@@justmechanicthings yeah, as soon has said “I drive between bristol and London” I was thinking “on a weekday? Doomed”. With the lizzy line going as far as reading, something he should have tried is stop near reading station and get a train straight in from there. As east of reading is where things get bad
@@jonh845 folders to take into the office. Or work at an MoD site -the one adjacent to my last office had people with sub-machine guns to make sure your lights were still there when you came back
Considering how much money and technology went into the Elizabeth Line, and considering how unimpressive the London bike infrastructure is, the bike really showed how inherently great it is for this type of journey.
I cycle to work through The Hague and I would say its comparable here. I can usually keep up with the metro/tram because of how often they stop. And when leaving I don't have any timetables to worry about.
I'm really surprised that the bike was at all close considering it was basically a point to point Elizabeth Line journey. The absolute fastest way to do this journey would be to combine cycling and public transport. Sounds like walking at either end took up a fair bit of time, and you can take a full size bike on the Elizabeth Line at less busy times (folding bikes are still allow the rest of the time).
@@liamness If you had that vs Dutch level bike infrastructure where you almost never have to slow down, let alone stop, it would be a similar result again. Except you’d have a lot more fun on the bike and get more exercise as well. Even on the e-bike. And it’s not all about speed anyway. The Dutch understand that.
30 Years ago I had to go to a recruitment agency in docklands. When I spoke to them I suggested taking the underground and they put me off saying "no, its fine we have plenty of parking". But it takes the best part of two hours to get across London. I was late. Should have taken the tube. Glad to see it hasnt got any faster in the last 30 years even with congestion charges, ULEZ et al. Still prefer the tube.
I took a job in docklands in the early naughties and started out by driving in from NW Essex. On a good day the journey in was only 45 minutes but the journey out was at least 90 minutes. Trouble is that on a bad day those times would more than double and the stress of being stuck in traffic was really killing me. I switched to the train which was a 2 hour journey door to door in both directions (would be faster now with the Lizzy Line) but had the massive advantage of an hour on the mainline where I could mostly sleep so it was so much better.
Love it! 😁 Bit of a predictable outcome as the benefit of the train will depend on how close your nearest station is, and how many changes you need to make, although I didn’t think the bike would be so close behind … but hey it was a bit of fun, and I could watch any of these 3 presenters all day! 😀👍🏻 Keep it up FCS!
Oh, I envy the Underground and the perfect London cycling infrastructure... A race like this has been done many times in the past and the greener modes of transport always win, so no surprise there. Thank you for reminding us, guys!
Not a good idea. If free, public transport would be filled with people using it as a place to hang around, keep warm and whatnot. A reasonable level of subsidies works better.
Late at night - 3 a.m. - to give the car a chance. Top deck on an electric bus is great then. Cycling is great too. The thing is that there is a hidden world of people that do have to travel at these times. Hence the bus journey would be more interesting. A more realistic journey would be going into the suburbs, for example Richmond, which is well serviced by the tube, then somewhere like Camden. Yeah the car would win, but if you factor in paying £399 a month for your Tesla then it isn't really a win. Plus you can't read or get a free cardio workout.
@@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330 Just remember, around 03:00 is chuck out time at the clubs. I used to have a Security patrol hit around Aldgate, and going past Leicester Square was the easiest route. Revelers, high as kites, all over the road, unable to walk in a straight line, let alone dodge a car or bus!
What an engaging and well made production! Applause! And as expected cycling is such a brilliant way to get around London. Nice to see all those lovely cycling lanes!
Who wants to tell them that the Elizabeth line isn't part of the Underground, isn't a tube line, and that if they're not careful they'll get a bunch of snotty rail nerds like me in the comments.
Alas, doing the reprise thing of an ancient Top Gear episode doesn't work unless you got a Clarkson, May and Hamster involved. And a boat. However ... credit where credit's due. An excellent plug for their show and a sort of training video of how to get there for them as find the notion of travel a bit of a puzzle. I suspect Robert would send a limo if he had to ... 😂😂😂
Weather permitting I'll be E biking my way to the show from Sutton, I'm a bit worried about where I can lock my bike up there from what I've seen it's not great.
what would be nice is for the show to provide a safe space for those who want to cycle it to the show, a sensible sized compound to lock our bikes up for the day.@@manp1039
There are some sheffield stands on that Plaza they were sat on the steps of infront of the main entrance. Down the side of 'Royal Victoria Square' about 100m away from the doors. They are kind of off to one side (southern, opposite side from the Customs House station approach), and not very obvious, but they are covered.
Good stuff. In a less urban setting with UK e-bike speed restrictions gone, you can do double that speed on the e-bike. I used to cover 19 miles in 1 hour 5 minutes including a few epic climbs. My bike does 30 mph, so it's also about letting the tools excel at their task.
@@ziggarillo is the 15 mph a rigid policy? I know in the USA the general rule of thumb is 20mph max speed by motor alone. Do they have a different class of electric bicycles tha are allowed to travel at 28 mph, like in the USA? I think in the USA that is a class 3 ebike.
@@manp1039 Yes European rules (to be classed like a bike) is 25kph or 15.5mph maximum assist speed. Anything that is powered at higher speeds is a 'speed pedelec' which is effectively a moped for regulatory purposes. The US has a much higher speed for a standard e-bike which is OK until you have to mix with pedestrians on shared tracks and there anything faster than 15.5 is too fast to be sensibly classed as 'no licence or special clothing required','can mix with pedestrians on shared-use infrastructure', which is the basic definition for a cycle.
@@xxwookey I agree.. there are times when a person should be going slower than max speed for sure in certain conditions.. there are times I even put my feet to the ground and kind of walk my bicycle .. or I might even dismount.. but when the road is clear and I have clear visibility and road is in good condition.. 20 mph seems very reasonable. that road that the person the was on in this video seems like something she could do 20 mph comfortably.. a standard ebile int he USA can go as high as 20 MPH with electric motor. I think they technically also restrict the motor to 750watts as well, but that is a separate rule. my bike can go up to 20mhp when road conditions are ideal.. but I generally am traveling at about 18mph on average on the road, not including stopping for stop signs or traffic lights. I wear a reflective safety vest, which I recommend others do too.. and a bicycle helmet.
