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I think cycling in London is not as dangerous or scary as people generally like to believe by default. You can avoid most of the traffic by following cycling ro

by revorad 18y ago

I think cycling in London is not as dangerous or scary as people generally like to believe by default. You can avoid most of the traffic by following cycling routes. Transport for London publishes quite good cycling maps -http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/8966.aspx http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/8966.aspx I was lazy about cycling for a long time for the same reasons you mention. But now I find that cycling is actually a great way to beat the cold. And the rain? Well, you just get used to it... Slowly wheeling around small lanes is also good thinking time, especially at the end of the day.

lsb 18y ago
I was living up in Stoke Newington when I was in London (N16 7AJ repreSENT!), and that's under 10 minutes to the Lea River and Regent's Canal, both of which are fantastic cycling routes. The Grand Union is also delightful, especially with Little Venice right after Paddington basin. I'll admit, though, that my commute was pretty easy, just straight on the A10 through Shoreditch/Dalston. If you see yourself using a bike to shuttle to mass transit, get a folding bike, they're awfully convenient; if you see yourself using a bike as a main means of transit, stay with a full-size city bike.
jrockway 18y ago
+1 I have never cycled in London, but I'd imagine it is similar to the US. There is no need to be excessively afraid of cabs and busses -- if those people hit you, their life is ruined. (Don't take this as an invitation to drive stupidly, though. Stay predictable.) It's the dumbasses from the suburbs that I find to be the problem. They have never seen anyone riding a bike before, so they don't know how to act properly. If I had a nickel for every time I was almost hit from behind by someone with non-Chicago stickers... (Hint to these people: if there are 3 lanes, you don't have to drive so close to the right side that you clip the mirrors off parked cars.)

by revorad 18y ago

lsb 18y ago

I was living up in Stoke Newington when I was in London (N16 7AJ repreSENT!), and that's under 10 minutes to the Lea River and Regent's Canal, both of which are fantastic cycling routes. The Grand Union is also delightful, especially with Little Venice right after Paddington basin. I'll admit, though, that my commute was pretty easy, just straight on the A10 through Shoreditch/Dalston. If you see yourself using a bike to shuttle to mass transit, get a folding bike, they're awfully convenient; if you see yourself using a bike as a main means of transit, stay with a full-size city bike.

jrockway 18y ago

+1 I have never cycled in London, but I'd imagine it is similar to the US. There is no need to be excessively afraid of cabs and busses -- if those people hit you, their life is ruined. (Don't take this as an invitation to drive stupidly, though. Stay predictable.) It's the dumbasses from the suburbs that I find to be the problem. They have never seen anyone riding a bike before, so they don't know how to act properly. If I had a nickel for every time I was almost hit from behind by someone with non-Chicago stickers... (Hint to these people: if there are 3 lanes, you don't have to drive so close to the right side that you clip the mirrors off parked cars.)