Bikes and London taxis

[mjr]

Thanks. So all roads are marked which makes it easy.

Yes but only between Sussex Gardens (one block south of Paddington front) and Argyle St (across Euston Rd from St Pancras). I've no idea why they've not finished the ends.

Oh and the signs sometimes say an intermediate place (Fitzrovia at one point) or the borough (so Camden instead of King's Cross) or only the route number (C27 at the west end or Q2 at the east - if you see C6 heading to KX, you probably should turn left!). But it does all seem to be signed with something.

[MrsHJ]

Okay, great! It seems the fast route is only about 3 1/2 miles so it'll be an interesting experience. Thanks.

I find London ok for cycling- it’s actually not that busy in the middle especially in the evening. Just avoid routes with trucks eg the Westway. If in any doubt walk the bike- it’s not far and there is pedestrian access everywhere. Also for instance from Paddington when I used to go to my office at Charing Cross on days when the tube was down I used to be able almost entirely to walk through the parks. I imagine the cycle.travel route will be a sensible one and you’ll get to orientate yourself a bit. It’s is level access both onto the Heathrow express and out of that part of Paddington station -as you come off the train and out through the ticket barriers bear slightly left and straight on and you’ll see the edge of the station building ahead of you. Walk up the ramp/road to the left of the building to bring you up onto the public road (Praed Street). Turn left towards central London.

It’s like flying or sailing isn’t it though- the worst part of the trip is the beginning and end. So once you are safely out of the airport and then out of London it’ll be a lot better. X

[MrsHJ]

What date are you flying tiggertoo?

Just wondering about rail strikes.

[Tiggertoo]

Arriving in the UK 29 August, and yes I too am concerned with the strikes. I could have got a bus down to Penzance but didn't want spend 8 hours on a bus, so opted for the train.

I used to live and work in London and can walk just about everywhere knowing where I am, but the bike in London is going to be a new experience. Anyway, it's supposed to be an adventure, so we'll see.

Thanks for the info on the runwaycycling place. I'll report back on how that goes. I could wish they were more verbal in their responses to my questions though, I rather think they only understand words of one syllable when I ask questions of their operations.

[RickH]

@carlafrancome on twitter seems to use taxis in London with her bike without trouble. She has several positive tweets about it. Most recently when she & her 5 year old were unable to get a train home & taxi (minibus style by the look of it) happily took both of them & the 2 bikes. If only I could find the actual tweet now!

[Sweep]

I find London ok for cycling- it’s actually not that busy in the middle especially in the evening. Just avoid routes with trucks eg the Westway. If in any doubt walk the bike- it’s not far and there is pedestrian access everywhere.

agree - always seems to me the countryside is more dangerous. Traffic is often slow/limited in what it can do in London, there are lots of alternative routes and SOME cycle facilities. Plus lots of bus lanes. If new to London cycling, just take your time OP, be careful, signal clearly, stay away from the inside of large vehicles etc (stuff you already prob do) - I also have the feeling that drivers in London have become more careful around cyclists over the last few years.

[toontra]

Would you cycle along the Euston/Marylebone Roads from Kings Cross? I will actually be staying near Lancaster Gate, so from Marylebone I'd go down Sussex Gardens. This would be in the evening after 6. Do you think this is a safe route? I'd imagine there will be lots of traffic at that time.

Not wishing to complicate matters or contradict Jonathan, but I cycle the Euston/Marylebone route (including the underpass) daily at rush hour and never had an issue. There are bus lanes the majority of the length. The only tricky bit is getting in the right lane when exiting the underpass and meeting traffic filtering from the left.

I go this way from choice as it's faster with fewer lights, but it's a matter of what you're used to I guess.

[Bice]

This may be of interest:

viewtopic.php?p=1705061#p1705061

I arrived at Heathrow before mid-night in June and rode into town on the A4, which has cycle lanes off both east / west carriage ways. Not exactly pretty, but acceptable. At mid-night, I comfortably rode the A4 with no hassle at all (to Brentwood, less than half an hour); you would just keep going via Hammersmith, Kensington etc. All fine at that time, and do-able in daytime too.

I always use the Tube to Heathrow and never bother with the rip-off Heathrow Express, unless someone else is paying (or the even more egregious Gatwick Express: every Brighton train stops at Gatwick; it is utterly pointless, and just catches out foreign visitors).

