Newbie from London (aka the Trenches!)

[Davidsw8]

Hi

After 6 years without a bike and not wanting to waste any more time with the hour long walk to work (each way) every day, I bought a Brompton in Feb 2012 and have been commuting to work on it ever since.

I always thought cycling in central London would be too dangerous and it's proven not to be AS bad as I feared, though it is pretty bad. In my view, 90% of that danger is caused by ignorance and selfishness so I'm attempting to exact a very small change by promoting a good example both as a cyclist and as a pedestrian.

As everyone does, I make mistakes, the main one being pulling out in front of traffic when I've been too hasty and not seen something coming. Though I do pride myself on not falling foul to the 2 stereotypical cycle sins a) running red lights and b) cycling on the pavement (well, except for a 50 yard stretch of pavement that is always empty and next to a road that is so bad it's likely to wreck my bike if I rode over it regularly).

 

[mark st1]

Welcome mate 1 of my aims is to jump on the train up to "the big smoke" and just have a tootle around i spend endless hours sitting in traffic jams across the whole of London and thre flat (ish) roads and landmarks look lush so thats deffo on my to do list asap.

Hope you enjoy the forums

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi

I'm attempting to exact a very small change by promoting a good example both as a cyclist and as a pedestrian.

.

Welcome David, you sound like you have the the makings of a decent London commuter to me, well played.

But please do avoid that pavement section, there really is no excuse for that.

we've written a guide just for you, take a look it may answer some questions. Link below.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12757785/guide.pdf

Good luck

 

[Davidsw8]

Thanks Jonny. And thanks for the guide, had a quick scan through but will read properly later.

I am in a dilemma with that pavement section though, 99% of the time, there isn't a soul on the street and I'm going slowly anyway. On the rare occasions, there's a pedestrian, I slow right down, stop and walk it past them. That stretch of road is so pot-holey and rough, there's no safe route through and I'm likely to come off my bike if I attempt it - it's seriously that bad.

 

[Dan_h]

Hi David, Welcome to the forum!

Personally I would not worry about the section of pavement too much. I think it is a matter of common sense. If there is a section of road that is that bad (or even a particularly bad junction or whatever) then getting off the bike and pushing it along the kerb is the right thing to do, however I will occasionaly ride on the kerb if there is a good reason to and no pedestrians on it. Obviously a crowded pavement is a different issue but IMO riding a few yards up an empty pavement does not do any harm.

 

[phillc]

Hello David and to CC.

Safe and happy cycling
phill

 

[Pat "5mph"]

 

[Boon 51]

Hi from me...

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Thanks Jonny. And thanks for the guide, had a quick scan through but will read properly later.

I am in a dilemma with that pavement section though, 99% of the time, there isn't a soul on the street and I'm going slowly anyway. On the rare occasions, there's a pedestrian, I slow right down, stop and walk it past them. That stretch of road is so pot-holey and rough, there's no safe route through and I'm likely to come off my bike if I attempt it - it's seriously that bad.

could you not try reporting it? i have had to report potholes 2 to 3 times a week before it got sorted but they do eventually get fixed.

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks Jonny. And thanks for the guide, had a quick scan through but will read properly later.

I am in a dilemma with that pavement section though, 99% of the time, there isn't a soul on the street and I'm going slowly anyway. On the rare occasions, there's a pedestrian, I slow right down, stop and walk it past them. That stretch of road is so pot-holey and rough, there's no safe route through and I'm likely to come off my bike if I attempt it - it's seriously that bad.

Dont get too hung up on it as @Dan_h says common sense is the key. Good to see you walk it if a ped is onboard though.

Ride safe

 

[Davidsw8]

could you not try reporting it? i have had to report potholes 2 to 3 times a week before it got sorted but they do eventually get fixed.

Hi JD

I should... and in fact, I'll do it this morning... It being the stretch of road right outside Walworth police station, you'd think one of them would've noticed though.

 

[defy-one]

Welcome mate 1 of my aims is to jump on the train up to "the big smoke" and just have a tootle around i spend endless hours sitting in traffic jams across the whole of London and thre flat (ish) roads and landmarks look lush so thats deffo on my to do list asap.

Hope you enjoy the forums

I'm in

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Welcome from one of the SE London contingent. But what are these trenches you're talking about?

 

[Davidsw8]

Welcome from one of the SE London contingent. But what are these trenches you're talking about?

Hullo!

Any of the bridges for a start and then either embankment. Then there's the whole area north-east of Lambeth Bridge and also between The Mall and Piccadilly.

Pedestrians then Cyclists then Cabbies are the main problem in these areas (in that order).

Most of Kennington is fine to cycle through and I love pootling along Horse Guards (in the morning, the afternoon is a nightmare).

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Ah, urban warfare! I thought maybe Thames Water had dug up your area and gone somewhere else for the season.