I have not been riding bikes for long. Only passed my test this Feb, but since then I have got rid of my car and so hardly ever travel in a cage ( when I first came across that I didn’t realise what it was, but makes me laugh everytime I hear it ). Anyway I had need to pick up some furniture this afternoon and so having siigned up with Streetcar set off from Islingont in the direction of Lakeside at 4:30pm. I thought 2 1/2 hours would be plenty to get there and back allowing for a bit of traffic before I got past Canary Wharf. How naive I was, eventually after reaching canning town at after 5:45 I gave up and turned back. Averaged something like 5mph.
I just cannot believe that people that there are people who do this every day! What sort of a life do these people live? I could have done it faster on my bicycle except I couldn’t carry a wardrobe on the back.
When i ride along the M25 in rush hour which is more 24h, these cagers sit there everyday in the same traffic jam looking peed off, so why dont they think ill get a bike and sod the traffic.
Twice a year I work on a Disaster Recovery exercise at HP’s ‘Business Continuity’ centre at Reading so ride there round the M25 to the M4. Two mornings out of three last time the cars were nose to tail and going at walking pace at best, all the way from Watford to Heathrow. Why do they do it? How do they ever get anywhere? Shouldn’t complain I suppose, at least they’re out of our way.
It would make life much easier for our vans if there were less cars on the road, and as we work the London area on a daily basis it would be nice to be able to get to our customers quicker, and as some of those customers might even be some of you I am sure you would like us to respond as quick as we can. Unfortunately I don’t think that it will ever be easy to get around our glorious capital which is why I might invest in some motorcycle patrols!!
I’ve been driving into London for the last 4 weeks because my bike is still off the road … don’t ask … I leave at 6.45 to miss the heavy traffic and I’ve not been leaving until 6.45 at night, again to miss the heavy traffic … I miss my bike.
I know I could jump on the train, but it’s soooo slow.
I have noticed though in the dark mornings and dark early evenings, how many riders are difficult to see without any reflective gear, I’ve also noticed how many drivers forget to put there lights on, so be careful if you think it’s clear when you’re overtaking or filtering !
dunno… why do I do it? Going to Avebury, I got on a j23 and each time I was going to get off and find another route, it sped up for a mile then slowed to a stop. 2 hours later and I got off, cut through slough and hit all the traffic there. I’ve got to goto Woking on Saturday… will have to work out an alternative route. I’ve got to be there by 11am. Saturday morning - m25 :w00t: better look up aaroutefinder.
I use my car a lot more than my bike, my commute is 35 miles each way-90% motorway. With the times I work it is quicker for me by car every day except Friday (everybody seems to have somewhere to go on a friday so I use the bike). By the time I wheel the bike around to the front of the house, lock the gate, take of the locks and cover the bike and get kitted up I could be half way to work.
Not to mention the car being quieter, warmer and cheaper for me. That way I also get ride as hobby rather than neccesity and I enjoy it more.
Would be a different story if I worked or lived in London though.
Took me 3 hours and 10 mins to get from near Stevenage on the A1 to Chinham near Basingstoke this morning. Just an hour and 10 to get back. Glad I don’t need to use major roads every day.
