Puncture Alley – HarBUG Response

 

Please find below the contents of an email sent to OCC this morning regarding the continued problems with Puncture Alley:

 

Hello,

We have been monitoring whether the upgraded path is still causing punctures since the remedial work in early February.

The number of punctures has dropped but we are still seeing more punctures than is acceptable on a path intended for cycling.

We would like to request that the surface is reviewed again with a view to adding a top layer of Tarmac to cover the existing surface and the sharp flints sticking out.

 

With Spring on its way we expect the number of cyclists using this path to increase significantly.

It is fair to assume that cyclists using the path over Winter have decent bikes with good quality tyres. As the weather improves there will be more less experienced / leisure cyclists who may have lower quality tyres, with possibly an increase in the number of punctures.

HarBUG is running a Cycle to Work day on 20^th April when we would like to promote the improvements on the cycle routes to the Campus. We don’t want to have to warn cyclists (and potential cyclists) of problems.

In addition this section is being used for two large cycle events; Uptonogood? on June 18^th (1000+ cyclists) and The Classic Oxfordshire for Against Breast Cancer on 8^th May. With the numbers of cyclists at these events there will potentially be a lot of punctures with annoyed organisers and participants.

 

We believe we have been patient whilst different surface interventions have been tried but cyclists using this stretch are wary and fed up.

We believe this problem needs to be sorted out once and for all, as soon as possible.

P.S. More details on the Cycle to Work days soon.