Bath's Two Tunnels Greenway cycle path opens
Almost 2,000 people attended the opening of the
path
A £4m cycle and walking path with the
longest cycling tunnel in Britain has opened with a mass cycle ride.
The Two Tunnels Greenway route opens up two former railway tunnels nearly 50 years after they closed.
Almost 2,000 people attended the mass cycle to mark the opening of the route which runs from Bath to Midford.
The path goes through Linear Park, on through the disused Devonshire and Combe Down railway tunnels, and over the Tucking Mill Viaduct.
At over a mile long, the Combe Down tunnel will be the longest cycling tunnel in Britain and will feature an interactive light and sound installation.
One million users
The Two Tunnels Group - a team of 11 cycling, walking and railway enthusiasts - first kicked off the plan to reopen the tunnels for public use seven years ago.
Frank Tompson, chair of the group, has worked with cycling charity Sustrans - who built the route - and Bath and North East Somerset Council to create the path.
"It's been a long journey since some of us stood between the bricked-up Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels and said, 'wouldn't it be a good idea if…'," he said.
"I am really pleased that we are finally in a position to open the route to the public and estimates suggest that up to a million people might use the path each year."
The tunnels have low level LED lighting
The project is part of Sustrans five-year project to extend the National Cycle Network into the heart of communities.
One of the first cyclists through the tunnel was Bath schoolboy Jamie Gant.
"It feels like I've gone back to the past but there are modern lights and modern stuff and there is no track. It was kind of a bit cold," he said.
Also trying out the new path was Winter Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams MBE who unveiled a portrait bench of herself, WWI veteran Harry Patch and a Roman solider.
Williams, from Bath, said: "This is so exciting for Bath and the community, there are so many people here.
"It is only going to encourage more people to get on their bikes and go out for walks and after the London Olympics ."
A few years ago I walked through the long tunnel and it was quite an experience. Next time I go up to Midford I'll take the bike and cycle through. Although this section of line doesn't feature in the New S&D's first tranche of reopenings - we'd prefer to go via Limpley Stoke to access the Network - in the longer term protection of the route can only be good for the railway. This should also make the visitor centre and shop at Midford much busier once it is open.
4 comments:
I went to the Two Tunnels on Saturday. From my observations then, and those to whom I have spoken who have used them since, there do seem to be a couple of potential problems:-
1. The lighting level is NOT continuous thru' the tunnels - in effect there are areas of dark separated by 'pools' of light. It is very easy NOT to see people in the dark areas, especially if they have only dark clothing and no hi-viz or lights/torches.
2. Poor 'path sense' by cyclists, who ride 2 or 3 abreast despite instructions to 'keep left'.
Combination of both the above resulted in a number of 'near misses'. Unlike a normal straight path in daylight, converging cyclists/walkers often can not see each other until it is too late.
Some modification will be needed both to the lighting and the common sense of its users, if what is otherwise a great attraction is not going to be spoilt.
PS. It would appear that not everyone welcomes the idea. One cyclist who visited the Hope & Anchor after his trip had such a poor reception he vowed never to go there again!
Are there clear divisions through the tunnel for cyclists and walkers, in both directions?
As for the Hope and Anchor - their food is fantastic and I've always had an excellent welcome in there, but that's usually in the week when it's not too busy. It may have just been a grumpy staff member.
I'm hoping to get up to Midford on Wednesday and may even take the bike to see for myself!
I went all the way yesterday. There are notices to say Keep Left, but that is all.
Problem is, both cyclists and walkers share the same side for each direction of travel. Hardly anyone wears any form of reflective clothing or carries a light. If you are walking, then cyclists come up FAST and SILENT behind you, and often neither can see the other.
Already (according to the press) one walker has been hit by a cyclist had got a broken rib.
It is COLD in the tunnels. Certainly if walking, take an extra layer to wear. Take a torch - you may need it if you drop anything and want to find it again!
When these "trackbed trespassers" are evicted from the tunnels, along with their LED lighting, where will the cycle track be routed? Anyone who is stupid enough to build a cycle path on a disused railway that is obviously going to be rebuilt deserves to be "evicted".
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