Phil Cook said:Tony Raven said:Looking for something else I came across a bicycle Tube map on the TfL
site showing where you can take a bike on the Tube. Useful maybe for
planning those journeys if you don't want to cycle on the streets.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/tube_map.shtml
Or indeed:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/tube-map-bicycles1b.pdf
It is indeed useful. It's not new, though - it's existed for years.
Quoted message said:Am I the only one who thinks that they are being a bit pedantic calling
the section of the Northern Line between Hendon and Colindale
non-surface tube line? I always understood the limiting factor for bikes
was the access to the platforms, with the tube lines being rather
awkward to lug a bike up or down the escalators or in the lifts. But if
you can take a bike from Colindale or Hendon Central why not between
them?
AIUI, it's not about access at the stations, it's about being able to
evacuate the train in an emergency: the tunnels used on the deep lines,
are narrow enough that you can't get out of the train by the normal doors,
so you have to evacuate along the train and get out one end. The thinking
is, i believe, that bikes would get in the way of this (which they would -
although so would giant suitcases and obese Americans, both of which are
permitted). This is the case even when the tunnel isn't that deep, as
between Hendon and Colindale (AFAIK).
The shallow lines, on the other hand, are built with wider tunnels (since
there's one big tunnel for both tracks, rather than a tunnel for each, as
on the deep lines), which means you can get off sideways, so bikes are
okay.
The same goes for the big railway's lines, which, annoyingly, aren't shown
on the TfL map - as well as anywhere that's above ground, you can take
your bike through the Snow Hill tunnel that carries the Thameslink trains
between King's Cross and Blackfriars, since it's the same style as the
shallow Underground lines, but not on the Great Northern Electrics tunnel
from Drayton Park to Moorgate, since it's a narrow deep-tube-style tunnel.
I have no idea about the rest; no other examples of NR lines in tube-style
tunnels spring to mind (although Crossrail will be one one day).
For bonus points, find somewhere a deep line goes underground where bikes
are allowed: you've just found an old pre-London Underground railway,
built with wide tunnels, that was assimilated by the tube. I'm not sure if
any such tunnels actually exist, though!
tom
--
Also giving up smoking (cigarettes) today so apologies if it reads wierd
or I trail off into maddness at any point!! -- Agent D, 20051129