Erith/Abbey Wood to City

[MichaelO]

Anyone have any experience of commuting from the Erith area to the City? I have zero knowledge of the area/route, so any suggestions of good routes to take, or bad ones to avoid would be much appreciated

Thanks!

 

[Beebo]

Yep, i go from the north side of Bexleyheath everyday.
You have a few options, but the quickest and easiest route is via plumstead, woolwich, greenwich and then carry on Evelyn Street and Jamaica Road to either Tower Bridge or London Bridge. It will take about an hour. Most of it is on busy road with cycle lane or bus lane. It is busy, fast roads so not very relaxing. Basically follow A206.
I have a quieter route via Plumstead Common, Woolwich common, and Greenwich Park, but that may be a bit out of your way.
The one road to avoid is the dual carriage way through Thamesmead.
In the summer you have a great slow route via the Thames path, which is fantastic.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[MichaelO]

Thanks - it's for a friend who's starting to commute from there - I'm down in Surrey but will probably ride to him to then practice a route or two in over the coming weekends before he does it "for real"!.

Appreciate the options

 

[mr_cellophane]

In the summer you have a great slow route via the Thames path, which is fantastic.

I would have thought that that was so wide for most of the route, you could speed along between Thamesmead and Woolwich

 

[Beebo]

I would have thought that that was so wide for most of the route, you could speed along between Thamesmead and Woolwich

It follows a very large bend in the Thames, so adds on the miles. The path is nice a wide, but is gravel in places and there are plenty of technical sections, gates and other obstacles to negotiate, so you never get much above 12mph. I often take that route when riding home in the summer. It isnt a quick route, but it is a nice route.

 

[rb58]

I sometime commute from Bexley via Plumstead just to add variety. If I was travelling from Erith, I'd go this way. It can be busy in places (especially around the Woolwich ferry) but I've never had any bother. Definitely agree with @Beebo about avoiding the dual carriageway around Thamesmead.

 

[Beebo]

I sometime commute from Bexley via Plumstead just to add variety. If I was travelling from Erith, I'd go this way. It can be busy in places (especially around the Woolwich ferry) but I've never had any bother. Definitely agree with @Beebo about avoiding the dual carriageway around Thamesmead.

That would be perfect, nice and flat. It avoids Bostall Hill, which is one of the worst hills around these parts.

 

[Brains]

I ride Greenwich to the City
personally, I use the Greenwich tunnel into the Docklands and then CS3 into the City, unless I'm in a real hurry in which case its the lower Road through Rotherhithe
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/roadusers/bcs3-map.pdf