Cycling London's five most difficult junctions

[@regularjon9693]

3:51 - I felt so nervous watching that part. Being boxed in like that is scary enough on a motorbike, let alone on a bicycle. Especially with people like @abcdefg painting every cyclist with the same brush, and acting like cycling is anti social behavoiur.

[@calumfraser327]

It's mental to see this video now, massive improvements at vauxhall and elephant and Castle. Kudos must go to tfl for implementing some fixes

[@wimahlers]

At times I saw some pathetic painted lines. But in all of this 6 minute video I did not see a single bicycle infrastructure anywhere. Greetings from The Netherlands.

[@ben.taylor]

Greetings! I'm currently planning to move to your country one day 😁

[@PositiveCyclist]

The editing at Elephant made it look much easier than it is. Elephant (just like lots of other gyratories) is terrible due to drivers' complete lack of lane discipline and cornering far too fast. 2:20 at Vauxhall shows the challenge for cyclists when needing to change lanes: the cyclist behind is confident and moving quickly and willing to impose himself on the cars behind, but for many that would have been an incredibly difficult manoeuvre. In fact, the point is if you are able to move at much the same speed as the rest of the traffic, these junctions are less intimidating and less dangerous. But for very many cyclists, that's hardly a solution (unless of course there's gridlock).

[@deltahfman]

Yes, Yes very scary- ever walked the underpasses of the Elephant and Castle? Then you will know true fear.

[@Ben-db5re]

deltahfman full of junkies!

[@BKL63PRODUCTIONS]

Thats all gone now.

[@s.n2500]

My first time properly riding a bike by my self, got onto Vauxhall and still don’t know the correct way to tackle it, the adrenaline rush I got was comparable to trying to cross a busy highway

[@themitsky]

I used to do Elephant and Castle twice a day on my commute, when it was just two big roundabouts with give ways. I genuinely enjoyed it as the highlight of my ride. Now I just have to settle for the others in this clip.

[@liamj2363]

Use your brain @abcdefg, if every cyclist used public transport or drove, the roads would be so much more congested. I've had far more problems with pedestrians stepping out in stupid places without looking than cyclists.

[@metallitech]

Liam J On the video there are hardly any cyclists, so I can't see how that can be correct.

[@WillemVerb]

oh boy, gunnersbury roundabout didnt even get a mention.. XD

[@thedutchman01]

@ 2:18... Noway that's a bikelane... It's tiny! And I think it's supposed to be two way too? Who the heck thought that was a safe/good idea?

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

I've driven the first two and they're terrible in a vehicle, especially when British roads are confusing already. I've actually ridden the Victoria one from the station and into the park and it's pretty scary with cars impatient rich people coming at you from all sides. Still, London is still a cool place... very expensive though. Everyone seems to be loaded.

[@driewiel]

Sort of riding through Jurassic Park with Assad as the manager but less safe.

[@robhingston]

This bloke is brilliant love to meet him

[@Maxime_K-G]

The existing bike infrastructure is so insulting, like they're spitting in your face. Basically saying: "we know you're there but we don't care about you at all"

[@jansenblyth4320]

I love your bell....hello hello hello....Ebay purchase?

[@roderickimackenzie]

I would have added the underpass at warren street going to Euston. It's always a dilemma if one should go high and deal with the traffic coming from all directions/pedestrians or go low and have nice smooth flowing but fast traffic.

[@bobbending]

4.42 - red light. You expect other road users and pedestrians ("hello, hello ,hello" at 2.49) to obey the laws and rules of the road but don't follow them yourself.

[@MrAnadad]

Thanks for the video, consider getting a airhorn more affective than asking people to give way.

[@pigeonlove]

It's more polite to ask. Also when you hear beeping it is difficult to know where it is coming from

[@lvlarky130y]

Tut tut @ 4.42 going through a red light...

[@joelrawlings5025]

Came here for this.

[@skylarius3757]

The cyclist could have used his bell when those people were crossing the road on a green light.

[@qfox16789]

Your voice is fine, also the pedestrians shouldn’t be crossing

[@oskarmamrzynski]

Hyde Park Corner & Marble Arch = Hell

[@edsloan]

Little secret. At 1:55 turn right under the bridge and you miss out the next 30 seconds of video with no traffic!

