I'm changing jobs and the new one is right in the centre of old Portsmouth. I live in waterside which is the other side of Southampton water to Southampton. My plan is to drive to nearly Portsmouth and then ride the rest of the way. What I'm looking for is suggestions on places where I can park all day that are relatively safe but don't cost. I want to be around 8 miles or so but no further than 10. I did wonder about the car parks on the top of portsdown hill but don't know how safe they will be. Also route suggestions would be good as I don't know Portsmouth well and use the park and ride when going to gun warf quays.
I don't do it so can't really help
Do drive in twice a week, though, and the roads I'm aware of are all ded busy (and the one guy I know who commuted by bike was hit by a car within 6 months and I think has stopped doing it). May be decent bike paths, I guess.
I'd probably look to ride to the ferry at Gosport (no idea if that's any safer though). Maybe from Warsash or somewhere ?
Park & ride just off the Fareham junction of M27. Fully CCTV'd and barriered. Costs a few quid. Rest of car parks on hill are free but I wouldn't leave a car there all day. Ride over Portsdown Hill, down to Bedhampton then down on to the cycle path along Eastern Rd into Southsea & along to Old Portsmouth. Prob around 12-14 miles though.
Option to extend route in return if you fancy it by heading down through Southwick/Boarhunt/Wickham then along towards Fareham before cutting back up Pooks Lane to the P&R.
Tbh, I'd just drive to the new park & ride in Tipnor and walk to Old Portsmouth from Gun Wharf. Riding a bike in Portsmouth in rush hour sucks, driving standard is woeful.
Going to Gosport is a possibility. I need to be in before 8:30 and won't be finished until 18:00 so that might make a difference to the density of traffic. I plan to try it out before starting as I should have a week off between jobs.
You'd have to be mental to drive into and out of Gosport rather than Portsmouth! Another option could be to park in Fareham and use the cycle path to Gosport & hop on ferry but traffic will still be terrible gettin onto/off M27 from Fareham itself let alone Gospit.
Just follow the cycleway right down past HMRC in Cosham, past the Lido, past Mountbatten Centre and carry on past the Naval Base entrance & you'll be down in Old Portsmouth in no time.
I think the Park & Ride off the M275 has access to the cycleway (and monthly parking passes) too for when it'll be a horrid commute up the hill.
[url= https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/trv-actitvetravelmap-2014.pdf ]Cycling Map of Pompey[/url]
Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear of your situation. Its a good 15 years since I used to commute into Pompey and back then it was really bad, can't imagine what it's like now! Still, that doesn't help...
I think you'd be better off parking in a street than in the (Dogging) carparks on Portsdown.
My choice would be Drayton/Farlington area (posher) and ride down the Eastern Road (it's a separate cycle path much of the way). Make your way into central shit-hole from that direction.
Definitely avoid going though Hilsea/North End (you will be killed), and the way I used to go, through Hilsea-> Stamshaw, out the bottom of the M275 would be a nightmare now.
It is not a cycle friendly city.
Just checked a route form my Dad's old road (Woodfield Ave, Farlington - definitely safe to park in) to where I used to work at Ports Uni, came out at 6 miles. So you could move out further away to Widley/Purbrook/Waterlooville to extend.
We rode from in laws house in Widley (up the old a3 portsdown hill above the hospital) to gunwharf for an evening out using the marked cycle routes along the west side of portsmouth. I recall it was very easy to folow and safe/traffic free. Would recommend it, just need to sort your parking out.
Edit- beaten to it by m0rk above
Thanks. I will look into the areas you have suggested for parking. If I went the Gosport route it would be parking right out and riding in. What's the tactic like getting into Drayton/Farlington area if I come over portsdown hill.
What time of day?
Before 7.30 - passable, after 7.30 bloody murder
Over the hill & down Farlington Avenue to traffic lights at top of Eastern Rd isn't too bad but I'd avoid dropping off the hill at the roundabout past the QA hospital as the Cosham roundabout area gets pretty bad.
There is a massive car park just off the '27 at the Eastern Rd, behind the Shell garage (opposite Peugot) and next to playing fields that seems to be used as an unofficial park and be picked up type of place, prob be able to park there, then over the roundabout onto Eastern Rd cycle path.
I only live just around the corner from there but parking on my road is a bit tight otherwise I'd tell you to come to here.