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Original poster

Should we pull out of house?

24 replies

Mabali · 01/03/2021 10:25

Me and OH had an offer accepted on a house we both love but we were left waiting a while due to issues on vendors side. During this time we have found out that a two way segregated cycle path is to be constructed at the front of the property and they are ripping out the grass verges to make way for this. For some context, the house is on a main road but set back about 20m, with the drive being 10m (room for around 6 cars) and grass verge with trees 10m. The cycle path will be concrete and we would have to cross two ways of cyclists to get onto our drive. Would this put you off buying it? Should we pull out? I am worried I won't find anything we both like as much to raise a family in.

OP posts:

CaramelWaferAndTea · 01/03/2021 10:29

Where does the cycle path lead? This wouldn't put me off, but i cycle and hope my DC will too - to me this would be an added benefit if it enabled them to get to school on a bike for example. I wouldn't be happy with young adolescent DC cycling on roads. I also think it's good modelling for DC to see adults on bikes as a normal form of transport.

IamwhoIsayIam · 01/03/2021 10:44

I wouldn't see this as a problem. As above it could be a huge benefit to you once you have a family if it allows a safe network of cycling and walking from your door. It sounds like you are a good way back from the cycle path itself and other than the loss of the grass verge it won't affect your outlook in anyway. Some or all of the trees may remain anyway as they don't often remove them for cycle path construction.
I'd see this as an asset to my community and a benefit not detriment to buying the house.

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/03/2021 10:48

I can’t imagine the cycle path is ever going to be busy enough that it’s going to pose a major obstacle to you using your driveway, particularly since the house sounds in a pretty suburban location. It wouldn’t bother me at all, like previous posters I’m also a cyclist and would see it as a positive.

CrotchetyQuaver · 01/03/2021 10:51

No it wouldn't put me off as I can't see the cycle lanes ever being so busy that crossing over them to access your drive is a problem. I would have thought it might be a benefit having it there?

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 01/03/2021 10:53

Please could you do a diagram.

I am having a hard time understanding and am surprised others would not be bothered as I def would so maybe I just can't visualise?

Original poster

Mabali · 01/03/2021 11:18

The cycle path goes down to a park in the next area along and does go via the secondary school so I can see the benefits. I think cycle lanes are really important for safety of children on roads and I would definitely be all for it if I lived on a side road and would think of it entirely as a benefit. But I am worried about losing the greenery on the doorstep and access issues to our drive.

@mumsiedarlingrevolta here is a link to a diagram: smallpdf.com/shared#st=dc00c254-0828-4205-8941-a235ab4aeda6&fn=cycle+path+diagram.pdf&ct=1614597441226&tl=share-document&rf=link

Hope this works!

OP posts:

Hotcuppatea · 01/03/2021 11:21

Love the diagram!

I also think this is a good thing. We have a segregated cycle path not far from our house and it's a real benefit.

redcandlelight · 01/03/2021 11:24

wouldn't put me off.
more cyclists mean less cars and more considerate driving overall which benefits all.

CaramelWaferAndTea · 01/03/2021 11:48

I think if your budget is such that you are compromising on the big main road (as most people don't want a massive house on a main road) then this is always going to be a consideration as grass verges all over the country are being/will be/have been changed to cycle lanes. This sounds fantastic to be honest - being able to cycle to the park and school. You will have to have your eyes open coming in and out but sounds like your drive is big enough to turn in so no serious drama, and very safe for your kids.

TinyGlassOwl · 01/03/2021 11:51

I can't imagine pulling out of the purchase of a house I loved on the basis of a cycle lane?

Your link doesn't work for me, but It sounds like you have a lot of space at the front of your house to accommodate it. We are on a main road, the house is set back, and I think our driveway is big but we still wouldn't fit 6 cars on it so yours must be huge! FWIW there's also a single-lane cycle path in front of our house and tbh I've never given it a thought.

I think you'll regret pulling out of the purchase if the house is otherwise perfect. Every house move has some compromise and this sounds really minor.

CityDweller · 01/03/2021 11:52

I can’t see the diagram, but this would be a massive plus for me. Can’t see the downside, tbh

TokyoSushi · 01/03/2021 11:54

I think it sounds fine OP.

StanfordPines · 01/03/2021 11:55

I can’t see that it’s going to be that busy.

I’d be annoyed if there were trees being taken out though.

Okbutnotgreat · 01/03/2021 11:58

Your link has expired and I can’t see the diagram but I would be really happy to have access to a good cycle path right outside my house especially if I lived on a main road. Think how handy it will be when your kids are old enough to go out independently.

fellrunner85 · 01/03/2021 12:05

I would love it.

