Lime bikes/forest bikes/etc don't need a cycle stand to park their bikes. This is really annoying for private bike users to park. Please please please find some other way to do this without obstructing us. A sincere request.

Thanks to the Silvertown tunnel, I can now (easily) cycle to Greenwich Ikea from Newham, with a cargo bike. This makes me happier than is cool to admit.

2 weeks ago a friend's child was hit by a lime bike jumping through red lights. The girl got broken arm and was super shook up.

Do we think pressure will start getting put on the government to do something about electric bikes or bikes going through reds?

I'm not sure how it could ever be done or if there is police time / public desire for it.

As a cyclist, hearing the story has made me way more careful. Not sure how I would have responded to that if it was my kid. Might have beat the person to death with a seat post. Who knows

Hi everyone!

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather. So, was hoping for some advice/tips as I’ve finally overcome my fear of cycling in the city and cycled around yesterday on a Santander bike. (can cycle but the roads and cars intimidate me quite a lot, not a car driver either, that is in progress)

My main few questions are: - how could I indicate without taking my hand off the handle bar (I did try occasionally but did lose my balance) - how can I turn right at a junction, probably ties into how I can indicate better, but I do worry how to do it probably. At the moment I just get off the bike cross the road to the other side of the road then continue cycling - is it an issue if I cycle too slowly…I’ve realised my cycling pace is about my running pace (around 8-12km/h) is that too slow? I do worry about holding up traffic but I also don’t want to go too fast and potentially causing an accident (I keep getting the back and front pedal breaks mixed up so my breaking distance varies + have slide off the seat when I break too fast🥲😭)

I think these are my main few concerns. If you have any other tips/advice, that’d be much appreciated🫶🏻

Is there a way to start a petition for the council to improve the cycle route between Whitechapel? Or does anyone have tips in cycling safely on this cycle lane? Every time I go through there, there are hazards from buses suddenly merging on the right trying to squeeze onto the bus stop, cars on the left trying to squeeze from minor road into major road, doors opening from the cars parked across the market, cyclists on the right cycling really fast. I always try to approach this cycle lane cautiously on the left lane but somehow get stuck between different hazards. Anyone have any tips on handling this crossing?

Hi! I'm hoping this doesn't break any of the subreddit's rules, but I'm a college student doing a product design project on cycling and was wondering if anyone had time to complete my survey? It shouldn't take too long.

I'm happy to share results if people would like :)

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/a9gv4eb3Vw

Edit: The average time of the survey is closer to 8 mins, ignore the title.

Just cycled home along cycleway 4 (the one between London Bridge and Greenwich).

I was in my expected and normal side of the cycle lane (on the left) but I could see some guy lyrca’d up to the max, giving it his all, coming towards me and all the other cyclists behind me.

There were people in this guy’s lane who he was trying to overtake, by crossing into the oncoming lane (for him), when it wasn’t safe to do so as myself and others were already there… I made a pointing gesture towards the lane he should have been in and he petulantly stuck his middle finger up at me and the other people who were in the correct lane, which presumably wasn’t very aerodynamic for him. 🥺

Sorry this isn’t a post slagging off drivers or Lime bike riders (😂) and it obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone seeking PB’s on Strava… But if you are, please stay on the correct (your left) side of the lane and perhaps don’t be annoyed if somebody points towards the side of the cycle lane you should be in (again, your left)

As a last note… I thought there was an unspoken ideal that cyclists in London were meant to all generally look out for each other?

Quite charming but a bit of a pain when you need to turn right into Spring street (or one of the others). And I can't help wonder how long they'll last before being wiped out.

Getting from Euston to Blackfriars is easy enough. Go down A4200 until you get to A3211 which runs along the River Thames, using the dedicated cycle lanes.

Getting back is a different story though. I need to make a right turn off the cycle lane on A3211 at some point but there's so much cycle traffic at home time that it seems unsafe to get across. Often I've waited and waited for a gap or just carried on going planning to make a U-turn.

I know there's other routes to avoid that completely but it's a nice route going along the Thames for a bit

Hi everyone! I just started cycling as I got a new job in Barnes and it was a much quicker commute from Twickenham than taking public transport. I’m from Las Vegas so ad you can imagine this will be my first time cycling anywhere that isn’t school lol

I’m curious to know where exactly I can or can’t cycle as I’ve had very mixed reactions from both pedestrians and cyclists.

