Bike parking at London Bridge

[Paco de Bango]

A notice has just been put up in London Bridge saying the bike racks will be taken away from 1 July because of the Olympics.
I can't believe they're doing this after making so much noise about how cycling will be the best way to get around the city, it's now got a whole lot more difficult. These bike racks are behind the gateline, so you need a ticket to get to them which provides a reasonable deterrent to the usual bike thieving scum so leaving a bike overnight/over the weekend hasn't been a problem.
Anyway, rant aside, NR are suggesting leaving bikes at various bike racks on the street or at Guys Hospital. Anyone know which is the least worst option of all of this?
I thought my Olympic commuting was gonna be easy as pie until I saw this, now I have the feeling my bikes gonna get nicked or smashed to pieces as soon as I leave it overnight.

 

[style over speed]

theres secure bike parking in one of the shops on Tooley street.. its not ideal as its got limited opening hours but a friend of mine uses it and seems happy with them

here: linky

 

[Beebo]

That's a bummer.

My suggestion if you are leaving a bike over night / weekends on the streets in that area would be to buy a cheap second hand bike for £50, it only has to lasta coupe of months and that way you wont care if it does get trashed, which it will.

 

[Paco de Bango]

All good suggestions.
My bike is already a cheap £50 job, so not fussed about the money side of things just hate the thought of getting on the tube again now that i'm used to cycling (if it does get nicked/smashed up)
I did look at the secure bike parking too, but that doesn't open until after i need to be at work.
I reckon the way forward will be buy another bike lock, park it (maybe nearer the hospital than the station) and pray for the 2 months (or however long its gonna be).
Just wanted somewhere to rant really.

 

[Brains]

There are racks on tooley street

 

[smutchin]

What's your full journey? You could always see this as an excuse to ride all the way to and from home instead of just to London Bridge...

d.

 

[Tynan]

why leave a bike in London over night or over a weekend?
the days I go for a drink I happily get the train in and Boris Bike, makes a nice change

 

[Maz]

A notice has just been put up in London Bridge saying the bike racks will be taken away from 1 July because of the Olympics..

Basic question...Why take a bike rack down because of the Olympics? Is it causing an obstruction?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

On Yer Bike on Tooley Street also provide secure parking for bikes.

 

[Beebo]

why leave a bike in London over night or over a weekend?
the days I go for a drink I happily get the train in and Boris Bike, makes a nice change

I would guess demand for boris bikes will be high during the Olympics, especially at places like London Bridge.
And it is a right PITA when you cant find a docking space within half a mile of the station.

 

[Paco de Bango]

What's your full journey? You could always see this as an excuse to ride all the way to and from home instead of just to London Bridge...

d.

The full journey is a massive 40-odd miles to West Sussex - not something I could manage twice a day, but something more doable could be to East Croydon Station and back. anyone know a good route from East Croydon to Stratford?

And is there decent bike parking at East Croydon? or will I just have my bike nicked there instead

 

[subaqua]

I take it you mean by bike from east Croydon to Stratford. http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/2492281/

 

[Tynan]

I would guess demand for boris bikes will be high during the Olympics, especially at places like London Bridge.
And it is a right PITA when you cant find a docking space within half a mile of the station.

my standard ride id Devonshire Square (Liverpool Street) to the big Dock at the top of Southwark Street which is close to London Bridge, on the odd occasion that dock's full (because it's broken and won;t let bike go) I ride to the little one round the back of Vineopolis or up to the one just past Borough tube

they do move bike around you know to smooth out peaks and troughs of bikes

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I take it you mean by bike from east Croydon to Stratford. http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/2492281/

The fastest route goes through the Rotherhithe Tunnel. I know a few cyclists do use it but the vast majority of cyclists try it once and say never again - it's a noisy, claustrophobic, fume-ridden ordeal. However, I cycled the moderate route from just south of the Thames almost exactly yesterday without any problems at all.

 

[subaqua]

The fastest route goes through the Rotherhithe Tunnel. I know a few cyclists do use it but the vast majority of cyclists try it once and say never again - it's a noisy, claustrophobic, fume-ridden ordeal. However, I cycled the moderate route from just south of the Thames almost exactly yesterday without any problems at all.

I wouldn't even entertain the rotherhithe, but the planner plans it that way. thats LCC for you am currently wondedring about my route from SurreyQuays to Stratford this evening and whether to ride to Greenwich foot tunnel / woolwich ferry or wait till after 7 and use the overground to Shadwell and then ride the CS route and the canaltowpath.