M6 Toll road 'cycle day' ??

(T'other) Dave said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of approaching
the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will probably open in the
next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the invincible cagers will be allowed
to use that bit of land. Just thought it would be nice to give a nod to other solutions to
ultimate gridlock, i.e. the bike..and it'd be added publicity for 'em ;-) Dave.

I would be. But its a fair way from where I live so it may prove to be impossible as far as
logistics are concerned

--
The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely. mseries.freeserve.co.ukmseries.freeserve.co.ukOpen ↗

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of approaching
the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will probably open in the
next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the invincible cagers will be allowed
to use that bit of land. Just thought it would be nice to give a nod to other solutions to
ultimate gridlock, i.e. the bike..and it'd be added publicity for 'em ;-) Dave.

Ah well, prolly left it too late, but would've been 'fun' ;-)...all that nice smooth virgin tarmac
with no broken glass, bits of MDGs etcetc. 26 miles each way... A quick check of the local rag has
revealed :-

The M6 Toll could open as early as tomorrow, after safety experts completed final checks on the
27-mile route today.

A high-profile VIP guest has been lined up to perform the opening ceremony for Britain's
first pay-as-you-go motorway which will open in stages over five days, allowing local traffic
to use it first.

Although MEL has not yet confirmed which day it will open, Staffordshire Fire Service, the AA and
Central Motorway Police Group say they are all preparing for the possibility that the road could
open tomorrow.

Operators Midland Expr-essway Ltd (MEL) today released more details about what will happen
on the day.

Charlie Coney, spokesman for operator MEL, confirmed: "The M6 Toll is planned to open this week.

"We can confirm it is not opening today, Monday December 8, but it will be this week."

The Toll Road route will skirt Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield and will run from Junction
11 of the M6 near Cannock to Junction 4 at Coleshill.

MEL has revealed that a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at around 10am on the opening day,
by a mystery VIP guest, along with Tom Fanning, Managing Director of Midland Expressway.

The first traffic is expected to pass through toll booths around 10.25am.

Confusion has surrounded the road's exact opening date.

MEL has said that the opening will be phased over a period of five days.

The first phase will be five days prior to the full opening and local traffic will be allowed onto
the road from the main internal junctions at Middle Hill, Churchbridge, Burntwood, Shenstone
Weeford, Langley Mill and the Belfry.

Car drivers will pay £3 to use the route, vans £6 and lorries £11.

.....Could be time for a covert night-time operation.....piccies to follow Dave.

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of approaching
the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will probably open in the
next couple of weeks

Rumour has it thats actually "days" (limited portions)

In "]news:[email hidden], (T'other) Dave
<[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of approaching
the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will probably open in
the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the invincible cagers will be
allowed to use that bit of land. Just thought it would be nice to give a nod to other solutions
to ultimate gridlock, i.e. the bike..and it'd be added publicity for 'em ;-)

Ah well, prolly left it too late, but would've been 'fun' ;-)...all that nice smooth virgin tarmac
with no broken glass, bits of MDGs etcetc. 26 miles each way... A quick check of the local rag has
revealed :-

The M6 Toll could open as early as tomorrow, after safety experts completed final checks on the
27-mile route today.

.....Could be time for a covert night-time operation.....piccies to follow Dave.

Real shame: I was thinking of it, too, but I wasn't too sure of the legality of it.

My uncle did it on the M54 before it opened, so I had to follow family history 🙂

Mail me your plans if you do it.

Ambrose

In article <[email hidden]>, \(T'other\) Dave

Quoted message said:

It will probably open in the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the
invincible cagers will be allowed to use that bit of land.

Tomorrow according to the lunchtime news - so - tonights the night:-)

--
A T (Sandy) Morton on the Bicycle Island In the Global Village sandymillport.fsnet.co.uksandymillport.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗

In "]news:[email hidden], Sandy Morton <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, \(T'other\) Dave

Quoted message said:

It will probably open in the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the
invincible cagers will be allowed to use that bit of land.

Tomorrow according to the lunchtime news - so - tonights the night:-)

🙁

Can't do it tonight.

Go for it, Dave, if you decide to.

A

"Sandy Morton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, \(T'other\) Dave

Quoted message said:

It will probably open in the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the
invincible cagers will be allowed to use that bit of land.

Tomorrow according to the lunchtime news - so - tonights the night:-)

--
A T (Sandy) Morton on the Bicycle Island In the Global Village
sandymillport.fsnet.co.uksandymillport.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗

Oh Bugger!! me cars currently got its paws up in the air in the local garage. Had hoped to throw
bike in car, drive to start of M6 toll, cycle down and back, then drive back home (I know, I know!!)
Ah well, maybe I can pick a bit up in the middle somewhere.....

