Central London parking
Discussion
I've got a trip to central London planned soon, and I'm in two minds on whether to ride up or take the train. I'm heading to the London Bridge area. I'm conscious of the theft issue, it's an older bike (2013 Tiger 800) and I've got an Abus alarmed disc lock and Hiplok DX1000, but no chain.
Are there some safe and easy options in the area, or am I better off not bothering?
Are there some safe and easy options in the area, or am I better off not bothering?
JulianHJ said:
I've got a trip to central London planned soon, and I'm in two minds on whether to ride up or take the train. I'm heading to the London Bridge area. I'm conscious of the theft issue, it's an older bike (2013 Tiger 800) and I've got an Abus alarmed disc lock and Hiplok DX1000, but no chain.
Are there some safe and easy options in the area, or am I better off not bothering?
They will just pick your bike up and put it in the back of the vanAre there some safe and easy options in the area, or am I better off not bothering?
Every bike has a value
The thing I would thin about is - do you actually *want* to ride to Central London?
I used to commute from Carshalton to the City frequently by motorbike, from 2011 to 2018. I mostly found it a reasonable experience.
I tried again 3 times recently and it was awful - roads a busier, Ebikes are crazy, 20 mph speed limit everywhere so it's hard to make progress even when the roads aren't jam packed.
Each to their own and everything, but you might think about, depending where you live, riding to the 'burbs and getting the train from there.
I used to commute from Carshalton to the City frequently by motorbike, from 2011 to 2018. I mostly found it a reasonable experience.
I tried again 3 times recently and it was awful - roads a busier, Ebikes are crazy, 20 mph speed limit everywhere so it's hard to make progress even when the roads aren't jam packed.
Each to their own and everything, but you might think about, depending where you live, riding to the 'burbs and getting the train from there.
If nipping in and out to do one thing, bike for convenience. If spending a few hours there and going to a few places then train.
The idea of riding in the city is normally different from reality and the public transport is generally the nuts. If it wasn't so expensive because I'm out of the zone I would probably never take my bike in London and always jump on the train
The idea of riding in the city is normally different from reality and the public transport is generally the nuts. If it wasn't so expensive because I'm out of the zone I would probably never take my bike in London and always jump on the train
thepawbroon said:
The thing I would thin about is - do you actually *want* to ride to Central London?
I used to commute from Carshalton to the City frequently by motorbike, from 2011 to 2018. I mostly found it a reasonable experience.
I tried again 3 times recently and it was awful - roads a busier, Ebikes are crazy, 20 mph speed limit everywhere so it's hard to make progress even when the roads aren't jam packed.
Each to their own and everything, but you might think about, depending where you live, riding to the 'burbs and getting the train from there.
I do agree with this! Regularly used to commute from Streatham > Paddington 2016 to 2020, I used to commute from Carshalton to the City frequently by motorbike, from 2011 to 2018. I mostly found it a reasonable experience.
I tried again 3 times recently and it was awful - roads a busier, Ebikes are crazy, 20 mph speed limit everywhere so it's hard to make progress even when the roads aren't jam packed.
Each to their own and everything, but you might think about, depending where you live, riding to the 'burbs and getting the train from there.
I used to really enjoy it... something changed.. standard of driving is shocking now, people on their phones, ebikes, 20 mph limits and there is a LOT more traffic lights put in place.
It really has changed and can't be bothered with it now. 2 x train it is, takes about 20 mins longer.. much more relaxing.
If public transport is an option for central London riding esp weekday AM/PM, I'd take it.
Whilst the risk of theft might be overstated as some suggest, I agree with the comments about how bad the experience is these days. I have ridden into London from the Home Counties over a number of years when the weather and work suited, but gave up the idea a year or two ago when having persevered through the 20 limits, the cyclists and random pedestrians walking out on me, an Uber parked his car literally on my foot whilst I was waiting behind a bus on the Finchley Road. He shrugged his shoulders as I gently explained the ouchy he was causing me and rolled off again with an expression suggesting it was not of any consequence. Needless to say, I was full of adrenaline at that point and took off quickly to a clearer bit of road. However, there wasn't and isn't very much of that anywhere in Central London any more, so I now walk and train everywhere. The bike is for other duties!
I’d not ridden into central London on a weekday for years but tried commuting in in the summer and it was miserable. Lanes packed tightly enough in the centre of town that fingering was either not possible or not pleasant, too many traffic lights, too few sections where there was any pleasure to be had.
I don’t much fancy doing it again and it was enough to make me decide to sell my scooter which I kept for just this sort of thing.
My big bike is totally unsuitable now for Cehtral London.
I don’t much fancy doing it again and it was enough to make me decide to sell my scooter which I kept for just this sort of thing.
My big bike is totally unsuitable now for Cehtral London.
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