Indeed - I booked a Thameslink train to Farringdon specifically to catch the Liz line to the show on Friday...and guess what? Yep all Liz line trains are cancelled on Friday.
@@MJMC56 continue on Thameslink to London Bridge and take the jubilee line out to docklands, you can even get to ride the Emirates cable car if you don't want the short DLR hop to Excel but I would use the DLR for speed. Granted, the Elizabeth line is fast but there is a surprising amount of walking in those stations (as Imogen discovered) and you don't get to see anything.
London has been transformed by those bike superhighways. Wish they'd been there when I was cycling around back in my uni days ... also, very entertaining episode.
@@PorthLlwydYeah, probably sounds like it's a daily commute when I word it that way. It's more once a quarter. Try to balance out the flight by only using EVs where possible and public transport for the rest.
The arrival order was a bit predictable… at that time of day and in that weather. In all scenarios car was going to be last. I compared the reverse way at 8pm, I drove from the Doubletree to the City in 45 minutes, and the rest of the group who took public transport arrived 5 minutes before me. But at that time, there were no volunteers to try the bike. However, a couple of weeks ago I was going from Customs House to w.Arsenal, 3 stops on the Lizzy, typically 9 minutes and … on the second stop one door malfunctioned, we waited 35 minutes to figure it out, meanwhile 2 trains were stuck behind us.
I would beg to differ to the "all" mode of transport. No one took an electric motorcycle or moped. You can do filtering, would have been a lot faster than car. Would have been interesting to see how it stacks up against the bicycle. When I lived in London I was using public transport. The most comfortable mode of transport out of the lot (not worrying about traffic jam is a comfort thing).
Trains are always the best way of getting around London. Infact I used the train from Sydney airport to the show, not only was it quicker than a taxi got off at Olympic Park station. Would love to come to the UK shows just to see the difference between Australia 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘 and the UK. Keep smiling everyone and keep up the great work team.
Try a stromer or other pedelec, be amazed. Nothing will beat it. 35km/h door to door can be common and only about 1kwh / 100km... Would love to see more about the opportunity these pedelecs would bring if adopted more outside swiss and belgium/netherlands
The biggest test drive the world has ever seen at 20mph with the occasional 30mph to really test the car around roundabouts and red lights. Did Harrogate last year, but tbh don’t think I will do London again as the test drives were pretty pointless. Really enjoyed the rest of the event though. So thanks for organising.
Seeing you sitting in a traffic jam Jack: we saw a news report about workers who put cones out and who mend or build our roads suffering horrible abuse from drivers. We discussed the question of how many of those frustrated, bad tempered, violent abusers were drivers of electric vehicles. I suspect by proportion significantly fewer would be ev drivers losing the plot than ice drivers. I certainly feel less stress in an ev than I ever did in my petrol car. Wonder if its the knowledge that I'm not burning fuel and pumping poison out onto the street as i sit and wait for the traffic to move? Good luck with the event at the weekend, wish I could be there, this would be the best venue for us to get to but I'm just not well enough at the moment (again) to have a day out. Hope this is a regular venue for future shows. 👏👍
Interesting test with an expected result. The thing is I did a similar thing over the last weeks. I have a car, a bike and a bus ticket and we have rental bikes. I live in a part of Kiel that is quiet far away from the center. I have tried all the ways to get around and tried to find the best way. The car was almost always the easiest, quickest and most compatible way to get around. Just when I want to go to the center of the city the bus is better, and under 4 km the bike is better when the weather is good or I don't have to carry more then a small light bag. From my home to work I need, 15 min by car, 30 min by bike and 45 min by bus. My car is broken at the moment so I had to use bike and bus, the bus was always over double the time because I lose a lot of time waiting, waiting for the next connection to start, waiting for the next bus in my connection, walking from the busstop to my destination.
So ironic that the Elizabeth Line & DLR were closed on the day I attended the show (29th March), still managed to get there by train... Just. Excellent video, glad Helen got there safely on the bike... I think Imogen has every right to be feeling smug & I enjoyed her ORA Cat live review 🙂 Jack letting the boys down although the SEAL is a great car... Just maybe not in London 😉 🤣
As I've done deliveries to that part of London for 7 years I easily spotted that some of the inserts of Helen "on the way" to the Excel were actually filmed NEXT to the Excel. The first insert was her cycling AWAY from the Excel, then they had an insert of her cycling towards the Excel but only 30 yards from it, then they showed her arriving having just cycled past the buildings she'd already passed twice. I'm sure there was an issue with the sound or recording on route and they had to edit in the inserts. They used high angles to try and disguise where she actually was.Tricks of the trade. I've been to at least one day of every Fully Charged Live event in the UK and I'll be attending the Excel which is six miles from my house. But, London being what it is, it is the first time I won't be driving to the live event. If they had a Sunday show as usual I may have changed my mind on that as I know all the places I could park for free. But, it's Thursday to Saturday and knowing how the traffic can be I'll be taking the tube.
I live at one end of the Liz Line and it is indeed marvellous. Ignore the whingers and naysayers, its the most complicated rail line in Europe and at the same time, the busiest. It’s epically good.
In my experience here in Vienna, biking will be the fastest for anything 30-ish minutes (on the bike) or less. Above that, depending on the route, transit or in rare cases even the car will be faster. Since I rarely take longer trips than that, I use the bike as much as possible.
Best way to do Reading to Excel is to take a GWR non stop service Reading to Paddington then change to Elizabeth Line at Paddington a lot quicker (plus no toilets on Elizabeth Line trains or refreshments)
It would be good to see a comparison like this done in a more rural situation, e.g. living in a small village outside of a main city and recreating a typical commuter route into a central city location. And what non-ice travel options there are.
50 min on an e-bike, I think is top end for a commute, realistically public transport is the king here, particularly London. I think in many Cities e-bike would win, as long as you have a sympathetic corridor of cycle infrastructure to your destination.
