On a recent visit to London I decided to try out the cycle hire more commonly known as Boris Bikes. I needed to get to Pimlico from Euston Station.
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| An early but comfortable start.. |
I had taken a London Midland train from Tamworth at just after 6am and arrived just after 8am. The advance ticket only cost £36 return and included an upgrade to 1st class. The difference in price between this and via Derby was significant and bordering on scandalous! In order to take advantage of the deal, I was unable to take a train form Burton early enough to connect.
At Milton Keynes and then walking along the platform on arrival I did notice that only fold-up bikes are now allowed on services into Euston which is restrictive!
As I did not need to be at the venue until after 10am I decided to let the rush hour quieten and have some breakfast. Just after 9am I walked around the corner to the bike docking station at Drummond Street.
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| A decent amount of bikes available for use at Drummond Street |
In just a matter of yards I saw a number of different approaches to cycling around traffic- none of which were ideal. However I proceeded anyway.
I read some instructions and put my card in the machine and selected the day hire option for £2 then took the receipt and code ticket. I then selected a bike, activated it to ensure a red light lit then entered the code and released the bike when the green light lit. A simple adjustment of the seat followed before departing.
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| The easy to follow payment & information machine |
I had an idea of the route I wanted to take and had consulted the map before setting off. I'm keen on keeping cycling simple so I didn't have sat nav.
Deciding to avoid the busiest areas once I had crossed Euston Road I carried on a relatively quiet stretch which took me past the British Museum. Inevitably there were busy stages ahead such as Piccadilly Circus but the bus lanes helped.
Having left plenty of time I was one of the few people in London in no rush and surprised a few pedestrians by stopping at zebra crossings and even traffic lights which sadly many cyclists did not, though many pedestrians walked aimlessly into the road.
The route took me through Theatreland down Picadilly and onto Mayfair past the Ritz, though I had intended a route a block to the south. I decided to cut through a side entrance into Green Park blissfully unaware that cycling is banned there - a fact I only noticed on the exit.
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| On approach to Buckingham Palace. |
Thankfully I escaped censure and continued. Next I crossed the road quickly before section of soldiers on horseback approached with Police escort (probably more military & police personnel in this section than on duty in the whole of South Derbyshire) and headed past Buckingham Palace to Victoria .
After Victoria I missed a left turn and diverted a little out of the way but saw some pleasant areas of Pimlico before finding NCN4 (an NCN sign was a sight for sore eyes) my destination and docking my faithful chariot in Rampayne Street.
Due to my detours I was unable to make the journey free by making it in under 30 minutes so an extra £1 was added so a.total cost of £3.
On return I was not so free for time so took the tube back. The 10-15 minute 5 stop and inevitably crowded journey cost £4.30. I guess I enjoyed the experience but don't think there is adequate provision of signage or cycleways to make the experience as safe and fun as it should be. Rather like most cycling initiatives the publicity given to this scheme hides the lack of real cycling infrastructure investment.
On a more positive note, the train back from London arrived in Tamworth at 1810 making the journey very good value.
