6 ms·

How significant can these routes be given that they were lost?

ZenoArrow 9y ago
As was mentioned in the audio clip, the usefulness of the routes depends on the surrounding cycle network. Since these cycle paths were built, the cycle network in the UK has grown, so some of the routes could prove more immediately useful now than they were in the 1930s. To give you an idea of the scale of the current UK cycle network: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map
- mrob 9y ago
  That's a misleading map. The majority of NCN routes are just ordinary roads. Just because somebody put a few signs up doesn't make them safer than other similar roads. They're often narrow, overgrown at the sides, and full of potholes. In most cases I'd rather cycle in urban areas. At least there the traffic is slower and more predictable. And the off-road routes are frequently impassible for all but mountain bikes because of mud.
  - maxerickson 9y ago
    Don't miss http://cycle.travel/ http://cycle.travel/ which uses OpenStreetMap data to build bike friendly routes (accounting for surfaces and traffic and hills and so on). Made by HN user Doctor_Fegg.
    - zepn 9y ago
      That's fantastic, thanks for the link. I particularly like the idea of suggesting cycle-friendly circular routes, when you have no destination in mind.
    - zczc 9y ago
      Or similar osm-based http://www.bbbike.org/ http://www.bbbike.org/ with more international coverage
      - Doctor_Fegg 9y ago
        They do different things - bbbike is for route-planning within select cities, cycle.travel aims to do whole-country networks so you can ask for (say) NYC to SF and get a route back in seconds.
algesten 9y ago
I think there is also a revive of cycling as transport. Stockholm have seen a sharp rise in cycle commuters the last few years. As people become more aware of both health and environmental issues, the tendency to choose the bike increase.
maxerickson 9y ago
Knowing that they exist can be helpful in opening the routes back up for use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_W...

As was mentioned in the audio clip, the usefulness of the routes depends on the surrounding cycle network. Since these cycle paths were built, the cycle network in the UK has grown, so some of the routes could prove more immediately useful now than they were in the 1930s. To give you an idea of the scale of the current UK cycle network: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map

mrob 9y ago
That's a misleading map. The majority of NCN routes are just ordinary roads. Just because somebody put a few signs up doesn't make them safer than other similar roads. They're often narrow, overgrown at the sides, and full of potholes. In most cases I'd rather cycle in urban areas. At least there the traffic is slower and more predictable. And the off-road routes are frequently impassible for all but mountain bikes because of mud.
- maxerickson 9y ago
  Don't miss http://cycle.travel/ http://cycle.travel/ which uses OpenStreetMap data to build bike friendly routes (accounting for surfaces and traffic and hills and so on). Made by HN user Doctor_Fegg.
  - zepn 9y ago
    That's fantastic, thanks for the link. I particularly like the idea of suggesting cycle-friendly circular routes, when you have no destination in mind.
  - zczc 9y ago
    Or similar osm-based http://www.bbbike.org/ http://www.bbbike.org/ with more international coverage
    - Doctor_Fegg 9y ago
      They do different things - bbbike is for route-planning within select cities, cycle.travel aims to do whole-country networks so you can ask for (say) NYC to SF and get a route back in seconds.

algesten 9y ago

I think there is also a revive of cycling as transport. Stockholm have seen a sharp rise in cycle commuters the last few years. As people become more aware of both health and environmental issues, the tendency to choose the bike increase.

maxerickson 9y ago

Knowing that they exist can be helpful in opening the routes back up for use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_W...