Cycling in Spain problem... [Archive]

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May 31st 07, 10:13 AM

I'm working in Spain, at Jerez Airport next month. I was hoping to
cycle to and from work - the only problem is there seems to be no way
other than via the busy A4 (see http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1003818).
As I understood the law in Spain, use of an Autovia was permitted when
there is no alternative, but my correspondence (see below) with the
tourist office suggests otherwise. Anyone got any experience of a
situation like this?

Thanks!

jcb

***

I am afraid you cannot cycle to the airport, but there is a daily bus
from
the Bus Station to
the airport, perhaps this option could be suitable for you.

Regards,

TOURIST OFFICE
Juana Mª Gutierrez

-----Mensaje original-----
De: John Cieslik-Bridgen ]
Enviado el: miércoles, 30 de mayo de 2007 15:55
Para:
Asunto: Cycling in Spain - some questions

Hello - I wonder if you can help.

I am visiting Jerez later in June, and planning on cycling during my
stay. The purpose of my trip is to work at the airport -
I will be staying in the town, and travelling to the airport each day.

The only road from the town to the airport appears to be the A4
Autovia
del Sur - will it be legal to cycle on this road, given that there is
no
other route?

Are there any other legal requirements for cycling in Spain that I
should know?

Adrian Boliston

May 31st 07, 10:45 AM

Dan Gregory

May 31st 07, 10:46 AM

wrote:
> I'm working in Spain, at Jerez Airport next month. I was hoping to
> cycle to and from work - the only problem is there seems to be no way
> other than via the busy A4 (see http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1003818).

I just looked at a map I have and there is a road from Guadalcacin to
the Southern edge of the airport. Guadalcacin is an easy ride by bike,
but whether you can gain access to the airport zone from there I don't
know..
http://www.elcallejero.com/visualizador/plano_car.asp?idprovincia=11&idpoblacion=18039&x=224105&y=4067582&escala=100000

[email protected]

May 31st 07, 11:24 AM

Colin MacDonald

May 31st 07, 12:10 PM

On 31 May, 11:24, wrote:
> Alternatively, if you zoom right in on google maps, you can see a
> separate parallel road right next to the autovia on the NW side. It
> serves a few buildings on the north of the autovia, and has links to
> the airport and Jerez. Satellite view suggests its the same colour as
> other proper roads so hopefully its surfaced.

Google Earth seems to confirm this and it looks surfaced, rather than
dirt track. There's also a road on the other side of the main road,
and GE has it ending in what looks like an industrial estate that's
still being built. I'd say there's a fighting chance that it has been
finished since the satellite photos were taken and it may give you a
more direct option.

Colin

[email protected]

May 31st 07, 02:08 PM

On 31 May, 11:24, wrote:
> Alternatively, if you zoom right in on google maps, you can see a
> separate parallel road right next to the autovia on the NW side. It
> serves a few buildings on the north of the autovia, and has links to
> the airport and Jerez. Satellite view suggests its the same colour as
> other proper roads so hopefully its surfaced.

Live Earth confirms the route and gives it a separate number.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=36.731868~-6.094&style=r&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&encType=1

It also links to Camino de Espera for a possibly nicer route to the
town centre.

Rob

JP[_4_]

May 31st 07, 02:49 PM

On 31 May, 10:13, " >
wrote:
> I'm working in Spain, at Jerez Airport next month. I was hoping to
> cycle to and from work - the only problem is there seems to be no way
> other than via the busy A4 (seehttp://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1003818).
> As I understood the law in Spain, use of an Autovia was permitted when
> there is no alternative, but my correspondence (see below) with the
> tourist office suggests otherwise. Anyone got any experience of a
> situation like this?
>
> Thanks!
>
> jcb
>
> ***
>
> I am afraid you cannot cycle to the airport, but there is a daily bus
> from
> the Bus Station to
> the airport, perhaps this option could be suitable for you.
>
> Regards,
>
> TOURIST OFFICE
> Juana Mª Gutierrez
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: John Cieslik-Bridgen ]
> Enviado el: miércoles, 30 de mayo de 2007 15:55
> Para:
> Asunto: Cycling in Spain - some questions
>
> Hello - I wonder if you can help.
>
> I am visiting Jerez later in June, and planning on cycling during my
> stay. The purpose of my trip is to work at the airport -
> I will be staying in the town, and travelling to the airport each day.
>
> The only road from the town to the airport appears to be the A4
> Autovia
> del Sur - will it be legal to cycle on this road, given that there is
> no
> other route?
>
> Are there any other legal requirements for cycling in Spain that I
> should know?

