Some minor work was done at the end of August to the bridleway that runs past Oatlands Junior School.
Gravel has been put down to cover exposed bricks at the northern end of the bridleway, near its junction with Hookstone Road (see photo at the top of this post). Hedges have been cut back, and the ditch next to the bridleway cleared out.
Further south by the sports pavilion and playing fields, nothing has been done and the surface is still wrecked tarmac.
At the far southern end there is also no improvement to the mud and stone surface.
Guidance on Cycle Path Surfaces in Towns
Gravel is not a good surface for cycling.
Cycle Infrastructure Design LTN 1/20 requires hard, smooth surfaces for cycle routes.
Paragraph 15.2.3 says sealed surfaces should normally be provided within towns and cities.
I absolutely agree that this path should be made safe for cycling – my grandson goes to Oatlands Juniors too. I just want to be sure that we are on “safe ground” in saying the LTN 1/20 applies – it is shown as a bridleway on the NYCC map and so bikes are certainly allowed (if not trikes according to Cycling UK) but as far as I know there are no cycle signs and no cycle markings. The tweet about this called it a cycle way – it is a path where bicyclists and can and do go of course, but as a bridleway so can horses. Happy to be proved wrong here! If it is a recognised cycle way or path, technically I would be allowed to ride my trike on it, but certainly would not in the state it is in.