It is some 50 years since I was riding a bicycle around London during a visit. Those dedicated bike lanes are a very welcome sight. A question about the UK train service, and underground in particular; can you take your bicycle with you for the first and last bits of the journey?
UK trains generally allow bikes (at least all the ones going in to London seem to) but there may be some exceptions (worth checking with the train company before travelling). On the underground you can't take an unfolded bike on the tube during morning or afternoon rush hour, but also there are restrictions on some parts of the lines (and you can't take the bike on Victoria or Waterloo and City lines at all). For the Elizabeth line that Imogen was on, so long as it was outside of the rush 'hour's (07:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00) then she would have been fine to take a bike. TFL do a nice tube map with the lines greyed-out that you can't take your bike on, worth downloading, and it *might* be available in print at the tube stations. Best wishes!
There can be restrictions at busy times, and there are not many spaces per train. The train companies would much prefer you to rent a bike or keep one at the station if you are a regular. But yes you can usually take a bike on the train. The non-stop trains from Cambridge are good for this because the bikes in doorways are not in people's way at intermediate stops (there aren't any).
Hi, can you let me know if the cyberster will be at the everything electric show at Harrogate? I have been hoping to see it for a long time. I have got my name down
I used to work in London, and now wonder why anybody does. I live and work in a Fishing village in the Scottish Borders.. I've just completed a 45 mile cross country journey in a very relaxed hour.
@@hcw199 Only by breaking the speed limits. You can cycle at speed limit around London no problem and also above. Because speed limits do not apply to bicycles because they are not inherently dangerous. Unlike motor vehicles.
In an ideal world, we would all use public transport - you don't have to find somewhere to park or to put your bike where it will still be there when you return, and (when there are trains every six minutes and a stops within walking distance of your destination) fast. Where it all falls down is anywhere that isn't a huge city. This is where the politicians go so very wrong. They know it is easy in London. Let them try to get six miles in Shropshire in less than two hours by public transport! Very entertaining episode.
for the bike u can buy good locks, and gps trackers. or alarms when someone moves your bike. or with the bike u can just use a bike that you don t care if it will get stolen, like an alright second hand cheaper one. nah for me the bike is, in an ideal world, best transport especially in a city. where do you put all the heath benefits that ll make for a heathier society.
To the tune of 'I'd like to teach the world to sing' (Verse 1) I'd like to win an electric car, Zooming silently, near and far. With every charge, a journey's start, A cleaner world, a greener heart. (Chorus) I'd like to win an electric car, Cruising highways, under stars. From city streets to mountains tall, Sustainable dreams for one and all. (Verse 2) No emissions cloud the sky, As we pass by, oh, how we fly. Technology with nature's grace, In every mile, a saving grace. (Chorus) I'd like to win an electric car, Cruising highways, under stars. From city streets to mountains tall, Sustainable dreams for one and all. (Bridge) No petrol pumps, no fumes to mar, Just the hum of an electric car. Innovations light the way, Towards a brighter, cleaner day. (Chorus) I'd like to win an electric car, Cruising highways, under stars. From city streets to mountains tall, Sustainable dreams for one and all. (Outro) So let's embrace this change we see, For a better future, let it be. With every journey near or far, I'd like to win an electric car. [Thank you for this, ChatGPT!!]
You all should have know.n.. You cannot defeat the London Underground. It has won against the steam train, it will outlive the petrol/gasoline car. It has hauled more arse than moses across the desert. It has seen two world wars come and go. And it's still the champ. All hail the GOAT: 🏆The London Underground!!! 🏆 Yay!
We will be travelling by train to ExCel, parking at station in car, and one change onto Elizebeth line. Costs including parking is around £70 off peak for the two of us, by car it would approx 122miles return, travel time would not be much in it, but I'd rather the 'train take the strain'.
You can't cycle to the station and save yourself 70 quid? I can leave my house with 13 minutes to spare and reliably catch a train (the station is a bit over a mile away). It's very handy.
@@xxwookey Cycling to the local unmanned station would save about £5 parking charge and 10 miles worth of petrol, but then would have to factor in the cost of two new bikes as the station has an appalling record of bike thefts.
@@fredbloggs72 Cycle security at stations is a big problem I agree. You need to be reasonably sure your bike will still be there when you get back. Even here there are far too many thefts from the station cycle park (It's been halved in the last couple of years, but still happens too often). I avoid the station cycle parking itself and park nearby. It shouldn't be like this. And yes, more people would cycle to the train if they were confident that their bikes were sufficiently secure.
I use a helicopter on occasion but quite expensive and certainly does produce pollution. That said I do see a lot of London. When I visit Excel I'm having the carparks cleared of battery EV test vehicles for parking my helicopter. Just so you know and don't bleat you weren't warned.
can you do a video showing bringing your electric bicycle along with you on the tube./underground. Is it possible to bring electric bicycle with you? Do you need a special permit? what rules are there for bringing an electric bicycle? does it cost extra to ride the tube with your electric bicycle ??
@@fastestmilkman3840On overground and Lizzy Line outside rush hour they are OK I think. They are OK on some bits of the tube at some times too. There is a TFL page detailing it - it is too involved to list here.
@@fastestmilkman3840 when you say ok you you mean allowed by the rules or? what is the protocal on bringing a foling bike on the tube? Does it have to be folded up or is it more of an eticquette or customary thing that people fold them up while on the train? And is it a rigit rule or is there some flexibility with the rule?
@@manp1039folded is allowed on the tube but will need to be folded. To be honest I'd have thought taking an unfolded bike on the tube would be more hassle than it's worth at many stations.
@@benrgrogan have you seen the new "Lectric One"? the frame does not fold but it is quite small and using 20 inch wheels and has folding handle bar stem and quick release pedals.. i wonder if that would work for the tube. Or do they have special width length height restrictions. It seems that it would be hard to legislate that it has to be folding without more parameters.
A half decent e-scooter would also have done well, would be nice to see Fully Charged team up with Jack's old home at @Electroheads and cover the fight for legalisation of micromobility - keeps being promised, keeps being delayed, there is more choice than just electric car or electric bikes for getting around a city.
