getting to work

[kford]

Medley Wrote:

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> 25 to

> Baker St is madness, I tell you, madness!

>

That's with a 600cc engine; it's 35 mins on push bike.

I'd be Lance Armstrong to do it in 25

[Pearson]

^ I'd say that was do-able on a push bike if you cut everyone up & jumped the lights.

[felt-tip]

...weighed 10 and a half stone and had legs made of granite.

[dogfenneldill]

Bicycle is the best answer - Champion Hill to Old Street takes me about 25 mins. Take it easy and you will merely achieve a healthy glow, no need to cane it and get sweaty.

OR go like the hammers (especially over London Bridge, which is always a race). Jump lights south of the river if you must, but up north they tend enforce traffic laws and the cycle cops can be very keen.

[Applespider]

And another agreeing on the cycling... you don't have to take it fast and you're unlikely to get that sweaty. Keep some baby wipe things in the office if you don't have a shower available just in case. The great thing about cycling is that it does let you plan your time much better especially with such a manageable distance.

And no, you don't have to do it every day although it's surprising how quickly the intention to only cycle on sunny mornings turns into a desire to just go even when it's a light drizzle. And you can give up in the winter months which will give you a whole new appreciation for your bike when you get back on it!

[james.]

benjaminty Wrote:

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> I live 4.5 miles from my office and for several

> reasons it's taking longer and longer to get there

> by public transport. Today took me 1 hour 20

> minutes which is starting to make me think of the

> alternatives.

Top alternative: don't go to work. I've been doing it for 28 years.

[silverfox]

Strikes me there are a lot of people on this thread who bum free showers at work.

So, let me get this straight. You cycle to work interfering with the flow of traffic. You arrive niffing like a good 'un and then you expect a free shower at the company's expense thus cancelling out all the green carbon footprints you pretend you've saved the world? (haven't done the sums but one shower = 100 miles cycling?)

You may get away with that if you work for a big company. However, if you turned up for work in these straightened times for a smaller company expecting to shower and taking a creased shirt/blouse/trousers/skirt out of your bag, and using an underarm deodorant that destroys the ozone layer while pretending to have done the world a favour you should be sacked immediately.

Use your car and save the planet.

[KalamityKel]

Didn't think there was much discussion of the carbon footprint silverfox more a case of the quickest way to work... no?

[Atticus]

Think it was tongue in cheek Kel

[felt-tip]

don't give up cycling in the winter - thats when its best!

(although I did use the moped today as I had a very early meeting)

[louisiana]

silverfox Wrote:

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> Apologies - I forget you don't all have company

> cars and free parking at work.

Though the company doesn't pay the tax on your car benefit, eh?

And they might of course pay your congestion charge, but there'll be a taxable benefit there too...

My door to door going to Liverpool Street area (when I have to travel there, which is rarely, to see clients) is 35 minutes, using the London Overground.

Cycling takes about the same time, and many sensible companies now provide secure bicycle parking and showers. (All the people I work with do.) If your company doesn't, why not approach them about it. (Barry Mason at Southwark Cyclists may be able to help you there.)

There's free cycle training from Southwark if you're not feeling confident. Instructors will even take you along the best route to work, avoiding all the traffic. It's amazing how stress-free you can get to your central London destination on a bike if you know the best ways to go.

[jonsuissy]

I work at Liverpool Street and cycle 4 times a week and walk on the Wednesday to break it up.

Started walking about 7 yrs ago and its the second best thing I ever did - takes me 1hr20 mins crossing Old Kent Rd and over Tower Bridge - its easy once you've done it a few times.

Started cycling aboout 2 yrs ago - thats the best thing I ever did - and that takes 30 mins over roughly the same route (avoiding Surrey Canal path after dark).

Yes I do get sweaty and I do shower at work.

Much fitter and healthier (yes, and self satisfied) than I ever was as a 20 yr old.

Go for it.

[emilou]

Another thumbs up for cycling. I do a quick detour through Peckham/Bellenden Road to avoid having to cycle up dog kennel hill! That way I can pootle along and not get too sweaty (although most work places do now have showers and encourage cycling I think).

Would also fully recommend the free cycle lesson Southwark provides (if you live or work in the area?). They offer one on one lessons and you can use them how you wish - e.g. it might be you've not got on a bike for 20 years and you want a hand remembering the basics, or they can just give you helpful tips about how to handle London traffic, and best routes to work etc. A really good offering from Southward I would say.

