TFL Strike

Arkady

Comrades Does anyone work in the general area of Victoria/Westminster/Pimlico and have any idea how they're getting into work tomorrow?

miss annie

If you are feeling brave and you leave plenty of time to get there you can stay on the number 19 bus all the way to Sloane Square - it's not far to walk from there.

Four Eyes

If I remember rightly the last time we had tube strikes the Victoria Line was running pretty much a normal service.

Emma

I do and am going to work from home I reckon. Otherwise the 29 to Trafalgar Square should do you for Westminster but it's a horrid bus.

Arkady

Thought about that. I wondered if I might stand more chance of getting a 91 if I walk to Crouch End... it's a little closer to me that FP and I reckon there might be less of a scrum?

Emma

I think the last time there was a strike it wasn't for all tube lines? Anyway according to <a href="http://www.penaltyfareappeal.co.uk/wordpress/?page_id=1363">this</a> the Vic Line will have 25% service, which doesn't seem like much.

Eliz

I'm cycling to work (in South Kensington) tomorrow but am a bit scared about it because I've never cycled in full rush hour traffic before. Has anyone ever tried one of the escorted cycle rides?

Arkady

On the other hand if I go to Crouch End I won't be able to suss out the Victoria Line...

Arkady

There's an organised ride from FP tomorrow - 7:45 for 8:00 departure - going to various places. I'd cycle myself if I had a bike.

sincers

Cycling - good Tube - bad

Arkady

Can I borrow your bike, sincers?

Lollo Rosso

Hi Eliz,
I think about cycling to work tommorrow and I work in Putney. I'm not a regular commuter on the bike but have done it before.
As far as I know the escorted ride from FBP goes towards the City. If you want we can meet up and cycle together towards SW. I'll probably leave from Finsbury Park at around 7:45.

Arkady

I'm even thinking of getting the train from Harringay to Moorgate and walking from there.

sincers

@Arkady - you would be more than welcome were I not using it myself.

miss annie

I believe that if you walk down from Moorgate to Tower Bridge you can get a River Bus to Westminster. Arriving by boat would be a more glamorous start to your day than schlepping across town on foot.

Arkady

Boom - that's exactly what I'm going to do. I work less than ten minutes from Embankment. I love and adore the river boats - good value, coffee bar/liquor bar depending on the time of day, really fast and ace view. I just hope I can squeeze on at Harringay. Thanks for the reminder! A

Eliz

Thanks for your kind offer Lollo Rosso but I'm going to be cycling very slowly and taking lots of side roads and detours so would probably be very annoying to cycle with. Good look with your cycle, FP to Putney is quite a journey!

NoOne

I'm having a day off. I think I deserve it.

miss annie

FP station underground is closed, no service at all for either line there. Bus queues are horrendous.

sincers

OMG - I've changed my mind about everyone cycling in London. What bloody chaos. I wonder how many more accidents there have been today as a result of too many people who frankly, shouldn't be on the road. Bob Crowe is a dick. He should try cycling in during one of his pointless, greedy strikes and than dare to talk about safety. What a dick!

Ali

It takes about 35 to 40 mins to cycle to Victoria mainly on back streets although you do get the fun of going around Trafalgar Square ! On the way back the TfL route goes past the Albion which is nice to stop at for a pint and a quick read of the Standard. If you cycle each day it is about 100kms a week so keps you fit. Lots of wobblies on the road this morning must have been a 100 people cycling down Amwell Street past Filthy McNastys. Anyone wanting a bike I saw that J&D sports had not bad looking mountain bikes on sale for £50 on Sunday. Once you have got your other kit helmet, high vis etc the pat back must be around 4 weeks compared to the tube. Vic

Arkady

TFL online said that the Victoria Line was working twixt Seven sisters and Victoria, but as noted the underground station was closed at FP. There was a massive scrum for the 19, so I nipped onto the train to Moorgate and took the riverboat to Waterloo. Glorious. Sitting on the back deck, with a coffee in my hand and the sun in my face, I did briefly thank Mr Crow. Condolences, though, to those who had a gruelling journey this morning. A

Colette

I wouldn't bother with a new bike for £50 - it'll be a heap of rubbish, more dangerous/trouble than it's worth, and certainly no use for regular commuting.

Emma

Do you have to pay extra for the riverboat or is it covered by a Travelcard?

miss annie

I am so jealous of your delightful journey Arkady.

The bus was even more miserable than usual - packed of tube users who are completely baffled by everything when they are above ground.

hellojo

Anybody know whether FP station is open again now?
I wussed out on being one of the hundreds of wobbly cyclists heading for Victoria, so am working at home, but everyone else is at work, and I'm wondering whether to have a go...

miss annie

@hellojo

The station staff there are on strike so it's probably closed all day. I work near Warren Street and that's closed for the whole day too.

ActionVerb

Got the overground from Finsbury Park at around quarter to 9 this morning without any serious issues. A bit busier than usual on the train, but not too bad. Queues for the busses looked pretty bad though.

Emma

@hellojo

I think most of my colleagues have gone to work as well but I think if you can work from home you might as well. It's not just the journey in you've got to think about, it's getting home as well.

Arkady

@Emma I'm not sure what the full price is, but it's discounted if you pay by Oyster and further discounted if you have a travelcard. In my case It cost £3.55. Worth it for the experience alone. There are cheaper payment options if you use the service regularly. They have comfy aeroplane- style seats and a costa on board (licensed after 11!). A

sincers

@Ali - my route takes me down Amwell Street. It can be a bit hairy down there with the slope and people turning right towards the Holiday Inn. My route takes me past the Albion as well; and someone, this morning, clearly not used to cycling during rush hour, nearly flobbed on me as I overtook him. He did apologize profusely but it highlighted the biggest danger with "new" cyclists, which is the issue of constant observations. You learn this as a motorbike rider, but it should be applied to cycling as well.