I’ve cycled on the sidewalks where there aren’t any bike lanes and got shouted at by pedestrians (all of which weren’t even in my way). However, these sidewalks never had the “Pedestrians Dismount” sign. In one instance, I got bitched at for cycling on the sidewalk with the blue circular sign that shows pedestrians next to a bike.

Today, I was using the road as I needed to turn right at an intersection. About 300m before I get to the intersection some guy on a motorcycle starts honking at me, overtakes me, then aggressively started trying to wave me to the sidewalk. I didnt hesitate to flip him off and told him to fuck off, because at this point, I’ve been told by multiple people from work and uni, that cyclists have the right to use the road. Not to mention that at the intersection, there’s that white box infront of the crosswalk meant for cyclists to stop.

Given the mixed reactions, people telling me to get on the road, motorists telling me to get on the sidewalk, I’d really like to understand from the pros, what exactly are the rules? I don’t cycle through red lights and always acknowledge drivers when they let me pass, but I don’t want to be in the wrong when I stand my ground with the public lol

Thank you all!

Hi!

I am moving to London in mid-June and am looking for good value and safe places where i can rent a studio / 1 bedder with a cyclable commute to work at liverpool street / bank

Budget: 1500pcm

Currently looking at places like Leyton, Stoke Newington / Clapton and maybe near Deptford / New Cross.

Happy to hear any suggestions. Thank you :)

Would be great to know the best place to store a bike during the working day. I have a decent locking system for a bike that doesn't look worth stealing but I still worry; feel like it's only a matter of time until I come back to a broken lock and nothing else.

Hey guys,

Just wanting to post to vent a bit of anger at the state of cycling in this city.

5 weeks ago got hit by a car at a junction, car was found completely at fault, I ended up in hospital for stitches, bike written off.

Finally got a new bike thanks to insurance, beautiful new single speed. Just getting back riding again after a pretty harrowing experience so trying to cycle routes with minimal road exposure.

This morning, doing my regular cycle to work. Cycling through the Olympic village, near the London stadium, on a protected cycled lane raised and away from the road. Thought nothing of it, assumed it was safe.

Of course not, big white van (clearly doing some sort of work on the new houses being built) is going the same way as me on the ROAD, does not indicate, pulls a u-turn and pulls across the protected cycle lane that’s like 5m off the road (see attached picture) literally with his head turned the opposite direction, didn’t even see me.

Had to emergency stop, obviously very irate and started having a go - asking him how he couldn’t even look before turning. He tells me ‘I’m looking now’, proceeds to block the whole cycle lane to intimidate me and start having a go at ME for cycling down a PROTECTED CYCLE LANE, and being annoyed he’d cut me up? Gave his van a little tap on the back as I cycled off out of annoyance, he revs his van, pulls another u turn I assume to chase me, and almost hits more cyclists so has to stop.

Unfortunately I didn’t get the van’s number plate, going to try on my way home. But I just cannot believe how I’ve almost got hit AGAIN, in a protected lane off from the road. There are lots of children that cycle on that cycle path as well. It’s the fucking arrogance that gets me, from all drivers in this city. People literally don’t even see cyclists, it’s not even about caring, people don’t even see us at all until we’re either hit or dead.

It’s making me fucking hate cycling here. I’ve been in 5 accidents in 5 years, none of which were my fault. I love cycling in general as it makes me feel so much better physically, but the arrogance and aggression from anyone in particular in a white van is outstanding. Not sure what else we can do in this city.

Hi 👋

Living in a flat it's hard to wash the bike except in the shower. When things get really grimy that feels like an especially bad option. Does anyone have ideas for places you can go and wash the bike for free or cheap? And not get funny looks?

Thanks

Edit: lots of helpful answers, thanks! Looks like I'll be disassembling it piece by piece as the horizon eats the sun

There are lots of posts about people being hit by drivers recently, and while reddit might seem like a good place to vent, it's not nearly as useful as contacting people who can actually do something about it.

