London boris bike route :)

[Black Sheep]

I've got an interview next week and thinking of using a boris bike to get to and from the interview,

will be getting in to paddington and wanting to get to Kings Terrace NW1

I think the closest tube station is mornington crescent - looking for the simplest route to follow as I'll be leaving plenty of time to get there.

any route suggestions are welcome

will I be able to get my pannier to fit onto the bike? it's A3 in size

thanks.

 

[Tynan]

you get a fair amount of junk on the seemingly small front rack, there's a decent bungy on it, maybe bring something extra to do A3

Take the Route Bus 27 from Stop: H says tfl planner, 25 minute journey all in

if you're not confident in London traffic there's some big old roads round that part of London

 

[Becs]

you get a fair amount of junk on the seemingly small front rack, there's a decent bungy on it, maybe bring something extra to do A3

Take the Route Bus 27 from Stop: H says tfl planner, 25 minute journey all in

if you're not confident in London traffic there's some big old roads round that part of London

Wot he said. I work opposite the boris bike station on Royal College street and have cycled to paddington a few times, but it is busy, the bikes are heavy and very slow unless you work up a sweat. Not sure I'd do it for an interview. Also the one way streets are a pain to say the least. To cycle back to paddington I would head round oakly square, across Eversholt street and hampstead road (I think) to the outer circle of reagents park. Follow this round to baker street and head down baker street and take an early right onto paddington road. From there you'll pick up blue signs for paddington. The Boris bike dock is tucked away in a side street near the station - there's a free app that's very useful that might be worth downloading.

This route is not for the faint hearted - many very busy 3 lane roads and baker street is a nightmare!

 

[Black Sheep]

I'm confident in traffic, although on a boris bike might push it across a large road

would someone be kind enough to plot a route on a google map?

preferably after something easy to navigate more than a direct route, but perhaps avoiding a big junction might be good

 

[Red Light]

Use the cycle route planner

 

[jonny jeez]

Sorry in advance for not being bike PC...but this is an interview, surely the last thing you need is distraction, complication.... or sweat.

I'd grab a travel card and do the Bakerloo line to Oxford st, -Victoria line to warren st and the northern to Mornington cres, its a short walk from there. It'll take about 20 minutes

do the Boris thing on the way back if you wish, when the interview is over.

just my opinion

 

[leyton condor]

Kind of agree with johnny, get your interview over with and then go out and play with the Boris Bikes and see the sights.

 

[Red Light]

It'll take about 20 minutes

About 30 minutes actually and a bit more allowing for getting from the train. By bike its about 2.5 miles so probably a bit quicker but unless you know London and where you are going I would tend to agree with reducing the stress factor on the way there.

 

[vickster]

Although it's for walking, I find walkit.com good for route planning in London, gives you the option of less busy too

But yes, get public transport there, cycle back...if not in a rush to get home, you can do some nice scenic stuff through parks etc

 

[Becs]

The other thing to consider is you can never be certain that there will be a space at the docking station (as happened to me at Waterloo the other day).

 

[Red Light]

The other thing to consider is you can never be certain that there will be a space at the docking station (as happened to me at Waterloo the other day).

There are several phone apps available that will tell you where the nearest docking station with spaces/bikes is. Stations are a particular problem because of the tidal flow of commuters using them but elsewhere its much less of an issue.

 

[Becs]

There are several phone apps available that will tell you where the nearest docking station with spaces/bikes is. Stations are a particular problem because of the tidal flow of commuters using them but elsewhere its much less of an issue.

Yep, my app told me every docking station within a 1 mile radius of waterloo was full, despite there being plenty of spaces when I set off! In the end 20 or so people were waiting to dock their bikes until the van turned up to redistribute them. I've not had this problem at paddington, but I wouldn't want to risk it unless time was flexible.

 

[Black Sheep]

As people have sensibly said, I'm going to get the tube via this route:

Bakerloo line from Paddington to Oxford Circus,

Victoria line from Oxford C to Warren St

Northern Line from Warren st to Mornington Cres

at the moment the maintenance works callender on TFL's website is not working so does anyone know of any disruptions to this route?

thanks.

 

[ttcycle]

Good luck!!

Seems for an interview you have made a wise decision.
If the website is down, I couldn't tell you about disruptions but good to factor in an extra 15 minutes for problems. If it's rush hour time then give yourself even more time as sometimes the tubes are so busy several go by without you being able to get in.