Don't take the tube - it's quicker on foot.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Diamond Geezer

As the PM nudges Londoners back onto public transport, TfL^» (Transport for London - about) are doing their bit to keep us off it.

If a journey's walkable, why get on the tube?

Long article ... interesting read ...

In short, TfL's Journey Planner has started adding entry and exit times to every journey you try to plan, using numbers that don't necessarily relate to real life, resulting in journeys appearing to take longer than they used to. This might be to deter extra travellers from piling aboard public transport, or it might be because some digital guru thought it was a 'good idea', but it is a ridiculously subjective imposition. Even if you're a large family with luggage, taking the tube from Embankment to Piccadilly Circus shouldn't take 16 minutes.

I will confess when in London to walking shorter journeys ... always have done.  Mixed views about the TfL advise ... what do others think?

[MVR S&T]

Yes always my plan, from waterloo to Kings Cross, the first half mile to Leicester Square was all foot paths and pedestrian bridges, and once the congestion charge was introduced, the bit through Soho was fine, just getting across the big road to Euston, was the worst bit.

[grahame]

From London TravelWatch - further ideas on finding quieter and sometimes quicker and more direct ways of making your journey that the tube

Travel hacks 1: When National Rail stations may be a better bet than the Tube to get to central London destinations or to travel north to south

Travel hacks 2 : Avoid the crowds by using lesser-known stations instead of busy ones and avoiding central London

Travel hacks 3 : In a rush? Catch the bus!

Travel hacks 4 – Walking for pleasure and days out

[CyclingSid]

As you might expect I tend to cycle. On last week's experience it appears that car use is back to normal. Far less tourists, so the Boris Bike wobblers are home grown. As mentioned in the cycling press, improving signage on existing cycle routes would be a good low-cost investment.

[JayMac]

Sometimes when speed/connections aren't an issue I like to walk to or between tube journeys. You get to see some of the less touristy but still interesting parts of the cities of Westminster and London, and surrounding boroughs.

All of us on here are public transport enthusiasts/advocates, so I suspect many share an interest in seeing public transport infrastructure, current or abandoned. You can't see much from a tube train. Some of my favourite walks have been to explore infrastructure, new and old.