Oxford ring road crash barrier to prevent illegal parking

A crash barrier is expected to be installed on the ring road between Redbridge Park and Ride and Heyford roundabout this summer to protect cyclists and the northern side of the bridge over Weir Mill Stream.

Cars, vans and lorries illegally parked on the A423 walking and cycle path (Image: Anna Railton)

For several years, cars and lorries have reportedly posed a danger by parking illegally off the national speed limit road on the shared walking and cycling path.

Now, a crash barrier, which is expected to be installed this summer, will protect those travelling by bike.

Robin Tucker. (Image: Submitted)

Robin Tucker, chairman of the Oxfordshire Cycling Network said installing the crash barrier “sounds like a good plan that should have happened long ago.”

He said: “The ring road cycle track, which is a great asset for Oxford, providing a safe and almost continuous route around two-thirds of the city, from Wolvercote to Kennington, is being ruined by a tiny minority of drivers.

“All driving creates some danger for people but about 50 people a year are killed on pavements by cars, so this is unacceptable and should be strongly enforced against.”

He raised concerns about crashes, which he says are rare but possible.

Mr Tucker added: “There is a smashed down signpost at the start of the gap which shows the possibility of an out-of-control vehicle leaving the carriageway and I have been met with vehicles driving up and down the cycle track which is off-putting, turning the safe space for cycling into a place for danger.”

Where vehicles exit on to the national speed limit A423 off the walking and cycle path (Image: Anna Railton)

He also raised general safety concerns as the vehicles re-enter the ring road across a grassed-verge and kerb.

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Jane Gibb, infrastructure and operations lead at cycling campaign group Cyclox, said the group has raised repeated concerns but welcomes the plans.

She said: “Installing a crash barrier is a straightforward safety improvement that should already be in place.

“It should prevent vehicles from accessing the cycle track and address this issue directly and may also have the added benefit of reducing glare from car headlights for people using the route.”

Paul Troop, a cyclist and chairman of Bicester Bike Users’ Group, described using the route as “unpleasant.”

He said: “Drivers parking there illegally have obstructed the pedestrian and cycle paths and have dug up the grass verges, leaving the paths muddy, obstructed, and dangerous to use.

“Those drivers cause a safety hazard when they drive over the verge to exit into a 70mph dual-carriageway, also illegally.

“The crash barrier is primarily to protect the integrity of the bridge from out of control drivers, but will also have the consequence of discouraging this sort of irresponsible driving.”