A Bicycle Made For Three
Nicola asks:
"I’m thinking of cycling my little girls over to nursery in September, from Westcombe Park (via Foyle Road) to Blackheath. I’m hoping to get a bike with a trailer. Does anyone else do this or know of anyone else doing this? Has anyone found it a scary journey? Is cycling from Greenwich to Blackheath straightforward and easy enough to avoid the dreaded traffic? "
The Phantom replies:
You'd seriously consider cycling two small children up that hill? I just hope you live at the top end of Foyle Road...
Seriously, I'd try borrowing a bike and a heart monitor and giving it a try before you shell out on serious kit like a trailer.
Personally, the most precious thing I'd want to carry on a bicycle would be a baguette and a morning paper, but I know that many people are confident enough to ferry kiddies around on one.
I don't know much (read "anything") about trailers, but I'd guess that it would make you a much wider vehicle (read "target") on our narrow roads. Now, of course, that can make you 'safer' - you're forced to use the road more like a car driver than a cyclist, but you are low down - and your cargo will be even lower.
Okay safety warnings over (for the moment) let's get onto the route.
Actually, I'd say that if you are only going via Foyle Road rather than from it, it is probably your path of least resistance. It's slightly longer (or feels like it anyway) than the others, but it also feels shallower and you get the added enjoyment of the most enjoyable topiary in Greenwich.
For the rest of the Greenwich part of the trip, it might be worth nipping through the park - a bit of a long way round but very pretty (and changes with the seasons) and much safer than the road. There are two problems with this - I can't find a map of designated cycle paths for the park (no wonder everyone cycles everywhere - we really should be told exactly where we can go) and, more annoyingly, the junction where Maze Hill meets Westcombe Park Rd - the high kerbs, mini roundabout, railings and narrow gate - will make this a bit of what my old driving instructor used to call "an 'azard."
From there, it's Duke Humphrey's Road (stopping for a cup of tea at the 'ut, perhaps) and Tranquil Vale - but it will take you a long way round, and since I don't know where your daughters' school will be, I could be directing in completely the wrong way across the heath.
So here's a completely different suggestion. (I'm assuming you want to avoid that nasty roundabout.) Turn left at the top of Foyle Road, then right into Beaconsfield Road. From the end, you can either fiddle your way through the back routes through Vanbrugh Park and and the gorgeous Angerstein Lane (warning - rough, unmade surfaces) or follow Vanbrugh Park all the way round.
Your next obstacle will be the A2 - but of course at most times of the day this is at a standstill anyway. Then you can nip down St German's Place, where the only hazard will be the 4X4s dropping off kiddie-winks at sundry prep schools.
If you need to go further into Blackheath, South Row and Pond Road will take you a relative back route. Shortest isn't really an option in this instance, given the payload.
It is, as London rides go, a very pretty trip either way (I would avoid the centre route with the roundabout - it's just too busy) but are you really sure you want to put two small children onto a pushbike? Personally I wouldn't dream of it, though I will be very happy to hear from brave parents who regularly cycle trolley-loads of neighbours' kids across the heath.
I know I'm on a downer here. I am SO not anti-cycling. I love it myself, and I seriously think every car (and especially every lorry) driver should also be a cyclist - just so they know how cyclists think.
But it's been such a short time since our most recent ghost bike. A white bicycle with a trailer would break my heart...
Labels: cycling, Green Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:08
21 Comments:
Personally, as a cyclist and a driver i'm not a big fan of trailers, it's behind you co you are less aware of it as a cyclist and also most drivers find it difficult enough to spot cyclists let alone something trailing behind a bike.
There are alternatives whereby the children go in front which IMHO is a lot safer, but currently they are prohibitively expensive. THe Zigo Leader has had a lot of publicity here recently and there are a few from holland available (dulwich park has them for hire which is rather spendid for a day of fun with the little ones) but you will end up payinjg through teh nose for any solution unfortunately.
What about walking? We used to. Buggy to begin with but as people got older and bigger we did without. You can take the most direct route, it avoids roads (traffic, fumes), you know how long it will take, no parking probs at the other end, plenty to see and talk about as you go.
I agree with you G.P.
I used to find it nerve racking enough pointing the old Trek into the Greenwich traffic-flow.
There are too many idiots on the road for you to put your children at risk even though your intentions are honourable.
I don't believe that 4 wheels bad, 2 wheels good but in this instance, I really think that 2 feet (or 4 or 6 or 8) are better!
I recently came across cyclestreets.net, which has a journey planner. I'm still experimenting with it and it's still beta, but it does give you 2 options - fastest route and quietest route. Unfortunately there's no ''gentlest hill route'' option. Because I don't know your start and end point, I asked it for a route from Dinsdale Road to Blackheath Village. This is what it came up with (I hope this link works for you, it just did when I tried it from a different browser) http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/71027/
If it doesn't, simply go to the journey planner page, zoom in to your home address and click there, once it's found that, it will give you your destination choice. The quietest route might give you a rough idea of the best way to go.
It certainly does work - but both routes use that nasty roundabout.
Handy for some things though...
Oh, my green/quietest route goes on pathways (telling you that cycling is not permitted !!) from the south east corner of Greenwich Park to the pedestrian crossing by Vanbrugh Terrace and then down to the Princess of Wales pond.
