Chris Boardman's stirring views on Utrecht

What will it take for Britain to be more like the Netherlands?

So, there I was, sitting on my sofa, watching ITV 4's highlights report about the Tour de France 2015 on its first rest day (Monday, July 13).
I'm not sure what I was expecting to watch - it was a rest day after all - but it definitely wasn't cycling champion Chris Boardman's inspiring report about cycling in the Dutch city of Utrecht.
It's not the first time Boardman has flagged up the progressive attitude towards cycling in the Netherlands. Not much more than a month ago, he shared a link on his Twitter feed to a film about cycling in Groningen. (To watch it, click here) More recently, he has shared a link another link about cycling in Utrecht (which you can find here).
Boardman's inspiring conclusion to his report for ITV's Tour de France coverage was so stirring, it fired me to leap off my sofa and run to my computer keyboard.
I'll be honest, I've never cycled in the Netherlands. But I do cycle every day to get around my home town of Southend-on-sea, and also in central London where I work most days.
It wasn't that long ago on June 22, 2015 when I turned down a street near the Bank of England in central London on my way to work in Farringdon. Just minutes away, PwC employee Ying Tao lay dying, after being hit by a tipper truck on a notoriously  horrible junction. It was at work later that day that I realised the reason traffic had been so bad that morning was due to this fatal accident. I'd missed it by metres and minutes.
The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) held a protest at the Bank of England crossroads a few days later to commemorate Ying and demanded action. LCC's chief executive Ashok Sinha said a "complete redesign of major junctions to create safe space for cycling" is the first of three steps needed to reduce the road danger faced by cyclists on a daily basis. (Click here for LCC's full report.)
I couldn't help think about this as I watched Chris Boardman talking about the safety of cycling in Utrecht, where hardly anyone wears a cycle helmet and yet the Netherlands has the lowest levels of head injuries among cyclists. Are the Dutch invincible? No, they just have road layouts that put cycling first. And that takes more than a bit of blue paint down the side of a road. Of course, without the proper facilities, who wants to ride a bike in Britain?
In the conclusion to his report, Boardman called on politicians to pull their fingers out and act. Of course, he put it far more powerfully than my crude summary. Boardman said: 

"In my opinion, the people who make big transport spending decisions on our behalf should be obliged to come and spend just a few days here (Utrecht) before deciding what is and what isn't good value for public money. I've spent a couple of days now riding around the streets of Utrecht and I've seen tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of bikes. But I haven't seen a single cyclist. I've just seen normal people in normal clothes doing normal things, dressed for the destination and not the journey. The bicycle is just a simple, fun, inexpensive way to get from A to B. It is a contraption that quite literally has the potential to change the world - if we let it." 

Well said Chris.
It really is time for people to stop dying on the way to work. Something has got to be done about it. And it has got to start right now - not next year, next month or even next week. Otherwise, there'll be another dead cyclist on our streets.
So, who's up for a #millionbikeprotest? Name the date, and I'll be there.

Resources

If you want to watch Chris Boardman's report on Utrecht, click here.

Biker Hack reviews...

Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie

By Andrew P Sykes
Amazon: £8.99 paperback / £1.99 Kindle edition (at time of writing) 

Before going further, may I make a "little" rant about online reviews? (Yes, I'm fully aware of the irony, thank you.)
A common criticism I've found in many is "the author can't spell / it's full of typographical mistakes". 
A furious condemnation then follows that concludes with "it's just not good enough! I paid £X.99 for this!"
The highest standards of professional literacy do not come cheap. And trust me, I know. As a trained journalist, my job is to read other people's written work and correct any mistakes (this is called subbing). Newspapers and magazines, both regional and national publications, are stripping out this tier of their respective workforces as an "unnecessary" expense. 
To me it seems a little rich to castigate a self-published author, working no doubt as a one-man operation, for a few typos in their book when the corporate world is increasingly disinterested in paying for people to provide this service in a professional setting. 
I only mention this to put things into the bigger perspective. Such mistakes are here to stay - and I promise you they are only going to get worse in the professional media industry - so, get over it. Rant over. 
Getting back to the review, by the way, are there typos in Crossing Europe On A Bike Called Reggie? Yes, a few. Do they detract from it? Absolutely not. 
What's important is the account of one man's idle fancy (he was sitting on a sofa watching an Olympic bike race, after all) that is turned into a reality: to cycle from Berkshire to Brindisi. 
For me, the warm and entertaining narrative perfectly depicts the highs and lows that come from completing a seemingly impossible task. 
The premise is simple and effective. A "fat, middle-aged" teacher decides on a whim to turn his lifelong cycling habit into a continental summer holiday. With the minimum of planning, he settles on a route following the Eurovelo 5, which as with all things bureaucratic is more notional in places than an actual reality. Despite the ups (the Alps) and downs (emergency repairs), it all comes right in the end for our narrator and his steed, Reggie the bike.
If you're expecting a technical guide offering a mapped step-by-step route, forget it. There's nothing like that. Think more a memoir of one man's journey into the relative unknown. 
There are some truly heart-warming moments where the kindness of strangers helps to remind us that there are good people still left in the world. 
This book captures that genuine sense of contentment that comes from the simple, physical act of cycling - to get out there, away from it all.
If you're looking for some gentle inspiration to fuel your bike-curious dreams, then reading Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie might just be what you're looking for.

