Best cycling town in the UK?

[Red Light]

Where the cafe/bikeshop is situated there should be a decent mountain bike/bmx course so that it becomes a destination for cyclists.

There were plans for decades to turn the chalk pits at Cherry Hinton into an official (as opposed to an unofficial) mountain biking centre. They never succeeded in raising the necessary cash and now its become a nature reserve.

 

[Alien8]

But where Cambridge falls short is a lack of "leisure rides" that are safe and pleasant so that cyclists and their families can get out and enjoy themselves.

Well, maybe not in the city itself, but in the surrounding areas you can always go cycle up the busway to Fen Drayton lakes. You can potter along the side of the Cam up to Waterbeach. You can cycle around Milton Country Park. And Cambridge is well served by the NCRs to get you out and about.

 

[xpc316e]

Shouldn't you be asking which is the least-worst cycling town?

 

[slowmotion]

London, no contest. A wonderful place to ride a bike. Quite a lot of other people think so too, judging by their numbers.

 

[Brandane]

London, no contest. A wonderful place to ride a bike. Quite a lot of other people think so too, judging by their numbers.

Are you sure it's not just Hobsons choice? I would rather give myself a vasectomy than drive a car in London, or use the public transport system .
Whatever you do, OP, unless you particularly enjoy wind and rain of course, do not come anywhere near the west coast of Scotland. When it's good it's VERY good, however the bad weather is just far too frequent.
Edinburgh is very bike friendly and it is not nearly as wet on the east side of the country. Also it is within striking distance of nice countryside, which is where I prefer to spend my cycling time.

 

[slowmotion]

Are you sure it's not just Hobsons choice? I would rather give myself a vasectomy than drive a car in London, or use the public transport system .

I absolutely agree with you about the practicality of a bike as a means of transport, but there is more to it than just that. Riding a bike in London is simply very good fun as well.

 

[Nearly there]

Out here in West Cumbria is great in that there's so many little roads that there isn't a massive need for cycle lanes (though there are some very nice old rail path ones). On the other hand everything is rather spread out and there's a lot of hills

Agreed

 

[srw]

Are you sure it's not just Hobsons choice? I would rather give myself a vasectomy than drive a car in London, or use the public transport system .

As long as you can choose what time to travel (i.e. not in zone 1 in the rush hour) London's public transport system is simply ace. It's comprehensive, quick, reliable, cheap (all day, all over London and out to Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire for under twelve quid!) - everything you want from public transport.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I absolutely agree with you about the practicality of a bike as a means of transport, but there is more to it than just that. Riding a bike in London is simply very good fun as well.

I think that is rather too understated. Riding a bike in London especially for fun rather than as a commuter is maniac grin so wide it causes drag fun. Way more exhilarating than a trail park. and you get to laugh at the cockwomble tragic hipsters. and its free. and the beer/coffee is good.

 

[totallyfixed]

Best cycling town as opposed to city has to be Oakham, only 4 sets of traffic lights one of which is for pedestrians, no cycle lanes [don't need them] and only one cycle fatality in history and none within 20 miles. Plus it is surrounded by great countryside. Bit boring really .

 

[gary in derby]

cycling is cycling doesnt matter where, ok london can be a pain. but does it really matter, make the most of where you are and have fun.

 

[lukesdad]

Unless you ve ridden in every town and city, comparison is rather pointless

 

[MontyVeda]

Lancaster... we even have those Celebrating Cycling signs as you enter the city for both the north and south (is that feint gasp i hear?) ... not only that, we even have lots of stupidly short cycle lanes ranging from about 4 meters.

 

[daSmirnov]

Here's my opinion, having lived/cycled in three towns.

Yeovil - good if you like hills, bad if you want nice smooth roads. Drivers generally OK, but can get impatient with the hill climbing, lots of beautiful scenic routes out into the country and north Dorset.

Aldershot - lots terrible drivers, relatively flat, decent-ish quality roads, few traffic lights, many zebra crossings, traffic moves quite rapidly. Not that many great views, lots of good mountain biking, Basingstoke canal, MoD training areas of great for off-road. OKish country-side routes, although you're never really completely rural.

Horsham - lots of rubbish cycle-junk painted everywhere, loads of traffic lights, ONE zebra crossing in the whole town, traffic always grinding to a halt - stark contrast to Aldershot. Road surfaces terrible, get bumped to hell, relatively flattish. Annoying national speed limit dual carriage-way surrounds the west and north sides of the town, makes it annoying to get out that side. On the plus side a fair few other cyclists. But drivers relatively good around cyclists.

So no, I can't answer your question.

 

[Hatties]

Not Barnet (north London)!!! No cycle lanes, lots of Chelsea tractors, lots of HGVs and a council which is decidedly pro-motorist.

+1 to this. New Barnet is possibly the worst area in the entire Barnet.

As far as I know the only cycle lane in Barnet is in East Finchley along High Road (A1000). It's on southbound only and permanently blocked by parked cars.