Cycling (and commuting) in ... Warsaw?

[Jezston]

As part of my exciting (cough) international jetsetting ways, I have a follow up to my question last week about cycling in Prague with a similar question:

I may be taking some work in Warsaw, PL in the near future and would like to keep cycling.

What is cycling in Warsaw like? What are the general public attitudes towards cyclists in comparison to the UK? Is there much of a cycling culture, and are there nice places to go for rides at weekends?

 

[robjh]

I spent a week there a couple of years back, and went out around the city most days on the bike. I didn't see many other cyclists, and so would say there's not a big bike commuting scene there, but I found it perfectly OK (and quite fun) for cycling round, if you like to and are used to riding in cities. There are a lot of long straight-ish boulevards, and trams everywhere, and the traffic wasn't too bad even in rush-hour by, say, London standards. There are a reasonable number of bike shops selling all the well-known brands.
I'm not sure about good excursions - Warsaw sits on a huge flat plain and the best scenery in Poland is all elsewhere, but I liked the wide sweeping views from the Vistula bridges and if you're prepared to explore a bit there are some interesting-enough low-key sights in the city. There is the also Kampinos national park some way to the west, though I haven't been there.
I liked Warsaw, hope you have a good time there.

Warsaw rush-hour scene : http://www.flickr.com/photos/19800607@N04/7128035047/in/photostream/

 

[Jezston]

Trams, eh? Erk.

Also appears that if I commute there I'll be having to navigate this:

http://goo.gl/maps/2e7aK

This isn't looking too attractive ...

 

[robjh]

Trams, eh? Erk.

Also appears that if I commute there I'll be having to navigate this:

http://goo.gl/maps/2e7aK

This isn't looking too attractive ...

Looks to me like you've got shared-use ped/bike paths going round the edge of the big one-way system and under the flyovers - if you zoom in there is even a cyclist at about 7 o'clock on the circle, heading from the tram tracks to the zebra crossing. Personally it wouldn't put me off.

 

[Jezston]

Ah well spotted! Excellent.