Biker Hack's Savvy Cycle Route Number 2

The smart way to cycle from Southend-on-sea to Leigh-on-sea

Welcome to my Savvy Cycle Route Number 2! 
This is the companion journey to Biker Hack's Savvy Cycle Route Number 1. So why the two routes? Well, thanks to the wonders of one-way road systems, it's not possible to simply reverse the steps detailed in Savvy Cycle Route Number 1 to go from Southend to Leigh. 
However, it only takes a few amendments for someone in the know, such as myself, to guide you without deliberately going the wrong way down one-way streets – and there is no need for decent cyclists to do that. 
There are two starting points for this route: one is at the southern end of Southend High Street and the other is at the northern end – both should be marked by green pins on the map below. 
By the way, I've created this map using Google's My Maps. I'd love to know what you think of it! If you have the time, please let me know via the contact form on this page, or the comment at the bottom of this blog. Ready to roll? Well, let's going then! 

Leaving Southend (south): Stage 1a 

The starting point for this urban bike ride, using quiet, traffic-lite backstreets, is in Southend High Street, near the entrance to the Royals shopping centre. Hopefully, you've enjoyed a coffee in the nearby Utopia coffee shop – well worth a visit! The High Street is pedestrianised. No matter how tempting it looks, please, please don't cycle on the High Street. Elderly pedestrians have been hit by speeding cyclists and killed in the past – so just don't do it! Head away from the entrance to the Royals and next to Tomassi's cafe is the pedestrian entrance to Royal Mews. Within a few metres, a road appears. It's time to ride!

Head straight on, passing between the nice mews properties on your left and (Alexandra Street) car park. The road bears to the right (you have the right of way over the traffic from you're left) before reaching a T-junction with Alexandra Street. Turn left here and head straight on.

There is a gentle uphill slope to the road here. After you pass the Alex pub on your left, a painted cycle lane appears literally in the middle of the road. On your right is bowling green and further along your should hear the sound (and perhaps feel the spray) from the fountain in Prittlewell Gardens. 

Stage 1a: The junction with Runwell Terrace, Southend

Stay alert as the road surface here is pretty rubbish, and so is the cycle lane! It is marked out to suddenly give way at the junction with Runwell Terrace (on your right) so cars can helpfully cut you up as they turn left! It's normally very quiet and no problem, but the wise cyclist keeps a look out for cars at this point. You have been warned. 

After turning right into the tree-lined Runwell Terrace, which incidentally has a contra-flow cycle lane in the opposite direction, the road bends to the left into Cambridge Road. Take the very next right into Milton Place (which has another contra-flow cycle lane). At the T-junction, you technically need to turn left then immediate right at this staggered junction. 

You're crossing a busy road where most traffic, including buses, go in and out of the town centre. Again, there is a cycle lane on the left as you cross the bridge, which you should stick to as you will turn left opposite the Cliff pub. Now you are in Hamlet Road, keep straight on over a couple of speed humps to the junction with Avenue Road. 

Leaving Southend (north): Stage 1b

If you're coming from the northern end of Southend High Street, you'll need a different route to reach this point. 

Starting from just outside the post office in Southend High Street, walk your cycle into Queen's Road, heading past the cycle racks. Once you're on the road proper, get pedalling! 

You will reach a T-junction with a road (Elmer Avenue) stretching from your left and winding in front of you before weaving off to your right. Turn left into Elmer Avenue and head straight on, passing the town's (crypitcally-titled) Forum library on your left. The route you want bears to your right as the road name changes to Gordon Place. 

Keep straight on until the next T-junction and turn left into Ashburnham Road. There shouldn't be any traffic coming from your right (the opposite direction is a one-way street heading away from you at this point). Carry on to the next T-junction and turn right into Hamlet Road. Head  straight on, pass the Cliff pub on your right, until the next T-junction with Avenue Road. 

Avenue Road to Chalkwell Park: Stage 2

After turning into Avenue Road, the route veers off to the left. Heading past an old church, it very quickly reaches another fork in the road. This time take the right fork and follow the road, which bends gently to your right. This section is usually very quiet, but the road surface can be quite patchy in places, especially at the next turning. 