One annoying feature of Excel is that it's off the end of the Santander/Barclays cycle scheme, so as a visitor I can't use a share-bike. You have to walk about 30mins past the last Santander/Barclays stand. I have brought my own bike on the train before once which works reasonably well, but would work a lot better if I owned a folder.
There are the private bike shares as an alternative too (Lime, forest etc.). Not as cheap as the Santander cycles but you can ride them further out. I've heard Lime offers day passes which are okay value
@@benrgrogan Yes. I know they exist, but none of them work without google services on your phone, and they all have proprietary apps with no other access method (SFAIK - I'd love to be corrected). I keep my phone secure and do not install that stuff so until they produce a web-based mechanism (like Forest bikes in Brighton have) or some other open access, they are no use at all to me.
To play devil's advocate, the cyclist was by far at most risk and has to endure the weather and needs to have a degree of physical fitness. The tube costs the most. But the car could have carried 4-5 people in one trip for the price of about 3KW of electricity. The true road vehicle option for one person should be an electric motorbike. If an electrically assisted pedal bike can do it in 50 mins, I bet a full electric motorbike or electric moped would easily beat the tube's 40 mins and have much better parking options than a car.
People don't believe me when I tell them I used to drive commute from Maidenhead to central London each day and then drove around all day... but that was 40 years ago!
Wait, before the music stops I have a prediction, and it's informed by Top Gear: the E-bike will win it handily. Back in the day the lads at TG plus The Stig (White Stig v1.4) all made their way from wherever to Heathrow as fast as possible, with Clarkson adding the twist of taking a boat with a huge horsepower rating..at a dawdling 12mph or something over a lengthy bit with strict speed limits. The winner was Hammond on a human-powered bike, and it was almost close, beating the boat which had no other traffic than the speed limit to contend with. But we don't have to think about a boat this time, and whoever is on the bike has the added advantage of a motor helping out. So I know how this is going to go, the E-bike will take the laurels. And I don't think it's going to be a nailbiter, either. The only question in my mind is, will the winner on the E-bike have time to finish their tea and biscuit and go back for a fill-up, or not? [edit] Well, that didn't play out as I expected, but I was certain that the car would lose so I wasn't entirely wrong.
parking time should've been included.
Doesn't matter, anyone who's driven through London knew the car lost from the start
@@justmechanicthings yeah, as soon has said “I drive between bristol and London” I was thinking “on a weekday? Doomed”. With the lizzy line going as far as reading, something he should have tried is stop near reading station and get a train straight in from there. As east of reading is where things get bad
As someone who sometimes commutes by bike, also time to lock the bike up, remove all the stealable bits and pack them into your bag.
Exactly, since Jack parked on taxi bays 😂
@@jonh845 folders to take into the office. Or work at an MoD site -the one adjacent to my last office had people with sub-machine guns to make sure your lights were still there when you came back
Considering how much money and technology went into the Elizabeth Line, and considering how unimpressive the London bike infrastructure is, the bike really showed how inherently great it is for this type of journey.
And Paddington to Excel is quite a long ride. A very large fraction of London trips are shorter and quicker than that.
I cycle to work through The Hague and I would say its comparable here. I can usually keep up with the metro/tram because of how often they stop. And when leaving I don't have any timetables to worry about.
I'm really surprised that the bike was at all close considering it was basically a point to point Elizabeth Line journey.
The absolute fastest way to do this journey would be to combine cycling and public transport. Sounds like walking at either end took up a fair bit of time, and you can take a full size bike on the Elizabeth Line at less busy times (folding bikes are still allow the rest of the time).
@@liamness If you had that vs Dutch level bike infrastructure where you almost never have to slow down, let alone stop, it would be a similar result again. Except you’d have a lot more fun on the bike and get more exercise as well. Even on the e-bike. And it’s not all about speed anyway. The Dutch understand that.
I'd rather sit down and read a book on my trip. But you can cycle if you like.
(It'd probably be faster if she speed walked to the station).
30 Years ago I had to go to a recruitment agency in docklands. When I spoke to them I suggested taking the underground and they put me off saying "no, its fine we have plenty of parking". But it takes the best part of two hours to get across London. I was late. Should have taken the tube.
Glad to see it hasnt got any faster in the last 30 years even with congestion charges, ULEZ et al. Still prefer the tube.
Tube and electric skateboard is the best combination possible for an urban environment.
I took a job in docklands in the early naughties and started out by driving in from NW Essex. On a good day the journey in was only 45 minutes but the journey out was at least 90 minutes. Trouble is that on a bad day those times would more than double and the stress of being stuck in traffic was really killing me. I switched to the train which was a 2 hour journey door to door in both directions (would be faster now with the Lizzy Line) but had the massive advantage of an hour on the mainline where I could mostly sleep so it was so much better.
Love it! 😁 Bit of a predictable outcome as the benefit of the train will depend on how close your nearest station is, and how many changes you need to make, although I didn’t think the bike would be so close behind … but hey it was a bit of fun, and I could watch any of these 3 presenters all day! 😀👍🏻 Keep it up FCS!
Nice to see Helen in a Fully Charged video again. No surprise that she was on the bike. :)
Oh, I envy the Underground and the perfect London cycling infrastructure... A race like this has been done many times in the past and the greener modes of transport always win, so no surprise there. Thank you for reminding us, guys!
If Imogen had just one change of line the Bike would have won... Biking has to be the best way around that city ✌️
I was wondering about the choice of start and end locations. I can see all sorts of ways that result could be manipulated.
Biked around London alot in the past, love it
When I cycle to work it takes 65 minutes. On the train it takes 30 mins including walking at either end
On the train, you have virtually zero risk of life-changing injuries. On the bike, significant risk. I hate cycling in London.
Thank you for highlighting public transit, which in a just world would be free.
Nothing is really free.
Not a good idea. If free, public transport would be filled with people using it as a place to hang around, keep warm and whatnot.
A reasonable level of subsidies works better.
@@vinterskugge907 urgh, people keeping warm, gross!
Someone always has to pay for it. What you are saying is you consider it just, to force me to pay for you to ride a train.
