Bromley Commute

[Woo22]

Hi. I'm looking for advice about the best route to take into Holborn from Bromley. I'm not used to busy London roads as I tend to head in the opposite direction on my bike at the weekends! Therefore looking for the safest, most stress-free option.

I've looked for routes on CycleStreets but they seem so complicated and even involve carrying the bike on some sections. My options so far look like A21 / A202 (maybe not the best option until I get more confident in busy traffic) or I've seen a few mentions of the Waterlink Way.

I'm doing a trial run on Sunday morning which I know won't replicate the traffic conditions but I thought would give me a reasonable idea of what the route is going to be like. Any suggestions would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

 

[womblechops]

It looks like, if you need a cycle buddy, you should check out this thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/commuting-from-w-london-to-bromley.124706/

 

[womblechops]

Ah sorry, just noticed it is the wrong way round. In which case you will be going the same way as me.

I would recommend: bromley hill, Catfood, Lewisham, loampit vale, then either (a) old kent road (surprisingly easy when bus lane is in action), great dover street, trinity street, great Suffolk street, webber street, blackfriars, new bridge street, shoe lane, holborn, or (b) brookmill rd, Deptford church street, creek rd, evelyn street, lower road, jamaica rd, tooley street, southwark street then as above.

The second option doesnt have the bus lane, but is a bit flatter so a bit faster, but then it is longer.

 

[womblechops]

Waterlink way will take forever. And although i have never seen problems I hear reports you may get mugged on it.

 

[Woo22]

Great - thanks for the info. I'll check out both routes on a map and try one of them out on Sunday.

 

[ianrauk]

It's an easy commute. As what Womblechops said, Stick to the A21 all the way to Deptford. It's a pretty safe, quick route (I ride it every day). Lot's of bus lanes. (Forget the Waterlink Way, it's nice for a slow pootle, but not good for getting somewhere quick) Once at Lewisham, left at the roundabout then right at Brookmill road (A2210) , follow the road to Deptford, cross the A2 at Deptford Cross to Deptford Church street. Turn left on to the A200 Evelyn Street and follow it all the way to London Bridge (has a one way contraflow at Tooley Street). Right over London Bridge, left on Canon Street, past St Paul's and any of the streets right to Holborn.

 

[Woo22]

That sounds really straightforward and ideal for me. Some of the routes that have been churned out by various cycling aps look so complicated. I'm sure as I get familiar with the route I'll find some short cuts (maybe just for a bit of variety) but best to just stick with the most direct route first!

Thanks for your replies - you've both been very helpful and I'm really looking forward to the test run tomorrow

 

[Woo22]

I tried the route out this morning and it was so much easier than I had anticipated. I even managed to beat my usual door to door daily commute by 10 mins so I think South Eastern are going to be getting a lot less of my hard earned cash in the future!

 

[ianrauk]

I tried the route out this morning and it was so much easier than I had anticipated. I even managed to beat my usual door to door daily commute by 10 mins so I think South Eastern are going to be getting a lot less of my hard earned cash in the future!

Good stuff.
Another tip.
On the return. If you don't fancy the Lewisham roundabout, you can use the Cornmill Gardens cut through to bypass it.
After Brookmill Road, use the toucan crossing on your right. Turn right up Loampit Vale, then first left into the development and Cornmill Gardens. Follow the path over the river and under the rail bridge using the bike lane all the way along Molesworth Street. Rejoining the road at High Street Junction.

 

[jarlrmai]

Welcome to the commute club

I love it so much that I commuted from my house to the middle of nowhere and back again today, it was glorious.