"Ambrose Nankivell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In "]news:[email hidden], (T'other) Dave
<[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of
approaching the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will
probably open in the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the
invincible cagers will be allowed to use that bit of land. Just thought it would be nice to
give a nod to other solutions to ultimate gridlock, i.e. the bike..and it'd be added publicity
for 'em ;-)

Ah well, prolly left it too late, but would've been 'fun' ;-)...all that nice smooth virgin
tarmac with no broken glass, bits of MDGs etcetc. 26 miles each way... A quick check of the
local rag has revealed :-

The M6 Toll could open as early as tomorrow, after safety experts completed final checks on the
27-mile route today.

.....Could be time for a covert night-time operation.....piccies to follow Dave.

Real shame: I was thinking of it, too, but I wasn't too sure of the

legality

Quoted message said:

of it.

My uncle did it on the M54 before it opened, so I had to follow family history 🙂

Mail me your plans if you do it.

Ambrose

Biggest drawback is that emergency services are doing emergency access practice. Obviously they
aren't going to be issuing times these events are happening.....could cause 'issues'...still... ;-)
Here's hoping they were all cub scouts before they got into the emergency services and remember the
cubs motto - 'Be Prepared'....even for bicycles on unopened motorways ;-)

There's bound to be some CCTV monitoring of it, unlike the M54, all those years ago, and no doubt,
MEL would want their toll payment, so they'd be bound to send out plod, probably in a helicopter, to
collect the dues (amount as yet unannounced)..... Here's a thought - As a private enterprise, will
MEL be paying emergency services for their services, or will we, once again, subsidise these shady
practices ?

Dave.

(T'other) Dave posted ...

Quoted message said:

There's bound to be some CCTV monitoring of it, unlike the M54, all those years ago, and no doubt,
MEL would want their toll payment, so they'd be bound to send out plod, probably in a helicopter,
to collect the dues (amount as yet unannounced).....

Heheheh, I remember when the M18 was being built around Doncaster. I was a youngster living in
Rossington (other side of motorway) and we used to ride our Trials bikes and 'Crossers along it.
Best ones were a couple of speedway Jawas that we took for a blast down it one day .. they didn't
like the sand jumps though ... 😉

Used to play 'tag' with the graders etc etc ... happy days .. 😉

--
Paul

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Sandy Morton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, \(T'other\) Dave

Quoted message said:

It will probably open in the next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the
invincible cagers will be allowed to use that bit of land.

Tomorrow according to the lunchtime news - so - tonights the night:-)

--
A T (Sandy) Morton on the Bicycle Island In the Global Village
sandymillport.fsnet.co.uksandymillport.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗

Oh Bugger!! me cars currently got its paws up in the air in the local garage. Had hoped to throw
bike in car, drive to start of M6 toll, cycle down and back, then drive back home (I know, I
know!!) Ah well, maybe I can pick a bit up in the middle somewhere.....

OK, I'M GOING FOR IT!!! 8-D Decided to play it above board though, so I'll cycle upto Cannock and
ask 'em if I can go for a ride on their nice new road, just before Alistair Darling turns up
tomorrow. Strongly suspect they'll be a little pre-occupied with last minute details to allow me
to do it but ya gotta try it, right?? I'll either be back in an hour...or 5 or so... Fingers
crossed ;-) Dave.

I have a vague recollection of some motoring comic getting official permish to max an Aston on an
unopened piece of motorway circa 1974. They were more than somewhat perturbed to encounter a Rover
coming the other way...

<ob_cycling> The BHPC and NSPCC ran an event on an unopened chunk of the M42 in July 1984. Trevor
"Fearless" Bull and Dave "Helpless" Sinar ran the Dark Horse tandem to 59 mph </ob_cycling>

--

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a vague recollection of some motoring comic getting official

permish

Quoted message said:

to max an Aston on an unopened piece of motorway circa 1974. They were

more

Quoted message said:

than somewhat perturbed to encounter a Rover coming the other way...

<ob_cycling> The BHPC and NSPCC ran an event on an unopened chunk of the M42 in July 1984. Trevor
"Fearless" Bull and Dave "Helpless" Sinar ran the Dark Horse tandem to 59 mph </ob_cycling>

Which stretch? Theres a nice downhill bit from the M5 to the M40. I have thought it'd be good for a
faired r*******.

Having said that, its not a particularly steep gradient (5% at most).

W K said:

Which stretch? Theres a nice downhill bit from the M5 to the M40. I have thought it'd be good for
a faired r*******.

Having said that, its not a particularly steep gradient (5% at most).

Near the NEC, apparently. Slightly downhill but into a ferocious headwind. I wasn't there as I was a
penniless student oaf at the time and couldn't afford to get there. Or something.

