Long Acre, Covent Garden - now 2 way to cycles?

[suecsi]

Not sure where I got the idea that this was being trialled or something - does anyone on here that commutes through Covent Garden (ideally from Waterloo Station) know if this ever happened as Google Maps is years out of date. Also, any pointers for avoiding the pinch points at the bus stops just before and on Waterloo Bridge?

The road that runs behind the Royal Festival Hall seems reasonably civilised (there was some sort of market there today, great food!) but then you have to double back to get onto the bridge (or continue down to Blackfriars).

I'm looking at routes that go from Waterloo station into the area around Piccadilly Circus and via Covent Garden is what TFL comes up with. I walked part of it yesterday but didn't see any cyclists going 'contraflow' against the traffic in Long Acre. The huge bunch of cyclists setting off from the junction with the Strand was an amazing sight though!

 

[Red Light]

Not sure where I got the idea that this was being trialled or something - does anyone on here that commutes through Covent Garden (ideally from Waterloo Station) know if this ever happened as Google Maps is years out of date. Also, any pointers for avoiding the pinch points at the bus stops just before and on Waterloo Bridge?

The road that runs behind the Royal Festival Hall seems reasonably civilised (there was some sort of market there today, great food!) but then you have to double back to get onto the bridge (or continue down to Blackfriars).

I'm looking at routes that go from Waterloo station into the area around Piccadilly Circus and via Covent Garden is what TFL comes up with. I walked part of it yesterday but didn't see any cyclists going 'contraflow' against the traffic in Long Acre. The huge bunch of cyclists setting off from the junction with the Strand was an amazing sight though!

Long Acre is one way for everyone. There have been trials in parts of London and Cambridge of "Except Cycles" plates on No Entry signs and it is due to be formally approved by Government this year. When it is it will be much easier to set up cyclist contraflows.

Leaving Waterloo just go down the ramp and turn right at the bottom to go round and up onto Waterloo Bridge. Biggest hazard is pedestrians on the bike path. As for Piccadilly, my preference would be to go down the Strand, round Trafalgar Square and up Lower Regent Street. Threading through Covent Garden is a pain with one way and cobbled streets and lots of people milling around. You need to be comfortable with traffic though to do the Strand route as traffic builds up towards Trafalgar Square and you need to be able to traffic jam.

 

[suecsi]

I'm reasonably ok with traffic, but have a couple of questions for that route:-

Can the A4 roundabout at the end of the Strand be comfortably negotiated in the way recommended for cyclists, i.e. stay in the left hand lane but signal right to try and avoid left hooks? The Brommie is a little twitchy for riding one handed though.

On the return, it isn't that clear from Google Maps whether the first section of the Strand eastbound, by Charing Cross station, is two way - I assume it is?

What is the best way to get back onto Waterloo Bridge coming back from the Piccadilly area? As the layout of the junction with the Strand and Lancaster Place means no right turn by the look of it. I'm wondering whether to come down via Haymarket, Horseguards Parade, Parliament Square (as it is one run down the left that side, don't have to negotiate the awful squareabout) and go over Westminster Bridge on the return to Waterloo Station?

Thanks for the advice, it is really helpful.

 

[jefmcg]

Probably too late for you (I assume today is the day), but does your train stop at Vauxhall? I accidently** took a new way home last week, and ended up cycling along Millbank where CS8 is under development, and it is a thing of beauty: wider than CS3 but only hosting cyclists in one direction. Though it does take you through parliament square.

aside 1: I haven't done that exact route
aside 2: Really is "stay in the left hand lane but signal right to try and avoid left hooks" the recommended way around roundabouts? I travel through Hyde Park Corner, Hammersmith Gyratory and Chiswick Roundabout several times a week - both directions -, and I don't think that would work. I'd definitely be hooked multiple times. I always place myself alone in the lane I need from the get go, though occasionally I can't do this on Hyde Park corner, and I find myself heading towards Victoria.
aside 3: "accidently" finding a new route. I was hungry before leaving work, and picked a Twix from the moderately more healthy alternatives, because I was going to be cycling home. Then auto-pilot took me to Waterloo, and guilt took me away from it again.

