The Borough
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council includes the towns of Basingstoke, Tadley and Whitchurch (Hampshire). Other than the main urban areas, there is lots of countryside with quiet roads good for leisure riding, plus some off-road routes. The cycling infrastructure in the towns is not great at the moment, but the Borough Council have agreed and are implementing a Cycling Strategy. If you wish to give feedback on the Cycling Strategy, please see the page on CycleScape.
Extensive development in Basingstoke is taking its toll on cycling infrastructure. The NCN23 was severed for several months between Chineham and Bramley, whilst Cufaude Lane was linked to the A33, making the single lane road with poor visibility even more of a rat run. There are also proposals by developers to remove existing infrastructure in the west of Basingstoke in order to provide for the additional motor traffic predicted. Some of the new developers are interested in sustainable transport and have proposed to build in high-quality cycling infrastructure from the start.
Cycle Basingstoke
Cycle Basingstoke is campaigning on behalf of cyclists and those who would like to cycle in the Borough. Cycle Basingstoke is a not-for-profit organisation formed by residents from across the borough of Basingstoke and Deane wanting better conditions for cycling – cycle friendly roads and cycle paths and routes which are fit for purpose. We want cycle routes that go all the way, are safe, convenient, direct and easy to use. We want better parking facilities too. We want to help more people cycle. To achieve this we lobby local politicians, participate in public consultations, gather public support and help cyclists.
Cycle Routes in the Basingstoke & Deane Borough area
Routes in the Borough include the SusTrans NCN23 and NCN246, the Cycling Discoveries in North Hampshire network, Hampshire Off Road Cycle Trails, but the Basingstoke Canal is only cyclable outside the Borough. Tourist destinations include Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle), Basingstoke Canal, The Vyne (National Trust), Basing House, Milestones Living History Museum, and Calleva Atrebatum Roman ruins near Silchester. Most of these, with the exception of Highclere Castle, are served by the Cycling Discoveries network. Since the Cycling Discoveries maps are hard to find, links are at the bottom of this article.
Reporting problems
You can report day-to-day problems to the local area's Councils using these websites:-
Potholes: http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/
Street lighting: http://lightsoninhampshire.co.uk/
Rights of Way: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/rightsofway-reporting.htm
Flytipping, graffiti, pavements, parking, traffic lights, etc.: http://osm.fixmystreet.com/
For more significant issues, please contact Cycle Basingstoke, ideally via our CycleScape site, but otherwise you can find email addresses on Cycle Basingstoke's main website.
Cycling Discoveries routes
The two on-road routes cover:-
The off-road routes are:-
See also a full list of photos in this area.
Cycling Discoveries sign points southwest towards Cole Henley Location: , Whitnal (England, United Kingdom)
too many bollards near the eastern end of Wella Cycle Track, looking west - these are so close together that it's easy to hit one, or easier to use the footpath
too many bollards near the eastern end of Wella Cycle track, looking east - these are so close together that it's easy to hit one, or easier to use the footpath
Cycling Discoveries sign pointing south towards Preston Candover in Axford Location: , Axford (England, United Kingdom)
Cycling Discoveries sign pointing east to Axford and Bridleway sign pointing north to Farleigh Wallop Location: , Axford (England, United Kingdom)
looking west along Berrydown Lane at junction with Green Lane Location: , Moundsmere (England, United Kingdom)
looking east at Green Lane, Axford Road, Berrydown Lane junction Location: , Ellisfield (England, United Kingdom)
looking west towards Bedlam Bottom and Farleigh Wallop Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
looking east along Grammarsham Lane, away from Farleigh Wallop Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
Cycling Discoveries, Hampshire Off-Road Trail, and Bridleway signs pointing south from Grammarsham Lane Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
Cycling Discoveries sign pointing to Broadmere church Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Cycling Discoveries sign pointing left at Broadmere church Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
limited visibility - looking south from Cliddesden Duck Pond, showing Cycling Discoveries and NCN23 south along Church Lane Location: , Cliddesden (England, United Kingdom)
Bushywarren Lane, towards Alton Road, from College Lane Location: , Ellisfield (England, United Kingdom)
Worting Road cycle lane, looking west, in Basingstoke, showing pavement parkers Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Cycle path ends before road, and with a raised kerb, Lower Brook Street/Millennium Court, Basingstoke Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom) Note to Councils - ending a cycle path 1-2 metres before a road, and without a dro ... [more]
looking west up the hill from the Public Bridleway towards Farleigh Wallop and the byway Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
along the lane through Bedlam Bottom and Norton Wood (the surface gets worse) Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
Green Lane, Ellisfield with Cycling Discoveries sign on Furzen Lane sign Location: , Ellisfield (England, United Kingdom)
Cycling Discoveries sign pointing northwest along Green Lane in Ellisfield Location: , Ellisfield (England, United Kingdom)
Permissive cyclepath to right, bridleway straight on Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Permissive Footpath and Cyclepath to left; Public Footpath and Permissive Cyclepath to right Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
NCN23 cycle route sign near junction to Cliddesden Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
NCN23 crosses the road and goes to the left; section to the right is narrow Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
looking towards subway 1732, with section of Basingstoke to Alton Light Railway between Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Bicycle direction sign in the cyclepath under Viables Roundabout Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Subway 1733 is to the right, and Jays Close is to the left, up the slope Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Looking west along the cycle path from subway 1734 to subway 1733 Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Looking north towards subway 1734, from the cycle path Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
subway 1734, looking south towards other cycle path Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
Parking outside Enterprise Mouchel, Jays Close, Viables Industrial Estate, Basingstoke Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
looing west along Hackwood Lane, Cliddesden, away from A339 Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
looking east from Hackwood Lane to A339, showing 50 mph sign and 30 mph painted in road Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
looking southwest along Hackwood Lane in Cliddesden, away from A339 Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)
looking northwest along road with no name, showing 40 mph sign and 30 mph painted on road Location: , Herriard (England, United Kingdom)
looking northwest along Back Lane in Southrope, showing 30 mph signs Location: , Herriard (England, United Kingdom)
Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway information sign. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Railways_Act_1896
The bike racks outside The Southern Co-Operative in South Ham are too close to the wall and fence, so adult bikes do not fit
Road sign too low (prevents view of northbound traffic) and potholes on B3046 at junction with Basingstoke and Farleigh Wallop Location: , Farleigh Wallop (England, United Kingdom)
Example of pothole on southeast bound carriageway between Farleigh Mortimer and the farm track, on Beggarwood Lane - these are common in this location Location: , Basingstoke (England, United Kingdom)