Is there a cycle lane at Hyde park corner underpass

hipshaker

Hi
I'm cycling westbound from soho towards hyde park. I've seen one or two cyclists go down the Hyde Park Corner underpass - does anyone know if there's a cycle lane there?

Thanks

biondino

There is no cycle lane. It's also narrow, dark and there are invariably one or two puddles of water. It is very much not for the fainthearted. But then neither's Hyde Park Corner!

If you use it, put your lights on beforehand and use the slope to build up momentum - you'll get through quicker and you need it for the upslope. Whatever you do, don't panic or do anything unpredictable (such as take your feet off your pedals on a fixie at 30mph, like some idiot did :oops: ).

davmaggs

if you are going to go around the H.P roundabout I would recommend using plenty of arm signals as the traffic can be a bit mean.

Also there are lulls and patterns in the traffic so if you wait for a bit you do get gaps where the lights are holding back cars a little too long, thus giving you a decent chance to go for it.

georgee

if coming from soho, consider Brook St, through Grosvenor Sq, then across into the park, down the bike lane (trying not to clatter into the usual berkaclad pram pushers or japanese tourists) then cut back out to Knightsbridge off south carriage drive by the Kuwaiti embassy.

Porgy

HPC is a pig - you need attitude to get round there in one piece. Mind you I used to really enjoy it - got my adrenaline flowing bigtime. :twisted:

prj45

I use the underpass sometimes, speed is the key, there is no cycle lane, I just stay in primary.

Funnily enough I did decide not to use it today, I only used it last week and once a month is enough I figure.

prj45

Porgy wrote:

HPC is a pig - you need attitude to get round there in one piece. Mind you I used to really enjoy it - got my adrenaline flowing bigtime. :twisted:

I watched some NUT on a cycle today cross the road from the island into Apsely Gate while the lights for the traffic coming up Grosvenor place where green.

Now a good driver should be able to cope with some nut job cyclist half way across the road there, but most drivers come round that blind corner at a good 35 to 40mph, even 50 I reckon and have no chance of stopping for such a d**khead.

Not that their not total d**kheads too, but a dumb arse in a metal vehicle trumps dumb arse on a cycle any time.

Porgy

prj45 wrote:

Porgy wrote:

HPC is a pig - you need attitude to get round there in one piece. Mind you I used to really enjoy it - got my adrenaline flowing bigtime. :twisted:

I watched some NUT on a cycle today cross the road from the island into Apsely Gate while the lights for the traffic coming up Grosvenor place where green.

Now a good driver should be able to cope with some nut job cyclist half way across the road there, but most drivers come round that blind corner at a good 35 to 40mph, even 50 I reckon and have no chance of stopping for such a d**khead.

Not that their not total d**kheads too, but a dumb ars* in a metal vehicle trumps dumb ars* on a cycle any time.

Well my preferred way round HPC is the same way I'd drive around it, but you really have to watch the traffic (and some of the cyclists!) - like you say d**kheads!

hipshaker

Thanks for the advice! Think I'll stay clear of the underpass ... sounds pretty scary. Better a +10 min and safe journey than underground bike battle.