There's a woman who lives on King William Walk and rides a bike with her 2 kids in a compartment in the front of the bike: that looks like a good little unit. Google Christiana bikes to see what they make.
There is also a journey planner on the TFL website - although rather clunky as you have to untick all the other modes of transport and tick cycle, but it usually gives a route along proper cycle routes and/or quiet roads.
The only official cycle route through Greenwich Park is on the road and I think the path that links to the gate by the flower gardens. I have often used the path along the bottom side of the park but only at 7am when it's not very busy.
Round my way, a lot of the parents rollerblade pushing various fancy double/triple decker prams. It is a lot flatter here than Geenwich, going downhill with a heavy payload could be problamatic I geuss.
The lady that 'Jack' mentions I might know to see. She is possibly Japanese and when I was commuting before I was recently credit crunched I would pass her every day. There'e nothing wrong with those hills that changing down to the lowest gear won't solve, however a little roadtestingas previously suggested is an excellent idea before laying out any cash.
Oooh Benedict - get you! "Round my way..." indeed!
Seriously - glad you're settling in so well - and lucky you with no hills to pedal up...
;-)
We do that commute daily and bought a Chariot Cougar bike trailer with that express intention. It was such a lightweight joy to push, however, we never got out of the stage of using it as a buggy. I was always concerned about having my kids behind me. I think the kids in front option looks fantastic and would have considered that if it had been around then.
Now my children are old enough to walk/scoot/cycle on their own, so there is no more thought of it.
Marmoset, if you have been shouted at by a mad looking woman in Greenwich Park whilst cycling on a path designated "no cycling" that was me!
You are in good company however, as most of my morning walks through the Park are interrupted by cyclists narrowly missing pedestrians on side paths and others in cycle lanes hurtling past cars on the road.
This feels like a hot topic for another day...
I haven't had that pleasure yet, Sue. I stick to the road in the park and very occasionally take the designated cycle lane that runs along the gardens at the top. True, there are two 10 yard ''cyclists dismount'' sections on this route. I've never seen anybody actually get off and walk these so I don't bother either.
Generally though, when cycling on a shared-use route you have to be very careful because people on mobile phones are effectively blind and deaf. Even if they do hear you tinkle-tinkle you have no idea which way they're going to move: there's actually a 50% chance that their idea of getting out of your way so that there's room for a bike to pass will actually involve them moving into your path.
By coincidence, the Guardian's bike blog had an article yesterday about cyclists/pedestrians on canal towpaths. You're right, it is a heated topic, to judge by the comments it provoked.
Nicola, you probably want to start talking to people who do cycle and are enthusiastic about cycling - try the Greenwich bit of the London Cycling Campaign.
Loads of people use trailers, and tehy're probably the cheapest (though still not cheap) way of getting small children around by bike. I've never used one with kids, but when I've used one for cargo it's been great. Unlike the Phantom's dire warnings, you really stand out - you're so unusual that drivers just stay well clear, or at least as clear as they can in London traffic.
As long as you've got some nice low gears, hills are just slow rather than being unpleasant. The one thing I would ask though, is whether you're reasonably confident cycling around London yourself. If not, it might be an idea to get some experience and even some training (again, get in touch with Greenwich Cyclists, who can probably get someone to buddy you for a ride or two). More formal training can be arranged through Cycle Training UK (http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/training/individual_training.php) - some London Boroughs subsidise it for residents and workers.
Best of luck!
Re:"Oh, my green/quietest route goes on pathways (telling you that cycling is not permitted !!)" & "I've never seen anybody actually get off and walk these so I don't bother either."
Marmoset - so you often ignore the rules of the road or only comply with them if you see someone else doing it? Presumably you then sweep down the pavement, hopefully avoiding the annoying pedestrians, and then cycle as fast as you can through the foot tunnel.
If a driver happily boasted about ignoring safety rules you'd be up in arms, I suspect. I'm not heated - just bored of the small, but irritating, assortment of cyclists who only stick to the rules if it suits them. By the way, if you're going to respond make sure you can substitute the words "all road users" for "cyclist" in your post...
Hello everyone, thanks for your comments, they are all really useful. Gone are the days when I'd cycle everywhere without a care in the world except for my flares getting stuck in the bike chain! I'll let you know how I get on.
Phantom you say " I cant find a designated map for cycle paths"
At each entrance to the park there is a large map, which clearly shows on the legend, which roads cyclists are allowed to use.
Bod, your cut and paste citation is referring to two different posts and two different contexts. But you knew that, didn't you...?
Marmoset, I did know that - but my points still stand. I love bikes. But I'm a walker and know, from experience, how some cyclists ignore signs or guidelines which would gain others a hefty fine. That said, I'd still rather get run down by a helmet-head than a petrol-head. And, I suspect, I'd be doing the same thing if I had one...in fact, that's it -I'm off to Trafalgar Road to buy one...
I'm also a regular Greenwich park cycle commuter.
The lady-of-far-eastern-extraction who Jack and Latelygay mention doesn't cycle her bike with front-fixed buggy up the Greenwich Park hill - she walks!
I do admire her determination, though.
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