Bath Spa University Bicycle User Group

If you ever travel by cycle to Bath Spa University, or need more info, the BUG can provide information and more.

Jam Busting June and Bike Week

Speaking with people who came to the University's 'Jam Busting June' exhibition, the number one issue for the Newton Park campus is that the 'Globe' roundabout and dual carriageway is a barrier to cycling and walking. One way to change this will be the University negotiating with the local authority for three key improvements:

1. Improve the roundabout to allow people to easily cross it on foot
2. Upgrade the footpath alongside the dual carriageway to take cycles
3. Create a spur from the national cycle network between Bristol to Bath, and the University. This is very achievable, as a public footpath already runs on the alignment for this between the Globe roundabout and NCN4

Cycling info from the University

If you need to know which cycle shops offer student discounts here's a list + other cycling stuff.

Cyclescheme

Now has its own page ...

Fieldings Road Bridge ...

... reopened a few months late - the extensive repairs turned out to be even more extensive than anticipated. Select the image for a set of photos of the alarming condition of the bridge before work started, and the 2008 repair work in progress.

Newton St Loe Post Office ...

... the post office is now closed, but the shop itself is open for business. And Marshfield ice cream.

Routes to Newton Park

The local authority are slowly getting on with the task of planning for these, and it is a good time to contact councillors and argue that the priority of this work should be raised. The 1970's dual carriageway acts as a barrier to sustainable transport to the university and would not be built in its present form today. Meanwhile, there's the 'Quiet roads' route.

Two Tunnels

With Connect2's success, the route has been put on a far more secure footing with construction in earnest anticipated for early 2009 after a pause while B&NES considered their involvement. Happily B&NES are now backing the route with both a cash grant and, in a partnership with Sustrans, to build it. Details on the Two Tunnels web site.

Student Cycling Champions wanted:

We'd welcome more involvement from BSU students - if you'd like to promote the cause of cycling at the University, get in touch.

Review of cycle routes in Bath

A five year old plan for a cycle network for the city is under re-evaluation. The original is flawed in that it didn't include enough local input, consequently, some of its routes are ones that real cyclists would never follow. We ran a web poll here that revealed support for a path to the Bristol to Bath route from the Newton Park site (15 votes for this against 1 for a route alongside the dual carriageway). Other needs include better north-south routes across the city (this is relevant for the Sion Hill campus).

There's actually plenty that can be done which involve relatively small sums of money. For anything other than cars, the local road system improvements of the nineteen seventies (the dual carriageway A4 and the 'Globe' roundabout) are actually an obstacle rather than an improvement, and neither would be built today in their present form. An early improvement will see the pavement alongside the dual carriageway become a shared-use path, with a ramp down to the Bristol and Bath path.

Publicity

We've a poster: our poster. Feel free to display it.

New to Bath Spa University?

Like cycling to Newton Park but hate the idea of the dual carriageway? Check out our quiet roads route ...

Bath Cycling Campaign

Active campaign group for improved cycling facilities for Bath. Check the BCC website, go along to a meeting and get involved. Latest success? A short but useful cycle contraflow in Wood Street in the centre of Bath ...

Travel surveys

Data from travel surveys to Newton Park from 2000, 2004 and 2005

Newton Park: New Showers

New showers are now available, free of charge, at the top of Newton Park campus near the sports pitches (last buildings facing the overflow car park, white doors). Open from 7am daily. There are two sets of showers - the first set (nearer the SU) are 'male' and the other 'female'. Users might want to beware as there are no signs to that effect!

BSU staff travel expenses

If your cycle travel is work-related, from July 2005 you can claim expenses for the travel.

Lightning strikes tree

Photos from the aftermath of the thunderstorm of Thursday 1st September 2005

Display our recruitment poster (PDF file - 25kb)

Cycling Skills Book:Cyclecraft - "Cyclecraft, published by The Stationery Office, is the definitive guide to skilled cycling technique. Whether you are new to cycling, or looking to extend your skills, Cyclecraft offers practical advice on how to ride a bike confidently and safely in today's traffic conditions."

News:Improvements to provision for cycling between that site and the Bath Spa University Newton Park campus will follow the opening of the new Bath Spa University hall of residence at Waterside The building is now in use - there, I said the improvements would follow. Plans include a discrete path on the south side of the dual carriageway section to a crossing of the road to Pennyquick. Meanwhile, join the quiet route to Bath Spa University Newton Park

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