Like in Luxembourg..
Cool video, reminiscent of the old top gear races and I'd like to see more 🙂
They forgot to include a boat in the mix 😂
So May had a haircut, Hammond changed gender and Imogen is the Stig.. Did Clarkson crash his/her boat into a bridge before filming? 😁
@@andrewmorgan1819 _"Speed and Power doesn't work"_
Next time we need to test multimodal. I want a double decker bus next time!
I think you guys missed the electric boat :-). I guess that would have been Robert's pick!
Late at night - 3 a.m. - to give the car a chance. Top deck on an electric bus is great then. Cycling is great too. The thing is that there is a hidden world of people that do have to travel at these times. Hence the bus journey would be more interesting.
A more realistic journey would be going into the suburbs, for example Richmond, which is well serviced by the tube, then somewhere like Camden. Yeah the car would win, but if you factor in paying £399 a month for your Tesla then it isn't really a win. Plus you can't read or get a free cardio workout.
@@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330 Just remember, around 03:00 is chuck out time at the clubs. I used to have a Security patrol hit around Aldgate, and going past Leicester Square was the easiest route. Revelers, high as kites, all over the road, unable to walk in a straight line, let alone dodge a car or bus!
Spoiler alert, the bus will come dead last, more stops than the car and a less direct route. Even before you consider any changes.
@@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330...and just consider the occasional refreshment by rain...
What an engaging and well made production! Applause! And as expected cycling is such a brilliant way to get around London. Nice to see all those lovely cycling lanes!
Who wants to tell them that the Elizabeth line isn't part of the Underground, isn't a tube line, and that if they're not careful they'll get a bunch of snotty rail nerds like me in the comments.
It's a train in a tube......
99.9% of us couldn't give a toss what you call it.........!!!
Its a train, it goes underground.
I was about to say it. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if most people get it wrong.
Alas, doing the reprise thing of an ancient Top Gear episode doesn't work unless you got a Clarkson, May and Hamster involved.
And a boat.
However ... credit where credit's due.
An excellent plug for their show and a sort of training video of how to get there for them as find the notion of travel a bit of a puzzle.
I suspect Robert would send a limo if he had to ...
😂😂😂
I call it the Metro
Weather permitting I'll be E biking my way to the show from Sutton, I'm a bit worried about where I can lock my bike up there from what I've seen it's not great.
I would like to know about that too.. I would be worried about my bicycle being stolen or important parts removed while it is parked and locked up.
what would be nice is for the show to provide a safe space for those who want to cycle it to the show, a sensible sized compound to lock our bikes up for the day.@@manp1039
@@manp1039 Yeah that Jack character seems a bit fishy.
Would be nice if the show could provide a safe place to lock up our bikes for the day.
There are some sheffield stands on that Plaza they were sat on the steps of infront of the main entrance. Down the side of 'Royal Victoria Square' about 100m away from the doors. They are kind of off to one side (southern, opposite side from the Customs House station approach), and not very obvious, but they are covered.
Good stuff. In a less urban setting with UK e-bike speed restrictions gone, you can do double that speed on the e-bike. I used to cover 19 miles in 1 hour 5 minutes including a few epic climbs. My bike does 30 mph, so it's also about letting the tools excel at their task.
what is the maximum speed you can ride an ebike in London?
@@manp1039as fast as you can pedal, but the electric motor is legally supposed to cut out at 15mph.
@@ziggarillo is the 15 mph a rigid policy? I know in the USA the general rule of thumb is 20mph max speed by motor alone. Do they have a different class of electric bicycles tha are allowed to travel at 28 mph, like in the USA? I think in the USA that is a class 3 ebike.
@@manp1039 Yes European rules (to be classed like a bike) is 25kph or 15.5mph maximum assist speed. Anything that is powered at higher speeds is a 'speed pedelec' which is effectively a moped for regulatory purposes. The US has a much higher speed for a standard e-bike which is OK until you have to mix with pedestrians on shared tracks and there anything faster than 15.5 is too fast to be sensibly classed as 'no licence or special clothing required','can mix with pedestrians on shared-use infrastructure', which is the basic definition for a cycle.
@@xxwookey I agree.. there are times when a person should be going slower than max speed for sure in certain conditions.. there are times I even put my feet to the ground and kind of walk my bicycle .. or I might even dismount.. but when the road is clear and I have clear visibility and road is in good condition.. 20 mph seems very reasonable. that road that the person the was on in this video seems like something she could do 20 mph comfortably.. a standard ebile int he USA can go as high as 20 MPH with electric motor. I think they technically also restrict the motor to 750watts as well, but that is a separate rule. my bike can go up to 20mhp when road conditions are ideal.. but I generally am traveling at about 18mph on average on the road, not including stopping for stop signs or traffic lights. I wear a reflective safety vest, which I recommend others do too.. and a bicycle helmet.
Hey look! A replay of Classic _'Top Gear'_ is on!
Fun show.. Great intro for the live event. Hi, Helen!!
"Wait why did he get into the passenger seat?"
Me, instantly forgetting where this takes place
Elizabeth line is great,.. when it's working.
They skimp on the signaling systems and one
not updating the old infrastructure the line run on outside the central sections.
Indeed - I booked a Thameslink train to Farringdon specifically to catch the Liz line to the show on Friday...and guess what? Yep all Liz line trains are cancelled on Friday.
@@MJMC56is there any work planned to reduce downtimes?
@@AR-2022Yes. DURING the show this weekend, so no Elizabeth Line for visitors to Excel.
@@MJMC56 continue on Thameslink to London Bridge and take the jubilee line out to docklands, you can even get to ride the Emirates cable car if you don't want the short DLR hop to Excel but I would use the DLR for speed. Granted, the Elizabeth line is fast but there is a surprising amount of walking in those stations (as Imogen discovered) and you don't get to see anything.
London has been transformed by those bike superhighways. Wish they'd been there when I was cycling around back in my uni days ... also, very entertaining episode.
I was really hoping for a video of Jack's reaction to the BYD Seal.
