"Frank X" wrote in message ...
"james" wrote in message
...
"Frank X" wrote in message
...
"Steve Nelson" wrote in message
m...
Greetings,

I am planning to cycle to and from work - from North Kilburn to Canary
Wharf.
1) Its a good idea to cross south from the Isle of Dogs and then
re-cross the river around Tower-Bridge.
No Cable Street is fine

Cable street is quite slow and involves an on-pavement contraflow
cycle eastbound plus a very slow contra flow cycle phase on a set of
lights (for which you have to push a button). The cyle lane (which
you have to use in some of the one way sections) gives way to all side
roads. From the OP's description of himself I would suggest
considering the A13 or the A1203. IME the A1203 has higher peak
speeds but more space.

Yep that contra flow lane is damn stupid ;o) But the road is quiet so if
you're pootling along it is fine. Can't remember the A1203 in rush hour,
but it's OK at other times. Is it not one long jam in the rush hour?

I used to live just off Cable Street, and my experience" is "not
fine". Cyclists on the path have no priority over Cable St traffic or
the side roads. The section by Wapping Tube is particularly vile. Out
of rush hour there are fewer cars on Cable Street but they are less
inclined to give way to cyclists, go figure. The A1203 in rush hour is
either a jam, or very packed but fast.

Don't see the point in crossing/re-crossing the river myself, not for
routine commutes. As an alternative to stave off boredom or explore,
the Greenwich Tunnel route offers more possibilities. I think
Rotherhithe Tunnel is legal for cyclists (somebody correct me if
wrong) but it is very polluted.


I have never had the bottle to ignore the no-cycling signs on the
limehouse link although a cyclist who can reliably hold 20-25mph for
most of a kilometre including a shallow up gradient shouldn't have
much trouble IMO. You could just follow the A13 then West India Dock
Road or cut through the park by Butcher Row (bridge over tunnel
approach) which delivers you onto Horseferry Road then narrow street.
This is probably not much slower than the main roads.

Very pleasant down Hoeseferry etc too.

Commercial Road is ok; West India Dock Road is ok-ish. There's a
useful alternative cut through via Newell St, Colt St and the river
bank which will drop you out by Westferry Circus. The downside is
having to use some pavement work and a toucan to cross into Newell St
(otherwise no right turn). The upside is the view from the river bank.

I wouldn't go through the tunnel (I don't know if they enforce the limits
now but it used to be that 50 mph was common). Going down to Island Gardens
I prefered Marsh Wall/ East Ferry Rd to West Ferry Rd.

There are perma-cameras in the tunnel now, and they could probably
pick up a cyclist if the operators were so inclined. Not sure it's
worth it unless your career plans include organ donor. I've driven
through it and it's always seemed a "take no prisoners" road to me.