Cradle Direction for MTB Route

[Undun]

Hi Hubbers.

I am posting this on behalf of a friend..

I do agree with his logic and below mail.

 

RE.: Cradle Trail sections

 

For the sake of this letter, I will distinguish between road riders as those cyclists that are travelling on the tarred section of the road and the trail riders as those that are travelling on the sandy, off-road section which runs on the left hand side of the roadway, a few meters off the tar road. 

There is a mixture of road going bikes and bikers, so I won’t entertain a discussion between colloquially termed “roadies” and “sandies”.  These days most riders don’t fall in either category anyway and own more than one type of bike.

I am a roadie, a sandie, a critical masser with a single speed, a custom chopper cyclist on fun events and I sometimes ride a mountain bike on tar or a cyclocross bike on sand, or vice versa on good days.

 

I am not sure if your team is the correct one to send this following rant to, but I cannot find a forum or another social media that has discussed this issue. 

 

Regarding the section of off-road trail which was created in the Cradle of Humankind cycling route:

            I would like to know what direction one is supposed to ride in when on the trail; logic prevails that it would be on the same side and in the same direction as the road cyclists and other traffic.

 

While riding the off-road section at the cradle of humankind recently, on the left hand side, riding the same direction as the road riders which were to my right, I quickly realised that there were too many annoyed riders approaching me in “my lane”, so I reverted back to the road to prevent any nasties.

I have subsequently read in some articles on the web, that the “Cradle Trail section ” is meant to be travelled in a clockwise direction - surely this madness cannot be correct ? 

Most roadgoing groups start of at Something Country , Toadbury or the Rhino Park and do an Anticlockwise ride. 

The groups from Fourways / Broadacres follow the same suit. 

As such, I cannot fathom that someone in their right mind would send trail riders along a set path in a clockwise direction when most of the cradle riding is actually ride anti-clockwise, and on top of it then do it on the wrong side of the road !!!

Do we not have enough carnage on our roads already without still causing potential head-ons between riders ?

 

Currently, when travelling from Rhino park towards Lanseria on the R540 (heading westwards), I see trail cyclists on the opposite roadway travelling the same side of the road as the cars and road cyclists - but only for a short stretch, and then later, they have to cross the road to travel against the general flow of traffic, because the trail on the left side when travelling in an easterly direction has ended.

 

Having mountain bikers travel against the flow of road cyclists on the same side of a stretch of road is ridiculously dangerous, especially in such close proximity to the road riders.

I was riding on the Kromdraai road, R540, from Lanseria towards Rhino park in a westerly direction and came across riders along the Rhino park stretch that were travelling eastwards on both sides of the road, potentially causing disastrous head on collisions with those cyclists that were on the road travelling westerly. 

I have heard of one head-on collision thus far, albeit with minor injuries, and while I was riding, a trail rider overshot a right hand turn (for him) and landed of on the tarred section of the road, approaching our group effectively in “our” lane.

 

All of the trails and trail parks that I have ridden at, in South Africa, are traversed anti-clockwise. The majority (alas, not all) of race events that I’ve entered are planned to be ridden anti-clockwise and social events (think critical mass) are equally planned.

 

Also, travelling anti-clockwise in South Africa (while on the tarred road) means that one always needs to cross intersections to the left, resulting in far less dangerous situations at an intersection than if  one were turning right. 

While turning right at a traffic light intersection might be safe enough when in a car, it poses disastrous consequences for cyclists. 

Similarly, the MTB trails should be ridden in an anti-clockwise direction like in most of the trail parks.

All of the group rides that I join are planned and executed anti-clockwise as much as the journey will allow, regardless if on-road, off-road or a combo of both.

At the very least, the paths at the Cradle should be ridden in the same direction as the road side on which they have been created on.

 

Please may I request that we implement a move to revise the signage and direction that the trail sections need to be ridden.

To me, it would make sense to have a trail following the general direction of travel on the both sides of the road (understandably, as budget allows).

Please let me know if I have my logic twisted.

 

Please let us know your thoughts on this matter.

[hayleyearth]

I have noticed the same thing - me being a road cyclist when I go to the cradle.

Most of the time I go anti-clockwise on the road in the cradle.

What got to me is that the MTBers which then ride in the 'inner circle' and goes clockwise then goes onto the road (thus opposite direction to road riders but in the same lane) at some sections. It is dangerous and I have come accross children (and adults) being totally clueless of how to get out of the way of a road cyclist travelling 40km/h and a car also on the road so no place to swerve out.

 

It blows my mind how mindless some people are!

i hope they fix this before it causes big problems.

[shaper]

to be ridden in a clockwise direction 

 

http://www.treadmtb.co.za/cradle-gateway-2-gateway-trail-update/

[RocknRolla]

As I understand it, the route is still under development, hopefully when fully developed, it will not pose the problems as stated above.