Or motorcycle - major oversight in a test such as this!
Why's the door handle on BYD out while driving? Shouldn't it lock and retract automatically?
Main issue is most of the central part of Elizabeth line is not running this weekend.
4th racer: Telecommuter, b/c 80%+ of things don't actually require physical presence...
Elizabeth line is fantastic. I typically fly into Heathrow, get the Elizabeth line to Liverpool St. and work is about a short walk away.
Sounds like a very large carbon footprint you have.
@@PorthLlwydYeah, probably sounds like it's a daily commute when I word it that way. It's more once a quarter. Try to balance out the flight by only using EVs where possible and public transport for the rest.
Cars are wonderful, just use them for the right thing - moving BETWEEN places, not AROUND places.
The arrival order was a bit predictable… at that time of day and in that weather. In all scenarios car was going to be last. I compared the reverse way at 8pm, I drove from the Doubletree to the City in 45 minutes, and the rest of the group who took public transport arrived 5 minutes before me. But at that time, there were no volunteers to try the bike.
However, a couple of weeks ago I was going from Customs House to w.Arsenal, 3 stops on the Lizzy, typically 9 minutes and … on the second stop one door malfunctioned, we waited 35 minutes to figure it out, meanwhile 2 trains were stuck behind us.
Fun idea. Can you show an updated map through the challenge for the next one?
I would beg to differ to the "all" mode of transport. No one took an electric motorcycle or moped. You can do filtering, would have been a lot faster than car. Would have been interesting to see how it stacks up against the bicycle.
When I lived in London I was using public transport. The most comfortable mode of transport out of the lot (not worrying about traffic jam is a comfort thing).
Trains are always the best way of getting around London. Infact I used the train from Sydney airport to the show, not only was it quicker than a taxi got off at Olympic Park station.
Would love to come to the UK shows just to see the difference between Australia 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘 and the UK. Keep smiling everyone and keep up the great work team.
From Barons Court to Canary Wharf Station used to take me 50 minutes on my bike. Best time 46 minutes 😋. I did not like the CS3
CS3?
Try a stromer or other pedelec, be amazed. Nothing will beat it.
35km/h door to door can be common and only about 1kwh / 100km...
Would love to see more about the opportunity these pedelecs would bring if adopted more outside swiss and belgium/netherlands
The biggest test drive the world has ever seen at 20mph with the occasional 30mph to really test the car around roundabouts and red lights.
Did Harrogate last year, but tbh don’t think I will do London again as the test drives were pretty pointless. Really enjoyed the rest of the event though. So thanks for organising.
I Love Londen! Now do this in every city where you have an everything electric show!
At 1.31 the door handle didn't keep. Is it an issue?
Top Gear already proved that its a Bike, Boat, Public Transit and Car
1:30 it's weird to see the car moving while the door handle is open.
Bug or feature.... ?
Seeing you sitting in a traffic jam Jack: we saw a news report about workers who put cones out and who mend or build our roads suffering horrible abuse from drivers.
We discussed the question of how many of those frustrated, bad tempered, violent abusers were drivers of electric vehicles. I suspect by proportion significantly fewer would be ev drivers losing the plot than ice drivers.
I certainly feel less stress in an ev than I ever did in my petrol car. Wonder if its the knowledge that I'm not burning fuel and pumping poison out onto the street as i sit and wait for the traffic to move?
Good luck with the event at the weekend, wish I could be there, this would be the best venue for us to get to but I'm just not well enough at the moment (again) to have a day out. Hope this is a regular venue for future shows. 👏👍
Interesting test with an expected result.
The thing is I did a similar thing over the last weeks.
I have a car, a bike and a bus ticket and we have rental bikes.
I live in a part of Kiel that is quiet far away from the center.
I have tried all the ways to get around and tried to find the best way. The car was almost always the easiest, quickest and most compatible way to get around. Just when I want to go to the center of the city the bus is better, and under 4 km the bike is better when the weather is good or I don't have to carry more then a small light bag.
From my home to work I need, 15 min by car, 30 min by bike and 45 min by bus.
My car is broken at the moment so I had to use bike and bus, the bus was always over double the time because I lose a lot of time waiting, waiting for the next connection to start, waiting for the next bus in my connection, walking from the busstop to my destination.
So ironic that the Elizabeth Line & DLR were closed on the day I attended the show (29th March), still managed to get there by train... Just. Excellent video, glad Helen got there safely on the bike... I think Imogen has every right to be feeling smug & I enjoyed her ORA Cat live review 🙂 Jack letting the boys down although the SEAL is a great car... Just maybe not in London 😉 🤣
As I've done deliveries to that part of London for 7 years I easily spotted that some of the inserts of Helen "on the way" to the Excel were actually filmed NEXT to the Excel. The first insert was her cycling AWAY from the Excel, then they had an insert of her cycling towards the Excel but only 30 yards from it, then they showed her arriving having just cycled past the buildings she'd already passed twice. I'm sure there was an issue with the sound or recording on route and they had to edit in the inserts. They used high angles to try and disguise where she actually was.Tricks of the trade.
I've been to at least one day of every Fully Charged Live event in the UK and I'll be attending the Excel which is six miles from my house. But, London being what it is, it is the first time I won't be driving to the live event. If they had a Sunday show as usual I may have changed my mind on that as I know all the places I could park for free. But, it's Thursday to Saturday and knowing how the traffic can be I'll be taking the tube.
Oh poo. It had been online for 13 seconds. Thought I’d be first.
Just wanna say love these guys. Especially Imogen. She is Adorbs!
Imogen is the only reason to watch...
No. Imogen is British.
Is the cycle parking at Excel as bad as it looks on Google maps? I see only 5 stands.
Was in London last year and Tube/Metro is amazing thing
I live at one end of the Liz Line and it is indeed marvellous. Ignore the whingers and naysayers, its the most complicated rail line in Europe and at the same time, the busiest. It’s epically good.
In my experience here in Vienna, biking will be the fastest for anything 30-ish minutes (on the bike) or less. Above that, depending on the route, transit or in rare cases even the car will be faster. Since I rarely take longer trips than that, I use the bike as much as possible.
