Route planning - commuting
Discussion
I'm (hopefully) about to accept a job offer based in Canary Wharf, and will be going back to full time commuting.
Looking at the best routes using google maps, now this is obviously optimised for cars and a bike can easily pass any queues so not always best to follow the routes suggested.
Are there any motorbike specific map apps that could be used? Alternatively, I'd be coming from the M3 to Canary Wharf - are there any tips for the best route? Cheers all
Looking at the best routes using google maps, now this is obviously optimised for cars and a bike can easily pass any queues so not always best to follow the routes suggested.
Are there any motorbike specific map apps that could be used? Alternatively, I'd be coming from the M3 to Canary Wharf - are there any tips for the best route? Cheers all
M3 to Canary Wharf sounds like a s
te commute to be honest! I used to commute from Streatham on the A23 - went up to Elephant and Castle, over Tower Bridge, then along The Highway. Your best option is to stick to roads with bus lanes, which you can use, and that are wide, so you can filter. The Blackwall tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel you can't filter and they are disgusting.
How far out on the M3 are you talking? Is the M25 an option?
te commute to be honest! I used to commute from Streatham on the A23 - went up to Elephant and Castle, over Tower Bridge, then along The Highway. Your best option is to stick to roads with bus lanes, which you can use, and that are wide, so you can filter. The Blackwall tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel you can't filter and they are disgusting. How far out on the M3 are you talking? Is the M25 an option?
As suggested, look at routes with bus lanes, but be very careful: I understand that the rules are different from borough to borough. Some allow bikes in bus lanes, some don't. Then there's the 20mph speed limits with cameras seemingly EVERYWHERE - sounds like a nightmare commute & you may be better off taking the train!
Biker 1 said:
As suggested, look at routes with bus lanes, but be very careful: I understand that the rules are different from borough to borough. Some allow bikes in bus lanes, some don't. Then there's the 20mph speed limits with cameras seemingly EVERYWHERE - sounds like a nightmare commute & you may be better off taking the train!
Yes - rules are different in each borough. When I used to commute into West London they at least eventually managed to get the signposts correct eventuallyMight be worth considering a mixture. I've done a similar route into London on a motorbike, but the ease of the train into Waterloo and then a Jubilee line trip to Canary Warf can't be ignored. The caveat here though is when it all works. It will fall down a few days a year in the evening trying to get home and then its a st show. And you'd wish you had the bike to get you home.
Woking has very regular trains and the main shopping car parks have free undercover parking for bikes, so I've parked regularly there and then just catch the train.
t show. And you'd wish you had the bike to get you home.Woking has very regular trains and the main shopping car parks have free undercover parking for bikes, so I've parked regularly there and then just catch the train.
LemonParty said:
Also, has anyone tried one of the Temu Android screens for Android Auto on the bike?
I've got a Carpuride one, which works well. Only bad points are that it doesn't automatically change between day and night versions of Google maps, and if you play music from an installed SD card then it plays in a random order rather than in numerical/alphabetatical/album order.Much better than having a phone mount, for both convenience and security.
Biker9090 said:
From personal experience the Tom Tom Go app with the speed camera subscription is the most accurate re timings and speed limits (as well as what cameras are actually in use). Found it to be just as accurate in Europe as well.
+1 on this but it’s not always 100% up to date so ride with your head on a swivel.Try https://plan.tomtom.com/ - it was pretty helpful for when I needed routes for commuting. It doesn't factor in more aggressive filtering but it does suggest a range of decent routes
LemonParty said:
I'm (hopefully) about to accept a job offer based in Canary Wharf, and will be going back to full time commuting.
Looking at the best routes using google maps, now this is obviously optimised for cars and a bike can easily pass any queues so not always best to follow the routes suggested.
Are there any motorbike specific map apps that could be used? Alternatively, I'd be coming from the M3 to Canary Wharf - are there any tips for the best route? Cheers all
You can get a Garmin zūmo® XT - it's designed as a motorcycle commuter's nav. Not sure where you're coming from, but before I started heading to CW I checked my route on Google maps by scheduling the commute at 3am so it would give me the most direct route.Looking at the best routes using google maps, now this is obviously optimised for cars and a bike can easily pass any queues so not always best to follow the routes suggested.
Are there any motorbike specific map apps that could be used? Alternatively, I'd be coming from the M3 to Canary Wharf - are there any tips for the best route? Cheers all
Keep in mind, if you're coming from the M3 you have to make a choice about crossing the river; London/Tower Bridge, Blackwall tunnel (toll fee) or the Rotherhithe Tunnel (no toll); you'll definitely want to check those and probably also test a few out in the first month. Underground parking at CW is very good and the cost not too bad.
HairyMaclary said:
M3 to CW will be miserable. Get something decent on fuel as that is quite a distance.
M25, A2, Blackwall tunnel. The tunnel is no longer free so factor that on to your costings.
Decent bike parking in the underground next to Waitrose. Which last time I was there was £3 per day.
Agree it will be miserable. However, IME the cameras only pick the bike up maybe half the times I actually go through, so the cost is rather lower than it should be. And since Silvertown tunnel opened (and perhaps more pertinently the charges came in), the queues have basically vanished. Most days, going through Blackwall means trying not to break the 30mph limit by too much, rather than squeezing between a >1 mile queue of near-stationary cars.M25, A2, Blackwall tunnel. The tunnel is no longer free so factor that on to your costings.
Decent bike parking in the underground next to Waitrose. Which last time I was there was £3 per day.
All great responses so far guys - thanks.
I used to come in as far as Hammersmith / White City, but it's the extra few miles that would be the challenge. I'm actually thinking to start with I'll get a scooter to Woking station and train from there, at least to start off with. Then save the bigger bike for the summer months when it'll be a joy on the bike compared to the train and tube.
I used to come in as far as Hammersmith / White City, but it's the extra few miles that would be the challenge. I'm actually thinking to start with I'll get a scooter to Woking station and train from there, at least to start off with. Then save the bigger bike for the summer months when it'll be a joy on the bike compared to the train and tube.
Waze has a motorcycle mode. Google Maps does too, but sadly not in Europe.
That said, after you've done it a few times you'll probably get to know what's what. The beauty of the bike is that you're affected by traffic far less, and it's simple to reroute if there's something really unpleasant afoot.
That said, after you've done it a few times you'll probably get to know what's what. The beauty of the bike is that you're affected by traffic far less, and it's simple to reroute if there's something really unpleasant afoot.
FoolsErrand said:
Waze has a motorcycle mode. Google Maps does too, but sadly not in Europe.
That said, after you've done it a few times you'll probably get to know what's what. The beauty of the bike is that you're affected by traffic far less, and it's simple to reroute if there's something really unpleasant afoot.
When I used to commute from Streatham to Canary Wharf I spent about half the time waiting at traffic lights. Elephant and Castle is bad but there wasn't really a way to avoid it bar going through Vauxhall, which was worse. If you're coming from Woking I think I'd be on the train and the Jubilee line in all honestyThat said, after you've done it a few times you'll probably get to know what's what. The beauty of the bike is that you're affected by traffic far less, and it's simple to reroute if there's something really unpleasant afoot.
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