The first phase of housing in Barton Park is being marketed under the brand name Mosaics Oxford. The marketing suite and show home have been open for about a month, but there was some confusion locally over whether the development and the marketing office could be safely accessed on foot or by bicycle. This is particularly interesting because of the ‘low car, bike friendly’ intentions of the original development and the planning permission that was given.

I’m pleased to report that a visit today confirmed that pedestrians and cyclists can get into Barton Park and the marketing offices safely. The security fencing on Foxwell Drive is open for people on foot or on bikes to pass through, bringing them to the crossing lights on the A40. Anyone approaching on the A40 cycle path has free access to the same place.

There are three toucan crossings, one each across the two main carriageways of the A40, and one covering the exit lane from Barton Park onto the north (Headington roundabout bound) side of the by-pass. All are working.

I was able to cross the A40 on my bike without waiting too long for the traffic to stop. The only part of the process that felt uncomfortable was coming back to the Northway side where you find yourself waiting on a rather narrow island in the middle of the A40 with vehicles blasting down the hill at speeds well above 50mph passing you within a few feet.

While I was at it I thought I’d check out Mosaics’ claim about how close they are to all the Headington action.

Every Saturday between 10am and 2pm, a #market takes place at the top of New High Street in #Headington. It’s a 14-min cycle from #Mosaics. pic.twitter.com/AIGniGNs6u

— Mosaics Oxford (@Mosaics_Oxford) September 28, 2017

On my shopping bike and without getting out of the saddle, from the Foxwell Drive junction via Old Headington and Old High Street to Headington shops traffic lights took 7½ minutes. So yes, not bad. To either end of the JR would be less.