Personally, When I had a ride there for the first time, I seemed to have missed all the "cross over to the other side, chicken" signs and had to backtrack to find the path again. Maybe I just was not paying attention, I also find it difficult to read written instruction while on a MTB, and if one has to stop to read trail signage, it kinda defeats the object.

 

People need to remember that it is still a road, and rules of the road still apply. Look both ways before crossing, keep left, pass right. Perhaps if the signage is clearer, and mtb trail users can cross the road perpendicular in stead of diagonally, it would be safer for both parties.

 

I enjoyed the route as a saturday afternoon late session on the MTB, but the slog back on the tar does f-all for my enjoy-o-meter.

 

 

 

 

 

[facepalm]

Not sure if you have ridden the whole trail, but it switches over the road, so riding in the direction of which side of the tar is parrallel to the trail on will not work

[rudi-h]

to be ridden in a clockwise direction 

 

http://www.treadmtb.co.za/cradle-gateway-2-gateway-trail-update/

 

clearly the guys that built the trail had a specific direction / route in mind which is clock wise (from the article cited above).  They built the trail, we use it...  so then it's their rules!

 

I'd avoid any further debate and do as the trailmaster wishes.  I've not yet been there, but we owe it to the guys that build us trails to call the shots.

[seanrcb]

Is it common trail etiquette that trails are ridden in a clockwise direction especially single track sections with limited passing I'm relative new to the sport so wouldn't like to get on the wrong side other other trail users

[RocknRolla]

Its common trail etiquette to ride the trails in the direction that the signage indicates.

[Pacman777]

Common etiquette/rule is to ride trails anti-clockwise unless indicated differently. Same as international aviation and maritime rules

[LongDonkey]

Small but noticeable concrete pillars about a meter high, are located at regular points that indicate to riders going clockwise that you are going in the correct direction. People going anti clockwise have a small (unfortunately) sign on the pillar saying No entry. It does not Tell the rider it applies to the MTB trail, Guess they made an assumption. Think a pretty sign somewhere would clear this up. 

 

Logic is not necessarily applicable here.

 

Regarding the only one way direction of roadies, i have also seen riders going both ways on the road, they do not only go one way, so this should have very little impact on the MTB sections, or at all.

 

Regarding crossing the road, MTB riders (to my mind) should yield to roadies, cars, trucks and anything else that would prevent them from safely crossing the road in exactly the same manner that a pedestrian would be expected to do.

 

I think the signage could be improved, but general intelligence of the cyclist should apply here. Cyclist unfortunately have a general problem of trying to turn a simple activity it into a "lets try and ride everyone else over" due to misplaced entitlement issues.

 

Not really a rant, but rant off.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

[Ed-Zulu]

Common etiquette/rule is to ride trails anti-clockwise unless indicated differently. Same as international aviation and maritime rules

Do elaborate on the international maritime rules on keeping left, I'm all ears?

[Pacman777]

I didn't say anything about keeping left. If you are in a body of water (eg in a boat pulling a skier) you go anti-clockwise. Similarly the default direction of circuits at airports are anti-clockwise.

[Ispeed_V]

The trail has been designed as a “single direction” trail primarily for safety, user enjoyment and management reasons. The direction of flow is clockwise around the existing road system, known by cyclists as the “Cradle loop”. The trail can be accessed along its entire length and hence it is important for riders to be guided by trail signage. Observations during the last few weeks along the trail have shown that riders often ignore the trail signage and cycle the trail in the wrong direction. This behavior is unacceptable and riders are again reminded of the following:

 

The trail was designed to flow in a clockwise direction – riding in the opposite direction will result in a trail that does not flow well.

Trail signage has been provided to be visible to riders approaching from one side only. Signage will not be visible to users riding the trail in the wrong direction.

The safety and enjoyment of riders on this trail is a design and operational priority. Riding the trail in the wrong direction is highly irresponsible, unacceptable and selfish and a threat to the safety of fellow trail users, property owners and visitors to the area.

[Ed-Zulu]

I didn't say anything about keeping left. If you are in a body of water (eg in a boat pulling a skier) you go anti-clockwise. Similarly the default direction of circuits at airports are anti-clockwise.

Hi Pacman777, aviation wise we all agree, for the rest, clockwise, anti-clockwise, directional indicator etc etc is governed by the rules...

 

Maritime rules change from country to country even in international waters...not wanting to split hairs or argue.

 

Anyhow, trials, follow the markers and don't assume...if you do come across a MAMIL/MAFIL from the opposite direction, be nice and then keep left...

[ChUkKy]

I feel that if you choose to start at Toadbury or the other place, dont be lazy.... ride on the tar and hop onto the trail there by Avianto.

 

Quite simple

 

There we go, a fight avoided on a Friday

 

AdMatt - can I be a mod now?

[Pacman777]

Hi Ed-Zulu, "maritime rules change from country to country..." really? So do ships swop their name lights depending on where they are? Or does the meaning of red and green change depending on location?