 

[Red Light]

I'm reasonably ok with traffic, but have a couple of questions for that route:-

Can the A4 roundabout at the end of the Strand be comfortably negotiated in the way recommended for cyclists, i.e. stay in the left hand lane but signal right to try and avoid left hooks? The Brommie is a little twitchy for riding one handed though.

Do you mean Trafalgar Square? If so stay over on the right at the end of the Strand to avoid the cars turning down Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue and follow the other vehicles round. If you do that you won't need to signal.

On the return, it isn't that clear from Google Maps whether the first section of the Strand eastbound, by Charing Cross station, is two way - I assume it is?

When you come down Haymarket stay to the left of the right turning lanes and at the traffic lights at the bottom you will see a bus lane. Take that rather than following the traffic round. As you get onto Trafalgar Square stay towards the middle and the left and you will see a bus lane straight ahead going down past Charing Cross. Take that and join the Strand.

What is the best way to get back onto Waterloo Bridge coming back from the Piccadilly area? As the layout of the junction with the Strand and Lancaster Place means no right turn by the look of it. I'm wondering whether to come down via Haymarket, Horseguards Parade, Parliament Square (as it is one run down the left that side, don't have to negotiate the awful squareabout) and go over Westminster Bridge on the return to Waterloo Station?

The best way onto Waterloo Bridge is to stay left and pull off into the pavement crossing into Wellington Street and then wait there for the cycle light to cross onto Waterloo Bridge. The other route is possible (do the cut through behind County Hall rather than carrying on to the roundabout on the southern end of Westminster Bridge. The entrance is the narrow gap between the two square metal container on the right of the barrier or you can nip onto the pavement at the pedestrian crossing and there is a small ramp down onto the road again) There is a bit of a melee where traffic is turning onto Embankment or going straight on to negotiate but otherwise quite a pleasant route.

Thanks for the advice, it is really helpful.

You're welcome.

 

[Red Light]

There is a bit of a melee where traffic is turning onto Embankment or going straight on to negotiate but otherwise quite a pleasant route.

P.S. There are road works at the left turn off Whitehall onto Westminster Bridge at the moment with a no left turn sign. I just ignore it if I am going that way and turn left anyway otherwise you have to do a lap of Parliament Square which is not so good - need to know your lanes and get your positioning right. If you are not comfortable ignoring the sign, just get off, push the bike round the corner and get back on which is totally legal.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

I agree with Red Light. Sometimes it is just much easier (and safer) to dismount and walk the bike. I only touch Trafalger Square if I fancy a change of scenery - and even then in less busy times - and find it can be a problem with 'bendy-buses using all the road up and aggressive drivers.From the end of The Strand across to the other side of the Square will only take a couple of minutes at most, but is so much less hassle at times.

Bill

 

[Red Light]

I agree with Red Light. Sometimes it is just much easier (and safer) to dismount and walk the bike. I only touch Trafalger Square if I fancy a change of scenery - and even then in less busy times - and find it can be a problem with 'bendy-buses using all the road up and aggressive drivers.From the end of The Strand across to the other side of the Square will only take a couple of minutes at most, but is so much less hassle at times.

Bill

Trafalgar Square doesn't need walking - there are lots of cyclists use it. It is helpful though to know which lane and where you want to go and do so with purpose although there are enough Boris Bikers now that cars will give you the leeway you need. I've never found buses much of an issue there although the bus stops on Cockspur St can clog things up a bit and give you a chance to practice your filtering. There are roadworks there too which add to the chaos.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Trafalgar Square doesn't need walking - there are lots of cyclists use it. It is helpful though to know which lane and where you want to go and do so with purpose although there are enough Boris Bikers now that cars will give you the leeway you need. I've never found buses much of an issue there although the bus stops on Cockspur St can clog things up a bit and give you a chance to practice your filtering. There are roadworks there too which add to the chaos.

This is true enough, for me, at the times that I would use Trafalgar Square (ie. 6am or after 8.30pm) but anywhere during the day I would seriously think about dismounting were I an inexperienced newbie. Coming into the Square from St.Martins Lane, if you time it right, you can breeze through the lights towards Admiralty Arch (my route) The downhill slope lets you get a shiift on so that you are through it in no time. That said, if I have had reason to approach from The Strand I never seem to fail to get caught at all the lights in this little section.

Bill