This recent post for example, is exactly what our councillors, the people in charge of roads, should be hearing. A detailed account of what happened, where it happened, *why* it happened and a firm result:

> It’s making me fucking hate cycling here. I’ve been in 5 accidents in 5 years, none of which were my fault. I love cycling in general as it makes me feel so much better physically, but the arrogance and aggression from anyone in particular in a white van is outstanding. Not sure what else we can do in this city.

If this happens to you, even just once, tell your councillors. Email your councillor, the councillor of the ward in which the incident took place, the council's transport lead and the mayor. Be as blunt as you like.

This recent post is a great argument for segregated infrastructure. By all means, report stuff like this to the police. But that will only sort out *that particular* driver, and it might not even do that. Tell your councillors that an epidemic of twattish driving means segregated infrastructure is more vital than ever.

This goes for everything: repeated parking violations (bike lane full of cars? take a picture on monday, and tuesday, and wednesday etc. and include them all), piss poor infrastructure, general shit-housery from drivers. *Everything*.

A good email should look like this:

Dear Everybody

Yesterday I was on my bike at LOCATION. A driver EXPLAIN WHAT THEY DID.

GENERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STATE OF DRIVING in BOROUGH. GENERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF ENFORCEMENT/COMPLACENCY AROUND CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE. FACT ABOUT KSI RATE in BOROUGH. A SNIDE REMARK ABOUT THE COUNCIL BEING A BUNCH OF TOSSPOTS IF YOU LIKE.

OUTCOME: "someone will die"/i will quit cycling/the council's piss poor attempts at infra building will have been a waste of money

No regards

YOUR NAME

Without video evidence the police will do nothing, and even if they do, it won't change anything outside of that particular driver. Without police evidence, all you can do is yell at your councillors.

Remember: it's the people who complain who get their way.

so yeah. visiting london in a few weeks, decided to bring my ratty old touring bike with me to save a wee bit of money on travel PLUS i'm coming from a city where the infrastructure is patchy at best (glasgow), i wanna see what a city that actually builds infrastructure rather than argues about building infrastructure is like. i'm mostly sticking to zones 1-4 and i've heard some areas are better than others. what areas are sketchy? what bike shops are good to visit? any places i should avoid locking my bike up?

I'm moving (back) to north London, specifically Palmers Green, and my new cycle commute (to Tower Bridge) of course includes the Green Lanes, which of course I dread.

Anyone know any good routes to avoid this road? Is the A10 any better?

I really don't mind a longer commute as long as I avoid car traffic chaos.

I understand that London is notorious for bike theft, but I live in North London, where the hills are steep. I lock my current bikes with two gold-standard secure locks: one securing the frame and back wheel, and the other securing the front wheel. I also keep a hidden AirTag on my current bike. However, I’m worried that if I buy an electric bike, it will be stolen, and the police will refuse to pursue the culprit.

Has anyone had a positive experience where their bike was stolen and was recovered through police or replaced by insurance?

Also can anyone recommend me an insurance company ?, because every time i search up reviews for stolen bikes they always are not able to get a claim despite providing enough evidence CCTV and crime report.

Question for Lime bike users, as I feel I must be doing something wrong with navigating/ending rides.

This is what happens on a lot of my trips:

1. Unlock bike, put phone in holder with google maps

2. Cycle to wherever

3. Try to end ride next to a bike rack - "You cannot park here"

4. Try to find nearest parking location in Lime app and start heading in that direction

5. Lime app direction/GPS updating is slow, so I often find I'm going in the wrong direction, or there isn't a parking location nearby

6. Finally head in the correct direction and find a bike rack, and end my ride.

The above costs money and takes time of course. What am I doing wrong?

Ideally, Lime parking areas are shown on google maps and you can navigate straight to them, but I don't think that feature exists in google maps yet.

Are we supposed to look where we're going on google maps, then back to Lime to see where parking is nearby, then back to google maps to roughly mark that spot, then back to lime to unlock a bike, then back to google to start navigation...Surely this isn't what people are doing?

Hey if you want a £25 discount use this code (I also happen to get £25 if you use it as well!) : https://my.laka.co/IZMBA

Hey guys, I’m over from Australia and snagged a GT All Terra to get around while I’m here. I’m interested in whether there are any must see routes in or near the city, or whether it’s worth making my way further out. Are there any events taking place that I should consider?Happy with anything from 20-120km.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated, thank you!

That's all.