Forum Topic

interested in cycling to work?

Hi AllI don't post here much but just had a thought today while on my commute from Acton. Last year during a Tube strike some cycling groups organised group rides into town and I joined up on one as I saw them going by. It was fun and really great to see a lot of first-time cyclists out on the road and feeling safer in numbers. I ride in to work most days from Acton Central-ish to Trafalgar Square and was wondering if there was any interest in doing a group ride in one morning? I'd be happy to lead the way and give out some pointers to beginning commuters.If anyone is interested, could you perhaps register your interest here and then I can set a date for a group commute? I usually leave about 7:30am. I am no speed demon and it usually takes me around 45 minutes.

Liz Dewar ● 5639d14 Comments

What a brilliant idea - I helped with some of these around London, but the central Ealing ones had some rather odd routes determined by Transport for London and were not that popular.If you need any help, or just some company give me a shout.

David Eales ● 5639d

What a splendid idea. I probably won't be joining you as I live at the other end of Horn Lane and generally use the A40 (on the cycle path; I'm not suicidal)but I hope you get some interest. Strikes me that the new bicycle workshop by the station is a symbolic place to start. What sort of route do you usually take? Shepherd's Bush--Holland Park--Notting Hill-Bayswater etc?

Roy Gillett ● 5639d

Thanks David and Roy!I do take the route you described, then duck into Kensington Gardens-Hyde Park-Green Park-The Mall to Trafalgar Square. It's a great way to start the day.It would be cool to start at the new shop. I was hoping to drum up some interest on here and then set a date and print some fliers to put up at the new shop, Woolsleys, etc. I guess we'll see if anyone else is interested. How is cycling on the A40?? I know you said you take the cycle path but it still sounds intimidating to me :)

Liz Dewar ● 5638d

Shepherds Bush NO fun and i can't understand why there is nrither a cycle lane up Notting hill nor shared use of the wide and under-used pavements.I quite fancy a ride in along the Grand Union Canal (from Acton Central station) but haven't found a suitable cicerone yet.

Sara Nathan ● 5638d

Oh, cycling through the parks is just lovely. I don't find a reason to do it too often, but I did manage it just a month or so ago when I went to a talk at the South Bank. I thoroughly enjoyed itThe A40 cycle path is OK. You just need to be a bit careful passing the side roads and watch out for school run mums backing out of their drives whilst yakking on their cellphones. Also be aware of people waiting for the bus at the stop by HomeBase. Apart from that it's fine. I do find the return journey a bit of a slog. The stretch uphill from HomeBase to Gypsy Corner is hard work for me, but I do make life difficult for myself by being overweight

Roy Gillett ● 5638d

There's no cycle lane because unfortunately TFL do not consider the needs of cyclists, with motorised traffic flow being the priority. There is plenty of room for a segregated cycle route free of cars and pedestrians but there is no chance of it actually happening since cycling groups don't even press for it. In the mean time cycling in London is left to those brave enough to do it, which is a pity.

Steven Kealey ● 5637d

Since they've put in the new slip road between St Dunstan's and Friary Road they've moved the cycle path off the pavement - about time too, I live there and used to be forever nearly running over cyclists flying down the pavement.  It's unavoidable if you have a car reversing, rather than pulling out forwards. I couldn't see them and they couldn't see me until the boot of my car was edging out.  Pedestrians are slower so there's less chance of accidents.  Maybe cyclists should slow down a bit when using shared pavements? It's not always the drivers fault! 

Sarah Harris ● 5637d

No, it sounds like the fault of the planners who poorly designed a cycle lane to put cyclists in that kind of danger.

Steven Kealey ● 5637d

I have to say Holland Park to Notting Hill is my least favourite part of the ride in both directions. Shepherd's Bush I really don't mind at all in the mornings but in the evenings it can be quite hectic. I save myself a lot of stress by bypassing Shepherds Bush roundabout. Even with the shared use crossings, it isn't worth the saved minutes to me.I went through a period of having a bad attitude towards my commute (after having done it for a few months and getting stressed out all the time) but have really come out the other end by just slowing down. It sounds silly but just slowing down and being more relaxed has made me a lot more confident on the road and I'm really happy with the ride now. If I am honest, my biggest annoyance is aggressive cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road.Anyway! Who's up for that group ride? :) :)

Liz Dewar ● 5637d

They're your biggest annoyance on the road? I'm truly amazed.

Steven Kealey ● 5637d

Another young woman killed cycling on London's roads this week - by a left-turning lorry in Camden.Apparently compliant, law-abiding lady cyclists are much more vulnerable mile-for-mile than lycra louts who accelorate across everything and give the rest of us a bad name.

Sara Nathan ● 5637d

I'm not concerned with cyclists who run red lights giving anyone a bad name. To me those kind of actions are a consequence of poor road layout, designed with consideration only for the flow of motor vehicles. I cycle past the junction where the woman was killed and it is a very busy crossroads. But there is no cycle lane, no advanced stop line, and incredibly, no pedestrian crossing on any of the sides. These things just aren't a priority to TFL.

Steven Kealey ● 5637d

"then duck into Kensington Gardens-Hyde Park-Green Park-The Mall to Trafalgar Square"I go that route on my commute as well.  Cycling through Hyde Park & The Mall on a good day is a joy but the crossing at Hyde Park Corner is a classic example of junction design with very little consideration for cyclists.

Michael Robinson ● 5635d

And especially in the summer, there just isn't enough space at the Hyde Park Corner junction for all the cyclists and then the mad dash through the arch to get to the other side before those lights change and you have to wait for ever AGAIN.

Sara Nathan ● 5635d