Thorns Cycle Paths Flat Tyre

Hello people.

It has been a dark fortnight for flat tyres for me, and for the chaps in our office.

Bottom road from Rhuddlan-Melyd, Rhuddlan-Dyserth, and Rhuddlan-St.Asaph (spotting the theme there?).

Rather than take my usual complain to the "we will endevour to respond within 30 working days" Denbighshire county council, I asked a mate who works for the CTC elsewhere, and through a few calls, ended up with a most helpful chap in Conwy, who not only was aware of the roads in question, but had also reported them.

Reading over his letter to the local paper, I note that they excluded the last paragraph... obviously not wanting to cause any one any trouble. A second one I was CC'd in on, and it read as follows.

"Madam/Sir

We are receiving our usual annual complaints from cyclists receiving punctures caused by thorns from seasonal hedge cutting. We believe these reports to be only the tip of an iceberg. From the Vale of Clwyd, to the Conwy Valley, there is much anger and frustration at the neglect of even the simplest good housekeeping by landowners failing clear away debris.

It is clear that some landowners are either unaware they could face a fine of up to £1000, or are dismissive of their duty of care towards those who chose to travel other than in a motor vehicle. A cyclists was recently awarded £2500 damages for injury caused by a puncture in such circumstances.

The paths linking Prestatyn - Meliden -Dyserth - Rhuddlan - St Asaph and Bodelwydden have been particularly badly affected. There has been much public investment in cycle paths to encourage people to use their bikes as an alternative way of getting to school or work. It is quite unacceptable that private landowners are thwarting these efforts by their thoughtless actions.

See http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/hedge_cutting.htm

We have received complaints including one rider who stopped to assist another - only to discover he had two punctures himself. Another of a rider who ran out of spare inner tubes on his way to work. After three punctures he need to be rescued by his wife driving the family car. There must be many other instances of people either severely inconvenienced, or prevented from travelling by bicycle or wheelchair.

The local authority has expressed an intention to deal with the problem, and it is known that on at least one occasion it instigated a clearing operation following public complaints over 1/3 mile on the A525 between St Asaph and Rhuddlan. A matter of days later a further half mile was contaminated on this road, forcing cyclists to cross two carriageways and the central reservation. This path forms part of a routing system used by shift workers cycling to work during the hours of darkness There is no substitute for simultaneous cleaning as the cutting is taking place.

CTC Cymru would be grateful if you would give this matter the publicity it so urgently demands."

Top bloke I say. The key part there is the offence under the highway act of 1980.

The CTC 'Right to Ride' chap's name is Roy Spilsbury and his pages on local flats are here and here.

If you spot a bad patch - take a picture and drop me an email with a (useful) description of where.