Experience Of Cycles On Trains/Tubes in London

NWLondoner

What has you experience of using trains and the Underground in London been like/

My main lines that I would be interested in are FCC Thameslink and the Metropolitan line.
I know I cannot use FCC during peak hours but do you ever get stopped by staff when you try to enter the station with you bike etc.?

Also do you manage to get through the automatic barriers ok or do the staff open he gates for you without having the argue first??

plusgourmande

I'm not sure where NW you live, but here goes ..

you can't enter any station that is underground. If you want to get NW, you need to get to Finchley Rd (metropolitan line) or Golders Green (northern line) before they'll let you on, and even then it's out of peak hours.

There is a way around this. Sometimes taking both wheels/handlebars off gets you through the barriers, although this is down to the tube people. You need to charm them sometimes.

Lastly, if you're really stuck - go to Kings X / Kentish Town West, you can get a overground train to West Hendon from there. Normally there's nobody at the barriers so you and your bike can go for free. I wouldn't recommend going at any busy time as you'll only plss off other commuters.

orienteer

You can take bikes on all the LT sub-surface lines (Met, District, Hammersmith & City, Circle), including the underground sections, outside weekday peak hours. You can also take them on the open sections of the deep tube lines at the same times.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/974.aspx


Never had a problem getting on; you have to go through the luggage gates.