[@vindicator2011]

Is that not a "bus only" Bus Lane though?

[@edsloan]

Ed Walker Cyclists are allowed in bus lanes, however I usually come from the far left then under the bridge, where there is a cycle lane which goes through Vauxhall bus station and safely out the otherside over the bridge.

[@obiewashington2160]

As a cyclist, the most dangerous junction is Hyde Park Corner

[@DesignerDude88]

Honestly I'd rather (I do) cycle in NYC, I feel much safer than cycling London streets.

[@neiltrevatt]

4.43 did u run a red light?

[@bigbagboo]

Not necessarily a junction but Armoury Way in Wandsworth is another that I do not like. Four lanes of vehicles putting their foot down at the first sight of a semi open straight road.

[@simonh6371]

4:41 you jumped a red light. Disliked.

[@Maxime_K-G]

It didn't mattter, everyone was standing still.

[@simonh6371]

@@Maxime_K-G THe guy who jumped it wasn't . Look I don't like some car drivers' attitudes and don't even own a car, I lived in Netherlands for 11 years and cycling is second nature to me, but cyclists jumping lights in the UK give the rest of us a bad name. I mean a car driver could use the same justification for having jumped the same lights in the same situation, right? Everyone was standing still so it didn't matter. I like to set an example and stop at red lights, even if there is nobody crossing, or no traffic coming.

[@Maxime_K-G]

I live in Belgium and also use a bike for most everything I do. First of all, no, a car could not use the same justification for jumping a red light for multiple reasons that I think are plain obvious. Second, in some cases, I believe it's okay to just use our brain when dealing with traffic lights. If you're 100% sure it's safe to cross and you won't bother annyone, it's fine honestly. Cycling in the UK is dangerous and hard so why would you strip him from the one advantage he does have, which is not having to wait in traffic jams?

[@pigeonlove]

It wasn't red, tho? It was red for the pedestrian crossing, so it must have been green for the cyclist.

[@roaduser6438]

@@pigeonlove There's a big red light and a stop line at 4:41. We're not talking about the red light and stop line at 4:48 where the pedestrian crossing is.

[@saptarsh1]

This looks Paradise if u bike around Bombay.

[@vedicaudio]

This looks horrible, not just for cycling but for any sort of movement on the roadways. There seem to be a ridiculous number of markings on the roads as well, which would seem to be confusing and distracting from the actual task of riding. I speak English, but I would find riding a bike in Berlin much more intuitive than in London. At least London has the Underground.

[@chromebomb]

Damn I thought biking in LA was bad but this looks terrible.

[@2011blueman]

chromebomb LA traffic is generally moving faster than London and more importantly there are far more cyclists in london so cars are more use to them and more tolerant of them. I'd ride London over LA any day of the week.

[@roderickimackenzie]

To be honest, the drives in London know what they are doing (on the whole) and look in the mirrors. In more provincial towns, with much less trafic it's much more dangerous.

[@gambitgambitgambit]

Hyde park corner and vauxhall are bad enough in a car and I am an experienced driver. The mayor needs to sort all these with alternate routes for cyclists which are safe. Not enough is being done

[@TimSter15]

WTF r the weird mouse clicking noises in the back?!?

[@samsykes7756]

At least there is some infrastructure in London. In the north there is none at all

[@allardfreichmann3733]

Get the city car free.

[@JmanEspresso]

Ill admit, that looks like a nightmare. Come join me in the states why dont ya, see what WE have to deal with. I would have no problem betting my lunch that the drivers we have here, are ten times worse then yours. Here in the US, when you hop off the side and enter the lane so as to keep an idiot from passing you when there is no room.. its a miracle if a minute goes by without someone leaning on their horn until you move over. Most of the US drivers think bicycles are the same as annoying squirrels.. Move out of the way, or get hit.. this is MY road. Btw, I swear you guys have the coolest accents in the world. Id pay good money to have a natural brit accent. Not even joking.

[@ryanscott6578]

UK infrastructure sucks. I plan to move to the Netherlands someday. I'll be dead by the time things start to improve to Dutch levels in the UK

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

you are riding very irresponsible, you really have to ride with you breaks : you have to slow down (if not full stop) when you see pedestrians, does not matter if it's your right to go or it theirs, at least ring a bell far before you see they pass the street.

