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The cyclist's view
Page 51
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Roly Lambert writes
My part of the test was as a human with a 2003 edition of the A-Z. The locations I was given were at opposite ends of central London. I decided I would head in the vague direction of major landmarks near the addresses, then refer to the atlas as and when I got nearer/lost.
My ride started with a good spin in Hyde Park; lots of very wide and quiet cycle lanes. which unfortunately fed me towards Bayswater and cost me precious time, but it as pretty.
An industrial road behind Kings Cross is not the ideal lace for a lycra-clad cyclist. Thankfully, from there I was ent down to SW1. Hyde Park Corner is a real hoot on a ike; as long as you push to the front it's just safe enough.
I survived. It felt very good to be nipping up the lines of stationary traffic. Throughout the test I dutifully obeyed the rules of the road no cheeky one way street or traffic light jumping action from me.
I wasn't really affected by stop-start traffic and reckon I maintained a good average speed across the whole city. I was doing 27mph along The Mall at one point -that was fun. I really enjoyed beating the van to a few addresses too.
I felt being on two wheels was a real advantage. I just needed a lamp post to chain my bike to, so no parking problems or fines, and I was exempt from the congestion charge. It was only in a few locations that I felt rather exposed and soft, and with hindsight riding the entire length of Oxford Street was daft.
I also underestimated my fuel costs: I had to stop and buy biscuits by Tower Bridge!