Milton Keynes redway system
Encyclopedia
The Milton Keynes redway system is a 120 miles (193.1 km) network of cycleways/paths
for cyclists and pedestrians in Milton Keynes
, Buckinghamshire
, England
. It is generally surfaced with red tarmac
, and criss-crosses most of the city.
Some of these redways run next to the grid roads and local roads, with underpasses or bridges where they intersect major roads. Others run through park land and along the flood plain of the Great Ouse and its tributaries. One of the aims of the redways was to make travel for pedestrians and cyclists convenient, safe, pleasant and accident free, but a study suggests that the system has only partially met these expectations. More recent statistical data shows that the accident rate for pedestrians in Milton Keynes is just 46% of the average for England and the rate for cyclists is 87%. However, the secluded semi-rural nature of many redways that make them pleasant by day can make some people feel unsafe to use them after dark. The Redways are lit at night.
Using the redways can be frustrating for experienced cyclists, because the redways tend to go under or over the roads, rather than the other way around. The frequent slopes, and circuitous routing, can be tiring, demanding on cycle and cyclist, and lead to slow journey times. As all redways are shared use with no cycle/pedestrian lane marking or separation, braking to pass pedestrians safely is also a slowdown; pedestrians may also dislike the lack of separation. But for the prepared cyclist, the redways provide a convenient, pleasant way to commute within Milton Keynes. Because they take in the most scenic areas, the redways provide an excellent leisure facility. The library provides free maps of the better tourist routes. Hardcore road cyclists prefer to use the grid roads, but the dual carriageways, multi-lane roundabouts and 60 or 70 mph limits makes this an option best suited to the confident and experienced. From 1988 to 1997 there were 35 'serious or fatal' cyclist collisions on the grid roads and local roads, versus 24 'serious or fatal' collisions involving cyclists using the redway system, though five of these involved vehicle/cyclist collisions at roadway/redway intersections. The number of cyclists using the redways is far higher than the number using the roads and their experience levels far lower, but there are no normalised statistics to show which on average is safer.
In icy conditions the redways aren't usually gritted, which can cause hazardous slippery slopes on the over/underpasses.
In 2009, the Local Authority have started a programme of reworking the Redway Signage with replacement signs and route markings on the tarmac but much remains to be done.
National Cycle Network
Route 6 (Derby - Luton) and Route 51 (Cambridge - Oxford) runs to and through the city (map). Route 6 enters the city at Old Wolverton and runs south through Milton Keynes on the local redway network and on some of the 'trim trail' routes. The route takes in Campbell Park
before eventually merging with route 51 at the National Bowl
. Route 51 runs in a loop beginning at the National Bowl running north through Knowlhill and Loughton. The route then crosses over the A5 and into Central Milton Keynes by Milton Keynes Central station. The route then runs along Midsummer Boulevard passing between the Centre: MK and Midsummer Place shopping centre crosses over into Campbell Park before joining back up with Route 6 by the Grand Union Canal. Cycle storage can be found along route 51 at Milton Keynes Central station (covered cycle racks) and at the junction of Midsummer Boulevard and Witan Gate where there are storage and changing facilities available.
There are also frequent Sheffield cycle racks in the Business District near the station, and outside the shopping centre and theatre, on both sides of Midsummer Boulevard. Cyclists appear to be encouraged to cycle through car parks (with two-way lanes) on each side of Midsummer Boulevard, and use pedestrian underpasses at the major junctions (cars use the roundabouts and/or traffic lights).
The Swan's Way long distance footpath also uses part of the redway system.
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
for cyclists and pedestrians in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is generally surfaced with red tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
, and criss-crosses most of the city.
Some of these redways run next to the grid roads and local roads, with underpasses or bridges where they intersect major roads. Others run through park land and along the flood plain of the Great Ouse and its tributaries. One of the aims of the redways was to make travel for pedestrians and cyclists convenient, safe, pleasant and accident free, but a study suggests that the system has only partially met these expectations. More recent statistical data shows that the accident rate for pedestrians in Milton Keynes is just 46% of the average for England and the rate for cyclists is 87%. However, the secluded semi-rural nature of many redways that make them pleasant by day can make some people feel unsafe to use them after dark. The Redways are lit at night.
Using the redways can be frustrating for experienced cyclists, because the redways tend to go under or over the roads, rather than the other way around. The frequent slopes, and circuitous routing, can be tiring, demanding on cycle and cyclist, and lead to slow journey times. As all redways are shared use with no cycle/pedestrian lane marking or separation, braking to pass pedestrians safely is also a slowdown; pedestrians may also dislike the lack of separation. But for the prepared cyclist, the redways provide a convenient, pleasant way to commute within Milton Keynes. Because they take in the most scenic areas, the redways provide an excellent leisure facility. The library provides free maps of the better tourist routes. Hardcore road cyclists prefer to use the grid roads, but the dual carriageways, multi-lane roundabouts and 60 or 70 mph limits makes this an option best suited to the confident and experienced. From 1988 to 1997 there were 35 'serious or fatal' cyclist collisions on the grid roads and local roads, versus 24 'serious or fatal' collisions involving cyclists using the redway system, though five of these involved vehicle/cyclist collisions at roadway/redway intersections. The number of cyclists using the redways is far higher than the number using the roads and their experience levels far lower, but there are no normalised statistics to show which on average is safer.
In icy conditions the redways aren't usually gritted, which can cause hazardous slippery slopes on the over/underpasses.
In 2009, the Local Authority have started a programme of reworking the Redway Signage with replacement signs and route markings on the tarmac but much remains to be done.
National Cycle Network
The national SustransSustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
Route 6 (Derby - Luton) and Route 51 (Cambridge - Oxford) runs to and through the city (map). Route 6 enters the city at Old Wolverton and runs south through Milton Keynes on the local redway network and on some of the 'trim trail' routes. The route takes in Campbell Park
Campbell Park
Campbell Park is a district in east-central and south-central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, the central park for Milton Keynes, and a civil parish that includes other districts. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 13,364...
before eventually merging with route 51 at the National Bowl
National Bowl
The National Bowl is an entertainment venue in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The site was a former clay-pit , filled in and raised to form an amphitheatre using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area and it has a current maximum capacity of 65,000...
. Route 51 runs in a loop beginning at the National Bowl running north through Knowlhill and Loughton. The route then crosses over the A5 and into Central Milton Keynes by Milton Keynes Central station. The route then runs along Midsummer Boulevard passing between the Centre: MK and Midsummer Place shopping centre crosses over into Campbell Park before joining back up with Route 6 by the Grand Union Canal. Cycle storage can be found along route 51 at Milton Keynes Central station (covered cycle racks) and at the junction of Midsummer Boulevard and Witan Gate where there are storage and changing facilities available.
There are also frequent Sheffield cycle racks in the Business District near the station, and outside the shopping centre and theatre, on both sides of Midsummer Boulevard. Cyclists appear to be encouraged to cycle through car parks (with two-way lanes) on each side of Midsummer Boulevard, and use pedestrian underpasses at the major junctions (cars use the roundabouts and/or traffic lights).
The Swan's Way long distance footpath also uses part of the redway system.