h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My journey to work is 15 miles into London. If I cycle every day, I do 150 miles a week. It keeps me fit and because I do it so much I have a fine-tuned 'spider sense' regarding idiotic drivers. I just know when someone hasn't checked their mirrors before changing lanes or whatever.

So c'mon drivers and public transport users - if you have a bike, ride it. It's much more pleasurable than you might think it is, it's good for you and it's cheap.

I used to use the train, but gave up on it when it became unbearable. I felt like a fattened calf paying to be taking to the abbatoir each day. Horrible.

I would consider cycling to work....except I went on a cycling holiday in Ireland a few yrs back averaging 30 miles a day...and it was knackering. I think of how I felt after a couple of days there and tally that with the 30 mile hilly ride into work (Dorset aint flat) and think...nah. And then I think of the 30 mile home again at the end of the day and I think .

One option was to cycle to the station get the train and then cycle to work from the station...but they've stopped the trains as of march so if I want to take public transport it has to be the bus - which means leave the house 30 minutes earlier and arrive at work 15 minutes later...and I'd have to leave early too. Do-able, just, if both cars broke down (we share but we have to keep a spare for the once a month when we cant share)...and if I could put up with the travel sickness

One bad thing about cycling to work each day is the traffic you have to contend with. At the moment I get the bus ( and have to change buses) as Ive recently moved to the area, and dont have my bike yet. But even when I DO get it up here, its gonna be well dangerous, due purely to the amount of cars etc on the narrow roads. theres no proper cycle paths and too many cars.

I sympathise - but I cycle in London every day and it's not that bad. My journey takes me through Twickenham, Richmond, Putney, Chelsea and then Hyde Park Corner. My route is calcualted to avoid right turns and roundabouts wherever possible.

My tip for safe cycling is don't take risks and use as much of the road as possible. I have found that if you give other road users enough space to pass where it is dangerous, they will. And they always do it just as someone is opening their car door in front of you.