schools, 300 + tanker movements a day alone and some fat vehicles with motor cruisers on them. There's a humpback bridge that must be walked, then stay left on the cycle path until the railway tracks after that the choice is 2 wide paths. Riding on the road will just obstruct the traffic. Enjoy.

[downfader2]

@zonkieskattie I'm not convinced its the busiest B Road by a long stretch. The A27 runs nearby and most traffic appears to use that in my experience. I do completely agree that the motor traffic equasion is quite frightening for many. This route for most traffic is a loop back on itself.

Of course cyclists have to be seen as "traffic" or else we endorse pavement cycling. ;-P

[SURFHERO1]

How did you mount the camera? The footage is very smooth.

[downfader2]

Its a rubber block and velcro sometimes called twofish lockblock. They can be bought from Dogcam Sports and Action Cameras. You velcro one end to handlebars or where ever and the other end goes around the bullet cam

[SURFHERO1]

This path is impossible at school time. You have to use the road.

[downfader2]

Yeah kind of guessed that due to the college around the corner from Hamble Lane. I think theres a school out that way too.

[zonkieskattie]

Hamble Lane is known as the B3397, To be frank, with that heavy goods traffic, most of whom are unable to safely overtake you, you'd do best to stay off the road and on the cycle paths, including the new one northbound out of Hamble.

[ssr1234rss]

making up your own rules to suit you again i see

[downfader2]

technically yes, or "positive instruction" as the HC puts it. Still personally think that a proper "cyclists give way" sign would have been better as it avoids confusion.

:-)

[405sta]

Those "Cyclist Dismount" signs.

They are reccommendatory, not mandatory.