What's your favourite part of your commute?

[RedRider]

So, it's you! (joking)

Don't you find the roundabouts either side of Lambeth Bridge a bit of a nightmare? I hear TFL is going to re-model those as they're danger points. Also, turning left and going around Smith Square I find I'm dodging the peds flinging themselves in front of me from behind parked vehicles (I'm convinced they're laying in wait ).

Horse Guards comes as a wonderful relief after all that.

Hiya,
I'm alright with those roundabouts, in fact Lambeth's my fave central London river crossing.

Going north I get in the right hand lane halfway across and time arrival at the roundabout so's there's a gap in the traffic and I rarely have to stop. Same going south except it's traffic light controlled so just concentrate on being in the right lane. I reckon roundabouts are a matter of confidence and practice and I've been using that route quite some time now. Looks like the changes you link to are mainly there to help out pedestrians but also cyclists at rush hour who're less practised. Good stuff.

I must admit I'm rarely taking this route at rush hour and mostly at weekends so Smith Square's usually deserted. Perhaps those pedestrians chucking themselves in front of you are jaded civil servants calculating a stint in hossy preferable to a day in the office! (Maybe I'm generalising from a mate of mine who works in Smith Square.)

Horse Guards is brilliant tho, eh?

 

[Davidsw8]

Hiya,
I'm alright with those roundabouts, in fact Lambeth's my fave central London river crossing.

Going north I get in the right hand lane halfway across and time arrival at the roundabout so's there's a gap in the traffic and I rarely have to stop. Same going south except it's traffic light controlled so just concentrate on being in the right lane. I reckon roundabouts are a matter of confidence and practice and I've been using that route quite some time now. Looks like the changes you link to are mainly there to help out pedestrians but also cyclists at rush hour who're less practised. Good stuff.

I must admit I'm rarely taking this route at rush hour and mostly at weekends so Smith Square's usually deserted. Perhaps those pedestrians chucking themselves in front of you are jaded civil servants calculating a stint in hossy preferable to a day in the office! (Maybe I'm generalising from a mate of mine who works in Smith Square.)

Horse Guards is brilliant tho, eh?

Horse Guards is a lovely stretch, love it in the evenings when the sun is going down over the lake. Shame the peds think the whole stretch is pedestrianised though, that's why I prefer the mornings, too earlier for the tourists

Being an ex-civil servant myself, I get what you mean about Smith Square though

 

[Finnjävel]

I'd say it's this spot here (taken this tuesday), IIRC:

Which looked like this today:

 

[wisdom]

All of it whatever the weather.
I have got to the stage where now i allways use the bike instead of the car.It sets me up for the day really well,These nice autumn mornings and evenings are brilliant.Cold but at the moment no wind and rain.People have got their woodburners on and they smell excellent.Its just nice to be out in the open and sense the changing seasons.
The only weather i dont like riding in is the high winds.

 

[wintonbina]

I have written to Surrey CC about this without reply, and the northbound joining the A23 (that is still being treated as the M23 by the driver on it) There has been planning permission in place to make it safe since the early 2000's but no cash to do it. The plan would have made it safe going both directions.

I never got a reply to my email about the ped crossing they put in 18 months ago creating yet another dangerous pinch point. I had 40ft lorry anchoring on behind me going northbound, he must of been 40+ before he realised not enough room for me and him through the ped pinch.

Going southbound I used to go along the cycle path waiting for a gap in traffic, but with the increased amount of traffic coming down that road by Starbucks in the morning means when the lights are red at Hooley they all come out meaning no breaks, so I go along the M23 - A23 broken lines and pray, I pretty much know when I have made it to the M23 A23 written on the road cars can pass either side, I have had quite a bit of aggro from drivers though..

You should write to the CEO and the leader of the council explaining your concerns and offer to meet them on site to discuss stating no-one else could be bothered to reply (also cc the editor of the local rag & your MP). You will get some type of response then!
Good luck.

 

[I like Skol]

The second half of either commute in or out, once my legs haved warmed up, I'm in the cycling zone and all of life's worries are far away

I must warm up quicker (or have a longer commute) because after the 1st mile of my 10 mile commute I am 'in the zone' and the rest is pure pleasure. I have to admit, passing through Crown Point/Denton is often nice as there is the smell from a few curry/kebab establishments wafting across the road and even though I have just eaten I still long to pull over and order a cheeky take-away

 

[Oldspice]

The part that involves cake and tea

 

[shouldbeinbed]

It's not so much the commute as the 'me' time. The invigorated feeling I have at the start of the day and a chance to put the job out of my mind on the way home and be switched off from it for my family time.

Daisy Nook county park on a warm sunny evening or in the snow is canny tho.

 

[slowmotion]

The bit with the heaviest traffic, strangely. Earls Court Road southbound, or Hammersmith Broadway. The traffic-free bit through Battersea Park holds few attractions.

 

[Glow worm]

One of my commuting routes takes me along an old railway line which is pretty rural and quiet, and the surface holds up quite well in winter too. It's not officially a public a right of way so only really gets used by locals as the landowners are OK with it, so it's normally very quiet. It also leads to a wonderful network of old Fen tracks on which you can ride for miles without seeing a soul.
Here's a couple of pics I took a while back..

Then I get to Cambridge! ..............

 

[beppe]

halfway from home to work pass a bridge where the lake of como narrows into the adda river. the water never looks the same: I'd like the bridge was longer and longer...........

 

[Darren Jeffrey]

Down behind the cramond brig over a lovely little bridge that goes over the almond river. Swans and running water. Bliss

 

[nathanicola]

Last night. Leaving the last street light in Bridgwater behind me and plunging into the dark deserted country roads at midnight on a satarday night, wondering will my legs be able to make it home after such a long shift, cruzing through the villages all silent with everyone in bed, bright moonlight lighting up the frosty air and a sky full of stars, just the sound of the wind in my spokes and the hum of the tyres on the road and totaly forgeting that i've even been to work with a sence of satisfaction knowing thats another week done.
Total bliss. ... until a badger runs out of a hedge and scares the f**king sh*t out of me.

 

[Twizit]

I must warm up quicker (or have a longer commute) because after the 1st mile of my 10 mile commute I am 'in the zone' and the rest is pure pleasure.

15 miles each way for me guess my legs take a really long time to warm up. That and coming home it takes me a good few miles to forget about work!!

 

[Kenny Gray]

When i get n the bike after my shift and think i cant be arsed but 10 mins up the road you start too warm up and think yes........ at least i not sitting in the car...