When you reach a crossroads, turn left into Avenue Terrace. There are usually cars parked on both sides of this short two-way street, so stay alert as you cycle over the very patchy surface and a speed hump. When you reach the next T-junction (Avenue Baptist church is on your right), turn right into into Milton Road, which can be busy at times. Take the very next left into St Helen's Road. 

St Helen's Road is a two-way street just at this junction. Once past the car park to the Catholic Church on your left, it becomes one-way. Head straight on. You will reach a give way junction with Preston Road on your left. I've never come across any traffic here, so you can quickly carry straight on into the last two-way section of St Helen's Road. There is a speed table as you approach the next T-junction where you need to turn right into Hamlet Court Road. This street can be quite busy as there are plenty of shops and it's one of the few roads that crosses the c2c railway line further to the south. 

Take the very next left into the nice, flat Anerley Road. Sometimes, cars seem to zip along here, but there are far fewer of them than you would encounter in the heavy traffic a few hundred metres to the north in London Road. 

At the end of Anerley, turn left into Valkyrie Road opposite a redundant church. In Savvy Cycle Route Number 1, I suggested using Finchley Road. Doing that on the return trip can leave you with an awkward right-turn into a busier road. So, this time, I'd head past Finchley and turn right at Genesta Road. There are usually plenty of cars coming uphill from the south of you and turning left into Genesta, so take care! 

Stage 2: The wonderful Imperial Avenue, Westcliff

Keep straight on, passing three side roads on your left, until you reach a wide crossroads. Crowstone St George's United Reformed Church will be opposite on your left. You need to turn right at this junction, which is one of the busier sections, so take it easy. 

Once in Crowstone Road, it heads uphill slightly and the road surface gets rather scrapy again. Keep straight on and take the next left into Imperial Avenue. The road surface is good, nice and wide, and probably the flatest section of the whole route. It's a real pleasure to pedal along here, so enjoy! 

Chalkwell Park to Leigh Road: Stage 3

Stage 3: The entrance to Chalkwell Park's car park

Imperial Avenue ends in a T-junction with Chalkwell Avenue. Despite being a busy main road, it is usually quite easy to cross into the car park of Chalkwell Park. Take it steady here because in fine weather there can be a lot of pedestrians, dog walkers, and cars. Keep straight on until the car park opens out, which is where you need to bear right. Just when it feels as if you looping round to leave, you should see a path in front of you running around the far side of a nature garden and next to a playing field. 

Can you cycle here? Well, in all the time I've cycled through here, I've never had a problem because I slow down to walking pace and go very carefully. If a pet owner's dog bounds up to me (and they do) I'm ready to stop immediately. So make sure you're going at a speed that shows respect for those walking around you. Also, the route through the park is a little patchy in places and there some rather vicious speed bumps. All of which add up to three good reasons for taking it easy here. It's not a racetrack!

Head up the path (there is usally a bollard in the middle of it to deter cars), which bends around to your left. In front of you, on the left, is a circular flowerbed outside a large house in the middle of the park. Go around the flowerbed and bear right, keeping the skatepark on your right. 

As you cycle away from the house, the path narrows under the enormous branches of a wonderful tree at this point, so keep it nice and slow. You should see what is the back of a cricket pavilion in front of you. Follow the path straight on behind the pavilion. You will dip down and pass an algae-covered pool (sorry, wildlife pond). This section is quite rough due to lots of ruts and leaf mulch in the winter. It then heads uphil and this is where to look out for those nasty speed bumps as you pass the fenced-off cricket pitch on your right. Follow the road until you reach the exit from the park at what is the very end of Old Leigh Road. Stay alert as cars will be turning down here from Leigh Road, which is where this route is heading. A little caution on the exit from the park will help you get up to the give way markings where you need to turn left into Leigh Road. 

Leigh Road to central Leigh: Stage 4a

Carry on along Leigh Road, which is the main bus route into central Leigh. You will go over a speed table quickly followed by a a hairpin turn on your left, which is the preferred route for cars between Westcliff and Leigh. Follow the road as it bends to the right just before a zebra crossing, which incorporates another speed table. Head straight on. 

Leigh Road feels narrower from this point on as more cars hunt out parking spaces and pedestrians try to cross the road at what always feels the worst possible place. It's decision time when you eventually reach Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph's Church, which has a bright-blue clockface on its tower. If you want to avoid the main shopping parade of Leigh (and the associated traffic mayhem that can accompany this at peak times), your turn-off is coming up very soon.

As you draw level with Our Lady of Lourdes, the shops peter out on your left and large blocks of flats begin to appear. As you pass the church, just before a zebra crossing, there is a road with no-entry signs. You want the next right after the crossing into unhelpfully-named Chalkwell Park Drive – it's nowhere near Chalkwell Park! 

