Possible new commute ...

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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The 30

Quoted message said:

minutes the entire journey took me half the time it would have taken to
drive that 4 mile road.

That sentence didn't make a lot of sense. Basically, my entire journey took
half an hour. Just driving that road would have taken a hour, I'd guess!

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded
Upper Sunbury Road..

I went across about 4pm and the main road from Hampton Court to Sunbury
Cross is a nightmare. It's a very fast, very busy main road. I thought to
myself "this'll be a challenge".

I decided to do a 'true test' on the return and come back at 5.30pm.

What a difference! The person that can guess to the nearest million, the
value of all the vehicles I passed gets a virtual beer!! The entire road
was gridlocked. There was no accident, just sheer weight of traffic. The
30 minutes the entire journey took me half the time it would have taken to
drive that 4 mile road. I can't even guess the number of vehicles I
actually passed. But it must be five hundred to a thousand or more .. I
just don't know!! Not a single one of them passed me back.

Nose to tail, how many cars would fit in 4 miles?

I'm trying to work out if you are saying this "gridlocked" traffic route is
"good" or "bad".

I would always try and avoid a road with crawling traffic as this is very
hazardous for a cyclist, as go down the inside and you risk a door opening
and go down the outside and you get someone pulling a U turn.

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I'm trying to work out if you are saying this "gridlocked" traffic route
is "good" or "bad".

I would always try and avoid a road with crawling traffic as this is very
hazardous for a cyclist, as go down the inside and you risk a door opening
and go down the outside and you get someone pulling a U turn.

Normally I'd say bad. But on this road the speed of the traffic to get to
the motorway are hacking it. I think the good news commuting is that it will
always be a slow road at rush hour, which will hopefully mean less risk. The
thing about this road is that there are no roads to "swing into" to get a
shortcut. The cars just have to sit and wait. Also, there are no reasons to
get out of the car.

However, if it was like tonight everyday, then I'd be investing in a h*lm*t
just so I can attach a flashing light to it. This was the one thing that
stood out as I filtered, it is a case of needing a light that shines over
the roofs of the cars.

All in all, it's a horrid commute, but I was happier with the slow traffic
than the fast.

I am just wondering about getting a copy of cyclecraft. Normally I'm fine
taking my road, but just on this type of road I am definitely getting pushed
into the gully.

The route is this one ...

http://gps.central-core.com/gpsmap.php (See SunburyX).

There's no alternate route unless I follow the Thames on the south side,
cross Walton bridge and add another 20 minutes to the journey.

So, options at the moment ...

1) direct route (30 mins)
2) indirect route (50 mins)
3) train (45 mins + 10 min walk + delays etc)
4) buy a motorbike and face the same risks but higher top speed.

elyob said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded Upper
Sunbury Road..

You also have the option of going down Lower Sunbury Road from the
traffic lights by the waterworks and then Green Street if you want to
avoid the A308.

As you have discovered, it's often very slow during rush hour. I have
to drive it sometimes and it can take half an hour.

Pete

"Ningi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

elyob said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded
Upper Sunbury Road..

You also have the option of going down Lower Sunbury Road from the traffic
lights by the waterworks and then Green Street if you want to avoid the
A308.

As you have discovered, it's often very slow during rush hour. I have to
drive it sometimes and it can take half an hour.

I enjoyed the traffic as a one-off, but I think that option would probably
be best. There's still narrow bits but at least you leave the A308 for a
bit.
I'd probably take a look at French Street, Manor Lane, Green Street as this
is the most off the main roads as possible.

elyob said:

Nose to tail, how many cars would fit in 4 miles?

Allowing about 25ft per car, nearly 850 cars with I'm guessing about
900 people in them?

Chris
--
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2 UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527 LSMR

I havn't got a map handy right now to check, so this may be too great a
diversion, but how about going through Bushy Park and Hanworth ? ISTR a
cycle path alongside the A316 from Hanworth to Sunbury Cross.

Jon

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I havn't got a map handy right now to check, so this may be too great a
diversion, but how about going through Bushy Park and Hanworth ? ISTR a
cycle path alongside the A316 from Hanworth to Sunbury Cross.

I did cycle from Hanworth to Sunbury Cross, but more so than usual, this was
littered with glass and stones. It was one of the most unpleasant roads I've
ridden on too!

It was something that I had wondered too, hence the test. But it's a no-go I
reckon.

On Mon, 7 Nov 2005 23:29:04 -0000, "elyob" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

http://gps.central-core.com/gpsmap.php (See SunburyX).

There's no alternate route unless I follow the Thames on the south side,
cross Walton bridge and add another 20 minutes to the journey.

Can you cross at Sunbury Lock?

About 5 years ago when I lived in Weybridge I remember there being
talk of a cycle/footbridge somewhere between Walton and Hampton Court,
that would've been perfect for the journey, don't know what happened
to it.

Jim.

"Jim Ley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 7 Nov 2005 23:29:04 -0000, "elyob" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

http://gps.central-core.com/gpsmap.php (See SunburyX).

There's no alternate route unless I follow the Thames on the south side,
cross Walton bridge and add another 20 minutes to the journey.

Can you cross at Sunbury Lock?