[@walescyclecam4685]

4.41 RLJ tut tut

[@user-yw3qo8cn2h]

To be fair there is a cycle lane at Vauxhal he just chose not to take it but yh tis horrible

[@dwayneharris7791]

I love riding in urban surroundings till i crashed and broke my right clavicle.

[@cyclist68]

4:40 Perhaps if you are going to have a moan, its best not to show you going through red lights. Followed by "A woman sprinting across the road with a buggy because she doesn't know what she needs to do." What she needs to do is put that phone away and concentrate on her surroundings, then she would have seen the red man that every one else at the crossing saw and, unlike her, dint ignore,

[@tergelaltankhuyag8206]

fucking hate elephant and castle even in cars

[@peter_smyth]

I've never seen an elephant in a car, let alone a castle!

[@dirkjanwubbolts798]

I have driven cars through other villages as well. NY, LA, Luanda, Lisbon, Paris. Nowhere you find a more mediëval road-system than in the UK. Cromwellian, I say. Have a nice Brexit!

[@XmisterIS]

The frustrating thing is that after the Great Fire of London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren (who designed St Paul's Cathedral) drew up a plan for a "New London" which was inspired by the Roman grid system and the wide, straight boulevards of Paris. Had he been allowed to build his vision, London would be one of the most beautiful, easily navigable and well laid-out cities in the world. Instead, he was allowed to build St Paul's, but denied the opportunity to completely re-design the city because Parliament couldn't see past the end of its own nose. 400 years later, the British political mindset is almost unchanged in that regard!

[@tallthinkev]

Now do Cambridge!

[@prettyundefinedrightnow8963]

Yeah, it seems that the cycling infrastructure of London is primitive and has been designed by someone not entirely competent. Have a look at the new Quietways junction at Dulwich Village: that's a fatal accident waiting to happen.

[@sqzl3969]

Sheperds Bush / Hammersmith is still terrible

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

The only way to sort out the challenges is for the uk to adopt the Dutch methods of ‘Disentanglement’ into planning design Otherwise it’s laughable for the whole country

[@mark1968]

You went straight through a red light coming up to Kings Cross.

[@roderickimackenzie]

Also would not have got in between the national express bus and the double decker, although you were protected some what by the van but once they started moving it looked bad. In general that sort of thing is a death sentence.

[@gorgeousgeorge6415]

No were is difficult in London to ride I'm a messenger it's the people who are not switched on cause the problems for example women (I have nothing against you lovely bunch) who wear high heals and have the balance of an obese person are a factor in this..also confidence if you set out on ur bike thinking negative stuff then ur asking for it.. other than that have fun ride safe and be AWARE AT ALL TIMES ☺☺

[@lsbrother]

AnAkii Hah hah hah - oh god, that's really really good - you think the major problem for cyclists is women in high heels!! What planet are you on?!

[@gorgeousgeorge6415]

lsbrother it's a potential for accidents. As for it being my main point it wernt but an example AWARENESS has a lot to do with riding and confidence in what your doing.. As for what planet I'm on since I last checked it was planet earth.. and that has nothing to do with the question or opinions at hand 👍

[@Pugev]

Ahahahahhaha I can imagine how much slower you are !!!! Buhahahha

[@naazimahmed9781]

we dont need to see your face... just show the road... we can hear you. Thanks

[@metallitech]

I can't believe that you are daunted by this. At least the traffic is quite slow due to it being london.

[@googlesuckscock6538]

Yeah, nothing scary about being boxed in by huge 13 tonne boxes of metal...

[@jamesabell9494]

er bike lane on the pavement, I would just lift front wheel a bit then be on it I guess I am bad! lol.

[@richardoakley8800]

As you are required by law to stop and let pedestrians cross i find your me me me I might be hit but I only care about me me me attitude discussing.

