Anyone commute from Ilford/Gants Hill etc into City?

CaptainCropper

Quick question, is there a way to get from Ilford to the nice A13 cycle route whilst avoiding the stabbing and shooting zones of Manor Park and Forest Gate?

I'm thinking about commuting the 11 miles into work by pushbike so I can lose some lard but not keen on running the gauntlet every day. I finish work at midnight so would have to go through Newham on the way back, too dodgy?

Ta

Fat Head

hello, i had 18 months of cyclo-commuting from the Romford area to The Strand which is now finished and for all the do-la and craziness it did have some charm, especially blast home with the tailwind behind, flying round the Ilford roundabouts at a touch under 30mph...ah, those were the days.

to answer your question you need to head from Ilford down to Barking and joing it there, if i am not mistaken.

what a place!

CaptainCropper

Fat Head wrote:

hello, i had 18 months of cyclo-commuting from the Romford area to The Strand which is now finished and for all the do-la and craziness it did have some charm, especially blast home with the tailwind behind, flying round the Ilford roundabouts at a touch under 30mph...ah, those were the days.

to answer your question you need to head from Ilford down to Barking and joing it there, if i am not mistaken.

what a place!

If the A406 had a cycle route on it, it would be straight forward enough, to get to Barkingrad I'd have to take on the delights of Ilford Lane. Might as well be Delhi town centre +20mph on all vehicles.

Fat Head

ilford lane, what a place......get a nice, very cheap traditional curry there but not good for the old waistline....very dodgy around there for cycling, what a place to commute by bike

CaptainCropper

Fat Head wrote:

ilford lane, what a place......get a nice, very cheap traditional curry there but not good for the old waistline....very dodgy around there for cycling, what a place to commute by bike

I've been here 16 years, that's about 15 years and 11 months too long. Hopefully be getting out soon so not massively bothered about the commute being too dangerous, hopefully be scooting round the Essex countryside before long.

Just seems a shame to have such a long cycle path on the A13 that I can't get to without going through bandit country.

Tynancp

wimps

mascott

Hi
I cycled from ilford to the city everyday and like you i finished at 12pm/2am somtimes.
I did the route for 18months and found it safe. No one really bothers you to be honest. My route was straight down the romford rd, through stratford, along the mile end rd, etc. it is straight, in reasonable condition and it bus/cycle lane virtually the whole way. distance to st pauls from ilford town centre was around 9miles.
the only bit you might want to look at is bow flyover which i went over as did many others, but you might feel better going under and round the roundabout.

i have now moved, but would say dont worry about saftey anymore than elsewhere
goodluck which ever route you go

CaptainCropper

mascott wrote:

Hi
I cycled from ilford to the city everyday and like you i finished at 12pm/2am somtimes.
I did the route for 18months and found it safe. No one really bothers you to be honest. My route was straight down the romford rd, through stratford, along the mile end rd, etc. it is straight, in reasonable condition and it bus/cycle lane virtually the whole way. distance to st pauls from ilford town centre was around 9miles.
the only bit you might want to look at is bow flyover which i went over as did many others, but you might feel better going under and round the roundabout.

i have now moved, but would say dont worry about saftey anymore than elsewhere
goodluck which ever route you go

Thank you.

CaptainCropper

So, here we are one year on and I finally bit the bullet and started cycling in. Well, when I say cycling, it's actually cheating because I'm using a Powacycle electric bike to break myself in gently, it's on pedal assist most of the way, it's a doddle and I don't get into work covered in sweat and feeling like crap.

I'm leaving at 4pm, getting to work 40 mins later, then leaving work at midnight and again, getting in 40 mins later and it's really not that bad, quite enjoying it in fact

woodford2barbican

Well done - have you lost any of that lard?

CaptainCropper

woodford2barbican wrote:

Well done - have you lost any of that lard?

Maybe a few grams, only been doing it since Monday

Going to visit the bike shop in Romford today and get some breathable waterproofs, even riding in the rain isn't as big a deal as I thought.

jaystevens1971

Hi iam just about to start my commute from hainault to Aldgate East i was thinking of redbridge roundabout then on to A12 - Mare Street (Hackney) - Mile End road - City
I dont know how hard Redbridge roundabout to Hackney but i think the rest of the route will be a doddle.
I dont know if this would be a better option for you, but i will let you know next week once i have done a couple of days commute.

spen666

jaystevens1971 wrote:

Hi iam just about to start my commute from hainault to Aldgate East i was thinking of redbridge roundabout then on to A12 - Mare Street (Hackney) - Mile End road - City
I dont know how hard Redbridge roundabout to Hackney but i think the rest of the route will be a doddle.
I dont know if this would be a better option for you, but i will let you know next week once i have done a couple of days commute.

Cycles are not allowed on A12 from Wanstead! I wouldn't want to ride that anyway.

From Hainault, i'd tryto get over to Romford Road- perhaps down Cranbrook Road- then follow Romford Road to Stratford then A11. I go ilford to Westminster via Romford Road/ A11 and have no problems

Mr_Cellophane

spen666 wrote:

Cycles are not allowed on A12 from Wanstead! I wouldn't want to ride that anyway.

The old road above the tunnel must still be there :?

CaptainCropper

Check out Google Maps, Romford Road via Ilford is about 12 miles, taking the A12 is 13 odd.

I'd be inclined to take the earlier advice and take Romford Road, ok so it's quite busy up to Upton Park (4pm heading West) but the traffic is VERY slow.

CaptainCropper

Have a look at this too, lots of little green shortcuts.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/cy ... efault.asp

spen666

Mr_Cellophane wrote:

spen666 wrote:

Cycles are not allowed on A12 from Wanstead! I wouldn't want to ride that anyway.

The old road above the tunnel must still be there :?

It is- but that is not the A12 its the......( some other route number)

jaystevens1971

Hi is it legal to travel on the A12 from Wanstead or against the highway code, im not to sure on the restrictions, and does this apply to any Arterial road.

spen666

jaystevens1971 wrote:

Hi is it legal to travel on the A12 from Wanstead or against the highway code, im not to sure on the restrictions, and does this apply to any Arterial road.

It is legal to travel away from London on the A12 from wanstead, but not heading into London from Wanstead