Lovely video, i used to cycle this route a lot 10years ago, so nice to see how its changed - and how ot hasnt 😊 love the commentry, hope Tower Hamlets council think again...
It looks very different doesn’t it! Though as you allude, even 10 years ago I think this and pitfield street had quite a few people cycling on them, from memory!
Very nice once again! Consider doing one from Central London (Westminsterish) to Putney? Did it the other day and it was jolly good but wondered if there was a better route.
@@Londoncycleroutes Yep. The A214 is insane. It's a normal two lane road to the south of Dorlcote Road, but it's been built like a six lane motorway where it connects to the equally insane five lane Wandsworth Roundabout. I'm wondering if that was London Ringways nonsense. It got put in in January 1969. Trying to sneak along the edge of the Thames embankment might work a bit, but the River Wandle passes smack through the middle of the Wandsworth One Way System and that might block you and force you south of the railway line from Clapham Junction to Putney. It looks to me that you can get from Smugglers Way to Enterprise Way over two modal filtered bridges that cross the Wandle and Bell Lane Creek, but it's a bit of a maze on both sides of the rivers. Once you are through the maze though, you can go through Wandworth Park.
*Not many knew that the council estate i grew up on was the first in the UK, great research* 👌🏽 More gentrified now but parking is a nightmare for locals, which causes push back on cyclin infrastructure 😪 balance is key. Nice route!
I think it's important to note that by trying to reverse these measures, Tower Hamlets council are going to affect far more people negatively than just those who cycle. The plans for Arnold Circus drawn up by the previous administration, which would have been brought forward should the temporary traffic restrictions have been made permanent, added some extra seating at ground level. This would've been great because currently, if you or someone you are with isn't able to climb up the steps, you basically aren't able to enjoy the space. But the current council apparently think retaining the couple of parking spaces here is more important. Then there is the area outside the Birdcage pub on Columbia Road, which has seen permanent changes, with significantly expanded pavements that have expanded the area available for stalls and crowds for the weekly flower market. Yet the council wants to turn it back into a roundabout with pedestrian barriers. I'd love to know what the traders make of that!
yep absolutely - and wow, I didn't know the Birdcage pub bit was part of the same scheme, I was admiring that in the video as I was editing it. that would be completely beyond belief
[I'd love to know what the traders make of that!] I've already got my 'half-foreign boots' wet on this debate, but your point applies to 'regaining the streets' in many nations, not just the London and UK in general. In Toronto, there's a continuing resistance by many to establish 'bike lanes' on many of the major routes, most recently out in to the suburbs on major thoroughfares running from Toronto (Bloor Street into Mississauga in this instance) and one of the most popular 'anti-rants' has been (gist) "Well what about all the shops and businesses that will be affected? They're all very upset". Of course, none of these folks actually reference the studies that Toronto proper has done, this being one: Google: "Bikes and Business on Bloor: An Economic Study from Toronto". This was done over three years ago, and the findings are pretty universal, even in the midst of a society reliant on the car. Your point on "traders" is an excellent one, and a polling of them could only help cement the progress you've made so far.
Hi, seems like madness to remove something that makes the streets nicer for everyone, the recent mayoral election showed that clean air and safe streets are something that actual residents want, as opposed to the loud voices of those against ltns etc. On another note I recently used that crossing on Mare street that has featured in a a couple of videos(the one where you go into a safe space in the middle of the road), it works well, something that could be useful in lots of other places.
I cycle this route often and it's worth pointing out that Broadway market (the street with the cafes just before london fields) makes cycling unpleasant/impossible during day time on Saturday and Sunday. The same is true for Columbia road flower market for Columbia road on sundays. The upside is that if you're going at night, there will obviously be a lot less pedestrian traffic than was shown in this video filmed on a sunny day :)
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 I think once you're west of Camden, it turns into just cycle symbols painted on the tarmac. No protected infrastructure, and no attempts to reduce traffic volumes or speeds.
