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Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Tony M (3rd Oct 2011  18:32:17) I would like to share a really bad experience of my 'leisure' cycle from Liphook to Hindhead and back which nearly got me wiped out by a lorry. I wonder if anyone has any advice as to what I should do to let the approprite people know and try to get something done. The cycle to Hindhead wasn't too bad, I joined the A3 on the northbound side along the shared pavement/cycle track. It's a bit noisy and close to the road but not too bad. Past the Rectory Lane turn the pavement runs out and a very (very!)narrow cycle lane actally on the carriageway with no seperation from fast traffic. This was unexpected and a little suicidal but things got a lot worse on the way back! The route back is 99% marvellous, new and well marked out with one major exception! A few hundred yards shor of the Liphook turn it just runs out! It's like they just couldn't be bothered to finish it. Even worse there is no warning AND the pavement 'throws' you out ONTO the carriageway with no cycle path. Because it's downhill you are going quite fast you find yourself out in the road! I got brushed by a lorry doing maybe 70mph and he was unable to stop or even swerve. I ended up in the undergrowth very shaken. I am now a little angry. Sorry for the rant but wonder if there is somewhere I should contact and also a warning ought to be made about that cycle route before the new Devils Punch Bowl cycle path opens and more people decide to cycle up there! Thanks.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Jay (3rd Oct 2011  19:28:19) Dear Tony - I hope you are recovering from your experience. My teenage son and his friends had been cycling up to Grayshott skate park (it's better than ours) along the A3 through the summer. They assured me there was a cycle path and because of all the roadworks I assumed they would have included a proper cycle path. I was horrified when I drove up to Hindhead and saw what they had been cycling on. At one point it's like shingle isn't it? And not clearly signed either from what I could make out. Fortunately they didn't come to any harm but I'm not at all keen to let them go again. I would imagine it's highways dept at Hampshire County Council you would need to contact about it but perhaps someone else has a more clear idea.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Richard (3rd Oct 2011  21:15:47) Can I suggest alternative routes, albeit ones that are a bit longer, but for a cyclist is safer than the A3 with some hills thrown in. Start by heading towards Hammer via either the road to Haslemere, or the one that runs past the Prince of Wales pub. Cycle up Sandy Lane (bit steep but if I can do it most will be able to). Cross under the A3 near the Mercedes garage and then you can cycle parallel to the new A3. Far more sensible route in my opinion, and I have done it!. Coming from Hindhead the only hairy bit I found was when the cycle lane runs out about half a mile from Liphook. An alternative route is go via Bramshot and go through the lanes on the other side of the A3. And the journey on both sides is much nicer than trying to cycle with the traffic...

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - steve (3rd Oct 2011  21:22:53) Try going via Hewshott Lane, Hammer Lane and Sandy Lane. Its a bit steep after you turn left into Sandy lane and go up the hill to the new junction near the old Second Hand Rose shop but after that you can cycle up the old A3 past the Total garage.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - helen (4th Oct 2011  01:27:03) I do not consider Hewshott lane a safe route for cyclists, I saw a nasty accident there involving a cyclist as there are downhill blind bends narrow stretches with no passing places, and a pet dog on the lead was killed recently by a car as there was not enough time for the owner to pull the dog into the hedge when a car sped past a very narrow part of the lane. The Highways agency are the people to complain about the cycle route.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Tony M (4th Oct 2011  19:42:26) Thank you for your messages and concern. I'm fine and not going to be put off cycling to Hindhead, on the contrary! I think the route through Bramshot may work best (along Rectory Lane and then using the new underpass to get across to the southbound side to continue the journey). I'll give this a try soon. In the meantime I'll write to the Highways Agency to see if they are able to do something to finish off the Liphook end of the cycle route properly and I'll post their reply. Thanks again for your comments.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - bexleyhillbilly (26th Feb 2012  18:26:41) I got caught out by the "cycle path" too and ended up doing the half mile to the Liphook turn on the A3. Fortunately it was a Sunday, so no HGVs. The signage is completely useless - if I'd known that the track gave up, I'd have turned down Hammer Lane and through that way, but the signs showed a cycle track going straight on for Liphook. The whole cycle track from Hindhead was also badly signed, as anyone going downhill from Hindhead at a reasonable speed on their bike would miss it. An utterly useless bit of infrastructure "planning".

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Matt (27th Feb 2012  08:54:44) I was also caught out whilst running along the southbound stretch back to Liphook. I was forced to turn back and try to find my way through the Canadian memorial MOD land. I can't say I was thrilled at the end of a long run. As a cyclist I can also see how you'd have got into trouble there, its a bit of a disgrace that they've put the signs up in my opinion as they force you onto the carriageway, which is not suitable. As others have stated, I believe the Highways Agency are responsible for the A3 but also worth contacting Hampshire Highways (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/roads) as they are responsible once the A3 joins the cycle path on London Road and may be helpful. If you want to campaign them to deliver the much needed safety improvement Southbound and to a lesser extent northbound I'd also contact CTC who campaign on behalf of cyclists.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Nick Hancock (13th May 2012  16:41:14) I found the answer to this this morning. There is a cycle path on the OTHER SIDE of the A3 from the Canadian memorial to the Bramshott junction. Coming south from Hindhead, you have to ride through the underpass. There's then about 100m of cross country riding to a gate, which brings you out on a junction with a side road. The cycle path runs south from there. The approach to the underpass and the cross country stretch are a bit rough. I managed them just fine on a tourer with 32mm tyres. You probably wouldn't want to ride them on a thoroughbred race-tuned road bike, but it's not far to walk. It does make you wonder, though, why when the underpass was built they couldn't spend the small extra amount to connect the cycle routes properly. Now Liphook is connected to Hindhead and the new route around the Devil's Punch Bowl - does anyone know what the ride to Guildford is like from there? Is there a route alongside the A3 as far as Milford?

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Martin f (27th Jul 2012  20:40:08) Theres a route that I feel is reasonably safe from hindhead to Milford. From Milford there's choice to reach Guildford. Wey navigation tow path and pre1930 a3 being two. To reach Milford take the new track from the National Trust car park round the punch bowl and then along the course of the pre 2011 a3 to the new single track road on the west side of the a3 to junction with Old Portmouth Rd, Thursley. Turn left, pass the old petrol station, then right back towards the a3, joining the foot/cycle path as you reach the a3. Follow this path for about two miles to Rodborough Common car park, pass under the a3 to reach Portsmouth Rd, Milford, and turn left into Milford centre.

Re: Dangerous cycle route along A3 to Hindhead - Dewy (29th Jul 2012  13:06:53) Indeed, to avoid the last bit of southbound A3 carriageway from Hindhead into Liphook you should use the memorial underpass then cycle on the NORTHbound (facing oncoming traffic!) cycle path up to the Bramshott side (north) of the junction. Apart from the wrong and convoluted cycle route, the path itself is so narrow and overgrown with vegetation. The surface is also most uneven, muddy in places and rough. Take care when you cycle there, don't go too fast as the vegetation may lap onto your bike and force you off the path!! This is a far cry from all the talk about Great British Cycling -Olympic Spirit or the "cycleable" A3. We should join forces and campaign. D

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