Head straight on to the next junction and turn left into Pall Mall. There are speed bumps along this road – which slow down the cars nicely – and there is much less traffic than in the Broadway. Head all the way along to the next T-junction, which incorporates a speed table, and turn left into Elm Road. A triangular pedestrian island with zebra crossings on each side heralds you're arrival in central Leigh. If all this cycling has left you feeling hot and tired, you should be just outside my favourite ice cream parlour, Poco Gelato. 

But what if you didn't turn off and cycle down Pall Mall? Well, backtracking slightly, continue along Leigh Road. It bends sharply to the left and passes what was the Grand pub (all boarded up and looking very forlorn at the time I wrote this). You'll pick up a speed as you head downhill where the road bends sharply to the right into the Broadway, Leigh's prime shopping area.

Keep your wits about you as it can get very busy with lots of pedestrians crossing and plenty of cars. Keep straight on along here until you're at St Clement's Church. If you stop just after the zebra crossing outside the church, you will find some handy cycle racks to leave your bike before you sample an ice cream, or perhaps a more substantial lunch and cracking coffee at my favourite Leigh cafe, Barlow and Fields. 

Well done if you managed to follow my directions. As I said, this is a route I cycle all the time to reach the heart of Leigh as is bypasses almost all of the main car-clogged routes and it is practically flat apart from occasional inclines. 

I'd love to know what you think about this route. So please feel free to post a comment below or get in touch via the contact form at the top of this blog. 

The Great Highway Divide

Has anyone got a solution for crossing this car canyon?

Queensway underpass: Great for cars, rubbish for everyone else

I know, I know - long time, no write. Well, I've been busy living and breathing. But, finally, it's blogging time! 
In my defence, I have been out there, cycling the quiet backstreets of Southend, looking for my next Savvy Cycle Route. 
Savvy what? Well, to discover my favourite traffic-lite route between Leigh-on-sea to Southend-on-sea just click here. At the moment, it only offers directions one way, but I am working on the return route - Number 2 - honest! 
Today's blog has actually been inspired by my plans for Savvy Cycle Route Number 3. I've just finished checking it out and I'm happy to share it with the world. 
But before I do, there's one little issue that is worthy of a blog: no-go roads. Let me explain.  
I cycle. A lot. It is my primary transport. And it keeps me fit. (To see past blogs on the benefits of turning a commute into your daily gym routine, click here and here.) 
So I like to think I'm pretty road savvy. But even I find some roads so darn brutal that they become hard to navigate. They can literally turn into a barrier for anyone riding a bike, crushing any clever little route you might be planning to use. One such road in Southend is Queensway. 
For a town that won a stack of EU cash not so long ago to improve it's cycling reputation, this road is a disgrace. It carves its way through the very heart of Southend, splitting the town in two. To get from one side to the other takes nerves of steel. 
The main section of Queensway that worries me most runs from Southend Victoria Rail Station down to the seafront. Outside the station it's wide and very busy, but it is navigable if you keep your wits about you. The problem is this bit of the road is at the end of big funnel that focuses all of the traffic from the A127 into Queensway, and Queensway feeds it towards...a giant car park and the seafront. Of course, this is perfect if you're popping down to Southend for a bit of sun, sand and seaside fun. 
After the station, it quickly turns into an underpass - which is great for the cars - but not for anything made out of flesh and blood, like pedestrians and cyclists. As I hope my photo goes to show, this ugly gash casts a terrible blot on the landscape. 
And thanks to the underpass, there is a huge roundabout above it. Naturally, there is no pavement access around the roundabout - far too dangerous! Pedestrians are expected to use a segregated underpass which snakes down into this vile chasm. Of course, being independent thinkers, many pedestrians don't use the underpass at all, preferring instead to literally run the gauntlet of walking to the town centre on the road with the cars. (If you don't believe me, look it up on Google Street Map!) This is especially so at night. Let's be honest, who wants to descend into a dim underworld full of dark nooks and crannies? Not a single Southend councillor I bet! Or either of our town's MPs. 
Cyclists, of course, are road users and should stick to the surface. But even I find this roundabout pretty alarming - and that is putting it mildly. The cars hurtle around it confident that they have complete command of their surroundings. And they do: it's been built for cars, and and loved by cars. However, this no-go road doesn't stop there. 

