Cycling London's Junctions

[Lincov]

Video on the Guardian website...



I don't know how you guys do it!! I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to take on those junctions, though I guess you just get used to it.

 

[glenn forger]

Bit timid.

 

[slowmotion]

I've only ridden three of those. Elephant and Castle and Vauxhall are no fun but Hyde Park Corner is a cakewalk if you enter from any of the roads. Coming onto it from the island, at the start of a FNRttC, can be a bit hairy though. It's still a lot of fun.

 

[Rasmus]

Nothing too scary there, to be honest. Of course they seem to be showing the guy's face a lot more than the actual traffic and layout, so it's hard to tell.

 

[booze and cake]

Ha I live within 2-3 miles of all them but I can think of worse. He's making a bit of a meal of it, he does'nt have to go round the Vauxhall 1 way as there is a cycle crossing by Metropolis the motorbike place over to MI6 and then on Vauxhall bridge. Elephant and Castle has a cycle bypass too and the Victoria one is a non event. His bike positioning in the Kings X one leaves a bit to be desired too.

It is busy but you do get used to it, its actually fun, I go out and play with the traffic in my free time. London is ace by bike.

 

[Rasmus]

His bike positioning in the Kings X one leaves a bit to be desired too.

Agreed, and I think he runs a red light too (at 4:42)

 

[srw]

The comments on the accompanying article (http://www.theguardian.com/environm...n/16/bike-blog-cycling-robert-goodwill-london) are interesting. Apparently Peter Walker (the journalist concerned) believes that it's nuanced and balanced with regards to safety, and doesn't present London in an unfairly dark light. Having now seen the video I agree with @Rasmus - he's making a mountain out of a molehill. And he's got a lousy attitude to pedestrians.

Oh, and Hyde Park Corner apparently has "no bike provision at all". No prizes for guessing where the one bit of bike provision that he uses actually is...

 

[slowmotion]

It is busy but you do get used to it, its actually fun, I go out and play with the traffic in my free time. London is ace by bike.

Any of those junctions are fine (and fun ) if you are familiar with them. First time, they might be a bit daunting. I'm a huge fan of my local Hammersmith Broadway. I go out of my way to go round it.

 

[Cuchilo]

London is great . Never be scared of it .

 

[Kies]

HPC is a doddle, Kings Cross as well if you hold your line. Never been scared as yet in London

 

[Lincov]

London is great . Never be scared of it .

Makes me wonder about the effect articles like that have on the general perception of cycling. I'm pretty confident and watching it put me off cycling in London a little (at least round those junctions).

 

[buggi]

i didn't think that was scary and i don't cycle in London but i am very experienced and its easy to forget how a novice would feel if they were to take a Boris bike out for the day. Most of them wouldn't even take the lane.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It is busy but you do get used to it, its actually fun, I go out and play with the traffic in my free time. London is ace by bike.

This ^^^^^

 

[Kies]

i didn't think that was scary and i don't cycle in London but i am very experienced and its easy to forget how a novice would feel if they were to take a Boris bike out for the day. Most of them wouldn't even take the lane.

There are two types of boris bike users. Experienced london city types that know where they are going and the tourists. If they can stay safe whilst bimbling along, whilst looking behind to see if there girlfriend/wife/partner is coming - then it shows London isn't that bad for cycling.
Then again - i wouldn't fancy Bow roundabout, or Aldgate one way system during the rush hour. Thankfully i don't have to.

 

[srw]

One more thought occurred to me - The helmetcam usually points forward, and very occasionally sideways. If I do ride a large roundabout (there's this useful technology called "maps" which helps me avoid them), I spend about half my time looking somewhere other than forwards, usually over both shoulders. Constantly, all the way round.

Perhaps someone should offer Walker a bit of cycle training...