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Box Hill road painting 1 (courtesy Andrew Wright)The National Trust loves cycling - and they've painted Box Hill to prove it (well, the road)
Some locals may be unhappy with the number of cyclists taking to Box Hill in Surrey, but the beauty spot’s owners, the National Trust, are embracing riders with open arms – and cycling features on one of three new graphics painted on the climb of Zig Zag Road that featured in last year’s Olympic road races.
The road was closed yesterday as workers ‘rebranded’ it with three stencilled designs that play on the ‘I [heart] NY’ etc theme, with the heart replaced by the National Trust’s oakleaf symbol.
One of those, pictured above, is ‘I love cycling,’ while the other two also have a connection of sorts with bike riding; ‘I love amazing views’ – one of the rewards for suffering up a climb – and ‘I love tea and cakes,’ which needs no further explanation.
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The road already has messages painted on it, many cheering on Team GB’s cyclists during the Olympics, and National Trust countryside manager Andrew Wright confirmed on Twitter yesterday, “Those Olympic messages will stay there as long as I am managing Box Hill!”
He added that the logos had only been stenciled on straight stretches of the road, and that the orange paint that has been used is non-slip.
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Next month, the ascent of Box Hill features on the route of the mass participation Olympic legacy event, the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 and the pro race, the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
The first piece of road art that adorned Box Hill was less tasteful than the latest creations – in May last year, shortly after the climb was resurfaced, a crude outline of what was unmistakably a depiction of a penis was spray painted on it.
With thanks to Andrew Wright of the National Trust for permission to use his photos.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- brooksby 8 min 49 sec ago
Thanks for clarifying
- brooksby 10 min 12 sec ago
I'd be less concerned about this if I was sure that police were also stopping all those motorists whose cars have a missing headlight or only one...
- mdavidford 14 min 10 sec ago
I think you're missing an opportunity to pack even more tech into it - add accelerometers that can detect whether they're pedalling or stepping....
- mdavidford 26 min 22 sec ago
Maybe one and the same thing though. They're not exactly short of populists over there, any more than we are. I'm sure if those people thought they...
- chrisonabike 38 min 51 sec ago
Thanks. I guess the question is "need". If the road is busy, it sounds like it is a desired route between places? In which case (given this an...
- mdavidford 46 min 48 sec ago
Don't know what you mean. I thought my suggestion was entirely practical.
- hawkinspeter 47 min 8 sec ago
So, it looks like she can choose a 45 minute drive or a 26 minute walk. It's almost as if the scheme is encouraging people to walk short distances...
- mdavidford 49 min 18 sec ago
...and a square of faux sheepskin for the back of your saddle.
- Rapha Nadal 1 hour 21 min ago
I'd buy a motorbike fo rthat kind of money!
- ktache 12 hours 14 min ago
There are people out there who will make you the belt out of your old tyre.
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16 comments
The National Trust certainly appear to be trying to improve their relationship with cyclists and to 'branch out' to a wider audience - they're not just about big stately homes and a lot of people forget that. Lets hope that this is the start of bigger and better things to come from them!
previously I would have pointed to the NT's poor record on allowing MTB access to its land (despite its published policies)- generally the only access is the minimum legal eg bridleways. Whilst as a large landowner they could allow access by bike to vast areas just by giving permission like Forest Enterprise do and some Water co's
Anyway here was a recent move in the right direction and in an environmentally sensitive area permissive bridleways rather than open access probably the best way forward
http://www.ridesheffield.org.uk/2013/06/new-bridleways/
more of the same please
Shame Surrey council seem to have dumped a mile of loose chippings to "resurface" the road on the bit around Headly Heath at the back of Box Hill.
It's almost unrideable on a road bike at the moment - so anyone doing the lap of Box Hill or heading back Epsom way after climbing it is screwed.
National Trust is a great fit with cyclists, been a member for years and have taken a lot of routes along the historical houses and places. This looks great!
This is ace.
Not sure if the NT using the the same agency for it, but this is ace too: http://theclickdesign.com/projects/national-trust-natures-playground/
How about the NT making every Sunday before noon car-free to encourage more cyclists? (and safer cycling).
The FT London Sportive 'Box Hill challenge' was recently ruined by gridlock/obstruction caused by so many cars crawling and stopping on the hill in front of the competitors.
I don't think they like cycling that much, they need the car park revenue I think.
I <3 the National Trust!
If any of you are Twitter types @andyboxhillnt is very helpful on local info/closure of roads Tec and of course for giving a National Trust perspective
really love the new national trust branding and this is a great application of it!
Saw these today. They are quite striking. It would be nice to have something saying "if you want to drive quickly, don't come this way" or "I being called a cnut when I'm out for a ride with my son".
At least you're not getting called a cunt!
Where's the P*$$-off NIMBYs?
that's nice
I National Trust you too!
+1