Discussion
Walked 4 miles to Sloane Sq yesterday but realising that I would not make work in time, I picked up my first Boris Hire Cycle from the rank and pedaled for 10 minutes up to Buckingham Palace, up the Mall, around Trafalgar Sq and onwards to work near Tottenham Court Rd.
A bit low geared but surprisingly agile and easy to ride for such a heavy thing BUT when I got to the area I work in, I had to cycle around for a further 15 minutes looking for somewhere to slot it back in. All the bays were full until I found a space in Soho Sq after 28 minutes of hire.
Not so efficient eh! but at least all I spent was the £1 24 hour access charge as the first 30 mins are free.
Convinced me that I should be using my own Langster which has sat in the shed for the past few weeks, although I have to say that it was more comfy than my single speeder.
Cut to night time and a bit worse for wear after to many Port and Guinnesses, I picked up another Boris Bike from Soho Sq and cycled through an area of devastation similar to the scenes in the film "Children of Men" (UK under police and military law) unaware that there had been massive riots in Whitehall. Got stopped by the police who advised me that Westminster Bridge was closed so I continued onto Vauxhall Bridge (My whole route was closed to motor traffic so it was all pretty spooky) and over to the Bike bay by Vauxhall Station. Once again the bays were full and I had to cycle around for 10 mins before I found just one bay available back on the bridge.
What are you supposed to do if you just cannot find a bay? You can't just dump it or your card is charged £100s.
Well at least the journey was once again less than 30 mins (I hope) and made for an interesting end to the night.
A bit low geared but surprisingly agile and easy to ride for such a heavy thing BUT when I got to the area I work in, I had to cycle around for a further 15 minutes looking for somewhere to slot it back in. All the bays were full until I found a space in Soho Sq after 28 minutes of hire.
Not so efficient eh! but at least all I spent was the £1 24 hour access charge as the first 30 mins are free.
Convinced me that I should be using my own Langster which has sat in the shed for the past few weeks, although I have to say that it was more comfy than my single speeder.
Cut to night time and a bit worse for wear after to many Port and Guinnesses, I picked up another Boris Bike from Soho Sq and cycled through an area of devastation similar to the scenes in the film "Children of Men" (UK under police and military law) unaware that there had been massive riots in Whitehall. Got stopped by the police who advised me that Westminster Bridge was closed so I continued onto Vauxhall Bridge (My whole route was closed to motor traffic so it was all pretty spooky) and over to the Bike bay by Vauxhall Station. Once again the bays were full and I had to cycle around for 10 mins before I found just one bay available back on the bridge.
What are you supposed to do if you just cannot find a bay? You can't just dump it or your card is charged £100s.
Well at least the journey was once again less than 30 mins (I hope) and made for an interesting end to the night.
If the bays are full and you are close to the 30 min free period, is it possible to take a bike out of a full bay,(while still having one out on hire) dock yours and then carry on till you find an empty bay? Not ideal I know.
Isn't there also a 5 minute wait before docking a bike before you can take out another one?
Isn't there also a 5 minute wait before docking a bike before you can take out another one?
Edited by mgtony on Friday 10th December 10:04
I've got to try one next time I'm in the big smoke, I fancy a cycle sightseeing tour of London in the spring.
If I plod what do you think they'd be like on an 'all dayer'?
P.S. Lucky the BiB didn't ask you to blow into the machine when they stopped you, I *think* you can get nicked for drink riding and the penalties are the same as driving.
If I plod what do you think they'd be like on an 'all dayer'?
P.S. Lucky the BiB didn't ask you to blow into the machine when they stopped you, I *think* you can get nicked for drink riding and the penalties are the same as driving.
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