Last year I wrote a letter to our local Councillors complaining about some aspects of
the cycle route 10 (also named Reivers Cycle Route). This was after
we accompanied a Dutch friend of ours who had cycled up from Harwich
and was taking the ferry back from Newcastle so we cycled with him along route 10.
I recently received a letter from the Councillors asking if I was satisfied with the
response I had received. So I (well, Margie and the dog came with me) cycled along the route
to see what had changed.
I will send a letter to the Councillors pointing to this web page.
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2376 7370
Margie is at the first obstacle. :-( Not a big one, but an annoying one.
It is meant to be a speed hump to slow down vehicles, but it does not, it is just a bump
for cyclists.
There are 9 of them at 100 metre intervals.
They are a complete waste of council tax payers' money
and just another, albeit minor, obstacle for cyclists.
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2368 7368
This is not on the cycle track but just 100 metres from it.
The bridge is fine, it links two bits of land where people walk and play.
But why not set it down so that it is level with the ground?
It beggers belief that North Tyneside Council could do such a thing. :-(
Once again an awful waste of tax payers' money. Who authorised it?
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2368 7368
This is the other end, not even horses can use it.
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A good idea to have bins for dog shit, but why not have a routine emptying?
And whilst you are at it, can we have a litter bin here too
because every day I walk my dog round here and return with a handful of litter.
If there was a litter bin maybe people would use it, I would put my handful in.
But it must be emptied every week! :-(
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2402 7349
We have crossed the old Great North Road and are on the track of the old railway
from the Seaton Burn Colliery down to the River Tyne.
We come to the first barrier. Horses can step over to the right.
Pedestrians can step through the middle.
But cyclists have to dismount and lug their bicycles through the obstacle. :-(
A single buggy is difficult, a double impossible, as is a wheelchair
or these electric wheelchairs which are becoming more popular.
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After that the cycle track is really nice. :-)
A good surface, firm enough for horses as well as cycles.
Verdant growth on either side, a real pleasure to cycle on, but ...
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We come to a double barrier :-(
How much did this cost?!?!
It is my money that I have worked hard for, being wasted in this way.
I think it is meant to stop the off-road motor-cyclists
but it does not, they regard such obstacles as piffling, a challenge,
which they surmount and win access to the cycle tracks.
The only way to stop them is to catch them at it,
impound and crush their motorbikes.
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2523 7243
The cycle track alongside the Weetslade Pit Heap is rough. :-(
It could do with a road roller or two. Just crush those stones to sand size.
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This is the way forward along the cycle track, but is not obvious where to go.
When I was last here it was almost impassable because it was churned up by heavy
construction traffic. It is good to see it restored. But it is like cycling over a field. :-(
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Have to watch out for the stinging nettles here. :-(
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After a short road section around High Weetslade -
(Can the cycle track be routed along the old railway track so avoiding the road?)
- it gets back on to the dismantled railway to go under the A19, but which way to go
left or right? :-(
A bollard from a dismantled obstacle could be used here with a
little blue arrow pointing to the left hand archway.
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After going under the A19 and over the East Coast Mainline
(it is a real pleasure to see the area between has been cleaned up)
and another improvement, the cycle track beyond has been resurfaced. :-)
One problem is that horses also use the track and their hooves are beginning to break up the surface.
Another big improvement is that the litter has been removed, :-)
this section of cycleway 10 was very badly littered.
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2677 7224
Another pleasant surprise, an obstacle has been removed here! :-)
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Another barrier has been removed here. :-) We were assured that this part will be tarmacked
After crossing the road there is a choice of two paths, and since the lamp posts
in North Tyneside have been replaced many of the cycle route signs have been lost.
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Indeed on the other side of the road there is a cycle route sign that suggests the
right fork is the route, :-(
but I knew it was the left fork we needed.
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Several route signs are missing through the estate (because lamp posts have been replaced) :-(
but we found our way to exit the estate.
If there must be barriers then this sort is much preferred, a cyclist just has
to put a foot down and does not have to dismount. :-)
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2733 7217
At the end of the alley cyclists are confronted with this. :-( A simple removal of the two
horizontal railway sleepers and making good the surface would be a great improvement.
OS Grid Ref: NZ 2733 7217
Immediatly afterwards one is confronted by a steep slope with a loose surface :-(
so bad one has to dismount.
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Then begins a ride uphill, only marred by the litter, :-( but otherwise very pleasant. :-)
Skylarks singing above -
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- house martins skimming the reeds, swans, coots with young, moorhens, ducks
a sheer delight. :-)
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Over the top, the highest elevation, and down but
watch out, this section of old railway track has some large holes! :-(
Made by rabbits?
Do not cycle close behind another person.
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After a road section :-( through Backworth one turns off to be confronted by another obstacle :-(
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Once again dismount and lug a laden bike through it.
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This sign suggests we should go back. :-(
If it was turned through 90 degrees indicating we should not go up the slope and through the fence
it would be fine.
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This whole section is dreary :-( -
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- and if you miss this little arrow you go straight on, which is the wrong way. :-(
Another bollard from a dismantled barrier could be placed at the junction with a blue arrow.
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This is the correct way but it is not marked and looks unpromising. :-(
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And another of those awful barriers. :-(
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This is as far as we went. That is the A168 through Shiremoor.
It is a busy road. :-( We need a pedestrian crossing here.
We will do the Shiremoor to the ferry terminal another day, the 13.3 mile round trip
was enough for the dog.