--

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, who's up for a ride along the new M6 Toll Road, before it opens ??...thinking of approaching
the contractors, but don't want to if I'm the only person interested. It will probably open in the
next couple of weeks and from that point onwards, no-one but the invincible cagers will be allowed
to use that bit of land. Just thought it would be nice to give a nod to other solutions to
ultimate gridlock, i.e. the bike..and it'd be added publicity for 'em ;-) Dave.

when I were young, We used to chain gang on the M6 before it opened on the Coleshill - Water Orton -
Castle Bromwich stretch. (East of B'ham)

--
Cheerful pedalling John Mallard

"(T'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... <snip>

Quoted message said:

I'll either be back in an hour...or 5 or so... Fingers crossed ;-) Dave.

...or 2....

So, got to gatehouse on site at Cannock entrance. 4 Workmen, opened door to hut then when I walked
in asked - " ain't one o' them protestors are yer??"..."Nah mate, spent 14 years in traffic jams on
that M6, this roads long overdue as far as I'm concerned!!" (smart answer, thought I, for an 'on the
spot'😉...Asked if I could ride me bike on their nice new motorway before it opens up for public use.
They 'ummed' and 'arred' and didn't think it'd be a good idea...I'd get pulled off down the way and
there's police about...and that...So, I thanked them and made my weary way home...or at least I
should've (and intended to, 'onest ;-). I cycled around a bit, followed the motorway, took a couple
of photos of the empty road (so unusual round these ere parts), then came upon a gateway onto the M6
Toll...Well, I couldn't resist. It was locked but a nice light 'racer' made for quick work and I was
over.....whoooeee!!...I'd seen a couple of vehicles go up while I was riding around, so didn't
expect to be on there long. I started cycling and I have to say, it was fantastic - well lit, no
crud, very smooth etcetc. After a while I came across a set of toll booths on the other side
(northbound) and on my side (southbound) there were a team working from the back of a van, burning
tar stuff. They only saw me at the last moment, despite anti-clandestine hi-viz clothing and
flashing lights (the cyclist cloak of invisibility served me well tonight ;-)...I heard a
"whathfu***" but was gone by the time they had a chance to react properly. Onwards...... A while
later I came across the Brownhills turnoff. I took a photo of the Motorway sign and continued on my
way. At the turnoff, there were several cars blocking the entrance but I didn't choose to
communicate with them and I don't think they saw me, at least certainly not quickly enough to let me
know I shouldn't have been on there. I probably got about another mile before a car came in the
opposite direction and flashed me down. The gentleman inside asked me what I was doing on the M6
Toll road. I told him I was just going for a ride before the cars took it over for ever more from
tomorrow. He informed me that I shouldn't have been on there as there would be cars driving
backwards and forwards and he wouldn't want to be collecting my bits tomorrow morning (presumably
overshadowing the official opening ;-). I asked him which was the quickest way off and after
consulting his three colleagues in the car he decided back to the Brownhills turnoff. I said ok,
acknowledging that he was right and I was wrong <ahem!!> I followed him for a short while, then
legged it over the fence and rode home.... a happy bunny, despite a police car trying to take me out
at a crossroads. Traffic lights in my favour - WVM waiting to turn right - me very focussed on
making sure he don't try to turn with me in his way and b*gger me, if a cop car didn't suddenly
appear from my left, blue lights flashing but no twotones. I saw him just as I was in front of him
and he papped his horn - ooops! - a cheery wave and I got home in one piece.

Still, here's to that lovely stretch of tarmac that as from tomorrow, will never be quiet
again - RIP

Dave.

Well done!

Every new road should be baptised by bicycling before the cars get to use it, especially one that
"we'll" never get to use again.

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

Well done!

Every new road should be baptised by bicycling before the cars get to use it, especially one that
"we'll" never get to use again.

Wouldn't be so sure - the Kenyan cycling team will probably use it for training at some point in the
future ;-)

Tony

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Richard Goodman said:

Well done!

Every new road should be baptised by bicycling before the cars get to

use

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it, especially one that "we'll" never get to use again.

Wouldn't be so sure - the Kenyan cycling team will probably use it for training at some point in
the future ;-)

Tony

Thank you Richard!!...and to think that only a few people that've read this thread and a few
contractors on the site will ever know it happened 8-D. Frustrating thing is that I've got a few
photos but because I was by myself and my camera is an old digital with no flash, they're not great
quality and there aren't actually any of me...on my bike...on the motorway....just empty lanes and
motorway signs :-(

Tony, at least I've road tested it for 'em and can highly recommend
it....well at least up until 1000hrs this am, then they're on their own ;-)

Dave.

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Well done!

Every new road should be baptised by bicycling before the cars get to use it, especially one that
"we'll" never get to use again.

Until the petrol runs out, that is. :-)

--
Dave...