Dedicated crossing: The joint pedestrian-bike crossing in Queensway

Queensway now crawls out of its grave and carries on as a nice dual carriageway, right down to the next roundabout, firmly slicing any routes across it in two. Yes, there are pedestrian crossings - and, yes, they are cycle friendly. But even the council has been stumped by this monstrosity. It's solution has been to encourage cyclists to stick to the "shared" pavements. Something I'm not a fan of. (If you want to know why riding on pavements is so damn confusing, click here.)
To be blunt, it is an eyesore and one of the worst barriers to pedestrians and cyclists. 
Unfortunately, this is the legacy we have to live with in Southend, and a lot of Britain, thanks to our car-fixated forefathers. 
The solution? Well, it's not going to get ripped up, is it? 
I'm loathed to admit, but the everyday answer is I just avoid crossing the town at this point - which is a pain as it is usually the most direct route, and the least undulating, from where I live to the east of Southend. 
And that brings me back to my Savvy Cycle Route Number 3. After much soul-searching, I've finally found a neat direct route that I'm happy with. Sadly, it's a cheat - the only underpass that cuts across Queensway quickly and neatly. 
It would be great if the powers that be could create some clean and safe way for cyclists to bridge this barrier. Until then, this underpass is the best solution I can find. 
And where is it? Well, that'll will be the subject of my Savvy Cycle Route Number 3! 

Cycling on the pavement - right or wrong?

Riding on the footpath is not as clear cut as you might think

So a former Ukip parliamentary candidate (read closet Tory) believes cyclists should get off the roads and ride on the pavement?
Lynton Yates summarily lost his chance to be a Ukip MP for Charnwood in Leceistershire when he also hinted at suspending jobless drivers' licences to ease traffic jams. Yeah, right! 

Tempting though it is to dismiss this Leicester county councillor's opinions on cycling as bonkers - and trust me, it is very tempting - what is more intriguing is the way it seems to embody a widespread delusion about cycling on the pavement.
The Highway Code is crystal clear on this. No ifs, no buts, cycling on footpaths is illegal. Not only is it against the law but, I believe, it's also extremely selfish. To pedal past pedestrians at breakneck speed shows a total disregard of their personal space and safety.
Yet many, many cyclists already ignore the law and avoid the roads. OK, some might be lawbreakers, but all cyclists? I don't think so. There is something more to it. 

For example, I know of seasoned cyclists who've admitted to me they ride on the pavement at night when they have no lights. I may, on occasion, have done exactly the same myself. And only last year, former Olympic medal winner and policy adviser for British Cycling Chris Boardman spoke up for parents everywhere when he admitted he was too scared to let his daughter cycle on the road. 

What exactly is going on here? Why do so many of us think cycling on the pavement is the right thing to do? 

I firmly believe part of the answer lies with the ever-evolving cycling infrastructure we have today and the woolly-headed design of a lot of it (see here for an example).
When I gained my Cycling Proficiency certificate at primary school in the Seventies, it was impressed upon me that cycling happened on the road. As I grew up, I don't remember there being cycle lanes segregated from the general traffic, even by a strip of white paint. Or special cycle-friendly crossings or anything else like that. Riding a bike meant having the guts to put up with enormous lumps of metal whizzing past just a few feet to your right. This is why I'm happy to cycle on the road. I'm in control of my fears and it doesn't intimidate me. 

However, today that has all changed. There are many more dedicated cycle lanes (although sometimes it feels they are few and far between). There are contraflow lanes that sanction shortcuts for cyclists (one of which I use that cancels out a no entry sign for cars). And there are the euphemistically named shared cycle paths that invite cyclists and pedestrians to cohabit the same space in a state of blissful harmony.
In my mind, this is where all the confusion lies.
Why is it OK to use a shared cycle path occupied by pedestrians enjoying a gentle stroll but illegal to cycle on the pavement? 

Isn't a shared cycle path just a pavement by another name?

I know the difference is to do with (technobabble alert) traffic regulation orders, which councils use to specify what is permitted where. But does everybody else? Honestly? 

My gut reaction is many people who cycle see a shared cycle path and think, "well, it must be OK to cycle here too". Or they see it as too dangerous to ride on the road and do the next logical thing in their mind and ride on the pavement - thus potentially terrifying (or worse) pedestrians, particularly the young, the elderly and the blind. 

I'm with Chris Boardman on the way forward: proper investment. We need well-designed streets which let cyclists feel they are protected from the traffic, but also facilities that protect pedestrians from cyclists. Will it come? The cynic in me suggests holding our breath could prove to be fatal. 

At the moment, it's not OK to cycle on the pavement in the UK (whatever excuse is offered in defence). But we seem too far down this 'shared' mentality to go back. 

As always, it's down to cyclists to find a solution. Do I cycle on the pavement? Yes. But I cycle at walking pace in anticipation that I must stop and give way to pedestrians. And I'm polite about it, thanking people if they step out of my way. Good manners, after all, cost nothing. I like to think of it as the Biker Hack way! And I know other cycling organisations share the sentiment. National cycling charity Sustrans even has its own suggestion for how cyclists should approach shared paths. 