I know this area very well.
You don't go on the autovia.The last time I was there was about 18
months ago, they were still building the autovia around Jerez as a
sort of by-pass, and you could still cycle on the main road N4 all the
way to the airport
This is a Carretera Nacional equivalent of our A roads. Bear in mind
this road gets a lot of lorries who refuse to pay/use the nearby tolls
on the Autopista. However, Spanish main roads do have a lovely painted
white line several yards from the edge of the road, so you have a
'protected gutter' space.
My current Spanish map shows they were building the autovia in
parallel to the N4 but not replacing it.
If you wanted to do some off road stuff exploring I have seen that
there's a track that runs parralel to the main road. It's just as the
airport road joins the N road. Whether it goes all the way into Jerez
I'm not sure, but worthy of an explore.

HTH
Enjoy Jerez it's a lovely place, in parts!

TerryJ

May 31st 07, 04:18 PM

>
> > I am visiting Jerez later in June, and planning on cycling during my
> > stay. The purpose of my trip is to work at the airport -
> > Are there any other legal requirements for cycling in Spain that I
> > should know?

Perhaps the tourist office( which might just be a girl with some
leaflets, I don't know) could get you in contact with a local cycle
club.They will probably know and might even guide you if you're
lucky.You can get good maps of some areas of Spain from Stanfords on-
line but it sounds like the new by-pass will make them obsolete in
parts.The tourist offices in some places have selections of good maps
or newsagent shops.

TerryJ

Jan

May 31st 07, 05:37 PM

TerryJ wrote:
>>> I am visiting Jerez later in June, and planning on cycling during my
>>> stay. The purpose of my trip is to work at the airport -
>>> Are there any other legal requirements for cycling in Spain that I
>>> should know?
>
> Perhaps the tourist office( which might just be a girl with some
> leaflets, I don't know) could get you in contact with a local cycle
> club.They will probably know and might even guide you if you're
> lucky.You can get good maps of some areas of Spain from Stanfords on-
> line but it sounds like the new by-pass will make them obsolete in
> parts.The tourist offices in some places have selections of good maps
> or newsagent shops.
>
> TerryJ

Spanish Tourism and cycling..............
A few years ago....
Plaza Mayor, Madrid .Tourist Office. "Can you tell me where tomorrows TT
stage of the Vuelta starts from ". " Er No, sorry can't help" She asks work
colleagues. No idea. and no information.
So next day we guess the route ( by adverising banners) and find our spot on
Gran Via. We watched the highlights on tv that night. Guess where the start
ramp was?

Yep. right outside the TO in Plaza Mayor!!

We've had similar experiences during the Tour of Murcia as well.

Jan

RobDee

May 31st 07, 05:44 PM

> wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm working in Spain, at Jerez Airport next month. I was hoping to
cycle to and from work - the only problem is there seems to be no way
other than via the busy A4 (see http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1003818).
As I understood the law in Spain, use of an Autovia was permitted when
there is no alternative, but my correspondence (see below) with the
tourist office suggests otherwise. Anyone got any experience of a
situation like this?

There has been a recent change in the law (improved condiciones for
cyclists) which allows cyslists to use the borders of Autovias unless there
are specific painted prohibition signs in that location:

http://www.autovia.com/legislacion/nls-vial.php

However, most autovias are the last places you would want to cycle. I live
just yards from the notorious N340 and personally I make huge detours to
avoid travelling even a few km on it. I cringe when I see cyclists risking
their necks as they travel along some of these roads. It doesn't help to see
the ugly stats above all the motorway bridges - "72 killed on the same
weekend last year" - etc etc. My colleagues best mate was killed just 2
weeks back - typical situation - everyone drives up the ass of the vehicle
in front (hence the very common sight of rear end shunts in Spain) - the
front car pulls out last second to miss the bike (indicators - what are
they?) and the following vehicle wallops straight into the unsuspecting
cyclist. When forced to travel on a road for any length of time I grit my
teeth and can't wait for the first chance to escape. I think that's why I'm
a confirmed off roader - much more peaceful and a fair chance of living to
see the next day.

Sorry to be a bit negative - but you really should look for a better (safer)
route.

Rob

Thanks!

jcb

***

I am afraid you cannot cycle to the airport, but there is a daily bus
from
the Bus Station to
the airport, perhaps this option could be suitable for you.

Regards,

TOURIST OFFICE
Juana Mª Gutierrez

-----Mensaje original-----
De: John Cieslik-Bridgen ]
Enviado el: miércoles, 30 de mayo de 2007 15:55
Para:
Asunto: Cycling in Spain - some questions

Hello - I wonder if you can help.

I am visiting Jerez later in June, and planning on cycling during my
stay. The purpose of my trip is to work at the airport -
I will be staying in the town, and travelling to the airport each day.

The only road from the town to the airport appears to be the A4
Autovia
del Sur - will it be legal to cycle on this road, given that there is
no
other route?

