I avoid riding in London like the plague. Tube is easier. Plus to get into the City I have to ride through Streatham and Brixton which are traffic choke points, its a nightmare on a big Duke. I cant get out of 1st/2nd.
Bootsam in principle I agree but for me stinky, sticky, crowded, hot tube is worse. Been commuting through Brixton for 2y not worse then other places. For me it takes about 30min to do 12 miles. In tube it is 35min just in tube plus time to get to/from. And time to be earlier just in case it gets early. Not to mention just in case it is late.
Biking is the cheapest, easiest and most enjoyable way to traverse any city. I don't know why it scares so many people.
Maybe we should rename the thread - 'Rode like a bit of a tool, got caught but still got away with it with just a caution'
Don't worry Figgy, Im just the same. Im no stranger to the police first thing in the morning...hang on, that sounds wrong....
One day on my 916, I returned to find a scooter had wedged itself against it in the bike parking bay. Scratching up my fairing. I departed leaving the said scooter, lying on its side in the road where i threw it. Now before anyone moans, had they seen how the owner had simply shoved his/her scooter in the miniscule gap with no regard to my bike, they may be more sympathetic. They never cared about my fairing so why should I care about their shitty little moped. People have no respect on the bike parks. Thus another reason I dont ride into town. I also removed the valve from their rear tyre. I have a valve tool as my keyring. Handy. Dont mess with my bikes.
The bike parks in London are a nightmare Fin. Theres too many scoots and not enough bike park bays. Whoever parks their 749 nr Old Bond St on Monday likely encountered a similar story as I saw a guy trying to move it over in order to get his crappy piaggio in next to it.
I do not see that problem. Even now there are parking spaces around where I park. Plenty of them. Went in rush hour to bond street, or near ritz always able to find a spot.