Current State of Cycle Tracks

I have not cycled over winter but 44 east of site is the route I will use – but only on the way to work, I return via Chilton and the flinty hill. The idea is admirable in principle but somewhat flawed, I feel. You have already described that the problem is the big unavoidable potholes. If the farmer fills in the big ones then there isn’t a problem so no-one will think it worth stopping, as the small ones can be avoided. If more heavy moving occurs then anything we have done will become irrelevant. So we can’t win either way. Not trying to be negative but I think that is what will be the case.

I use 44 from Wantage. It would be good to get this section inproved to something like the intial part of the route near the Lord Nelson. Given the unlikely funding perhaps approaching Oxfordshire CC for a delivery of gravel/small chipping and asking members to turn out with wheelbarrows and spades would improve things at a fraction of the cost – a Saturday afternoon jobbie?

I would be glad to help to anything that has a chance to make the status of the route better. I am using route 44 coming from Didcot, it has sustained heavy damage since summer, so if there is something we can do we should give it a try.

The farm track at East Ginge has also deteriorated a lot during the winter. There are quite a few deep potholes some of them extends to the full width of the track. If you just start cycling (again) be extra careful on your way home; by the time you notice them in the dark it might be too late… But the slowest i.e. least rideable part of route 44 (from Wantage) is that 500 metres before it enters the campus. I would not mind helping out with improoving the track but I also would like to see that the council/campus/farmers or whoever is responsible for the state of this route do their share as well.

Regarding route 44 west of campus: I am not a fan of gravel or chipping for cycling on. I would possibly go so far as to say I prefer slidey mud.

This route directly removes traffic from the Wantage to Rowstock A417. The County Councillor is in discussion with parishes along this section of the A417 about the problems of traffic volumes on it. So it would be reasonable to push quite hard for improvements to this section of cycle route.