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 not that that point really - it's probably the way I'd suggest someone goes across that stretch of Marylebone etc - if only with wayfinding in mind - but west of the Camden borough boundary it's mostly not great and on not particularly quiet streets. I'm not sure how they managed to designate it a cycleway
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 West of Tottenham Court Road, the route is certainly not up to the standards Jon sets for the channel. I would not be happy to take a 12 year old down there. That said, if -- if -- you are confident in traffic and happy to take the lane, particularly on the narrower stretches, then it can be negotiated. It's a very stop start route -- as you travel east to west, you are constantly having to stop at junctions, so cars generally are not travelling very quickly. I've been cycling that stretch for years and can't recall having serious problems. I do agree with Jon, that I am not too sure how it has been designated a Cycleway. There are some interventions, but they are erractically applied to say the least: a couple of short stretches of ancient, segregated cycle lane which simply stop. There are also some dedicated cycle lights. Some of them give you a head start; some do not. Things improve a wee bit beyond Sussex Gardens (which has good cycle gate and the Western End) and into Notting Hill -- there's a couple of useful cycle-only cut throughs and the roads are quieter.
So, I live outside the UK so I am not exactly up to date with things like elections, but I discovered today that Sadiq Khan has been reelected as mayor and I was watching a video made before the election and in the comments section I noticed that about 90% of people were strongly against Sadiq. A lot of people were calling for the end of ULEZ, LTN's, the removal of cycle lanes etc. Well, looks like the people of London like that their streets are safer, quieter and easier to get around on, oh and that their air quality is better.
[I was watching a video made before the election and in the comments section I noticed that about 90% of people were strongly against Sadiq.] I don't want to marr this excellent channel with political comment, I come here to to indulge my longing for being being back in London, and to see how far London has come for safe and *fascinating* cycling, and to experience parts of London I never had the chance to see both as a child there, and during my work sojourns living in London since ...that being said, I follow UK politics very closely, I'm subscribed to a number of UK publications, one of them the Times, now on a tenterhook for me, and prior, the Torygraph which I dumped some years back, and even as an effectively 'outsider' (I'm Cdn/Brit Dual), both those publications mentioned cater to the persons that would vote against Khan. Even though I'm a Centrist and an avid distance cyclist, and I'm as relieved as anyone that Khan was reelected. Beware the polls! They are often highly selective in whom they petition. Some mistake reality for 'car'-tography. I feel better getting that off my chest. On with more of these incredibly satisfying and enlightening bike tours! The banter is as good as the exercise. I love these vids.
6 months ago I was watching from Australia thinking about cycling in London. Now I’m here and I’ve cycled this route a few times already! Tower Hamlets Council are a real shocker. Greenwich were OK with cycling in the foot tunnel but Tower Hamlets would not allow it 🙁. Not sure what the deal is with them and cycling.
Welcome! I didn’t know that about the council split on the foot tunnel, that’s really interesting. Honestly it’s not ideal for it even if it was allowed, though I suppose people do it anyway!
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has a lot of support from local taxi drivers apparently and they don't like barriers and LTNs. Large numbers of local people are very against what the Mayor is doing hence the court cases. Hoping he will realise it's a vote looser as the May local elections showed very clear support for councillors backing active travel.
@@Londoncycleroutes Yeah...the name of the infrastructure should indicate its prime purpose: "Foot tunnel". As a cyclist who dismounts and walks on pedestrian RoWs, I have little favour for those self-entitled (I'm being diplomatic) who think it means they don't have to comply with courtesy, protocol and basic decency let alone the law on such matters. Scofflaws make it difficult for careful and considerate cyclists to make their case for more dedicated infrastructure.
I’d never spotted that before! Apparently it’s a bike speed checker - if someone is cycling 12mph or slower it lights up a green smiley face (it’s actually a face if you look closely at the last frames) but if you’re going faster it gives you a red angry face and tells you to slow down. Been there since 2017 apparently!
@@Londoncycleroutes Heh, if its been there since 2017 and you've not spotted it before, I don't think its going to be terribly useful in getting speeding cyclists (or scooterists) to slow down.
