Err, if I was one for hyperbole I would have chose the subject line
without my tongue being firmly in my cheek, possibly 'Problem with TfL
Journey Planner' might have been less attention grabbing subject line.
Still ...

I think the TfL Journey Planner, http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk is quite
useful, if you take the advanced options you'll find some options to help
you plan cycle routes - an effort in the right direction I think.

It has some flaws though. When trying to plan a route to take me from
Bard Road, W10 to Bowes Road, W3, the route suggested would take me along
the A40(M) - not a problem in itself, I've, err, done that stretch of
moterway on my bicycle before - the real problem being getting my bike up
to the elevated section without absailing equipment. In the end I did
decide on a route of my own, around Shepherds Bush Green - probably not
any safer though.

There is a small part of my conspiratorial mind that makes me think it
might be part of a wider plan though.

What says you all?

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:57:32 +0100, Colin wrote:

There is a small part of my conspiratorial mind that makes me think it
might be part of a wider plan though.

What says you all?

I'd say that cycle routes are very subjective as there are many
factors that can make them good or bad to any given individual
cyclist, and as such they're best planned with a map and experience.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

Neil Williams wrote:
I'd say that cycle routes are very subjective as there are many
factors that can make them good or bad to any given individual
cyclist, and as such they're best planned with a map and experience.

I'd also say that the lie of the land comes into it, which an A-Z won't
show hills; my route to work has a cycle path most of the way, but ends
up going up and down hill far more than taking the main road, which is
mostly flat.

--
Simon Hewison

you can't absail (or even abseil) _up_ , you have to prusik ;-)

but ITYF there is a cycleable route between the two involving neither
of the above, done it myself ( a while ago though)

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 16:31:05 -0700, MartinM wrote:

you can't absail (or even abseil) _up_ , you have to prusik ;-)

I suspected that absailing was a one-way persuit ;-)


but ITYF there is a cycleable route between the two involving neither
of the above, done it myself ( a while ago though)

Over the railway line? I work in Bard Road, know, or thought I knew, the
Westway Sports Centre area, and can think of nothing that goes over the
railway line at that point.

Can you remember any clues?

Colin wrote:

What says you all?

I say, as I've said many times before, use http://www.cyclemaps.com *.
It may not be perfect (I believe it started from the same TfL database)
but the last time someone pointed out the use of a helicopter the guy
went out that weekend and sorted it, as he has other mapping errors I've
found. In the end though there is no substitute from the knowledge
built up from experience.

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

*
Quiet route:
BARD ROAD for 216 meters
Turn left onto FRESTON ROAD for 223 meters
Go straight on PATH UNDER FLYOVER for 115 meters
Go straight on STABLE WAY for 199 meters
Go straight on LATIMER ROAD for 517 meters
Turn left onto NORTH POLE ROAD for 84 meters
Turn left onto EYNHAM ROAD for 222 meters
Turn right onto NASCOT STREET for 122 meters
Turn left onto WOOD LANE for 15 meters
Turn right onto DU CANE ROAD for 1,319 meters
Turn left onto HILARY ROAD for 66 meters
Turn right onto NORBROKE STREET for 231 meters
Turn left onto OLD OAK COMMON LANE for 64 meters
Go straight on OLD OAK ROAD for 15 meters
Go straight on OLD OAK COMMON LANE for 77 meters
Go straight on EAST ACTON LANE for 225 meters
Turn left onto for 33 meters
Turn left onto GLENDUN ROAD for 49 meters
Turn left onto BOWES ROAD

Direct Route

BARD ROAD 216 METRES
TURN LEFT FRESTON ROAD 223 METRES
AHEAD PATH UNDER FLYOVER 115 METRES
AHEAD STABLE WAY 199 METRES
AHEAD LATIMER ROAD 517 METRES
TURN LEFT NORTH POLE ROAD 162 METRES
TURN LEFT WOOD LANE 222 METRES
TURN RIGHT DU CANE ROAD 1,319 METRES
TURN LEFT HILARY ROAD 66 METRES
TURN RIGHT NORBROKE STREET 231 METRES
TURN LEFT OLD OAK COMMON LANE 64 METRES
AHEAD OLD OAK ROAD 15 METRES
TURN RIGHT WESTERN AVENUE 228 METRES
TURN LEFT GLENDUN ROAD 99 METRES
TURN RIGHT BOWES ROAD 193 METRES

"Colin" wrote in message
news
Err, if I was one for hyperbole I would have chose the subject line
without my tongue being firmly in my cheek, possibly 'Problem with TfL
Journey Planner' might have been less attention grabbing subject line.
Still ...

I think the TfL Journey Planner, http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk is quite
useful, if you take the advanced options you'll find some options to help
you plan cycle routes - an effort in the right direction I think.

snip

You caused me to look at the site and try (as a thought experiment only) its
suggestion for a journey I used to do regularly. It suggests 42 minutes
cycling and a rather ziggy zaggy route -- presumably to avoid the Lea Bridge
Road -- which I would regard as perfectly cyclable. Memory suggests the
more direct route could be done comfortably inside 30 minutes -- though that
included a short cut through Epping Forest that could get soggy in the
winter.

The alternatives using buses and tubes all came out in the 1:10 to 1:20
range -- partly because the start point is nearly a mile from a bus stop or
tube station -- though gave some interesting alternatives I would not
necessarily have considered.

Looking at Transport Direct (http://www.transportdirect.info) the public
transport times were very similar.

However, the door to door car time suggested is 39 minutes for 8.3 miles
(again, by a reasonable route but not one that I would not have picked as a
local with local knowledge). The time sounds a little pessimistic on a good
day and wildly optimistic on a bad one.

What is concealed in the car time is that it is impossible to park within
1/2 to 3/4 mile of the destination so you need to add a further 10 minutes
walking time.

The future of transport in cities is clear :~)

T

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:57:32 +0100, Colin wrote:


I think the TfL Journey Planner, http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk is quite
useful, if you take the advanced options you'll find some options to help
you plan cycle routes - an effort in the right direction I think.
There is http://www.londoncyclenetwork.org
Click on the 'Mapping' link.

I just tried it, and the maps to my eye are not as clear
as the paper ones.

"Colin" wrote in message
news
Err, if I was one for hyperbole I would have chose the subject line
without my tongue being firmly in my cheek, possibly 'Problem with TfL
Journey Planner' might have been less attention grabbing subject line.
Still ...

I think the TfL Journey Planner, http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk is quite
useful, if you take the advanced options you'll find some options to help
you plan cycle routes - an effort in the right direction I think.

It has some flaws though. When trying to plan a route to take me from
Bard Road, W10 to Bowes Road, W3, the route suggested would take me along
the A40(M) - not a problem in itself, I've, err, done that stretch of
moterway on my bicycle before - the real problem being getting my bike up
to the elevated section without absailing equipment.

The A40(M) isn't actually a motorway any more. See
URL:http://pathetic.org.uk/motorways/a40m.htm
So, it's perfectly legal to cycle along that stretch of road - unless
there's a Traffic Restriction Order in place. I don't know where you'll be
able to check that.

Incidentally, you'll NEVER get your bike UP with absailing equipment -
that's designed for going DOWN ;-)

--
MatSav

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:57:32 +0100, Colin wrote:


It has some flaws though. When trying to plan a route to take me from
Bard Road, W10 to Bowes Road, W3, the route suggested would take me along
the A40(M) - not a problem in itself, I've, err, done that stretch of
moterway on my bicycle before

Is that legal? I live near the A1(M) and certainly wouldn't cycle on it
(although I have had to ride on the A1 a couple of times).

--
jc