Best cycling large town / city in the UK?

[Cornwallintherain]

Good morning everyone and happy Friday!

I've woken up with a fizzy spring in my step because we've decided to relocate.

We want to live somewhere with the best designated cycle path network in the UK. (I don't like cycling on the road. I've been hit by a car before and I don't wish to be again!) . I want to cycle safely to the shops, town / city centre and cycle along the river or country park etc.

Can anyone recommend their own towns or cities? Or suburbs?

Anywhere from John O Groats to Exeter. (I can't say Lands End as I already live in Cornwall!)

Cambridge
Also has a head trauma unit which increases chance of survival when in an accident with no hat on

@massivenamechnage I was thinking about thosd Beryl / Boris Bikes / Buzz Bikes and whatever else that you just jump on, pay and cycle off.

They're in locations with no cycle paths and the very nature of them = users with no helmet.

It's confusing! I see more and more cyclists with no helmet :/

Someone mentioned Cardiff and that was my first thought, lovely small city, feels very accessible on a bike. Great area of the UK in terms of countryside and culture too.

Move to a European city.

@CosyFanTucci Cambridge is congested for cars but cyclists use the backstreets which are quiet because car drivers can't use backstreets as cut throughs. So cyclists can go places more or less as the crow flies and on quiet roads whereas motorists have to grapple with longer routes and one way streets etc.

@Cornwallintherain Bristol is massively cycle focussed- so much so that it peed us off- why don't you think it is.? I'm not a huge fan of Bristol but would take it over Milton Keynes any day-have you been to MK??

@Cornwallintherain I do realise though it's always a matter of taste- MK suits many- I just really dislike it

I live in Southampton and think it’s pretty good for cycling. I commute to work 5 miles each way from a central location to the outskirts (across the common, and then mostly on quiet roads). I do quite a bit of leisure cycling without going on road. The infrastructure is not as advanced as some places but is improving. I have an hour’s loop that involves parkland and forest with only short stretches of road.

Hey @Crikeyalmighty - well Bristol just scares me full stop. Its always so mental on the roads (and I refuse to cycle on the road!). Being SW based and travelling to Bristol a lot I've never been made aware of any off road cycle network campaign. I'm there about once every 6 weeks! But maybe I'm just distracted by the overwhelming stench of weed and bbqs. And the constant sirens are deafening. I really want to like it though! 😂

I have been to MK but more so in the 90s and 00s and didn't think much of it either way tbh!

Loving the sound of Wales!!

This is true, to be fair. It's why I cycle - much quicker than battling the horrendous traffic, and more fun (if it's not raining too hard!) especially with an electric bike.
However, the potholes are not fun, and the failure to grit the quiet streets is not at all safe.

Cramlington, Northumberland is a small town but has a network of cycle tracks to get around. It's close enough to the countryside but also only about 6 miles from Newcastle.

@Cornwallintherain I'm with you- Theresa lot of cycling in Bristol but quite manic!! I really think you should look in south wales, nicer bits of Cardiff like pontcanna or Whitchurch or the gower - nice places like Narbeth. MK I'm biased but I like a place to look attractive- MK doesn't- it has a lot of stuff to do if you have kids and like sport and not too expensive if you are after a modern estate type house -and would maybe suit plenty of people but it's not for me- my gut feeling is you would prefer wales

If you don’t want to cycle on the road at all then Cambridge is probably not for you. There are a lot of bikes as it’s small, flat and has a disproportionate number of students for the size of the city rather than by virtue of its cycle lane network.

DH loves this suggestion! I applied for a (remote) job in Newcastle 2 days ago!!

@Crikeyalmighty I think you're bang on and I really appreciate that. I love Wales. I love trail running and I could see myself mountain biking! Age won't stop me 😂

Despite sll the cycleways they are putting in most parts of London are only accessed by road. MK is much better, and safer.

I only really cycle recreational with family but I'd guess one of the 'new towns' would be best for this - Milton Keynes, Stevenage, Welvyn Garden City etc.

@GidgetGirl

Really? Never noticed much when I lived there until last year. There's one decent track (the old railway) but that's for leisure.

Alas it has closed

Perhaps you were in a part of the city or a suburb that wasn’t so well served? I’m sure it varies and I don’t know all areas of the city. I know a friend of mine that lives in the south east of the city can take a seven mile bike ride (one-way), through the city centre and suburbs and out into the countryside, entirely on fully segregated bike paths. I’ve done it with her and it’s fantastic. That’s an impressive feat anywhere.

Through my work I also have a lot of dealings with councils all over the country and I get to know about their active travel plans. Of all the LA’s I’ve dealt with, Leicester City Council are way way ahead of anyone else on this stuff. They’re just incredibly proactive and are actually getting routes built.

Come up here. Edinburgh is great for cycling. The council are putting in lots of permanent cycle lanes, not just the temporary ones from Covid times. There is also a low emission zone coming in soon for the city centre.

I'm not sure I can add links here but if it doesn't work, search on YouTube for "Kidical Mass Edinburgh 2022"
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@GrabbyGabby No, there's a brand new M&S at Roaring Meg retail park. The town centre one shut many years ago now.

@AnotherEmma 110%

I live in Cambridge and do cycle a lot. It's ok on a weekend, especially in the mornings, but commuting is awful. Some great cycle lanes, but they often end abruptly and you're thrust onto the road to ride with aggressive car drivers. So difficult to find bike parking in town in the afternoons, and you leave your bike at the station at your own peril. And as a PP said, it is comparatively drier, but it still pours for much of the winter! I cycle a lot because it's more convenient than driving due to the congestion, but it's not particularly pleasant.