Commuting from Purley

michael_roadie

Hi all,

I'm thinking of moving down to the area of Purley/Kenley, and of course intend to continue commuting by bike. I went for a ride there and back today, along the most obvious route to use (Purley Way), to see how that road was for cycling.

Result: not great. Absolutely jam packed with traffic so spent ages stuck behind cars with no real filtering room (I suppose I could have if I really wanted to). Then when the traffic does move, it does so at speed - which is expected for such a road I guess. Also not enthralled with the idea of cycling on that road when it's dark and rainy.

So does anyone commute into London from that area, and if so, do you know of any good routes?

djp66

Doesn't the London to Paris route take you from London down that way? Maybe you could pick up on that?

Plus, I know the Purley Way and I'd certainly not want to cycle on it during rush hour.

drummer_boy

I live in the NorthWest, but am down in Purley a lot, for work.

There is a road that runs parallel to Purley Way (round the back of the Hilton) that is a lot quieter.

Be watch out for school run nutters!!

squired

I live just next to Purley (South Croydon) and commute regularly into central London. My suggestion would be that you avoid the Purley Way and use the Brighton Road instead. Once you get through the lights in central Purley you have quite a nice long run without traffic lights all the way to Whitgift School. From there you continue through the shopping centre and along past West Croydon train station on towards Thornton Heath Pond. At that point you join traffic that has come via the Purley Way and head on towards Norbury and Streatham.

If you were coming from Kenley there is actually a back road that cuts out the centre of Purley and all of the traffic lights (via Warren Road), eventually bringing you out on the Brighton Road.

cruff

Agree with the above. Used to do this regularly when I lived in Reigate. At Purley Cross, coming from Kenley (A22), take a right at the main junction (heading towards South Croydon). It's much better than Purley Way (plus it's not a nasty hill, like the southern end of Purley Way is).

One word of advice though - you can get some speed up on the Brighton Road, but it is pretty dangerous to do so. People pay zero attention to bikes all the way through Croydon - starting at around Purley - so expect cars to pull out on you without warning and veer into the bike lane whilst they text on their smartphones

michael_roadie

Thanks for the suggestions guys, will check those roads out.