Commute st Albans to barbican
Commute st Albans to barbican
Author
Discussion

crashS2K

Original Poster:

105 posts

283 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
Anyone recommend a good route to come into barbican from st albans on a road bike? Preferably quiet, no dual carriageways and as much cycle lanes as possible?

Thanks!

louiebaby

10,945 posts

220 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
Can't help you with the route, but I work near there. You should come along to DD's on the last Thursday of the month for a giggle. Don't plan to cycle home afterwards.

smile

Mr Will

13,719 posts

235 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
...Don't plan to cycle home afterwards...
Did that once. Never again. hehe

nervous

24,050 posts

259 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
waveysmileything

mr pg

2,063 posts

234 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
crashS2K said:
Anyone recommend a good route to come into barbican from st albans on a road bike? Preferably quiet, no dual carriageways and as much cycle lanes as possible?

Thanks!
I sometimes ride home from Luton to Finchley in N London. From St Albans I turn off London Rd (at traffic lights) towards London Colney, up through Shenley, to Borehamwood, then Barnet (up Rowley Lane). From there straight down through Whetstone, and home. Can't help from there to the Barbican though.

Trevelyan

729 posts

218 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
I sometimes do the Northern part of the route from South of Bedford (Ampthill) down to where I work on the south side of Luton. I've been as far down as St Albans when I'm feeling energetic and not in a rush. I'm on a mountain bike so normally go cross country to stay clear of the roads, but have on occasion used the direct route which basically follows the A6. I pick up a marked cycle route near Silsoe which then follows the A6 into Luton town centre with a small diversion via Barton. From Luton you can pick up National Cycle Route 6 which eventually finishes in Watford. The only problem for the road bikers is that NCR6 isn't complete yet - there are a few sections between Luton and Harpenden which haven't been tarmacced yet although I understand there are plans to complete it this year. Mind you it's no real problem to follow the main road into Harpenden anyway which is probably a lot quicker!

aspender

1,405 posts

294 months

Tuesday 17th May 2011
quotequote all
No idea of the best route, but I live in St. Albans and work by Southwark Bridge. I'd be up for trying a bike commute. Maybe something to aim for during National Bike Week next month?

http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/

oldcynic

2,166 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
Mr Will said:
louiebaby said:
...Don't plan to cycle home afterwards...
Did that once. Never again. hehe
I learned a few weeks ago that you can get points on your driving license for being over the limit whilst riding a bicycle! yikes

louiebaby

10,945 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
oldcynic said:
Mr Will said:
louiebaby said:
...Don't plan to cycle home afterwards...
Did that once. Never again. hehe
I learned a few weeks ago that you can get points on your driving license for being over the limit whilst riding a bicycle! yikes
The hard way?

oldcynic

2,166 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
The hard way?
Fortunately not. Although on that basis there are several times I could have been banned in the dim & distant past, if I'd been stopped.

donfisher

793 posts

195 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
oldcynic said:
I learned a few weeks ago that you can get points on your driving license for being over the limit whilst riding a bicycle! yikes
Is this a new law or something?

All evidence I've seen up to now says that they can not endorse your driving licence for anything you do on a bike.

oldcynic

2,166 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
donfisher said:
Is this a new law or something?

All evidence I've seen up to now says that they can not endorse your driving licence for anything you do on a bike.
No idea. A friend of mine is a driving instructor and used to cycle to the pub until this issue was highlighted to him. Now he walks.

donfisher

793 posts

195 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
Fair enough, would be interested to find out more information on that.

oldcynic

2,166 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
A quick bit of googling suggests I'm wrong. getmecoat

nervous

24,050 posts

259 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
smile

Mr Will

13,719 posts

235 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
quotequote all
oldcynic said:
donfisher said:
Is this a new law or something?

All evidence I've seen up to now says that they can not endorse your driving licence for anything you do on a bike.
No idea. A friend of mine is a driving instructor and used to cycle to the pub until this issue was highlighted to him. Now he walks.
The law refers to cycling while incapable, rather than over a specific breath alcohol limit, so you don't need to be too careful. I believe that if you do get pulled for it and charged, you will end up in front of a magistrate who can impose a wide variety of punishments, one of which is removal of your driving licence. (I'm not sure they can apply points though, I think it's all or nothing).

That being said, while I believe it is a possibility, I have never heard of it happening from a reputable source - although please correct me if it has happened to someone you know!