Commuting by bike in London

We recently purchased some cheap bikes here in London to start commuting. Unfortunately bikes are hot commodity in London and highly prone to theft. Our touring bikes were too valuable to put at risk.

We have been now using the bikes everyday to get in and out of down. Much cheaper, cleaner, faster, you can park anywhere and great exercise. The day I was over taken by a Brompton was the day I decided I probably wasn't cycle fit! So now we are computing about 30km a day to and from work. It’s actually a nice ride, down by Regent Park.

But going from small town Hobart to rush hour London traffic was an experience. Cyclists over here are privileged, there are assigned bike lanes, they get to take off first at the lights etc. However, there are things you need to watch for; buses, cars, other cyclist and pedestrians, all of which can see you meet your demise.

Buses share your lane most of the time (Pete says correctly that we share the bus’s lane, but who cares), they stop randomly, some are bendy and are able to take you out with the end section, but they provide good slick streaming opportunities.

The pedestrian should not be under estimated, they are fine if they remain on the foot path and cross at the lights, but they don't. They duck and weave through the traffic, walk in the bike lanes and generally ignore cyclists.

The driving here in London is aggressive with the average seed of a car being 10km/h. At least they are not fast and aggressive.

Probably the biggest hazard of all are other cyclists! Like everyone in London they are trying to get around as fast as they can.... mmm wrong way up one way streets, no lights, bells or whistles, random spats at pedestrians and cars, erratic stopping and turning, you get the picture.

Bridgette