From the station at Upwey, there was no indication of which way to the relief road. I had an inkling that it was towards Littlemoor, so I headed through the railway arch and eastbound. Not too far on, and the road started to rise, the bridge over the new road. There was a large path down to the left - no markings as a cycleway, or that it led to Dorchester. Must be it.
The first part was good - a wide and very flat tarmac path running around the outside of a large lagoon presumably constructed to take surface water from the road. This all looked very raw and bleak, I am sure the willows will arrive of their own accord, though attaching to the sloping black plastic will be a challenge. Too soon it bent back to the road, and then too close for pleasure. Traffic engineers seem to have no concept of separation, or the need for oxygen rather than Carbon Monoxide, and some screening from noise and windage.
A bit further up and there was a farmtrack bridge across the road. Oh no, the cyclepath shot up the gradient, and then gave half the gains back in descending to rejoin the road. Do these planners have no idea about the importance of gradients ?
But worse was to come as the main cut up the Ridgeway came into view. A sign lying on the path - cyclists join main carriageway. A John McEnro moment. What, you cannot be serious ? Ignored it and cycled on a bit further. No, the path definately stopped, or more worryingly, a sub-path took a sharp left turn down to where some workmen were presumably creating some horrendous detour. OK, the road it was. Three traffic lanes, but no off or on-road cycle provision, let alone the broad wobble lane that should have been a minumum. What do these clowns think they are providing ?
So I get to the top, it has been drizzling all the way from the station. Two cyclist were tolling up ahead
of me, and I suddenly spot them on the other side of the road, stopped to add waterproof trousers. What, the cycleway suddenly reappears on the other side of the road. No gaps in the traffic to swap sides. My blood is now boiling with rage at the lack of sensible design or care for how this can sensibly be used. I continue along the road to Monkton Park, taking the opportunity of a gap to cross. Cyclepaths on one side is only half a provision.
And on down the path to the Bypass Roundabout. Ultimate insult on a cycleway, "cyclists dismount" sign. These guys really have no idea. With the extra lanes, it takes a while to catch a gap, and just after the roundabout, the cycleway ends (another sign). No drop kerb, no on-road provision thereafter (wrong side of the road anyhow). Stupid, stupid, stupid. Welcome to Dorchester. So I cycle along to the entrance to Tescos, and join the lane out from there. The car turning right into Tescos gives way, but two cars inside him have no intention of obeying their stop lines, the first would have hit me if I'd stuck to my rights. The second was following blind.
So overall, Dorset County Council seem to have squandered loads of money on a very poorly designed cycleway. Given this is attached to the biggest road scheme in Dorset for years, it is tragic that they can get it so badly wrong, through such a series of compromises to usability.
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