Now the Luton Dunstable Busway is almost 5 years old, I thought an update was due from the cycle track perspective. Generally it has matured very nicely and I enjoy it, most of all many, many people benefit significantly in a variety of ways including efficient transport, exercise and well-being. There is quite a lot to share as the Busway is several miles long as it flows from Dunstable through to the adjoining town of Luton so I intend to do a few posts to try and capture everything of note.
Please bear in mind this post is on the Dunstable town centre area, from Station Road to Dog Kennel Walk. The stretch into Luton and Luton itself will be covered in another post(s) soon.
There’s bound to be something I’ve not mentioned. So please, if you have some experience of the Busway, please leave me a comment below so it can be shared with other cyclists and Busway users. Comments will also be helpful for a transport author, Donal Murray, who is currently compiling a book which will include mention of the Busway and he will hopefully find other views interesting.
There have been a number of changes to the Busway and these are captured in the photos below. Most of the changes are positive and I believe there has been good liaison between the two local authorities, Sustrans, the local cycling forum and members of the public like myself.
The impression I have is that the buses are well used, particularly commuters travelling between the two towns and especially commuters who then hop off at the train station to easily travel into London. Often I have seen buses absolutely full at the start of the day. Even at 11:00pm the buses are well used as we witnessed when we flew into Luton airport earlier this year and caught the bus home. There were so many airport workers on board!
The cycle track itself is also well used, although I don’t have any numbers. I did enquire at Travel Choices but I was told a manager would have to be consulted and I haven’t heard since. I did consider a Freedom of Information request and I have hesitated (just for now) as it would need to be directed towards my employer. Nevertheless it is a delight when I have my early morning runs to see the cycle track being well used by cyclists, joggers, runners, dog walkers and others simply walking along the track. This is tremendous.
The busway has hit the local headlines in recent years. From memory there have been a small number of crashes involving buses crashing into each other, sometimes with serious injuries. The most notable news stories have been trucks, vans and even cars getting onto the busway and then getting stuck (there are car traps at the entry/exit points). Whether drivers have genuinely made a mistake, or perhaps a satnav error has occurred, I’m not sure. Maybe a few have simply tried their luck and failed.
Perhaps the most significant change has been the resurfacing from a rough stony surface to ultra smooth tarmac. The surface to start with was simply too rough and the stones were too large. Yet they had gradually broken down over the years and had become a course, gritty path which was fine for cycling on. Actually it was a nice surface for running on and it provided a good grip in icy conditions benefitting runners and cyclists alike. Now the smooth tarmac has been installed, it is lovely for cycling on and a credit to the contractors who carried out the work. They’ve even installed solar powered LED Lights!
Other changes have taken place and these are commented in the photo cations below. Please remember you can leave a comment at the bottom of this post for everyone to see (after I have moderated it).
New signage at Station Road entrance
Further Busway signage with distances
Station Road entry, now without the annoying A frame barriers
Generally the Busway is well maintained but on-going care is needed
Near Station Road entrance. I think a metal sculpture used to be here?
From Station Road towards Luton, passing Blows Downs on new tarmac surface
Towards Station Road flats
Numerous solar powered LED lights have been installed (Spring 2018)
Busway bridge over Church Street, Dunstable (A505)
Panoramic from Busway bridge of A505 Dunstable
Family cycling near Sainsbury’s
New entrance from Busway to Sainsbury’s site
Varied and natural flowers on the Busway
A green corridor through Dunstable?
Dog Kennel Walk bridge over the Busway (very well used)
CCTV in an area of anti-social behaviour? Interesting loud speaker….?
Near White Lion bus stop
I do like these sculptures – but so few!
Plenty of local signage
Here’s a link to my main Busway article back in 2013 – click here
Busway tagged posts – click here and for page 2 click here
RSS – Posts
I keep thinking… haven’t been on it on my power chair yet
Should be easy as height of stop is same as bus
I have used the busway since it opened. To travel to work. From opening until mid may I worked in Luton and travelled from Dunstable. Was very quick and easy to get into and out of work for me making life very easy. I now use it once a day around 6am to get into Luton from Portland ride bus stop before getting another bus out to different part of Luton. Still good service and busy as pick up some shift workers who have finished a night shift. Also do see lots of people using the path alongside it for walking running cycling and dog walking. I also sometimes use parts of it for running and is very good for that if you want a section of flatish ground to run on.
Thanks for all of your informative articles. Although not directly relevant here, I have one question that I can’t find an answer to. Why is cycling not permitted in the Luton rail / coach station section? I find this astonishing and inexplicable Perhaps you could comment on this on a future update?
Hi John
Thanks for leaving a comment and also for your question. I’m afraid I don’t know the answer but I will Tweet Luton Borough Council and ask them. While I’m doing this on your behalf, it is an issue which effects other cyclists i.e. those cycling to the train station or going on to a further destination.
I must admit I have cycle that stretch myself. I’ve always done it slowly, respectfully and carefully, knowing it wasn’t part of a cycle route.
I’ll let you know as a response comes through.
Hi John
Luton Borough Council have replied to my Tweeted enquiry as follows:
“For safety reasons we advise cyclists coming from the Dunstable direction to use the road leading to the taxi rank/drop off area, then cut across the paved area in front of the station, finally rejoining the road beyond the bus entry bollards”.
The following link https://twitter.com/TheCycleHub_net/status/1026434980476530688 also includes some information from my friend Barry who comments on the signage coming from the other direction.
So I hope this helps – take good care out there!