Riding in London
Discussion
Well, its the firs time I've ventured in to the centre of town and what an experiance it is. I'm now working on Liverpool St right next to the station so I've been doing a bit of investigation and decided to park on Appold St.
Fortunately a kindly fellow commuter told me to follow him which made the trip in a bit easier, but blimey, how many sets of traffic lights are there, how many speed cameras, and I just can't seem to get my head around just how long thoes sodding bendy buses are.
All in all, I'm not sure I really enjoyed it, plus it takes longer than getting the bus to the station, the train to waterloo the tube to Bank and walking from Bank. Although that might change with practice.
Had to be done though I suppose. Just got to get home now. (I live in Woking by the way).
Fortunately a kindly fellow commuter told me to follow him which made the trip in a bit easier, but blimey, how many sets of traffic lights are there, how many speed cameras, and I just can't seem to get my head around just how long thoes sodding bendy buses are.
All in all, I'm not sure I really enjoyed it, plus it takes longer than getting the bus to the station, the train to waterloo the tube to Bank and walking from Bank. Although that might change with practice.
Had to be done though I suppose. Just got to get home now. (I live in Woking by the way).
Hey Phil, I also live in Woking (when i'm not in the Dam) and have commuted to central London many many times (including that time i got punched off the T595 in fleet street, but I digress)
The Woking-Waterloo service , as you know only takes 20 mins, but biking it is 30 mins+ if you are as mad as me (I couriered). But at least you get some exercise and some practice....
The Woking-Waterloo service , as you know only takes 20 mins, but biking it is 30 mins+ if you are as mad as me (I couriered). But at least you get some exercise and some practice....
You'll get used to it, now in my 7th year of commuting in London by bike.
Difference is I live here.. I moved to the Southbank in April which makes my commute by bike 20mins each way from Docklands where I live, nothing else transport wise comes close to that short time of commute. Before that I spent over 6 years commuting to putney everyday by bike but that was only 40mins average each way.
Difference is I live here.. I moved to the Southbank in April which makes my commute by bike 20mins each way from Docklands where I live, nothing else transport wise comes close to that short time of commute. Before that I spent over 6 years commuting to putney everyday by bike but that was only 40mins average each way.
Join the club mate. I commute from near Henley to Holborn every day.
How I wish they'd let us use ALL bus lanes!
Cyclists are a pain in the nuts. Pedestrians are suicidal. Cabbies are blind. Bendy buses are the world's (Red Ken's) worst invention and the cause of most of the logjams.
Only practical/affordable way for me to travel though
How I wish they'd let us use ALL bus lanes!
Cyclists are a pain in the nuts. Pedestrians are suicidal. Cabbies are blind. Bendy buses are the world's (Red Ken's) worst invention and the cause of most of the logjams.
Only practical/affordable way for me to travel though
I ride in from Harlow to Battersea every day and there's no way I could do it in even twice the time by public transport.
You get used to the traffic and the idiots and soon get into a rythme where you switch into "London mode" as you get close to the city.
Amogst the numrerous hazzrds of bendy busses, taxis and pedestrians etc. I actually find that the biggest liability are the bikers though
I find about 20% of bikers in London really haven't got a clue what's going on around them, ride irratically and are terrified of traffic 
so I've changed my route away from Upper/Lower Thames St and The Highway to avoid them.
You get used to the traffic and the idiots and soon get into a rythme where you switch into "London mode" as you get close to the city.
Amogst the numrerous hazzrds of bendy busses, taxis and pedestrians etc. I actually find that the biggest liability are the bikers though
I find about 20% of bikers in London really haven't got a clue what's going on around them, ride irratically and are terrified of traffic so I've changed my route away from Upper/Lower Thames St and The Highway to avoid them.Yeah, suicidal pedestrians. I just don't get it, is there no 'Tufty club', or 'Charlie says' stuff any more? Why on Earth woud anyone think it was ok to just step onto a 'T' junction without looking? Worse, is that when they do this, and you heave the anchors, they look at you like it's your fault. Ok, they have right of way (to a point) but suicide by biker just isn't fair on us as we'll get hurt, too.
Also, while we're on the subject, I'm beginning to notice that when someone attempts an assisination on me in London, they are more often than not on the phone, and the worst offenders - by far - of calling whilst driving are women. Just something I've noticed, I'm not saying it's the case everywhere.
I'm going to get a kick in the nuts, aren't I?
Also, while we're on the subject, I'm beginning to notice that when someone attempts an assisination on me in London, they are more often than not on the phone, and the worst offenders - by far - of calling whilst driving are women. Just something I've noticed, I'm not saying it's the case everywhere.
I'm going to get a kick in the nuts, aren't I?
Another one here, I go from Reading into Brent / Barking / Eastborne Terrace. For me its not the traffic thats so bad its pedestrians and as has been said some other bikers! I've seen people ride the whole way with their feet off the pegs and dragging on the floor for more support!!! OMG!!! Broken ankle every time if they go down...
As for bendy buses, least said the better... Nightmare!!!!
But you do get used to it after a while, and sometimes I even enjoy it now!
As for bendy buses, least said the better... Nightmare!!!!
But you do get used to it after a while, and sometimes I even enjoy it now!
I used to go the other way, East London to Farnbrough in Hampshire.
You already know what to watch out for, so I'd just say make sure you do it all the time.
One thing I'd say, too, though, is to always be aware when riding along a line of traffic, of someone letting a car turn across you, or out in front of you.
You can't see the gap from 50m back, and then find a car broadside on to you, with nowhere to go.
It happens often.
And try to accept the near death experiences. If you get furious about every one, you'll have a miserable time.
Good luck.
You already know what to watch out for, so I'd just say make sure you do it all the time.
One thing I'd say, too, though, is to always be aware when riding along a line of traffic, of someone letting a car turn across you, or out in front of you.
You can't see the gap from 50m back, and then find a car broadside on to you, with nowhere to go.
It happens often.
And try to accept the near death experiences. If you get furious about every one, you'll have a miserable time.
Good luck.
well, I managed to get home in one piece, I even started to enjoy the ride and did it in and hour and 10 minutes door to door which wasn't bad.
I felt like the whole thing started to click in to place and I got in to a rythm, The single most effective thisn I did was to start setting my speed based on the next set of traffic lights so it wasn't so stop and start.
I'll deffinately be doing it again, not all the time though.
Phill
I felt like the whole thing started to click in to place and I got in to a rythm, The single most effective thisn I did was to start setting my speed based on the next set of traffic lights so it wasn't so stop and start.
I'll deffinately be doing it again, not all the time though.
Phill
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