World's Steepest Street

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ANiceEnglishman
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by ANiceEnglishman »

Vale Street in Totterdown, Bristol is claimed by some to be England's steepest Street.

The bottom section is significantly steeper than the rest. If, as the article says, only the steepest 10m is counted it would be interesting to survey that and compare it with Fford Pen Llech. Note the scrape marks where vehicles have grounded.

https://goo.gl/maps/Hi8ngfYa8by
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Halmyre
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Halmyre »

I drove down there 20 or so years ago, at a snail's pace - dictated by traffic.

Some of SF's other streets are just as bad. Nothing beats sitting at a junction staring at blue sky, hoping your handbrake versus biting point technique isn't going to fail you (an auto box helps).
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Berk »

To be fair, it is a dead end to cars, but not for peds. People can walk across the top to neighbouring streets.

Thinking of the surrounding area, and the Abbotsford landslide, I’m slightly surprised that anyone would want to live on Baldwin Street - if the geology isn’t right.

Then again, Dunedin is quite a hilly city.
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Peter350
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Peter350 »

Ffordd Pen Llech has officially been confirmed as the world’s steepest street, with a gradient of 37.45%. Interestingly, the sign featured in the thumbnail on the homepage shows 40% so I take it the TSRGD requirement is to round the value to the nearest 5%

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48992331

EDIT: Can this topic be moved to British and Irish roads now?
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IAN
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by IAN »

Ffordd Pen Llech has officially been confirmed as the world’s steepest street
This street has an 'Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles' sign. Does anyone know which UK street is the steepest you are allowed to drive in a car?
with a gradient of 37.45%. Interestingly, the sign featured in the thumbnail on the homepage shows 40% so I take it the TSRGD requirement is to round the value to the nearest 5%
37.45 would round to 35. Anyway the evidence is that 5% rounding is not used. Here in hilly South Shropshire 14% is quite common.

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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Ruperts Trooper »

IAN wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:08 This street has an 'Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles' sign. Does anyone know which UK street is the steepest you are allowed to drive in a car?

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Does "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles" actually ban them?
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Conekicker »

Peter350 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 09:31 Ffordd Pen Llech has officially been confirmed as the world’s steepest street, with a gradient of 37.45%. Interestingly, the sign featured in the thumbnail on the homepage shows 40% so I take it the TSRGD requirement is to round the value to the nearest 5%

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48992331

EDIT: Can this topic be moved to British and Irish roads now?
So the only things New Zealand are now famous for are sheep and The Lord of the Rings. Hey-ho. :roll:
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by vlad »

Grrr - I'm regretting not having spent more time on the street when I was in Harlech last month!
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Peter350
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Peter350 »

Conekicker wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 19:37
Peter350 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 09:31 Ffordd Pen Llech has officially been confirmed as the world’s steepest street, with a gradient of 37.45%. Interestingly, the sign featured in the thumbnail on the homepage shows 40% so I take it the TSRGD requirement is to round the value to the nearest 5%

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48992331

EDIT: Can this topic be moved to British and Irish roads now?
So the only things New Zealand are now famous for are sheep and The Lord of the Rings. Hey-ho. :roll:
And Crowded House of course :laugh:
I must say, I do feel sorry for them seeing as they also lost to England at Lords on Sunday evening. 🏏
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Chris Bertram
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Chris Bertram »

Conekicker wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 19:37
Peter350 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 09:31 Ffordd Pen Llech has officially been confirmed as the world’s steepest street, with a gradient of 37.45%. Interestingly, the sign featured in the thumbnail on the homepage shows 40% so I take it the TSRGD requirement is to round the value to the nearest 5%

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48992331

EDIT: Can this topic be moved to British and Irish roads now?
So the only things New Zealand are now famous for are sheep and The Lord of the Rings. Hey-ho. :roll:
The All Blacks, maybe? Sir Edmund Hillary?
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by lefthandedspanner »

Ruperts Trooper wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:14
IAN wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:08 This street has an 'Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles' sign. Does anyone know which UK street is the steepest you are allowed to drive in a car?

Ian (M5 Driver)
Does "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles" actually ban them?
It's an advisory notice, basically saying if you choose to navigate this road you do so at your own risk - a prohibitory notice would be a red circle with a blank white plate.

The end of my street has such a notice both at the bottom and the top of the slope, due to the very steep gradient and the cobbled surface. I've occasionally seen vans come down it, and on one occasion, a very ambitious driver who managed to get up it by putting their foot to the floor in first gear.

Along with the next road along (Thomas Street) it's the only urban road I've ever seen which has handrails for pedestrians.
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Tom H »

Cocker Lane in Cockermouth is another street with a handrail. There's only vehicle access to a cottage at the bottom of the hill, with a footbridge across the river and pedestrian access to the car park at the bottom. Never personally seen any vehicles that have attempted it, but the Google car obviously had a go!
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by FleetlinePhil »

lefthandedspanner wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:59
Along with the next road along (Thomas Street) it's the only urban road I've ever seen which has handrails for pedestrians.
There are a few further up the Calder Valley, this one in Todmorden is slightly unusual in having a handrail but no pavement.
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by owen b »

Talking of very steep urban roads, Bradgers Hill Road in Luton was closed to traffic in 2001. It's a very narrow, very steep road linking north and east Luton. Through traffic was always strongly discouraged. I drove up it once many moons ago very late on a Sunday evening. These days it's a pleasant walk when it's not being terrorised by antisocial motorbikers who are frequently seen and heard in that locale.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.90166 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by vlad »

This road has a handrail on the far side of the pavement....
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by jgharston »

Cote de Blake Street has a handrail, as does la montagne de Rivelin Road. Both of which I used to deliver leaflets on.
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Bryn666 »

I was in Harlech last Tuesday and the locals were making the most of their new found status.

Lots of people on bikes and foot climbing up but didn't see anyone brave enough to drive down it. And given the car I was in was a Qashqai I had no desire to prove the stereotype.
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by the cheesecake man »

lefthandedspanner wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:59 Along with the next road along (Thomas Street) it's the only urban road I've ever seen which has handrails for pedestrians.
You've never been to Sheffield then?
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by WHBM »

lefthandedspanner wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:59 it's the only urban road I've ever seen which has handrails for pedestrians.
Lots in Edinburgh

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.9496287 ... 384!8i8192

Having walked down it on an icy winter evening in my leather-soled office shoes, this one (which I knew was there) was very welcome. There are others nearby.
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Re: World's Steepest Street

Post by Bryn666 »

Brantfell Road in Blackburn was deemed steep enough to be built as steps rather than a road. It's nowhere near Harlech levels.

The steepest road in the town is the oddly named Oozehead Lane which is probably 1 in 4 at the hardest part. It used to be a cycle trial special for charidee.
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