[@oliverb9568]

You went through a red light in King’s Cross 🙄

[@customcruizers]

my god dont you go on you cant even ride a bike safe your in all the wrong stopping points and you put your life at unnecessary risk. for what just to make to motorists and roads look worse

[@mikex8254]

safer and better to ride on pavements where able and give way to pedestrians. using a bicycle on road is too unsafe

[@stuinNorway]

Apart from the minor fact that it's ILLEGAL to cycle on the pavement in the UK

[@mikex8254]

it's generally tolerated and ok in non crowded areas and people ride safely and give way to pedestrians and keep at safe speeds. its wiser and safer to use the pavement in areas with plenty of space. cycling in the road is like jogging in the road

[@stuinNorway]

***** Tolerated ? No, the police in London can and do stop cyclists for cycling on the pavements, and in bus-only lanes. Taking a lane in traffic is perfectly safe, if drivers are "not looking" for other road users they should not be on the road. Also "Non busy crowded areas" How many of those do you find in London, that section in Vauxhall Cross, cycled it many a time before the made that cycle lane, and the safest is centre of a lane to make yourself clearly visible, not in the gutter where people try to squeeze past where there is no space.

[@mikex8254]

most common problem with cycling anywhere is drivers pull out or drive into cyclist at junctions and petrol station exits into path of cyclist or from side turns and drive ways. due to this i ride slower and dont coast at crazy speed downhill now as a car could suddenly pull out but even at slow speed can still drive out into you as you are in line with their bumper. shin and knee protection is wise

[@YoungKeezyLSEU]

+stuinNorway nah man i cycle on pavement and past police many times where are you getting that from

[@lewiscannon8213]

Your clever wearing all black even your bike is black . you're gonna need all the luck you can get.

[@simonh6371]

? Should cars also be painted luminous colours?? If you as a driver can't see him, your eyesight is too bad for you to be driving.

[@bobsmart2110]

don't forget a pedestrian has more rights on the road than you and when I was on a bike in my boy days in London if the traffic was too bad we got of and walked the bike on the pavement ?? no riding you would soon get a punch in the earhole for that ??

[@simonstickland9116]

this sounds like another era

[@simonstickland9116]

And it sounds like you may have been on a penny farthing :-)

[@bobsmart2110]

+Simon Stickland you see back then Londoners did not have a lot of patience with folks that slowed traffic up !e no cycle lanes it was then get out the way or be knocked of her bike??.

[@philipharvey8479]

Wearing black, going through red lights. Sorry pal, I have no sympathy at all with whatever your argument is

[@simonh6371]

Why shouldn't he wear black? Should cars be painted luminous colours? If you as a driver can't see a biker or pedestrian because they're wearing black, your eyesight is too poor and you should NOT be driving, simple as that.

[@spursingham]

Before I say anything I'd like to confirm that I am also a cyclist. I ride into work almost everyday. Most of these situations didn't seem all that bad. This is not a moan or an attack in any way. Just my own opinion on each one. 1. There was a cycle lane for you to use after the lights. Then the Bus lane. Just go around the buses. When you got to the junction, you turned left. You were ahead of everyone so you could have taken the left lane, instead of cycling on the white line between lanes. Maybe I missed something. But that's what I would have done. 2. Just like any road user, you're going to need to position yourself in the correct lane. Taking the lane is the safest thing to do. Also, you're a road user. You cant complain about cars being around while being on the road. I agree about the cycle lanes. Although, even if they were open and easily accessible, I'd never use a cycle lane that's on a pavement. I'd rather not share my riding space with pedestrians. 3. Barriers. Buses. Cabs. Yep. That's London. Maybe they're extending the roads or something to make it safer for cyclists. We can all agree pedestrians can be really stupid. Cyclists are not immune to traffic. Stop and wait. 4. That was pretty dodgy. I probably would have stay right up behind the black van in front and hoped for the best. 5. Maybe I'm being pedantic but I think you just skipped a red light. Those first set of red lights allow cyclists from the right join the road. Pedestrians hardly ever look where they're going.

[@LeafHuntress]

This wasn't bad? Jeezz, you limeys have low expectations, no wonder you can't get any good infra going if you say this isn't bad... Would you let a 7 year old ride there next to you? A person in a wheelchair with a handbike? A grandmother? If those people can't ride there then it simply isn't good enough to ride on. I freaking love cycling, but NO way that i would cycle in London & though i've been there in the past (bf lived there) i won't come to visit any time soon. Much too much noise & car fumes to nicely walk around & sight see.

[@dwayneharris7791]

I love riding in urban surroundings till i crashed and broke my right clavicle.