We all need to get where we're going and there is invariably not enough time to do it. Yet, there is no need for one road-user to intimidate and bully another so that they can go where they want when they want. That includes people like Lynton Yates, who clearly wants cyclists, and the unemployed, to just get out of his way so he can have the road to himself. The public highway isn't just for me or you. It's for everyone and we must learn to share it out of respect and decency to all those around us.  

Biker-Hack's Savvy Cycle Route Number 1

The smart way to cycle from Leigh-on-sea to Southend-on-sea

It's taken a little longer than planned, but here at last is my first Savvy Cycle Route for getting across a part of Southend-on-sea in Essex. 
Anyone hoping for campaigners to suddenly win the battle for more funding (some might say "any") from politicians to improve cycling facilities is in for a long wait. The only real-world option is to get out there and ride. 
I've cycled all of my life and so I have my own strategy for safer cycling in built-up urban areas. Two earlier posts - which can be found here and here - explain this in detail. In a nutshell, I like routes light on traffic, as flat as possible and with a good road surface. 
What I see as my Savvy Cycle Route #1 helps me ride between the centre of Southend-on-sea and the heart of nearby Leigh-on-sea in Essex. It's slightly complicated by a maze of one-way streets in central Southend, so I use two routes - one to the northern end of the High Street and another to the southern end. 
To help make things as clear as possible, I've included some images mapping my suggested route (produced thanks to Google Maps). 
My only other caveat is to stress at the time of posting, I'd checked out the route and that all the streets mentioned can be cycled in the direction I've indicated. If things change, which is entirely possible, you obviously can't hold me responsible! 
But if a street suddenly is changed to permit two-way traffic when I've said it's one-way only, please do let me know. I'll check it out and make amends. Besides, I'd love to get as much comment on this as possible. 

Leaving Leigh: Stage 1

Stage 1: Leaving Leigh for Southend

Starting from outside Leigh Post Office in Rectory Grove, head east - it's the only way to go as it's a one-way street. The road forks left or right at a pedestrian crossing. 

Turning right into Elm Road and then bearing left at the next triangular pedestrian island will take you along the heart of Leigh's thriving shopping centre in Leigh Broadway. 

Keep your wits about you as it can get very busy with lots of pedestrians crossing and plenty of cars hunting for parking spaces. 

It's generally flat and the only uphill section is just after what was the Grand pub where the road bends sharply to the left. At the top of this short incline, the route bends sharply right heading into Leigh Road where you will pass the Broker pub and Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph's Church. 

The alternative, flatter route is to head left at the fork in Elm Road mentioned above and take the next right into Pall Mall. There are speed bumps along this road - which slow down the cars nicely - and there is much less traffic than in the Broadway. Head all the way along Pall Mall to the end T-junction and turn right. At the next T-junction, beside Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph's Church, turn left into Leigh Road.  

From Leigh Road to Chalkwell Park: Stage 2

Stage 2: From Leigh Road to Chalkwell Park

Leigh Road generally seems quieter than Leigh Broadway, perhaps because it feels a little wider. It can still be busy at times and it is a bus route (as is the Broadway, Rectory Grove and Elm Road), so stay alert. 

Carry on along this road. It bends to the left, just after a zebra crossing. The right-turn here is a popular choice for cars. It's wide and dips downhill abruptly which means they tend to drive at what feels faster than 30mph, although that's my opinion - I don't carry a radar gun with me! 

The safer and flatter alternative for cyclists is further along Leigh Road, although it does involve a tricky entrance into Chalkwell Park. 

It should be noted that this route through the park is not a road, even though vehicles do drive into the park. Cycling on what should be treated as a pavement is something I plan to blather on about elsewhere in my blog at a later date. 

Stage 2: Cars pass the route into Chalkwell Park (inset)

As you get closer to the park, Leigh Road itself bends sharply to the left just as another road (Old Leigh Road) meets it. To follow Savvy Cycle Route #1, you will need to turn right at this bend. I have no problem doing this. If it's too much for you, stop and cross well before the bend and walk your bike to the entrance of Chalkwell Park. 

Once inside the park, you are now officially in Westcliff-on-sea. There are signs warning that "authorised vehicles only" are allowed access and "caution pedestrians - 5mph only". So, can you cycle through here? Firstly, it is a park. Kids play here and ride around on their bikes freely. In all the time I've cycled through here, I've never had a problem because I slow down to walking pace and go very carefully. If a pet owner's dog bounds up to me (and they do) I'm ready to stop immediately.

Stage 2: Take care leaving the park for Imperial Avenue

Don't cycle here as if it's a racetrack. Behaviour like that only tarnishes the reputation of decent cyclists and, at worst, could lead to an accident. This section is all about cycling gently and showing respect to those around you. And that's the Biker Hack way! The route through the park is also very patchy and poor quality. Plus there are some rather vicious speed bumps. All of which add up to three good reasons for taking it easy.

