What is it like cycling through London

[johnnyb47]

Hi. I'm curious more than anything else ,but what is it like cycling through London in rush hour. When I see You tube clips it honestly looks pretty dam scary stuff. I personally don't think I would ever enjoy running the gauntlet day in day out of avoiding trucks / buses turning left or weaving through tail backs of cars waiting at the lights. You guys who do it every day, really must have your wits about you with all that traffic flying around you. Does it ever stress you out trying to get from A to B in such a congested area. Another question is do you ever feel vulnerable riding through the big city at the mercy of heavy traffic.
Thanks for any replies. It will be interesting to read them .
Johnny :-))

 

[slowmotion]

I've been commuting in heavy traffic for about seven years now. Only five and a half miles each way. For the first few weeks, I was scared out of my skin, but you begin to learn how to do it.
The first lesson is that you have to concentrate for every single second of your ride, and to try and anticipate all the random hazards that might be thrown at you at a moment's notice. Pedestrians appearing between stationary cars, cars indicating right and suddenly turning left, potholes, sunken steel covers in the road etc etc. It's like a game of chess, and it's extremely good fun.
When I started riding, I used to long for the car-free section in Battersea Park. Now, I avoid it. Riding in traffic is an absolute blast.

 

[Markymark]

I've cycled lots in London, Essex, Cambs and Suffolk. London is by far the safest. Traffic very used to cyclists and they know they're slow so little overtaking. At lights I'm typically one of 3-5 and sometimes 10+ so we are a noticeable group.

We are faster than most cars and they know this so little aggression.

When I cycle on Essex country roads the differential speed is so much greater and I find much more aggression for 'slowing them down'.

 

[slowmotion]

I've cycled lots in London, Essex, Cambs and Suffolk. London is by far the safest. Traffic very used to cyclists and they know they're slow so little overtaking. At lights I'm typically one of 3-5 and sometimes 10+ so we are a noticeable group.

We are faster than most cars and they know this so little aggression.

When I cycle on Essex country roads the differential speed is so much greater and I find much more aggression for 'slowing them down'.

Absolutely. I really have no complaints about London drivers. They are used to cyclists and you get very little aggression. If they get nasty, you can always catch them in the queue at the next set of lights and enjoy some verbals.

 

[alicat]

Wot Markymark and Slowmotion said. I much prefer cycling in London to cycling at home. At home they act like cyclists are invisible, especially at islands (local name for roundabouts).

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's not the Mad Max style horror that youtube vids would have you believe. But it is a bit crap. The very centre (inside the circle line) is distinctly crapper. But mostly, its just urban riding like any town. But with fewer dual carriageways

 

[Fab Foodie]

Riding in London is my absolute favourite. The bicycle is king.
I miss my commuting days. :-(

 

[Roxy641]

Probably the same as an big city. Because there are lots more cars etc and a lot less spare, it is important to "read the road ahead" - I was taught that when I was a taking car driving lessons. It is even more important when riding a bike as we have more to lose than a car driver does.

Honestly, it does get easier. You can't afford to lose concentration. Always try and be aware of what is behind you, in front of you.

I volunteer in London one day a week, I get the train into London and cycle the rest of the way. Going home I tend to go to a terminus station such as Victoria as it is difficult finding a space for my bike. I used to cycle into London and back, going there was fun, but coming back wasn't a lot harder work. Unless I know the roads really well, I want to try and avoid cycling in London when it gets dark.

 

[Mile195]

You get used to it quickly, especially if you do always take the same route. You need to ride very defensively and use the correct lane on big junctions like Hyde Park Corner or Vauxhall cross for example, but for the most part the traffic speed is so slow, you tend to spot potential unexpected left turns across your path etc long before they happen. And for every main road route, there's a reasonably parallel set of side streets for the lest confident cyclist if you are willing to do a bit of route planning beforehand.

I started road cycling in London 10 years ago, and it's completely changed in that decade. For the most part motorists are actually very aware of cyclists and where the traffic allows, tend to give space. It seems to get worse as you get further out though. If I cycle out southward, I find something happens around Croydon and beyond where cars become a bit more oblivious. I'm not sure why.

 

[vickster]

It's ok mostly...until you get knocked off! (To be fair my 'big' accident was on a Sunday not rush hour, but I did come off also when some other **** on a bike decided to cut straight across me, indeed ime other cyclists can be more of a menace than the motor vehicles)

I personally find Hyde Park Corner and Vauxhall pretty terrifying...the first mostly due to the number of buses, the second due to the number of muppets who have no idea which lane they need to be in and don't think indicating and looking is a good idea when changing lanes

Elephant and Castle is no longer the death trap it was fortunately

I have commuted a few times, but finding bike parking can be a pain now. Indeed, I'm off for a ride into town with @jefmcg soon to meet another friend

 

[PK99]

It's ok mostly...until you get knocked off! (To be fair my 'big' accident was on a Sunday not rush hour, but I did come off also when some other **** on a bike decided to cut straight across me, indeed ime other cyclists can be more of a menace than the motor vehicles)

Wot she said!

 

[johnnyb47]

That's really surprised me that bike parking is an issue. It never even entered my head that such a problem could exist. As said before though I've never cycled around London and it's interesting to know what it's like, and the potential problems you guys come across day to day.

 

[johnnyb47]

Surly bike parking is free though in the centre of London, or do you have to pay for that privilege .

 

[vickster]

Surly bike parking is free though in the centre of London, or do you have to pay for that privilege .

It's free but there are a lot of cyclists and a limited number of stands in places where you'd want to leave a bike all day in London

I work by London bridge, so a major station, big hospital nearby, my building has 17 floors and the shard next door has 95, plus all the other offices, shops, cafes etc, that's potentially a lot of bikes and relatively very few stands closeby

 

[johnnyb47]

Wow I imagine that's quite a lot of cyclists looking for a limited amount of bike parking. If you were to ,say commute 5 miles each way through the centre of London on a bike how long would it take you as opposed to doing the same journey in a car. I would imagine it could be done easily in half the time by bike. Sorry for all the questions but it's interesting to know how the other half live compared to a country bumpkin like my self lol