We're delighted to annouce that London Cycle Map inventor Simon Parker will be regularly blogging on cyclelifestyle.co.uk about cycling in London. Here is his first offering:

As part of a little experiment prompted by a short piece in the latest issue of London Cyclist, I sought to get from Greenwich town centre to Tower Bridge whilst avoiding the roundabout at Rotherhithe tunnel, where, it is said, ‘you can feel invisible and vulnerable on a bike.’ The route I took can be described in terms of the London Cycle Map as follows: R5, C8, N6.

My journey-time was under twenty minutes. As can be seen here, about two-thirds of the route was on back streets. To the cyclist, they offer one BIG advantage over main roads: there is considerably less traffic on the back streets. This means, amongst other things, that there are fewer traffic lights, which otherwise make it difficult to maintain one’s momentum, but more important than that, the air is cleaner. According to the EU environment commissioner, ‘Air pollution reduces human life expectancy by more than eight months on average, and by more than two years in the most polluted cities and regions.’

Another thing to say is that cyclists need to keep their wits about them when driving in heavy traffic. In other words, car-full routes demand careful cycling. When you think that the main benefit that cycling affords the individual - that it improves your physical and mental well-being - it seems to me that when cyclists use main roads, much of what they gain on the swings is going to be lost on the roundabouts - including the one at Rotherhithe tunnel!

When using routes that follow main roads, cycling seems to be more about getting from A to B quickly and less about savouring the journey. Just the other day, for example, I stopped for a young woman who was waiting at a zebra crossing. ‘Thank you,’ she said, smiling. ‘No problem,’ I said, smiling back. Try doing that on a main road.