Best way to do Reading to Excel is to take a GWR non stop service Reading to Paddington then change to Elizabeth Line at Paddington a lot quicker (plus no toilets on Elizabeth Line trains or refreshments)
Making more Bike highways would make a great deal of sense in future
Helen looking in good shape too . Well done .👍
It would be good to see a comparison like this done in a more rural situation, e.g. living in a small village outside of a main city and recreating a typical commuter route into a central city location. And what non-ice travel options there are.
I feel parking the car is an essential part of the process so +10 mins though I understand wanting to get out of it after 100 mins
Yeah there is a massive car park round the back of (under?) the Excel. Not that I've tried it - driving to Excel would be daft.
Wow I wonder where they got this Top idea(gear) for …
Is there no toll highways in London???
BYD slashes the price of the Seal, its Tesla Model 3 rival electric sedan
The Electric Viking
That was interesting and about what I was expecting. You didn't include the cost which would clearly make Helen the winner by a mile.
50 min on an e-bike, I think is top end for a commute, realistically public transport is the king here, particularly London. I think in many Cities e-bike would win, as long as you have a sympathetic corridor of cycle infrastructure to your destination.
It is some 50 years since I was riding a bicycle around London during a visit. Those dedicated bike lanes are a very welcome sight.
A question about the UK train service, and underground in particular; can you take your bicycle with you for the first and last bits of the journey?
UK trains generally allow bikes (at least all the ones going in to London seem to) but there may be some exceptions (worth checking with the train company before travelling). On the underground you can't take an unfolded bike on the tube during morning or afternoon rush hour, but also there are restrictions on some parts of the lines (and you can't take the bike on Victoria or Waterloo and City lines at all). For the Elizabeth line that Imogen was on, so long as it was outside of the rush 'hour's (07:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00) then she would have been fine to take a bike. TFL do a nice tube map with the lines greyed-out that you can't take your bike on, worth downloading, and it *might* be available in print at the tube stations. Best wishes!
There can be restrictions at busy times, and there are not many spaces per train. The train companies would much prefer you to rent a bike or keep one at the station if you are a regular. But yes you can usually take a bike on the train. The non-stop trains from Cambridge are good for this because the bikes in doorways are not in people's way at intermediate stops (there aren't any).
The Elizabeth line is shut for engineering works over this Easter Weekend Bank Holiday .
Got to go on the Jubilee line .
You’re all lovely…I larfed all the way! Good on ya!🇨🇦
What car wash Jack driving? Byd? Can you do a review of that car please
Hi, can you let me know if the cyberster will be at the everything electric show at Harrogate? I have been hoping to see it for a long time. I have got my name down
Well done, Imogen - but ❤❤❤Helen for cycling :-)
Driving and traffic are intimately connected. You can't say you like driving if you don't like traffic.
You had an ideas meeting, you did a thing, you recorded footage, you edited and published it, and we watched it.
Er...... That kind of attitude could have you losing the will to live, dude.....
.....you should be careful.......!! -
Ambitiousand and not rubbish 😂
40 mins! Its only 21 from Paddington to Custom House. 19mins walking either side :O
I used to work in London, and now wonder why anybody does. I live and work in a Fishing village in the Scottish Borders.. I've just completed a 45 mile cross country journey in a very relaxed hour.
Electric bike is the best for London 😊
Motorcycle or scooter would have won the race.
@@hcw199 Correct!
@@hcw199 Only by breaking the speed limits. You can cycle at speed limit around London no problem and also above. Because speed limits do not apply to bicycles because they are not inherently dangerous. Unlike motor vehicles.
Cool race, thanks
In an ideal world, we would all use public transport - you don't have to find somewhere to park or to put your bike where it will still be there when you return, and (when there are trains every six minutes and a stops within walking distance of your destination) fast. Where it all falls down is anywhere that isn't a huge city. This is where the politicians go so very wrong. They know it is easy in London. Let them try to get six miles in Shropshire in less than two hours by public transport! Very entertaining episode.
for the bike u can buy good locks, and gps trackers. or alarms when someone moves your bike.
or with the bike u can just use a bike that you don t care if it will get stolen, like an alright second hand cheaper one.
nah for me the bike is, in an ideal world, best transport especially in a city. where do you put all the heath benefits that ll make for a heathier society.
I notice the wind isn’t pushing the rain sideways today. That can change the equation. ;-)
I think you might have missed a faster & more enjoyable way, electric scooter! I love my Niu
To the tune of 'I'd like to teach the world to sing'
(Verse 1)
I'd like to win an electric car,
Zooming silently, near and far.
With every charge, a journey's start,
A cleaner world, a greener heart.
(Chorus)
I'd like to win an electric car,
Cruising highways, under stars.
From city streets to mountains tall,
Sustainable dreams for one and all.
(Verse 2)
No emissions cloud the sky,
As we pass by, oh, how we fly.
Technology with nature's grace,
In every mile, a saving grace.
(Chorus)
I'd like to win an electric car,
Cruising highways, under stars.
From city streets to mountains tall,
Sustainable dreams for one and all.
(Bridge)
No petrol pumps, no fumes to mar,
Just the hum of an electric car.
Innovations light the way,
Towards a brighter, cleaner day.
(Chorus)
I'd like to win an electric car,
Cruising highways, under stars.
From city streets to mountains tall,
Sustainable dreams for one and all.
(Outro)
So let's embrace this change we see,
For a better future, let it be.
With every journey near or far,
I'd like to win an electric car.
[Thank you for this, ChatGPT!!]
This is really good. EVs are good for journeys that absolutely require a car but walking, cycling and public transport should always be picked first.
This is great!
Imogen you are amazing - big fan!
You all should have know.n.. You cannot defeat the London Underground. It has won against the steam train, it will outlive the petrol/gasoline car. It has hauled more arse than moses across the desert. It has seen two world wars come and go. And it's still the champ. All hail the GOAT: 🏆The London Underground!!! 🏆 Yay!
