M1 Cycling Alternatives

Want to follow the M1 corridor without riding the motorway? This collection bundles shoulder snippets (where legal) and, more importantly, safer parallel options—service roads, bike paths, and quieter back streets. Use it to stitch together a through-ride that skirts the fast lanes while still making steady progress. Expect a mix of surfaces and short connectors that hop over or under the M1 at bridges and interchanges. Watch for on/off-ramps, debris near the edge, and narrow spots; signs and local rules always win over the map. When in doubt, take the side road or path. Good lights help for underpasses and dusk runs. Treat this as a modular toolkit: pick the calm links, cross at the safer spots, and tweak the line if you find a smoother detour. If you ride it, drop improvements back into OSM so the next cyclist gets an even better route.