Cycling in Dover District

The consultation for phase 2 of the River Dour Greenway cycle route between Ladywell and the seafront in Dover has just opened. Please view and fill in the consultation documents which include maps of the route and a questionnaire. This can be returned to Traffic Schemes Team, Highways and Transportation, Kent County Council, Ashford Highway Depot, Henwood Industrial Estate, Javelin Way, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8AD. Alternatively you can email traffic.schemes@kent.gov.uk, making it clear that you’re commenting on this scheme.

Consultation responses need to be received by Monday 5th March.

Spokes member Chris Harrington has emailed us to point out that the portion of National Cycle Route 1 between Sandwich and Deal through the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club will be closed during next month’s Open Golf championship. Thanks for letting us know, Chris.

We’ve asked all of the candidates for councillors in Ashford Borough, Canterbury District, Dover District, Shepway District, Swale Borough, and Thanet District for their views on a number of cycling-related topics. Their answers can be found on our May 2011 election page.

Dover district cycle forum will be re-forming on 31st January. The initial meeting will be at Royal Hotel (Map room), Beach Street, Deal between 18:15 and 20:00. Anybody interested in progressing cycling facilities in Dover district is invited to attend.

Phase 1b of the construction of the River Dour Greenway cycle route in Dover is about to get underway. For details see the press release and background information from the Future Routes section of this website.

Spokes is pleased to hear that construction work started today on first phase of the River Dour cycle route that we blogged about back in February. Construction will take approximately three weeks. Once complete this phase will link Dover town centre with Buckland Bridge. Later phases are intended to extend the route so that it eventually links Crabble and River to Dover seafront.

Background information on the River Dour Greenway can be found in the Future Routes section of our website.

Maps and guides are now online for the free Big Wheel of Kent cycle event on Sunday 13th June:

• Ashford to Canterbury
• Deal to Canterbury via Sandwich
• Faversham to Canterbury
• Herne Bay to Canterbury via Whitstable
• Maidstone to Canterbury
• Ramsgate to Canterbury via Sandwich
• Rochester to Canterbury
• Sandwich to Canterbury
• Sittingbourne to Canterbury via Faversham
• Stalisfield to Canterbury
• Whitstable to Canterbury
• Canterbury circular ride via Goodnestone
• Canterbury circular ride via Bishopsbourne

The Folkestone to Canterbury map and guide will be online in the next few days.

On Sunday 25th and Tuesday 27th April Spokes lead a group of over 20 French schoolchildren and their teachers on a cycle ride along National Cycle Route 1 from Dover, via Sandwich to Canterbury, then Regional Cycle Route 16 back to Dover again. Much fun was had by everyone.

It appears that B&Q in Dover are attempting to compete with Canterbury’s Whitefriars shopping centre for the worst cycle parking in east Kent. B&Q’s cycle parking, pictured, is left completely inaccessible due to the large number of trolleys stored there.

Kent County Council and Kent Highway Services are currently consulting on a proposed cycle route that roughly follows the river Dour in Dover. Plans for phase 1 of this route are now available online to view. We encourage you to write in support of these plans. Click here for more details on the River Dour Cycle Route.