is A3 to guildford cyclable?

[Terry]

I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
Although I have cycled in London a lot on and off I am not keen to use the gutter of a fast major
route if there is any alternative, but if there were a cycle path or track along it that would be
different.It looks on the map as though out beyond the M25 the A3 could be rather motorway-like. Is
the A3 a recommmended cycle route on the lcc maps? TerryJ

 

[Dave Larrington]

Terry wrote:

> Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?

I /have/ done it when I was young and foolish, but the section down to Tolworth has narrow lanes,
from here on it's a 70 mph limit and all the junctions are motorway-stylee. There are almost
certainly routes which are both shorter and less fraught.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Pk]

Terry wrote:
> I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
> Although I have cycled in London a lot on and off I am not keen to use the gutter of a fast major
> route if there is any alternative, but if there were a cycle path or track along it that would be
> different.It looks on the map as though out beyond the M25 the A3 could be rather motorway-like.
> Is the A3 a recommmended cycle route on the lcc maps? TerryJ

Much of the route is pseudo motorway even before the M25.

I do see the occasional cyclist but I would think wearing a blue and white scrf on the Streford end
would be safer.

pk

 

[Ningi]

Terry wrote:
> I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
> Although I have cycled in London a lot on and off I am not keen to use the gutter of a fast major
> route if there is any alternative, but if there were a cycle path or track along it that would be
> different.It looks on the map as though out beyond the M25 the A3 could be rather motorway-like.
> Is the A3 a recommmended cycle route on the lcc maps? TerryJ

I wouldn't go near most of the A3 personally. It's practically a motorway and there are nicer
alternatives.

I would advise Roehampton - Kingston - Surbiton - Esher - Cobham - Ockham - East Clandon -
Guildford.

I've cycled from Surbiton to Guildford a number of times this year and have often taken the route
above. East Clandon to Guildford on the
A246/A25 is a short section of Dual Carriageway, but apart from that it's all fairly
straightforward stuff.

Let me know if you want more details.

Pete

 

[Davep]

Terry wrote:

> I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
> Although I have cycled in London a lot on and off I am not keen to use the gutter of a fast major
> route if there is any alternative, but if there were a cycle path or track along it that would be
> different.It looks on the map as though out beyond the M25 the A3 could be rather motorway-like.
> Is the A3 a recommmended cycle route on the lcc maps? TerryJ

keep off the A3.

get a map out , there are plenty of routes to Guildford. you should be able to hook into part of
this .... http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/rides.htm

click on the map to the left

davep

 

[Elyob]

"Dave Larrington" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Terry wrote:
>
> > Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
>
> I /have/ done it when I was young and foolish, but the section down to Tolworth has narrow lanes,
> from here on it's a 70 mph limit and all the junctions are motorway-stylee. There are almost
> certainly routes which
are
> both shorter and less fraught.

I wouldn't cycle on the A3, ever.

 

[Zog The Undenia]

Terry wrote:

> I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?

Why not? Fit some tri-bars and enjoy the lorry suction. Personally I prefer dual carriageways to
certain single carriageway A-roads - you usually get given a lot of room by drivers. I wouldn't try
it at night though.

 

[Tony W]

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Terry wrote:
>
> > I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
>
> Why not? Fit some tri-bars and enjoy the lorry suction. Personally I prefer dual carriageways to
> certain single carriageway A-roads - you usually get given a lot of room by drivers. I wouldn't
> try it at night though.

Once past Tolworth this might hold true -- though, as others have said, it is nearly a motorway.

Between the Robin Hood roundabout & Tolworth its narrow lanes, fast traffic, brain dead motorists,
slip roads, flyovers etc. Wild horses would not drag .....

That section is unpleasant in a motor car -- it would be seriously nasty on a bike.

T

 

[Terry]

> > Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
> I wouldn't go near most of the A3 personally. It's practically a motorway and there are nicer
> alternatives.

I am glad I asked . I think I will go for the other recommendations . Thanks

TerryJ

 

[Sw]

[email protected] (Terry) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > > Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?
> > I wouldn't go near most of the A3 personally. It's practically a motorway and there are nicer
> > alternatives.
>
> I am glad I asked . I think I will go for the other recommendations . Thanks
>
> TerryJ

This reminds me of when, as a motorist, I came the closest I have ever been to wiping out a cyclist.
On the A3 at the first Guildford junction where the road goes from 3 lanes to 2, there was a guy
cycling along the inside of the middle lane just before the inside lane forks off - technically in
the correct position for a car but incredibly dangerous for a bike. The weather was atrocious -
heavy rain and mist and I only just saw him in time. I doubt lights would have helped much even if
he'd had any.

SW

 

[Danny Colyer]

SW wrote:
> This reminds me of when, as a motorist, I came the closest I have ever been to wiping out a
> cyclist. On the A3 at the first Guildford junction where the road goes from 3 lanes to 2, there
> was a guy cycling along the inside of the middle lane just before the inside lane forks off -
> technically in the correct position for a car but incredibly dangerous for a bike.

From the description it sounds like the correct position for a bike too, assuming he was going
straight ahead.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Sw]

"Danny Colyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> SW wrote:
> > This reminds me of when, as a motorist, I came the closest I have ever been to wiping out a
> > cyclist. On the A3 at the first Guildford junction where the road goes from 3 lanes to 2, there
> > was a guy cycling along the inside of the middle lane just before the inside lane forks off -
> > technically in the correct position for a car but incredibly dangerous for a bike.
>
> From the description it sounds like the correct position for a bike too, assuming he was going
> straight ahead.

True. Still completely insane though.

 

[rider]

Originally posted by Zog The Undenia
Terry wrote:

> I need to go to Guildford in January from east sheen. Is the A3 from roehampton easily cyclable?

Why not? Fit some tri-bars and enjoy the lorry suction. Personally I prefer dual carriageways to
certain single carriageway A-roads - you usually get given a lot of room by drivers. I wouldn't try
it at night though.

Obviously, you don't know the A3.
Mainly a 3 laner all the way to Guidlford!