Cyclin from london to gloucester?

Question

me and two friends wanna cycle to gloucester from west london on tuesday 1st. but we dont have a route

originally i nthought that we could ride the A40 the whole way but im told its illegal to ride bikes on 'A' roads.

we really need to go on tues, so please help!

Answer 1

Whoever told you it was illegal to cycle on the A40 is talking out the back of the thing that sits on the saddle of a bike.

Whereas it is illegal to cycle on a motorway, there are very few "A" roads on which cycles are banned. The more notable exceptions are esturial crossings, such as the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the A282 or the Clyde Tunnel on the A739.

That said, "A" roads are generally not the safest roads along which to cycle, given the density of traffic. However, much of the A40 was built, or improved, under the Arterial Roads Act. A feature of these arterial  roads was that thet were generally built with wide verges on both sides for possible later widening (such foresight is lost on modern day planners!), on which cycle lanes were constructed.

You have the added advantage that between London and Oxford, the A40 is generally parallelled by the M40, thereby reducing traffic on the former.

Beyond Oxford, much of the modern A40 is a series of by-passes (for example, around Burford, Witney etc.) You might find it safer to use the "old" road, rather than the by-pass.

Enjoy your trip.

(PS   I hope you like cycling up and down hills!)