@Londoncycleroutes yeah... use a room with soft furnishings in... like a bedroom or lounge with carpets, sofa, curtains, pillows etc. It'll dampen the sound and make it sound less echo like
@@Londoncycleroutes I'm an audio guy...my last work sojourn in London was mostly on Denmark Street. I design and build old-school audio equipment. Nuff' said on that. One very easy way (if it's not your mike, but I remember you attaining a better one a few months back?) then beyond what @desmond223 states, you can hang some rugs (preferably clean ones!) temporarily or permanently on adjacent walls to absorb reflective sound. Don't get tricked into doing the 'egg crate' thing, it's almost totally ineffective. Google: "How To Make Your Own Acoustic Panels - DIY Professional". You don't need to spend large coin, and if the absorptive material you use is dark and foreboding, or sheds easily, just use white sheets to cover it, and also not lose light in your editing room.
There’s a legal challenge in progress at the moment but not sure whether it’ll work or just hold things up… if you live in tower hamlets definitely write to your councillors to make clear that you support them. It might also be worth linking up with a local campaign group like the TH branch of the London Cycling Camapign. I agree it’s really a shame (to put it mildly) and I hope they keep them
Removal of Low Traffic Neighborhoods benefits outsiders who want to drive through London boroughs. It does not benefit voters inside the borough. Councillors need to serve local people, if they want to get elected by them.
5:02 - fond memories seeing The Cat & Mutton pub.
(Definitely worth checking out!).
Yes! Great pub, have stopped for a pint there before some years ago
This route joins up nicely with the route up to Clapton, Lea Bridge and Walthamstow. It's quicker for me to cycle to Shoreditch than take the bus.
Yes! It’s very versatile
Lovely video, i used to cycle this route a lot 10years ago, so nice to see how its changed - and how ot hasnt 😊 love the commentry, hope Tower Hamlets council think again...
It looks very different doesn’t it! Though as you allude, even 10 years ago I think this and pitfield street had quite a few people cycling on them, from memory!
Looks absolutely lovely!
It’s great, let’s hope it stays that way!
Very nice once again! Consider doing one from Central London (Westminsterish) to Putney? Did it the other day and it was jolly good but wondered if there was a better route.
tricky one as it involves passing through Wandsworth which is a bit of a mess but I will try and figure something out!
@@Londoncycleroutes Yep. The A214 is insane. It's a normal two lane road to the south of Dorlcote Road, but it's been built like a six lane motorway where it connects to the equally insane five lane Wandsworth Roundabout. I'm wondering if that was London Ringways nonsense. It got put in in January 1969.
Trying to sneak along the edge of the Thames embankment might work a bit, but the River Wandle passes smack through the middle of the Wandsworth One Way System and that might block you and force you south of the railway line from Clapham Junction to Putney. It looks to me that you can get from Smugglers Way to Enterprise Way over two modal filtered bridges that cross the Wandle and Bell Lane Creek, but it's a bit of a maze on both sides of the rivers. Once you are through the maze though, you can go through Wandworth Park.
Wait! I found a secret tunnel under Wandsworth Bridge Road at Pier Terrace! I think that is your way past Wandsworth!
*Not many knew that the council estate i grew up on was the first in the UK, great research* 👌🏽
More gentrified now but parking is a nightmare for locals, which causes push back on cyclin infrastructure 😪 balance is key.
Nice route!
Didn’t know you grew up there! What a great place
Tower Hamlets council: Boooo!
Very bad!
I think it's important to note that by trying to reverse these measures, Tower Hamlets council are going to affect far more people negatively than just those who cycle.
The plans for Arnold Circus drawn up by the previous administration, which would have been brought forward should the temporary traffic restrictions have been made permanent, added some extra seating at ground level. This would've been great because currently, if you or someone you are with isn't able to climb up the steps, you basically aren't able to enjoy the space. But the current council apparently think retaining the couple of parking spaces here is more important.
Then there is the area outside the Birdcage pub on Columbia Road, which has seen permanent changes, with significantly expanded pavements that have expanded the area available for stalls and crowds for the weekly flower market. Yet the council wants to turn it back into a roundabout with pedestrian barriers. I'd love to know what the traders make of that!
yep absolutely - and wow, I didn't know the Birdcage pub bit was part of the same scheme, I was admiring that in the video as I was editing it. that would be completely beyond belief
[I'd love to know what the traders make of that!]
I've already got my 'half-foreign boots' wet on this debate, but your point applies to 'regaining the streets' in many nations, not just the London and UK in general.