When you say 'unpack' your bike at Heathrow, do you mean remove the packaging and assemble it? That makes it less attractive to taxi drivers. In April I brought a bike back from Heathrow in a mini cab (just a Mercedes Saloon in fact), and the cardboard Halfords box fit in the back not problem.

(You won't be able to get your bike on a Tube at Heathrow; I was stopped at Hatton Cross and told - utterly implausibly - that if I got on at Hounslow West, which is an above-ground station, I would probably be allowed. Get away with it seemed more likely. Of course, just carrying a box, you are fine on the underground.)

London traffic is far safer for cyclists in my view than the countryside, and I ride in Hampshire at weekends (ie today). There, a gormless car culture still prevails and cars drive aggressively fast and close to cyclists. Not in London: drivers know the cyclists will catch up at the next junction, and every car number plate is clocked.

[Tiggertoo]

When you say 'unpack' your bike at Heathrow, do you mean remove the packaging and assemble it? That makes it less attractive to taxi drivers. In April I brought a bike back from Heathrow in a mini cab (just a Mercedes Saloon in fact), and the cardboard Halfords box fit in the back not problem.

(You won't be able to get your bike on a Tube at Heathrow; I was stopped at Hatton Cross and told - utterly implausibly - that if I got on at Hounslow West, which is an above-ground station, I would probably be allowed. Get away with it seemed more likely. Of course, just carrying a box, you are fine on the underground.)

How do you carry or haul the box? Does it have wheels? Dragging a bike box and back pack would be a chore too far I think.
So, with the assembled bike I'd have to take the 'rip-off' Express! No choice in the matter.

[Tiggertoo]

By the way, upstream there was a question about trains and strikes, and although I have a booking on the train to Penzance, I decided to enquire about the National Express bus as an alternative - only to find one cannot take a bike onto a bus unless it is a foldable and packed.

[Mick F]

I took my Mercian on a London black cab some years back.
Waterloo to Paddington if my memory serves me correctly.
I asked nicely, and the driver was happy.

[foxyrider]

One of my club mates earnt his living driving a taxi around Sheffield (at the time most in the city were the 'London' FX4 things) He used it all the time to carry his bike to races and with a bit of a fiddle often times a tandem too.

I had a lift a couple of times - i wouldn't recommend the soggy ride for anything beyond a local trip, i was decidedly queasy after 20 miles!

[Tiggertoo]

This may be of interest:

viewtopic.php?p=1705061#p1705061

I always use the Tube to Heathrow and never bother with the rip-off Heathrow Express, unless someone else is paying (or the even more egregious Gatwick Express: every Brighton train stops at Gatwick; it is utterly pointless, and just catches out foreign visitors).

When you say 'unpack' your bike at Heathrow, do you mean remove the packaging and assemble it? That makes it less attractive to taxi drivers. In April I brought a bike back from Heathrow in a mini cab (just a Mercedes Saloon in fact), and the cardboard Halfords box fit in the back not problem.

(You won't be able to get your bike on a Tube at Heathrow; I was stopped at Hatton Cross and told - utterly implausibly - that if I got on at Hounslow West, which is an above-ground station, I would probably be allowed. Get away with it seemed more likely. Of course, just carrying a box, you are fine on the underground.)

From your experience, what do you think would be better, to travel on the trains with the bike or with a box?

Here is the bike box I bought to carry the bike on the plane and you can see the bike for reference: It looks as if I shall have to take a hacksaw to the bike to get it all in but once in, the box will have wheels for easy moving and maybe it will be less of a hassle on the Heathrow Express.

On the LNER and GWR trains, I do have the bike booked in, but if I take the bike in the box, will there usually be space for the bike box on the trains?

Thanks.

[hufty]

Nothing to do with black cabs, just to point out that a cheaper alternative to the Heathrow Express is any stopper train that runs along exactly the same route. They used to be branded Heathrow Connect but are now just known as "trains". £15 cheaper, ten minutes slower.

[Bice]

Nothing to do with black cabs, just to point out that a cheaper alternative to the Heathrow Express is any stopper train that runs along exactly the same route. They used to be branded Heathrow Connect but are now just known as "trains". £15 cheaper, ten minutes slower.

I don't know of any rail line that goes to Heathrow from central London that is not Heathrow Express or the Tube.