Once in the park, you will pass a fenced-off cricket field on your left and open field on your right. You will dip down and pass an algae-covered pool (sorry, wildlife pond). This section is quite rough due to lots of ruts and leaf mulch in the winter. 

Keep on straight towards the large house in the centre of the park. Directly outside it is a circular flowerbed that looks remarkably like a mini roundabout. Head to the left and take the next right. This will then bend round to a car park where you turn left. (There is an one-way system into the car park and you will be following the "out" route.) As you reach the exit from the park - after another harsh sleeping policeman - you need to carry on straight (well, almost straight) into Imperial Avenue. 

From Chalkwell Park to St John's Road: Stage 3

Stage 3: Chalkwell Park to St John's Road

This stretch has a good road surface and is nice and wide. But best of all it is probably the flatest section of the whole route. It's a real pleasure to pedal along here, so enjoy it.There are going to be a lot of turns coming up! 

At the T-junction at the end of Imperial Avenue, turn right into Crowstone Road. Sadly, this part of the route is getting rather bumpy, with large resurfaced patches along this stretch. 

Again at the next T-junction (which is in fact a crossroads), turn left into Genesta Road. If you quickly look to your right, you'll see the steep hill that's been avoided in Kings Road. If you wish, stick to Genesta Road until the end, but I find it a very busy road with lots of local traffic cutting across town. Your best bet, in my view, is to take the first left into Satanita Road, which goes uphill slightly. At the end, take a right into Finchley Road which is much quieter, although rather full of potholes. 

Stage 3: The left-right from Anerley Road to St John's Road

At the next T-junction (opposite a pharmacy) you want to turn left and then right into Anerley Road, which is easy to miss because the corner is shaded by several trees. This is another nice, flat road. Sometimes, cars seem to zip along here, but there are far fewer of them than you would encounter in the heavy traffic a few hundred metres to the north in London Road. 

At the end of Anerley Road you'll reach a speed table at the T-junction with Hamlet Court Road. This road can be quite busy as there are plenty of shops and it's one of the few roads that crosses the c2c railway line further to the south. At the junction (opposite the post office), turn left and then immediate right into St John's Road (which is a one-way street) and cycle to the end. 

From St John's Road to... the northern part of Southend High Street: Stage 4a  

Stage 4: From St John's Road to Southend High Street

The T-junction at the end of St John's Road is very uneven, so again, be careful. You will be turning right here into Milton Road. Once you have passed the cafe (Real Good Food, reads the sign outside), you'll approach a very grand looking church on your left - Avenue Baptist. Take the next left - Avenue Terrace - on the corner by the church. 

From here, you are entering the lovely one-way maze at the heart of Southend's Milton conservation area. The 20mph roads here are generally very quiet and, unfortunately, quite bumpy in places. 

Ride down Avenue Terrace (it feels a little cramped with parking on both sides). At the crossroads (notice the no entry sign on your right), go straight ahead into Park Crescent. This one-way street bends to the right, and then left again, before stopping at a T-junction facing Park Road. Your only option here is to turn right. 

You are at the point where you can either head to the top end of the High Street (near the Victoria shopping centre) or the southern end of the street (near the Royals shopping centre). Let's deal with the northern end first (the yellow route on the map above). 

Stage 4: This turning into Park Lane isn't easy to spot

After turning into Park Road, look out for a left-hand turn into Park Lane. It's very easy to miss because a pavement build-out and the road markings make a bigger point of directing traffic to the right. 

The grandiosely titled Park Lane is actually a tiny backstreet. This is a two-way street (somehow!) so keep an eye out for oncoming cars. 

Once in the lane, turn left (it's a blind bend so go slowly) and pass what looks like a breakers yard and then follow the single yellow lines straight on and then round to your right. You should now see a one-way sign pointing to the left - obey it! 

Stage 4: Queen's Road heads straight to the High Street

This is now Park Street (lots of parks round here, eh?) and you want the next right into Queen's Road. This first section of Queen's Road is one-way, but you're heading in the right direction, so no worries. 

The route takes you straight over Princes Street (which has right of way, so take care), and runs past the Sunflower Cafe (on your right) and the gaudily-coloured Unveristy of Essex Southend campus's halls of residence (on your left).  

At the next T-junction, a road snakes across your route. You need to keep straight on, but technically you will turn right and then left to stay in Queen's Road. 

When the road runs out, you will be confronted by some cycle stands and Southend Post Office should be on your left. Welcome to the High Street! 

... to the southern end of Southend High Street: Stage 4b

Stage 4: From St John's Road to Southend High Street

OK, so you want to finish up closer to the sea. Fine. Let's back track a little and follow the red route. 