In Toronto, there's a continuing resistance by many to establish 'bike lanes' on many of the major routes, most recently out in to the suburbs on major thoroughfares running from Toronto (Bloor Street into Mississauga in this instance) and one of the most popular 'anti-rants' has been (gist) "Well what about all the shops and businesses that will be affected? They're all very upset". Of course, none of these folks actually reference the studies that Toronto proper has done, this being one:
Google: "Bikes and Business on Bloor: An Economic Study from Toronto". This was done over three years ago, and the findings are pretty universal, even in the midst of a society reliant on the car.
Your point on "traders" is an excellent one, and a polling of them could only help cement the progress you've made so far.
Mooie rit.
dank je wel!
C13 is a real lifeline for everyone living in the northeast (myself included). Will be gutted if TH council spoil it…
It’ll be such a shame - Cycle Superhighway 1 on Pitfield St works for some routes as an alternative but not all
Hi, seems like madness to remove something that makes the streets nicer for everyone, the recent mayoral election showed that clean air and safe streets are something that actual residents want, as opposed to the loud voices of those against ltns etc. On another note I recently used that crossing on Mare street that has featured in a a couple of videos(the one where you go into a safe space in the middle of the road), it works well, something that could be useful in lots of other places.
Yes I love that crossing! It’s a pretty non standard design but really works
It's madness people voted for a criminal as mayor
@@miz4535 Yeah, but Boris was a long time ago now.
@@GreenJimll That's the other criminal.
I cycle this route often and it's worth pointing out that Broadway market (the street with the cafes just before london fields) makes cycling unpleasant/impossible during day time on Saturday and Sunday.
The same is true for Columbia road flower market for Columbia road on sundays.
The upside is that if you're going at night, there will obviously be a lot less pedestrian traffic than was shown in this video filmed on a sunny day :)
Yep very good point I wish I’d made more clearly in the video! Broadway is quite easy to go around if you use the streets parallel to the east
please do a video from King's Cross to Notting Hill
I’ll see what I can do! Potentially tricky in parts
Is C27 a good safe route?
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 I think once you're west of Camden, it turns into just cycle symbols painted on the tarmac. No protected infrastructure, and no attempts to reduce traffic volumes or speeds.
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 not that that point really - it's probably the way I'd suggest someone goes across that stretch of Marylebone etc - if only with wayfinding in mind - but west of the Camden borough boundary it's mostly not great and on not particularly quiet streets. I'm not sure how they managed to designate it a cycleway
@@ADAMEDWARDS17 West of Tottenham Court Road, the route is certainly not up to the standards Jon sets for the channel. I would not be happy to take a 12 year old down there.
That said, if -- if -- you are confident in traffic and happy to take the lane, particularly on the narrower stretches, then it can be negotiated. It's a very stop start route -- as you travel east to west, you are constantly having to stop at junctions, so cars generally are not travelling very quickly. I've been cycling that stretch for years and can't recall having serious problems.
I do agree with Jon, that I am not too sure how it has been designated a Cycleway. There are some interventions, but they are erractically applied to say the least: a couple of short stretches of ancient, segregated cycle lane which simply stop. There are also some dedicated cycle lights. Some of them give you a head start; some do not. Things improve a wee bit beyond Sussex Gardens (which has good cycle gate and the Western End) and into Notting Hill -- there's a couple of useful cycle-only cut throughs and the roads are quieter.
Vote for Pedro.
Other options are available!
So, I live outside the UK so I am not exactly up to date with things like elections, but I discovered today that Sadiq Khan has been reelected as mayor and I was watching a video made before the election and in the comments section I noticed that about 90% of people were strongly against Sadiq. A lot of people were calling for the end of ULEZ, LTN's, the removal of cycle lanes etc.
Well, looks like the people of London like that their streets are safer, quieter and easier to get around on, oh and that their air quality is better.
Yes critics of active travel stuff are well organised but they’re a small minority and their bark is very much worse than their bite
[I was watching a video made before the election and in the comments section I noticed that about 90% of people were strongly against Sadiq.]