[Twirly]

Anyone know how long it would take to cycle to Camden? Mr Twirly keeps muttering about getting a bike, but not sure how long it would take him to get to work from East Dulwich Road.

[felt-tip]

40/45 minutes - at a not too stressful pace.

I have a decent standard racer for sale - would fit someone between 5"10 - 6"2. Just dont have the space for it so selling for ?100 if he's looking but doesnt want to spend alot. Its an ideal commuter bike.

[Twirly]

felt-tip Wrote:

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> 40/45 minutes - at a not too stressful pace.

> I have a decent standard racer for sale - would

> fit someone between 5"10 - 6"2. Just dont have the

> space for it so selling for ?100 if he's looking

> but doesnt want to spend alot. Its an ideal

> commuter bike.

Ooh, that could be perfect. I'll try and get him to get in touch. Thank you!

[treehugger]

I work just off Piccadilly: longest journey home on the number 12 to Barry Road was 2 hours!!! That bus route is horrible.

I cycle every day unless it's icy or snowing and love it - takes me 40 minutes (19 year old son does it in 23 mins!). We are only a small company but have a shower and encourage cyclists with the cycle to work scheme (I think soon to be ended due to the cuts - SHAME).

[MrTwirly]

Twirly Wrote:

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> Anyone know how long it would take to cycle to

> Camden? Mr Twirly keeps muttering about getting a

> bike, but not sure how long it would take him to

> get to work from East Dulwich Road.

felt-tip Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 40/45 minutes - at a not too stressful pace.

> I have a decent standard racer for sale - would

> fit someone between 5"10 - 6"2. Just dont have the

> space for it so selling for ?100 if he's looking

> but doesnt want to spend alot. Its an ideal

> commuter bike.

Not bad ! I'll have to ponder this but genuinely interested.

one question though.. does this mean I'll need to give up on the pies?

;)

(Although I am HOPEFULLY less likely to fall asleep on the way home)

[felt-tip]

if anything MrTwirly - you can INCREASE your pie intake. Just maybe not immediately before setting off on a ride.

Its a specialised allez by the way, basic model and about 5 years old but in fairly good nick and has puncture proof commuter tyres.

[MrTwirly]

felt-tip Wrote:

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> if anything MrTwirly - you can INCREASE your pie

> intake. Just maybe not immediately before setting

> off on a ride.

>

> Its a specialised allez by the way, basic model

> and about 5 years old but in fairly good nick and

> has puncture proof commuter tyres.

Thanks for that.. am in *ahem* discussions with my dearest 'er indoors ;-) Just need to ensure we have space for it in our flat too.. can't imagine it would survive long outside our flat before it did a runner (or more appropriately a cycle!)

[neilson99]

The car option would be great save for the fact that Thames Water will soon have dug up every road in out and between East Dulwich and Peckham Rye. They have apparently promised to resurface Rye Lane but I fear that this is something of a disincentive since they have started to dig deeper and longer than the roadworks that were originally planned to end by end November...

Still, at least the delay in getting to the station is kindly being taken care of by Southern trains who seem to be running every other train about 10 minutes late since the start of 2011...

[williams]

Cycling! Keeps you fit, free, always on time but of course the weather is the main problem.

[Medley]

The cycle training from Southwark was absolutely brilliant when I had it.

The weather - having grown up in the north and lived in Scotland, I assure you it's a darn sight better down here!

[Pearson]

williams Wrote:

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> Cycling! Keeps you fit, free, always on time but

> of course the weather is the main problem.

_______________________________________________________

I invest the money i save on good winter clothes!

So i can avoid the hell that is public transport and keep cycling.

[Ramble66]

Just under an hour to Camden according to Cycle routes, easily the best site for route planning. It gives you the quickest, balanced and quietest routes. You can also change the speed it uses to calculate journey time if you are a slow, medium or fast cyclist.

Also not sure how he commutes at the moment but my preferred way is train from Peckham Rye to St Pancras then a short walk through Mornington Crescent or if to north Camden, get off at Kentish Town and walk or bus down.

Edited to say: Thisis what you need to store the bike in a flat. You can also get cheaper ones.