Are there any other legal requirements for cycling in Spain that I
should know?

[email protected]

May 31st 07, 10:37 PM

Thanks to all for suggestions and advice! Updates as follows:

1) When asked to double check, the tourist office confirmed that you
can cycle on the Autovia, unless there signs indicating otherwise
(which there aren't). Rob - I agree, I'd much rather not ride on it...
So...

2) I also got in touch with the local cycling club (good plan Terry)
who confirmed that the parallel track that the others spotted above is
indeed the best and safest route to the airport.

A pity that the tourist office was pretty useless, but good to track
down the best route. So thank you all again - looking forward to my
stay in Jerez much more now!

Cheers guys - I like it when the internet is actually useful!!

JP[_4_]

May 31st 07, 10:57 PM

On 31 May, 22:37, " >
wrote:
> Thanks to all for suggestions and advice! Updates as follows:
>
> 1) When asked to double check, the tourist office confirmed that you
> can cycle on the Autovia, unless there signs indicating otherwise
> (which there aren't). Rob - I agree, I'd much rather not ride on it...
> So...
>
> 2) I also got in touch with the local cycling club (good plan Terry)
> who confirmed that the parallel track that the others spotted above is
> indeed the best and safest route to the airport.
>
> A pity that the tourist office was pretty useless, but good to track
> down the best route. So thank you all again - looking forward to my
> stay in Jerez much more now!
>
> Cheers guys - I like it when the internet is actually useful!!

The track starts right behind a place called ''Club'' something or
other.
I'm sure other guys at the aeropuerto will tell what sort of ''Club''
it actually is.
I mistook it for a bar/ hotel in my curiousity, when I was desperately
looking for a pee. Only to be told it wasn't open. Strange I thought a
hotel not open at 4.30 pm. So down the exploratory track for a pee.
Which was exactly how I found this parallel track.
It's very gravelly with mega potholes in places, but as other have
suggested safer than tangling with the idiots who come tear arsing up
the car in front only to brake hard and sit on their chuff.
We used to joke that the Spanish driving test was actually along the
lines of now I want you to drive fast up to car in front brake and
stay within 2 metres from the bumber whilst maintaining a speed of 180
km/h for the next 5kms.

Hope you can see the route (on google maps) into Jerez without any of
the main roads.
If you get time take a trip to Arcos de Frontera and check out the
view from the restaurant in the Parador.
Also be careful they certainly don't respect cyclist's there.

Enjoy Jerez, mostly it is wonderful.

P K

June 1st 07, 12:21 PM

"JP" > wrote in message
ps.com...
> On 31 May, 22:37, " >
> wrote:
>> Thanks to all for suggestions and advice! Updates as follows:
>>
>> 1) When asked to double check, the tourist office confirmed that you
>> can cycle on the Autovia, unless there signs indicating otherwise
>> (which there aren't). Rob - I agree, I'd much rather not ride on it...
>> So...
>>
>> 2) I also got in touch with the local cycling club (good plan Terry)
>> who confirmed that the parallel track that the others spotted above is
>> indeed the best and safest route to the airport.
>>
>> A pity that the tourist office was pretty useless, but good to track
>> down the best route. So thank you all again - looking forward to my
>> stay in Jerez much more now!
>>
>> Cheers guys - I like it when the internet is actually useful!!
>
> The track starts right behind a place called ''Club'' something or
> other.
> I'm sure other guys at the aeropuerto will tell what sort of ''Club''
> it actually is.
> I mistook it for a bar/ hotel in my curiousity, when I was desperately
> looking for a pee. Only to be told it wasn't open. Strange I thought a
> hotel not open at 4.30 pm. So down the exploratory track for a pee.
> Which was exactly how I found this parallel track.
> It's very gravelly with mega potholes in places, but as other have
> suggested safer than tangling with the idiots who come tear arsing up
> the car in front only to brake hard and sit on their chuff.
> We used to joke that the Spanish driving test was actually along the
> lines of now I want you to drive fast up to car in front brake and
> stay within 2 metres from the bumber whilst maintaining a speed of 180
> km/h for the next 5kms.
>
> Hope you can see the route (on google maps) into Jerez without any of
> the main roads.
> If you get time take a trip to Arcos de Frontera and check out the
> view from the restaurant in the Parador.
> Also be careful they certainly don't respect cyclist's there.
>
> Enjoy Jerez, mostly it is wonderful.
>
Hi we have just returned from this area, it is very flat. Consider catching
a train with your bike say to San Fernando station. This would give access
on minor roads to some of the white villages, Medina Sidonia, Vejer, Arcos
and we could recommend a longer route - very hilly and scenic to Grazalema
situated in the national park (our personal favourite).

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