If I was looking to buy a house, I'd be thinking that in the short term a cycle path straight to the park from the front door would make our lives so much easier (no faffing about either trying to get the kids to cycle safely on the road, or trying to get bikes into the car). And longer term, the kids being able to cycle to secondary school would be a massive plus.

In terms of green space, I'm guessing the grass verge isn't much use for playing out/sitting out etc, if it's on a main road? And I'm also presuming you have a separate garden, so this isn't your only green space being lost?

As for access issues, it's not like you'll have steady streams of cyclists going each way, so it's unlikely to hold you up for getting into your drive. Even at rush hour going into city centres, cycle lanes don't tend to be that busy.

Sleepingdogs12 · 01/03/2021 12:12

It sounds like you are set well back with plenty of parking room . I would see it as a positive too. They could ve decided to widen the road at any point for cars . Good job they are looking at greener alternatives. Is there anywhere you can put some greenery on your plot for curb appeal?

Bluntness100 · 01/03/2021 12:19

I can’t see this as an issue, living on a main road would be the major issue to me, and I’d not consider it, as I’ve done it once. The cycle path is a benefit, but irrelevant in comparison to living on a main road.

BalancedIndividual · 01/03/2021 12:30

As someone who lives on a main road (with a similar size drive to OP), I do get where she is coming from.

I have to be very careful taking my car out and in.

And although people say the cycle lane wont be that busy, somehow it will be at the exact moment you want to pull in or out.

Whats worse, Ive even had car drivers horn at me for waiting for people to cross my drive, even after signalling in advance and slowing down steadily.

(Seriously though - What else am i meant to do, run then over?)

When it comes the cycle lane, the deciding factor would be the visibility when taking my car out the driveway. If theres poor visibility, then I would be hesitant

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 01/03/2021 12:39

@Mabali

@mumsiedarlingrevolta here is a link to a diagram: smallpdf.com/shared#st=dc00c254-0828-4205-8941-a235ab4aeda6&fn=cycle+path+diagram.pdf&ct=1614597441226&tl=share-document&rf=link

Hope this works!

ugh. the link has expired but thank you for trying.

I know it would get on my nerves but I seem to be in the minority and since I can't see it I don't know.

Maybe my feelings as skewed because I like in a tourist destination town and since lockdown the entire town has become a high speed, extremely crowded peloton.
You risk life and limb crossing the road and I would be anxious driving in and out etc and I know I would feel annoyed by them being there as unreasonable as that may sound I am being honest

SeasonFinale · 01/03/2021 12:47

To the poster who said it won't ever be busy enough --- try living with a two way cycle path in front of your property near a school in Cambridge - perhaps you would think differently.

I would actually pull out personally if there were other properties I also liked or were available.

Annasgirl · 01/03/2021 13:48

I would pull out OP. I live in a city where these cycle paths are currently being constructed all over the place. I also cycle a lot and so do my DC. But I see how tough it is to live beside one of the busy paths (I live on a side road off another side road off a very busy road). People cycle past my house all day every day but the road is wide and quiet, so no one ever cycles right up alongside our driveway - and still it is hard to pull out an ensure you never hit someone. And now, with the way so many people cycle with earphones in, it is even more likely that you will hit someone.

Runnerduck34 · 01/03/2021 14:11

Not sure- the trees and wide grass verge must soften the view of the road so I would be miffed at the removal of the buffer. Do you have room to landscape/ plant trees in front garden?
Also as you say its an extra barrier to get in and out if your drive.
However if you are cyclists it would be a huge advantage!
If house is your ideal home and the best you have seen for budget and area then I would think carefully about pulling out, sadly there are always compromises, a house on a main road will put some people off anyway

Andthenanothercupoftea · 01/03/2021 18:54

Enjoying the displays of nimbyism in this thread! Or would that be "not in my front yard"?

Seems like a massive benefit to me, unfortunately my town seems to be full of nimbys who object to the merest suggestion of a scheme to advantage cyclists, so I'm unlikely to ever benefit from something like this.

SeasonFinale · 01/03/2021 19:05

If you are referring to my post my answer is based on the fact that it is a two way cycle path rather than one way. If it was one way going in the same direction as the traffic on that side of the road it would be less of an issue.

Perhaps it is just as self serving to say it's fine because it "seems like a massive benefit" to you.

My observation was based on experience of living in a very cycle friendly city.

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