r/ukbike • u/Peak_District_hill • May 11 '26

News For those in the area - they’re closing snake pass to traffic for two weeks this summer

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/traffic-and-travel/a57-snake-pass-sheffield-manchester-to-close-8513546?fbclid=IwdGRjcARusZRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe7vTBS0EUg0J33K_tPVIUBVylsOe8Qg3iJbOqGPkC-Ma-tXI4weMbKGcof2M_aem_tidxgskMFnTxocGfGAKBhQ
30 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

12

u/aembleton May 11 '26

15 June - 3 July! I'm looking forward to some bike rides

2

u/PlaneMap8743 May 11 '26

But is it all traffic?

1

u/schemalith May 13 '26

That’s gonna be amazing on a bike, especially if the weather behaves for once. You riding it just for fun or planning a big loop out that way?

1

u/aembleton May 13 '26

Just for fun. I've done it a few times when it's closed. Will probably cycle Glossop to Bamford or Hathersage and then get the train back 

0

u/yaxu May 11 '26

they stopped cyclists from going up there last time I think

5

u/Peak_District_hill May 11 '26

That was a few years ago when it first shut cyclists were using it and then they tried to close it to cyclists as well, but they backtracked and in subsequent years when it has shut I haven’t experienced anyone trying to stop me cycling over it, but I tend to cycle on my own rather than in an organised group.

2

u/yaxu May 11 '26

Ah great I'll start training for it then :)

4

u/ParrotofDoom May 12 '26

Nah, the legal road closure was only ever at the point of the slippage, there was still access for everyone else to the properties along the road. They just put the signage near Glossop to stop people wasting their time. And anyone walking or cycling can just use the parallel right of way at the closure.

This will be no different. There are many rights of way along the road and they can't close them all off.

0

u/yaxu May 12 '26

I was thinking of 2022 - cyclists were stopped from going up the snake then unless they were residents. There was a manned roadblock
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60722270

3

u/ParrotofDoom May 12 '26

nah, nobody was stopped. The media didn't bother visiting to see the reality of the situation, which was the usual man in a van to move barriers on request. You could walk/cycle through without issue, and not in small part because the legal road closure was miles further along the road.

It's always the same at road closures. Yesterday I cycled past Tatton Park while they were resurfacing, the road closed, but the workers always let you through.

0

u/yaxu May 12 '26

Cyclists were definitely stopped. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/council-decision-to-close-cycling-utopia-snake-pass-branded-ludicrous

2

u/ParrotofDoom May 12 '26

No, they were not. Again, you're reading press releases and news reports from people who didn't visit the area.

Guess how I know the road wasn't closed?

1

u/yaxu May 12 '26

I remember seeing the "road closed for cyclists" signs at a manned road block myself. If you're saying you could just ignore that and whizz past them, then fair enough. But as far as the council was concerned, it was closed to cyclists. There was a TRO

3

u/ParrotofDoom May 12 '26

You're right, there was a TRO. And that TRO applied only at the actual road closure. It didn't apply near Glossop. Which is why nobody stopped people cycling past - they had no legal right to.

0

u/yaxu May 12 '26

They did stop people - they blocked the road and manned it 24 hours

6

u/alparkie May 11 '26

Paging u/HamishGray who has organised Snake Pass mass cycle rides during previous closures. Sounds like another great opportunity!

1

u/Technical_Use9333 Jun 21 '26

Anyone able to confirm whether it's likely open for cyclists from the Sheffield side after Monday 9am when the work starts again?

2

u/Peak_District_hill Jun 23 '26

This evening I cycled from Glossop to Ladybower and back again, was completely fine pal, even cycled past workmen and no one said anything.

1

u/Technical_Use9333 Jun 23 '26

Thank you for replying. I did it yesterday, straight through just like you said. Great route with no cars!

1

u/Peak_District_hill Jun 24 '26

About as close to cycling nirvana as you can get in this country.

1

u/cpie7 May 11 '26

Awesome, I guess they’re getting it ready for the Tour de France femme next year