Risk Assessment L112
Course identification : L112 10.2 mile Circuit of Bowland
Risk assessment prepared by : Settle Wheelers for club events
The overall risk for these events is very low.
The course is entirely on minor roads, all of them unclassified.
The route is extremely simple, being a circuit with three left turns.
There are no junctions on the left at which the riders continue straight on.
Traffic is very light, especially until the final section from the Wigglesworth turn.
Risk:
Rider getting lost.
Mitigation
All club members are familiar with the roads,
and we only accept guests who know the route.
Risk:
Poor mobile phone signal
Mitigation
There is poor mobile phone reception on the course, including the finish area.
We advise riders to send a text if they need help.
Also all riders look out for each other and report issues at the finish.
Officials will check the course for any rider not finishing who has not reported back.
Risk:
Congestion at the start area.
Mitigation
The event is limited to 20 or 25 riders, and most vehicles are parked away
from the start area.
Risk:
Congestion at the finish area.
Mitigation
Out events started in 2004 and were organised by Stuart Holdsworth who
put the finish line by the wide entrance.
We have always followed this practice, and only years later learnt that
Rossendale had read the course description differently.
We have no difficulty keeping the public highway clear at the finish area.
Risk:
Left turn at Paythorne crossroads.
Mitigation
This is a junction familiar to all competitors.
Risk:
Left turn near Wigglesworth
Mitigation
This road junction underwent significan improvement of alignment around 2007,
and now only requires normal caution appropriate to a give-way sign.
Risk:
Left turn near the finish
Mitigation
There is good visibility here for a left turning rider and
only requires normal caution appropriate to a give-way sign.
Risk:
Chicanes
Mitigation
Make riders aware that there are two chicanes between Wigglesworth and the finish.
The first is just after crossing back into Lancashire, and the second at Forest Becks.
Risk:
Large agricultural vehicles.
Mitigation
There is little we can do about this, which is a normal hazard of
cycling in a rural environment.