Re: [Talk-GB] NCN51 Milton Keynes (was: Re: Sustrans long-distance routes)
On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM, Dave Stubbs osm.l...@randomjunk.co.uk wrote: It doesn't help that local councils like to put up signs saying End of cycle route, which doesn't actually mean End of NCN route at all, but rather End of a particular bit of pavement/track/whatever. No, those signs mean, Well done for following our green paint. As your reward we will now deposit you in the most inconvenient place imaginable and ask you to dismount, or alternatively suggest a 90 degree turn into oncoming traffic. surely not... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/January2006.htm Sometimes the cycle path can continue after those signs... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/September2007.htm ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
[Talk-GB] NCN51 Milton Keynes (was: Re: Sustrans long-distance routes)
Shaun and I went to map the NCN51 between Bedford and Milton Keynes. From the west, the signage stopped at a metal plaque in the ground which marked the crossing of NCN51 and NCN6 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.04972lon=-0.73357zoom=17layers=00B0FTF you would not be able to follow sustrans signs beyond that point. After some exploring, we happened upon a lone NCN51 sign in the woods: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.04413lon=-0.71929zoom=17layers=00B0FTF but it didn't lead to any further signs (we wondered if they were having problems with the landowners of Willen Lake prohibiting signs?) Following the route from the east, the last NCN51 sign was outside the Wavendon Arms: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.026696lon=-0.668013zoom=18layers=00B0FTF That leads onto a cycle path (painted onto the sidewalk) leading into Woburn Sands, but there were no further signs. I think there may have been a 'cyclists dismount' or 'end of cycle route' sign as it approaches the level-crossing in Woburn Sands, not a great encouragement to anyone following a national cycle route. I had to follow trunk roads and road-signs to get into Milton Keynes from there. We later followed the road into Wavendon, in case this helps anyone exploring the area, and found no NCN signs along that road: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.02504lon=-0.67369zoom=17layers=00B0FTF The cycle paths between those two ends of NCN51 show some of our attemps to locate the cycleway. There are many cycle paths in that area, but none with red sustrans 51 signs. Our conclusion that day was that NCN51 was undefined through that part of Milton Keynes. Later we looked at the Sustrans PDF map which showed the area as a grey proposed route, which correlates with the lack of signage we saw. I think the really big message from our day trying to find NCN51 was: please let people know when the route stops. If some blue sign really is the *last* blue sign for 10 miles (e.g. through Cranfield which isn't signposted from the east either) then have a sign to say 'this is the end of our signage' and preferably display a map to show people how to reach the next section of NCN route. But in terms of OSM mapping, maybe Shaun can confirm this but I believe our coverage of NCN51 through Milton Keynes accurately represents what exists (as of summer 2008) On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:47 AM, Richard Fairhurst rich...@systemed.net wrote: - NCN51 (Oxford-Cambridge-Felixstowe). Newmarket to Bury St Edmunds looks to be missing - perhaps not open yet? - and also bits around Milton Keynes and Sandy. ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
Re: [Talk-GB] NCN51 Milton Keynes (was: Re: Sustrans long-distance routes)
On 6 Jan 2009, at 22:54, OJ W wrote: I think the really big message from our day trying to find NCN51 was: please let people know when the route stops. If some blue sign really is the *last* blue sign for 10 miles (e.g. through Cranfield which isn't signposted from the east either) then have a sign to say 'this is the end of our signage' and preferably display a map to show people how to reach the next section of NCN route. I'd really love that. As another example, I thought I had completed the southern end of the london cycle network route 23, but then months later found some more signs several miles further south. It seems that when you are heading southbound at Crystal Palace Parade, you have to guess the next couple of junctions before you find another sign. I'd also like to see more signage telling you which direction you are travelling, especially when you hit a spur to the network. It can be very annoying if you are out for a leisurely cycle and come across the cycle network, and decide to follow it if it is going roughly the direction you want to go, but are unable to due to not knowing where it will take you. The sign shouldn't just give the next couple of towns, rather a really big well known town/city/end of route that everyone should know, as well. I know the signage of the ncn21 from Caterham to just outside is very good in this respect, so you know by going a short distance along the route which direction your heading. All the direction signs have Redhill for those travelling south bound and Grenwich for those travelling north bound. Why can't more routes be like that? But in terms of OSM mapping, maybe Shaun can confirm this but I believe our coverage of NCN51 through Milton Keynes accurately represents what exists (as of summer 2008) I can confirm that the map is as accurate as possible as at the time when we cycled it. The signage of the route was pretty much non- existent for the missing section of the route. Going through Milton Keynes town was also a little confusing, as it was easy to mis-read the signs. Shaun ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
