Bike-Rail at Dore & Bamford

Being on strike yesterday as I was and not being one for the picket line, took the opportunity for a bit of bike-rail. 

The new Park and Ride site at Dore is full and people are starting to park on verges and local side roads, but the bike racks aren't quite (yet) So, time to encourage a bit of walking, cycling and use of PT to get to the site?

Here are some things that could be done to make it easier to get there sustainably.

There's a bridleway up to Cavendish Rd in Dore that could be upgraded and signed linking into a bike route. A footpath continues up to the village centre - too narrow for cyling but could be better signed as a walking route, with a bike route around the quiet residential streets.

The bridleways through Ecclesall Woods, my favourite route to Dore station from Greystones, could be signed as a route to Dore Station and some sensitive improvements made to make cycling a bit easier.

The no. 70 bus to Dore should be extended down to the station, at least at peak times - maybe the 505, that goes as far as Millhouses as well?

Cycling along Abbeydale Road along this busy stretch is horrible and an off-road alternative is badly needed.

 Car parked on expensively laid grass verges at Dore P+R. How about fining these vandals?

 Still some space in the bike racks.

I fell foul of the gap in the Hope Valley train schedule, arriving for the non-existent 11:14, so pedalled out to Bamford for my next stop. There have been some improvements here: A "Harrington Hump" has been installed, which makes it easier for disabled people to get and off the train (Not cyclists sadly, as the cycle space is at the other end of the train usually)

A ramp has been installed for access to the westbound platform, making it easier for both cyclists and disabled people to use the trains. I'm not sure when this was done but it has weathered in superbly, making it look as though it was part of the original Victorian construction. 

 

There was a well-provisioned information board as well. 
 

I got the train to Marple, forced my way up the hill to the canal (it's steep!)  and pedalled along to Romiley where I got on Route 55, making my way via the Connect2 bridge over the Goyt back to Marple. The intention was to check out an alignment for NCN6 through the town - a link to the Middlewood Way at Rose Hill seems the most viable.Made my way back along the Peak Forest canal, through Bugsworth Basin, and the train home from Chinley where there is no assistance for you to get your bike across the bridge to the platform. Not that strenuous a day but I was knackered when I got home!

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so" - Mark Twain