Leaving your cycle at Kew bridge station

[redhanded]

Kew Bridge station has very few people using it during the day so any thief that spots your bike will have plenty of time to work on it undisturbed.

If it is a cheaper bike you wouldn't mind losing, then possible locations heading from Kew Bridge to Chiswick roundabout are - a lamp post by the cafe/corner shop/fried chicken place on the other side of the road from the station, the bike racks in front of Brentford leisure centre and possibly the petrol station at Chiswick roundabout although I don't think there are any bike racks there.

The Brompton factory is just around the corner from Kew Bridge so maybe they have secure bike parking (but maybe it is just for Bromptons)

Another possible option could be to leave the bike at Chiswick Business Park. This is about 10 mins walk from Kew Bridge but just across the road from Gunnersbury station on the District line / London Overground. I don't know what the secure bike parking facilities are in the business park but there are some pretty big companies there so there may be something. There are bike racks in front of the gym and, I think, Starbucks, in the business park.

I used to commute to Canary Wharf from Kew Bridge via Waterloo and preferred that route over the District line although the District line was a useful plan B in case of problems with SW Trains. You needed to get a train before around 7:30am to be pretty sure of a seat, and the District line is similar. Waterloo to Canary Wharf is a crush.

I use a very old MTB for getting around the area and in the last 10 years I've only had two things stolen (a wheel and seat + seat post) and both times this was outside a quiet pub in the evening. However, I have only left my bike for a few hours at the most, not all day.

 

[Red Light]

I definitely wouldn't leave anything locked up at street level around there. The National Rail website says the station has cycle parking so I would pedal off down there and have a look at it. It might be OK if its in full view and has CCTV or it may be hidden away in an ignored and forgotten corner. You could always get a folding bike and take it with you.

 

[redhanded]

There are bike racks in the station... if you can see the photo on the link below, I think they are on the right hand side of the station (trains from Waterloo) under the covered footbridge. I can't remember if there are any racks on the other side (trains to Waterloo)

The racks are pretty hidden from the rest of the station and not visible at all from the road, so there may be some "security by obscurity" but I can't recall how many bikes are usually there.


http://www.bing.com/...low&form=LMLTCC

 

[jeegee]

Thanks all. I'm going to check out the business park.
I've got hold off a cheaper bike for leaving at the station. It's a cheap heavy universal purple mountain bike with stars on it. I'll be very shocked if it gets stolen.
In terms of a daily workout, I'm making up for a shorter cyling distance by riding a heavy bike!!

 

[redhanded]

If you park at Chiswick Business Park, there is an alternative route from there to Carnary Wharf which is London Overground from Gunnersbury to Stratford then DLR from there to Canary Wharf. This is the longest of the possible routes but is an option when the underground is completely fecked and I did it a few times, such as on 7/7.

 

[ttcycle]

Good luck with the commute, If you have trouble and the bike gets stolen, do consider the folder option as that's a very wise choice for your commute!

 

[jeegee]

I want to buy a folding bike using the cycle to work scheme so I have to wait until January. Unfortunately I have to choose a voucher for either Evans or Halfords. I think Evans sell bromptons so I'll probably go for them.