A question for NSC's cycling and commuting fraternity

[Wienergull]

When I last worked in London six years ago, you could still take your bike on the train in the rush hour. I gather that is no longer possible unless you have a folding bike (how that squares with the Government's call for action on global warming is the subject of another thread). I am shortly to return to the UK from Berlin and want to bring my bike with me. My question is this: if I arrive at Waterloo off Eurostar at around 19.30 can I take my bike on (a) the tube to Victoria and (b) on the train to Brighton from Victoria? In case you're wondering why I don't cycle from Waterloo to Victoria, I will have quite a bit of luggage with me.

Any information gratefully received.

 

[pasty]

Not sure about the tubes, however restrictions on cycles on the Victoria to Brighton mainline are during peak hours only, so you should be fine.

 

[pasty]

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/974.aspx

Victoria Line Tube - No you can't

Victoria Line and Waterloo & City Line
Non-folding bicycles must not be taken on the Victoria Line or the Waterloo & City Line.

 

[Wienergull]

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/974.aspx

Victoria Line Tube - No you can't

Victoria Line and Waterloo & City Line
Non-folding bicycles must not be taken on the Victoria Line or the Waterloo & City Line.

Cheers for that, Mr P - NSC comes up trumps again. If I can struggle up to Embankment, looks like I should be OK to get to Victoria. Don't what to sound like the typical whingeing ex-pat, but just what sort of country am I coming back to? Have obviously been spoilt in Vienna and Berlin with their sensible, cycle-friendly transport policies.

 

[Gwylan]

Cheers for that, Mr P - NSC comes up trumps again. If I can struggle up to Embankment, looks like I should be OK to get to Victoria. Don't what to sound like the typical whingeing ex-pat, but just what sort of country am I coming back to? Have obviously been spoilt in Vienna and Berlin with their sensible, cycle-friendly transport policies.

Yes you have.

The UK's a weird country. The government makes noises about how it wants people to cycle more. The Mayor of London makes noises about how he wants people to cycle more. Local councils make noises about how they want people to cycle more. Yet ....

- you can't take trains on peak hours in the Southern region (and peak hours means between 6.00 and 9.00 in the morning and 3.00 and 7.00 in the evening)

- you can't bikes on 99% of tube journeys

- there are few usable cycle lanes (and those that do exist are often clogged up with cars and people)

- in London you have to battle with the bendy buses at regular intervals

- there are few bike parking spaces so you have to tie bikes to street furniture

Having cycled on the continent (particularly in Germany) I know how easy it is to get around, the UK is a long, long way behind most countries and, sadly, looks like making no effort to change.

 

[Wienergull]

Yes you have.

The UK's a weird country. The government makes noises about how it wants people to cycle more. The Mayor of London makes noises about how he wants people to cycle more. Local councils make noises about how they want people to cycle more. Yet ....

- you can't take trains on peak hours in the Southern region (and peak hours means between 6.00 and 9.00 in the morning and 3.00 and 7.00 in the evening)

- you can't bikes on 99% of tube journeys

- there are few usable cycle lanes (and those that do exist are often clogged up with cars and people)

- in London you have to battle with the bendy buses at regular intervals

- there are few bike parking spaces so you have to tie bikes to street furniture

Having cycled on the continent (particularly in Germany) I know how easy it is to get around, the UK is a long, long way behind most countries and, sadly, looks like making no effort to change.

There are estimated to be 2 million bikes in Berlin, a ratio of one bike to every two inhabitants. I guess that's a reflection of how easy it is to get around by bike here, although the fact that Berlin is relatively flat and has a young population probably has something to do with it. Sometimes you have to look a bit, but the provision of proper "hitching posts" for bikes is so widespread that you will always find somewhere secure to park your bike. (For some reason that reminds me of a Billy Connolly joke.)

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

When I last worked in London six years ago, you could still take your bike on the train in the rush hour. I gather that is no longer possible unless you have a folding bike (how that squares with the Government's call for action on global warming is the subject of another thread). I am shortly to return to the UK from Berlin and want to bring my bike with me. My question is this: if I arrive at Waterloo off Eurostar at around 19.30 can I take my bike on (a) the tube to Victoria and (b) on the train to Brighton from Victoria? In case you're wondering why I don't cycle from Waterloo to Victoria, I will have quite a bit of luggage with me.

Any information gratefully received.

Why don't you just get a train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction and then pick up the Brighton train from there. No need for a tube.

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

Why don't you just get a train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction and then pick up the Brighton train from there. No need for a tube.

That is a very, very good idea.

Certainly what I would recommend and indeed do on a regular basis (although sans bike)

 

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

That is a very, very good idea.

Certainly what I would recommend and indeed do on a regular basis (although sans bike)

It'll save you MONEY too.

 

[Wienergull]

Why don't you just get a train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction and then pick up the Brighton train from there. No need for a tube.

Good idea! The prospect of having to travel through the big smoke again after all these years has obviously addled my brain.

 

[Stevie Boy]

just ride it to were u want to go, may take a little longer, but you wouldnt have ot worry about which train u can or cant take

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

just ride it to were u want to go, may take a little longer, but you wouldnt have ot worry about which train u can or cant take

He already said he has lots of luggage and so can't ride

 

[Stevie Boy]

trailer, saddle bags

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Why don't you just get a train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction and then pick up the Brighton train from there. No need for a tube.

Or get one of the few remaining Eurostar services to Ashford and the direct train from there to Brighton.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Or get one of the few remaining Eurostar services to Ashford and the direct train from there to Brighton.

I suppose that might just be a bit quicker but the train stopping every 5 minutes would make it feel double the length.

 

[Gwylan]

I suppose that might just be a bit quicker but the train stopping every 5 minutes would make it feel double the length.

I did this last year, by the time you've stopped at every tiny station in East Sussex and gone in and out of Eastbourne, it's taken an age. It's quicker to go on to London and get the fast train home.

 

[NMH]

Dismantle it a bit, and wrap it up as a piece of luggage.