We will be travelling by train to ExCel, parking at station in car, and one change onto Elizebeth line. Costs including parking is around £70 off peak for the two of us, by car it would approx 122miles return, travel time would not be much in it, but I'd rather the 'train take the strain'.
You can't cycle to the station and save yourself 70 quid? I can leave my house with 13 minutes to spare and reliably catch a train (the station is a bit over a mile away). It's very handy.
@@xxwookey Cycling to the local unmanned station would save about £5 parking charge and 10 miles worth of petrol, but then would have to factor in the cost of two new bikes as the station has an appalling record of bike thefts.
@@fredbloggs72 Cycle security at stations is a big problem I agree. You need to be reasonably sure your bike will still be there when you get back. Even here there are far too many thefts from the station cycle park (It's been halved in the last couple of years, but still happens too often). I avoid the station cycle parking itself and park nearby. It shouldn't be like this. And yes, more people would cycle to the train if they were confident that their bikes were sufficiently secure.
Bad news - The Elizabeth Line is shut all weekend for engineering works.
Best EV is the type that runs on rails :D
This was fun.
The Elizabeth Line was closed during the show!
Thanks Mayor for making London standstill city. Hats off to joker Mayor
Yes but London is cleaner after all.
A veritable paradise for EVs.
So thanks him for that.
Wish I could be at the London show, ah well soon be at Harrogate in May
I use a helicopter on occasion but quite expensive and certainly does produce pollution.
That said I do see a lot of London.
When I visit Excel I'm having the carparks cleared of battery EV test vehicles for parking my helicopter.
Just so you know and don't bleat you weren't warned.
Is that you Rishi?
@@andrewkirk3159
Yes
And I use my helicopter to get from my french windows to my outside lavvy.
Obviously.
This was a very Top Gear video.😃
can you do a video showing bringing your electric bicycle along with you on the tube./underground. Is it possible to bring electric bicycle with you? Do you need a special permit? what rules are there for bringing an electric bicycle? does it cost extra to ride the tube with your electric bicycle ??
Foldable e-bikes are ok, but not the full-size one.
@@fastestmilkman3840On overground and Lizzy Line outside rush hour they are OK I think. They are OK on some bits of the tube at some times too. There is a TFL page detailing it - it is too involved to list here.
@@fastestmilkman3840 when you say ok you you mean allowed by the rules or? what is the protocal on bringing a foling bike on the tube? Does it have to be folded up or is it more of an eticquette or customary thing that people fold them up while on the train? And is it a rigit rule or is there some flexibility with the rule?
@@manp1039folded is allowed on the tube but will need to be folded. To be honest I'd have thought taking an unfolded bike on the tube would be more hassle than it's worth at many stations.
@@benrgrogan have you seen the new "Lectric One"? the frame does not fold but it is quite small and using 20 inch wheels and has folding handle bar stem and quick release pedals.. i wonder if that would work for the tube. Or do they have special width length height restrictions. It seems that it would be hard to legislate that it has to be folding without more parameters.
Underground + Walking will always be superior.
Cheering for Imogen. Go team tiny.
What happened to the other ev that was being given away? Never heard anything , I’d class myself an avid watcher . was it ever announced ?
Last Tuesday I had to drive from Greenwich to Shepherd's Bush and it took me nearly 2 hours.....
Imogen always with that big beautiful smile, it's so cute and uplifting.
A half decent e-scooter would also have done well, would be nice to see Fully Charged team up with Jack's old home at @Electroheads and cover the fight for legalisation of micromobility - keeps being promised, keeps being delayed, there is more choice than just electric car or electric bikes for getting around a city.
9 miles on an ebike should be about 35 mins max
One annoying feature of Excel is that it's off the end of the Santander/Barclays cycle scheme, so as a visitor I can't use a share-bike. You have to walk about 30mins past the last Santander/Barclays stand. I have brought my own bike on the train before once which works reasonably well, but would work a lot better if I owned a folder.
There are the private bike shares as an alternative too (Lime, forest etc.). Not as cheap as the Santander cycles but you can ride them further out. I've heard Lime offers day passes which are okay value
@@benrgrogan Yes. I know they exist, but none of them work without google services on your phone, and they all have proprietary apps with no other access method (SFAIK - I'd love to be corrected). I keep my phone secure and do not install that stuff so until they produce a web-based mechanism (like Forest bikes in Brighton have) or some other open access, they are no use at all to me.
To play devil's advocate, the cyclist was by far at most risk and has to endure the weather and needs to have a degree of physical fitness. The tube costs the most. But the car could have carried 4-5 people in one trip for the price of about 3KW of electricity. The true road vehicle option for one person should be an electric motorbike. If an electrically assisted pedal bike can do it in 50 mins, I bet a full electric motorbike or electric moped would easily beat the tube's 40 mins and have much better parking options than a car.
Just like Let’s Make a Deal, The Price is Right Daytime/Primetime, Press Your Luck, Family Feud & Wheel of Fortune!
Biggest test drive if you can go anywhere. 7miles a hour😂
The Elisabeth line is not the underground. It’s a big ass train that goes all the way to Reading
People don't believe me when I tell them I used to drive commute from Maidenhead to central London each day and then drove around all day... but that was 40 years ago!
Reminds me of the Old Top Gear. Back when TV was good :(
Wait, before the music stops I have a prediction, and it's informed by Top Gear: the E-bike will win it handily.
Back in the day the lads at TG plus The Stig (White Stig v1.4) all made their way from wherever to Heathrow as fast as possible, with Clarkson adding the twist of taking a boat with a huge horsepower rating..at a dawdling 12mph or something over a lengthy bit with strict speed limits. The winner was Hammond on a human-powered bike, and it was almost close, beating the boat which had no other traffic than the speed limit to contend with. But we don't have to think about a boat this time, and whoever is on the bike has the added advantage of a motor helping out.
So I know how this is going to go, the E-bike will take the laurels. And I don't think it's going to be a nailbiter, either. The only question in my mind is, will the winner on the E-bike have time to finish their tea and biscuit and go back for a fill-up, or not?
[edit] Well, that didn't play out as I expected, but I was certain that the car would lose so I wasn't entirely wrong.