trundle you’re probably aware of this but the Botley Road is closed so that means people will have to walk the 100yds or so from Friedswide Square to the Botley Road.
I did that walk about a month ago and found it rather tedious! I think this works as a diversion* , but I have NOT seen the official route, the Org may have a better solution ...
*(note you are NOT on the A34, just a brief bit of path adjacent to it, then 3km of quiet/rural roads. I've walked most of this, never ridden it.)
As you come down the ramp to the A34 there's a small cycle path sign on a post (in front of a dirty great roadworks sign) which directs you onto the quieter road down to Wytham BUT i saw (from my car) that that road is closed as well - I think it's not a proper road closure (just something to do with the roadworks at the RAB) but if someone is local it would be interesting to know.
I’m “pretty sure” it’s just there to stop drivers from doing what your planning and using the road through Wytham as a rat run whilst the roadworks are in place.
I use this route once a week and it is open to cyclists. It is, however, closed to cars; the bit of road between the cyclist's 'gap through the hedge' and the A420 is being used as site compound for the roadworks on the roundabout.
With the recent rain, there is a good chance the road from Wytham to Wolvercote will be flooded later this week as it was only a few cm below the road last weekend.
BTW, to use the cycle path from the B4044 (after Cumnor Hill) that joins up with the 'gap through the hedge', you turn left onto the path just before the A34 flyover. This takes you up alongside the A34 exit sliproad to the crossings at the end of the A420 on the Botley roundabout. Using the crossings means you end up on the cycle path that runs alongside the A34 N entry sliproad without having to bunny hop up the curb from the sliproad. It's only shared pavement, but can save a hairy moment trying to get onto the pavement from the sliproad in the path of oncoming lorries.
