With Waterloo Bridge shut the bus drops me to far from the station for my knackered ankle to comfortably walk. I was thinking of using one of the Santander bikes from outside the office I am working at to ride there.
It all looks fairly straight forward but what do I need to know?
1) How likely am I to find a docking point at rush hour at Waterloo Station?
2) What happens if I don't find one?
3) Which route? Feter Lane, Fleet St, Strand and over the bridge or down the the embankment and along that (apparently a cycle super highway)?
4) Any other guidance?
5) Will I die?
1) download the Santander Cycles app, it gives you a map of the docking points with a live feed of bikes/spaces available.
2) if you're running up on the 30min limit and get to a docking point to find it full there's a menu on the screen which is basically an option to say "I tried to dock here but couldn't" and it gives you 10 mins grace to find another nearby. Waterloo has about 8 docking stations.
3) Embankment superhighway
4) make sure the green light comes on when you dock it!
5) unlikely. You might get a bit lost occasionally depending on how well you know London...
What crazy legs says.
If you can manage the walk, there are almost always spots at Jubilee Gardens or the BFI on Belvedere Road but it's often worth risking heading straight to Waterloo as they actively manage the stands there at rush hours.
Edit: Also, the app is the easiest way of paying for bike if you don't have a key - much easier than faffing at the terminal.
3 - Down towards the river, turn right on to Upper Ground. Follow to Blackfriars Bridge, and cross the river. Just after crossing Fleet Street at Ludgate Circus, bear left on to St Bride St. Follow that on to St Andrew Street, then right on to New Fetter Lane and you're there.
5 - yes
I am now downloading the app
That was easy. It looks like quite a good app. I think I shall cycle to the station today.
Now I just have to worry about a shiny backside on my suit
just ride with your troos round your knees.
suns out. bums out.
Sorry, reverse my route!
You're still going to die.
I did wonder CFH, I may not have the greatest knowledge of London's geography but I had spotted the slight flaw in your proposal. Good to know I will still die though, life can be pretty dull without the thought of the Grim Reaper just one step behind to keep you moving
By the way you can still get over Waterloo Bridge on foot or by bike. Just seen the traffic cameras from it. Actually looks really nice, there are people strolling and riding casually down the middle of the lanes. 🙂
Sorry, I died before I got that far
Beware, Santander bikes can be a gateway to folding bikes when you realise just how easy it is to get around London by bike.
Airnimal FTW 🙂
It was a pleasant ride in this morning. I normally struggle without assist because of the leg but the bikes are quite low geared which made it easier.
Not fast but easy and to be honest I didn't really want to race to the office and arrive as a sweat mess. Time wise was about the same as the bus so I will probably use them until the weather changes.
I rode here in 14 minutes so have 16 free minutes unused. Will they be waiting for me when I ride home or do they keep the clock ticking even when you have docked the bike?
It’s 30 mins per trip once you’ve paid for the day. Just dock and go again to get another 30
Thanks. I can take it easy and different routes then
London was unusually quite this morning. Certainly round Camden / West End.
[i]London was unusually quite this morning[/i] The Thursday before a 4 day weekend. I wonder if those two things are connected?
