Today was my first full day back in the office after lockdown and my first time getting to work in Euston by bike. This may take a few tweets... 1/?

I’ve been able to ride a bike for 35 years - but never rode to work before now because London has such an excellent public transport system. I thought I’d try to cycle in today to help reduce demand on the tube/buses so key workers could have space to get around (+ it’s healthy!)

Traffic: lots of people suggesting the roads are overwhelmed with vehicles, but north of the pinch point of Brixton town centre (Brixton>Oval>Waterloo>Euston) the main roads really were clear. Ok - not like 28 Days Later, but it wasn’t gridlock/chaos...

Up in the Congestion Charge/ULEZ zone the traffic really cleared out and you’ve got to wonder how the extension of the ULEZ will impact on traffic through Brixton when it’s introduced in 2021 & removes the most polluting vehicles from Tulse Hill/Brixton Hill etc?

Cyclists: some cyclists really shouldn’t be allowed on the road (99% men - often in Lycra/skinny jeans/topless). If you don’t know what a red traffic light means then don’t get on a bike. One guy nearly hit a woman earlier & didn’t even check to see she was ok #whenitsredyoustop

Pedestrians: despite the above, coming round the Elephant on my way home about 30/40 people tried to race across the road to the shopping centre because there was a break in motor traffic. Maybe they couldn’t see the clearly marked pedestrian crossing they were stood next to??

Lorries: some BIG lorries on the road aren’t there? They take up lots of road - so completely understand can put people off cycling. Perhaps time for @CCScheme & @MayorofLondon to revisit how we get construction traffic off London’s roads during peak hours of the day?

Taxis: based on the scientific experience of just one day cycling to work - it really feels like most of the cars on the roads are private hire vehicles. Is that right? Take a look when you’re next out in your car/on a bus/walking/cycling. They’re everywhere!

Car drivers: I have no problem in admitting I own a car/drive. But I’ve never felt the urge to shout abuse at people in the street. Again, some people in cars really shouldn’t be allowed on the road (99% men - often driving an Audi/BMW)...

Outside Euston Station one bloke could only use colourful expletives to describe his displeasure that I was waiting to turn right into Grafton Place by using the right hand lane. Perhaps he really wanted me get run over like he promised he would do if he saw me again?

CS6/7: segregated cycle lanes are great & can see how it can make riding a bike fun for the less confident (that little elevated bit under Holborn viaduct ). But seriously the condition of the roads...

Roads: c’mon @TfL/ @londoncouncils you need to find a way to get tougher on the utility companies and make them repair their work properly (think it’s a @thameswater manhole at bus stops north of Brixton Police station that appears to be 10ft deep as the road around has collapsed)

Brixton: would love to hear from any traffic engineers about a workable solution for Brixton town centre/A23. Someone once suggested an underpass for trams - what’s the modern solution to digging tunnels for vehicles that doesn’t kill the planet?? @elonmusk & @boringcompany??

St Matthew’s Road: some have objected to the LTN saying they can’t get in and out at the Brixton end in a car because of traffic blocking the junction. Clearly depends on the day. No probs x2 today on a bike that weighs as much as an but a keep clear box could possibly help?

Tulse Hill: streets between Brixton Hill & Tulse Hill are getting a low traffic neighbourhood. Leander Road/Helix Road & many others are narrow strips of tarmac with parked cars on both sides where some drivers (perhaps naturally) feel they have to speed to get to the next gap...

It’s not surprising then that the only bit of my entire journey today where I felt it was a close call was when a driver came round the bend in the road on Elm Park by the shops nearly clipping a parked car/me because he was going too fast to give way to oncoming traffic (END)