Caroline and I have been lucky enough to enjoy a recent trip to Brittany where I was generally impressed by the standard of new cycling infrastructure. It struck me that there are lessons to be learnt for whenever the Boniface Trail reaches detailed design stage.

We stayed at a small town by the name of Grand-Champ, about ten miles from the regional centre of Vannes, linked to it via a not very cyclist friendly main road: sounds familiar?

A new cycleway has been constructed using a combination of quiet lanes and purpose built cycle path alongside the main road: sounds familiar?

This felt like a very good provision for the following reasons:

The route has very clear signposting, telling users not only that this is a cycle route (they probably know that), but where it goes to, and distances.

Excellent, clear signs. No chance of getting lost!

Wherever space allows, there is a verge, plus a crash barrier to separate cyclists from traffic.

This felt safe, despite the proximity of fast-moving traffic

 Where there is no room for a verge, the crash barrier is extra-high, which imparts a sense of safety even with traffic close at hand.

This felt safe too, despite being cheek-by-jowl to heavy traffic

The quiet lanes which are used have excellent surfaces, are plenty wide enough for cars and bikes to pass each other, and have excellent sight lines. They are also genuinely quiet.

 An actual safe to use, quiet lane, with a surface of dreams for cyclists

There were incomplete sections when we reached Vannes, but where there were cycle lanes, these had very clearly marked priority at road junctions and roundabouts, which drivers were exemplary in observing.

All points which I think are worth bearing in mind as and when we have further discussions with the Highways people about the Boniface Trail.

I told you it was nerdy!

John Craythorne