I don't want to marr this excellent channel with political comment, I come here to to indulge my longing for being being back in London, and to see how far London has come for safe and *fascinating* cycling, and to experience parts of London I never had the chance to see both as a child there, and during my work sojourns living in London since ...that being said, I follow UK politics very closely, I'm subscribed to a number of UK publications, one of them the Times, now on a tenterhook for me, and prior, the Torygraph which I dumped some years back, and even as an effectively 'outsider' (I'm Cdn/Brit Dual), both those publications mentioned cater to the persons that would vote against Khan. Even though I'm a Centrist and an avid distance cyclist, and I'm as relieved as anyone that Khan was reelected. Beware the polls! They are often highly selective in whom they petition. Some mistake reality for 'car'-tography.
I feel better getting that off my chest. On with more of these incredibly satisfying and enlightening bike tours! The banter is as good as the exercise.
I love these vids.
6 months ago I was watching from Australia thinking about cycling in London. Now I’m here and I’ve cycled this route a few times already! Tower Hamlets Council are a real shocker. Greenwich were OK with cycling in the foot tunnel but Tower Hamlets would not allow it 🙁. Not sure what the deal is with them and cycling.
Welcome! I didn’t know that about the council split on the foot tunnel, that’s really interesting. Honestly it’s not ideal for it even if it was allowed, though I suppose people do it anyway!
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has a lot of support from local taxi drivers apparently and they don't like barriers and LTNs. Large numbers of local people are very against what the Mayor is doing hence the court cases. Hoping he will realise it's a vote looser as the May local elections showed very clear support for councillors backing active travel.
@@Londoncycleroutes Yeah...the name of the infrastructure should indicate its prime purpose: "Foot tunnel". As a cyclist who dismounts and walks on pedestrian RoWs, I have little favour for those self-entitled (I'm being diplomatic) who think it means they don't have to comply with courtesy, protocol and basic decency let alone the law on such matters. Scofflaws make it difficult for careful and considerate cyclists to make their case for more dedicated infrastructure.
@@stephensaines7100 really we need that pedestrian and cycle bridge that was promised to the Isle of Dogs!
To be fair when it's busy cycling on the foot tunnel is a non-starter. I do cycle on it if it's empty though.
There was a green light in London Fields park visible ahead at 5:23 . What did that indicate?
I’d never spotted that before! Apparently it’s a bike speed checker - if someone is cycling 12mph or slower it lights up a green smiley face (it’s actually a face if you look closely at the last frames) but if you’re going faster it gives you a red angry face and tells you to slow down. Been there since 2017 apparently!
@@Londoncycleroutes Heh, if its been there since 2017 and you've not spotted it before, I don't think its going to be terribly useful in getting speeding cyclists (or scooterists) to slow down.
@@GreenJimll haha yes I was just thinking the same thing!
Be great to hear your voiceover recorded in a less reflective environment
Do you have any tips on how to make it better? I try not to close the door of the room I record in but it’s mostly walls!
@Londoncycleroutes yeah... use a room with soft furnishings in... like a bedroom or lounge with carpets, sofa, curtains, pillows etc. It'll dampen the sound and make it sound less echo like
@@Londoncycleroutes I'm an audio guy...my last work sojourn in London was mostly on Denmark Street. I design and build old-school audio equipment. Nuff' said on that. One very easy way (if it's not your mike, but I remember you attaining a better one a few months back?) then beyond what @desmond223 states, you can hang some rugs (preferably clean ones!) temporarily or permanently on adjacent walls to absorb reflective sound. Don't get tricked into doing the 'egg crate' thing, it's almost totally ineffective.
Google: "How To Make Your Own Acoustic Panels - DIY Professional". You don't need to spend large coin, and if the absorptive material you use is dark and foreboding, or sheds easily, just use white sheets to cover it, and also not lose light in your editing room.
@@desmond223 interesting, I don't have anywhere quite like that but I might try bringing my duvet into the room when I record
Is there anything that can be done about the plan to remove the LTNs? such a waste of money and such a shame
There’s a legal challenge in progress at the moment but not sure whether it’ll work or just hold things up… if you live in tower hamlets definitely write to your councillors to make clear that you support them. It might also be worth linking up with a local campaign group like the TH branch of the London Cycling Camapign. I agree it’s really a shame (to put it mildly) and I hope they keep them
Removal of Low Traffic Neighborhoods benefits outsiders who want to drive through London boroughs. It does not benefit voters inside the borough. Councillors need to serve local people, if they want to get elected by them.
it's a strange situation