We all know that leaving your fate in the hands of the London transport gods is to play a dangerous game. The bus you need is never the one arriving, the wrong kind of sun can halt the whole rail network and using the tube is fraught with the potential for social embarrassment. What’s more, rush hour can be a vengeful beast. Motorcycle insurance company Devitt have carried out a survey of 2,000 commuters, and the results make for some all too familiar conclusions. On average, employees lose 29.6 minutes of work per week due to bad traffic on their commute, while almost 13% of people have missed a job interview because of bad traffic, a first impression no one wants to make to a potential employer. There is, however, another way. Here are our 5 IDEAL alternative ways of getting around London.
RUNNING
Kill two birds with one stone, just be sure to bring a spare set of clothes. Using every journey as an opportunity for exercise could be the perfect solution to fear of traffic congestion. Sure, you run the danger of arriving to any job interview, day at work or even date as a sweaty, red-faced mess, but it’s better than staring at the Metro for an hour while trying to avoid eye contact with fellow passengers.
MOTORBIKE
According to Devitt’s research, over a quarter of us (27.8%) experience ‘biker envy’ when motorcyclists cruise past us in traffic jams. We’re only surprised that number isn’t higher. Who hasn’t felt the green monster lurking when staring out of that bus window, when you haven’t as much as inched forward for the past hour, and a motorbike roars past, slaloming through the traffic.
It’s not just for the young either, so dust off those fears of a mid-life crisis accusation. As the infographic at the bottom of the page shows, it’s an inclusive pursuit that Londoners are embracing with vigour.
SCOOTER
We’ve all seen them, trundling along the pavement on two wheels, scattering pedestrians into doorways as they go. Yes, we too have judged them. But think again, as the scooter is a fast, efficient and manageable way of getting from A to B. To add some extra fun to your commute (god knows it needs it), consider riding a stunt scooter through the city, which is a fun, unique and affordable way to navigate through London.
WALKING
It’s an honest, green and fun way to take in the city, and good for you too! This fascinating walking tube map of London (LINK SAUSY) shows the real distances between tube stops, and makes for some really interesting reading. Once you start walking London more regularly, you’ll realise everything isn’t so far as you thought, and begin to appreciate some of the lesser-known corners of the capital.
WORK FROM HOME
Hey, if all else fails, use the transport, or fear of it, as an excuse to work from home, or in other words a duvet day. Luxuriate in being motionless by spending the day in bed, watching netflix and eating takeaway pizza whilst occasionally checking your emails so it looks like you’re online. Just don’t make a habit of it.