About 5 years ago when I lived in Weybridge I remember there being
talk of a cycle/footbridge somewhere between Walton and Hampton Court,
that would've been perfect for the journey, don't know what happened
to it.

I'm pretty sure there's no crossing the river there. Unfortunately not as
that would be ideal!

Here's the best photos I can find of that area ...
http://thames.joncombe.org/thames_hampton_court_staines.html

elyob said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded Upper
Sunbury Road..

I went across about 4pm and the main road from Hampton Court to Sunbury
Cross is a nightmare. It's a very fast, very busy main road. I thought to
myself "this'll be a challenge".

I decided to do a 'true test' on the return and come back at 5.30pm.

What a difference! The person that can guess to the nearest million, the
value of all the vehicles I passed gets a virtual beer!! The entire road was
gridlocked. There was no accident, just sheer weight of traffic. The 30
minutes the entire journey took me half the time it would have taken to
drive that 4 mile road. I can't even guess the number of vehicles I actually
passed. But it must be five hundred to a thousand or more .. I just don't
know!! Not a single one of them passed me back.

Nose to tail, how many cars would fit in 4 miles?

Very roughly about 1,000 to 1,200 would be my guess but I must admit I
don't remember how many car in mile or for that matter how many feet in
mile. but 5,000 feet / 20 ft per car gives 250 per mile so lets say
1,200 or so.

On Mon, 7 Nov 2005 19:52:26 -0000, "elyob" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded Upper
Sunbury Road..

Know it well... I (occasionally) do that same route (Surbiton, Thames
Ditton, Hampton Court, Hampton. Sunbury and up to Junction 1.. then
back again).

Quoted message said:

I went across about 4pm and the main road from Hampton Court to Sunbury
Cross is a nightmare. It's a very fast, very busy main road. I thought to
myself "this'll be a challenge".

It is when it's moving... but as you found when things jam up (as they
always do) it's not bad (and helped by the smug feeling of overtaking
500 to 600 cars).

Quoted message said:

I decided to do a 'true test' on the return and come back at 5.30pm.

What a difference!

It is.... the only part I don't like is between Sunbury and Hampton,
where it can be a bit fast (when its moving).. and often in such cases
I'll transfer to the lower sunbury/hampton road, which so far has been
less busy going west-east... probably because of the traffic lights to
join the main road again (which doesn't affect a bike so much).

Hampton to Hampton Court... with your own bus lane and stationary
traffic, it's so much quicker. Turning right at the roundabout is
interesting... for the first 6 times I used the zebra crossing... but
actually because of the slow moving traffic, it's not to bad to join..
just make sure your wide (ie in the miiddle) on the actual roundabout
to stop cars passing inside or outside you.

Quoted message said:

The person that can guess to the nearest million, the
value of all the vehicles I passed gets a virtual beer!! The entire road was
gridlocked. There was no accident, just sheer weight of traffic. The 30
minutes the entire journey took me half the time it would have taken to
drive that 4 mile road.

From the centre of surbiton to J1 of the M3... I've done it 26 minutes
with moving traffic. Before the bike I used to walk to Kingston and
get the train to Sunbury, which took best part of an hour... and not
half as much fun!

Quoted message said:

I can't even guess the number of vehicles I actually
passed. But it must be five hundred to a thousand or more .. I just don't
know!! Not a single one of them passed me back.

:o)

If its grid lock from the west side of Hampton to Hampton Court... I'd
guess about 2 miles and approaching 500 cars.

Quoted message said:

Nose to tail, how many cars would fit in 4 miles?

4 miles = 21120 feet, say with a bit of slack 25 feet per car =>
850ish cars :o)

If you (occasionally) see tall bloke on a Green Galaxy on your route
give us a wave!

Regards
Mark

ps... you'll always find you'll get to the level crossing just south
of Hampton Court station just as it closes... well it does for me!

On Tue, 8 Nov 2005 00:21:21 -0000, "elyob" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Ningi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

elyob said:

Got a possible new commute coming up, so tried out the route today.
Basically, it's from Surbiton to Sunbury Cross going along the dreaded
Upper Sunbury Road..

You also have the option of going down Lower Sunbury Road from the traffic
lights by the waterworks and then Green Street if you want to avoid the
A308.

As you have discovered, it's often very slow during rush hour. I have to
drive it sometimes and it can take half an hour.

I enjoyed the traffic as a one-off, but I think that option would probably
be best. There's still narrow bits but at least you leave the A308 for a
bit.
I'd probably take a look at French Street, Manor Lane, Green Street as this
is the most off the main roads as possible.

From my experience Green Street can be quite busy, so far I've found
just heading south on "The Avenue" to Thames Street the best.

It's a shame there isn't a route behind (north of) Kempton Park, say
along Portlane Brook

When I were young we used to ride there regularly.. Kingston to West
Molesy for the school games fields. And then we used to ride out along
the A308 quite frequently. Used to do Windsor and back from New Malden
inside a coupleof hours.

We used to ride secondary position and expect competence from the
drivers. These days with more isolation from the environment and more
drivers with less to lose, that may not be such a good idea.

I don't remember it being too bad for traffic but it did get rather
clogged up at times. Obviously, if you are riding through the Kingston
one way system (now replaced by t'other way system) every day your view
of what is heavy traffic tends to be somewhat shifted.

...d