Once you have turned into Park Road, keep straight on. Pass the Park Lane turning, then an off-licence and then immediately turn left into Hamlet Road. 

Go over the speed bump (you're still in the 20mph zone) and as you approach the Cliff pub on your left, turn right over the c2c railway line. 

At this point, you can go straight on into Milton Place. Google Maps might say this is a one-way street - and it is for cars - but it is permissible for cycles to go both ways along here due to a contra-flow cycle line. Nice! 

At the next T-junction, turn left into the tree-lined Cambridge Road - the heart of the Milton conservation area. This is again another lovely street for cycling, a smoothly surfaced, wide road. As you approach a former church (it now houses the Clifftown Theatre and Studios used by East 15 Acting School), the route bends to the right (into Capel Terrace). A glance to your right will reveal a bowling green which has a nice cafe. 

At the T-junction, turn left into Alexandra Street. Keep straight on until the first pedestrian crossing which is actually on the High Street. By the way, just a little way further on is one of my favourite coffee shops (and I am definitely not referring to the multi-national chain beside the crossing). By now, you probably deserve a coffee, and I thoroughly recommend trying Utopia cafe. It's divine. 

Well done if you managed to follow my directions. As I said, this is a route I cycle all the time to reach the heart of Southend as is bypasses almost all of the main car-clogged routes and it is practically flat apart from occasional inclines. 

I'd love to know what you think about this route. So please feel free to comment below. 

Look out for the next blog with a step-by-step guide for the reverse route heading from Southend to Leigh - because the one-way streets around Southend High Street make it a little trickier than simply retracing your steps. 

So, until next time, keep cycling!

Resources

The maps in this blog were created using Google Maps. However, if you would like to access this map so you can zoom in, I have produced one using Google's My Maps application. I can share this with anyone interested, but to do so, I need your email address! To do that, please fill out the form below. 

The perils of stupid road markings

Poorly designed lanes can pose a serious risk to cyclists

There I was, gently cycling to work through the heart of London, when I came across this wonderful example of dumb road layout. Go on. Take a closer look at it. Ridiculous, isn't it? As Homer Simpson might say: Doh!

Pay attention: Giving way as you leave a roundabout is not normal

Let's be honest. There are many more important things in life than a mild rant about stupid road junctions. But if the devil is in the detail (as the old saying goes), it's stuff like this that perhaps matters most.
Why such outrage at this abomination? Allow me to explain.
I found this work-in-progress shortly after it was added to the roundabout that encircles the Museum of London at the start of the A1. I was coming from the east on the rather impressively named road, London Wall. If you're that interested, click here to see it on Google Maps
What I found impressive was from London Wall there was a new dedicated cycle lane which bypasses having to give way to traffic from the right - as is the norm under Highway Code rule 185. Brilliant! All those on a bike wanting to turn left can now zip round this corner on a bypass slip lane without having to worry about any conflict with cars, buses and lorries. Of course, the zipping can only come after paying attention to the pedestrian crossing on the approach to the roundabout.
As riders exit the roundabout, they have to merge with other traffic, including cyclists.
Now, here's the rub (to quote Shakespeare). How does Transport for London solve this merger of different traffic flows? That's right. It expects cyclists in the bypass slip lane to give way. In one fell swoop a touch of genius has been turned into a disaster waiting to happen. Give way? On the exit from a roundabout? Is TfL mad? Is the Mayor of London crackers?
I've no doubt some people will smugly say: Cyclists? Worry about the Highway Code and give way? Pah! 

Well, before anyone gets too sanctimonious, bad highway behaviour is not restricted to any single road user. There are plenty of bad car drivers, bus drivers, van drivers and, come to mention it, pedestrians.
The fundamental problem with this slip lane is its ill-thought design. On the one hand, it invites cyclists to ignore one of the Highway Code's basic rules (giving priority to traffic before joining a roundabout) and then just metres later, demands they give way to traffic as they exit the roundabout. I've cycled for most of my life and that seems a very unusual highway instruction to me. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's counterintuitive.
The danger here is when a convoy of cyclists use this lane (and that can happen in busy old London). Anyone behind the lead cyclist has no indication they may be expected to stop unexpectedly. And that means a potential cycling pile-up.
It's as if the road boffins got to this point and suddenly realised they'd run out of ideas. "What we gonna do 'ere? Dunno. Let's just slap down a give way road markin'. That'll sort it."
If this slip lane is meant to genuinely help cyclists, it should be like the one on the northern side of this roundabout. There cyclists are free to carry on their merry right of way unimpeded by crap road markings.
It's no wonder that so many people on bikes ignore highway markings when confronted with this sort of illogical nonsense. Such woolly thinking is rife.
The only way more people will take up their bikes and ride is if road layouts are clear and simple to understand and not like this sorry excuse for highway management that's been vilified here.