Enfield Lock used to be the home of the Enfield Ordnance Factory, the birthplace of the Lee Enfield rifles, the Brno-Enfield (Bren) light machine gun, the Stirling-Enfield (Sten) submachine gun, and most other infantry small-arms of the World Wars. The presence of the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey indicates an interest dating back to well before Tudor times (although the very early research was done at Monmouth and Tintern Abbey, in the Welsh Borders, as well as at the Woolwich Arsenal, now Boadmarsh Prison and Thamesmead). This was also the birthplace of the Royal Enfield motorcycle, although they're now made in India.
@@Londoncycleroutes take a trip up to the excellent Gunpowder Park and Knights Pits nature reserve, you will not be disappointed. If you are feeling brave and like hill climbs you can exit the park via the path almost opposite Mott St and cycle up it, out of the valley to High Beech.
@@CyclingSteveHi Steve, I live in Enfield lock and know this part of Enfield like the back of my hand, some really nice cycling routes including the lea navigation. And Mott Street, tried it dozens of times and never done it without having to stop! Towards the top it does get very steep doesn't it. Have you done it in one go? Cheers.
Albany Park was the actual kids area, next to the pool, Albany park field was the landscaped area that used to be just an open field. They used to make us run the field for P.E when I went Albany School
The route thorugh the park used in this is a detached part of national route 12 and at Enfield Lock (the lock not the station) it joins national route 1, so you can carry on much further north along paths through the Lee Valley Park and at Rye House join national route 61 to Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. A trip out from London and back on the train is dead easy to do as there are lots of stations along the Lee Valley and at the towns I listed. The NCN12 west of the park is under constrcution but Enfield are busy adding to it at Enfield Chase including lots of brand new off road cycle paths. So I'm hoping all that work will get through to Hadley Wood and the main bit of route 12, not least as there will be a monster of a south Herts and Enfield circular ride.
OK, now I'm picking videos of places I frequented. LOL. I lived in Tottenham in my 30s and had friends who lived right by the actual lock in Enfield Lock and used to cycle along Hertford road frequently. The other route I used was to cycle down to the River Lee through Tottenham Marsh and then all the way to Enfield Lock along there but it has zero lighting so in the winter months was not a good route unless you have decent lights.
Nice video! On the point of bus borders, this is actually how Copenhagen (and lots of other places in Denmark) design a majority of their bus stops. You just step down from the pavement onto the segregated cycle lane and board the bus. It’s easier for cyclists to manage there, I think, because not many buses will stop at every stop on a given route (and are less frequent than in London). In any case, I really like seeing them here. Looks like they work well.
Some bus passengers are worried about bus borders especially if you can't see well or can't move very well. The buses on this route give a warning to look out of cyclists on your way out of the bus. I tend to stop and wait when a bus is there with people getting on an off the bus which is what you're supposed to do.
Thanks for this, it's route i take almost daily as i live in Enfield Lock (my house @ 9:42). The section at 6:42 is notorious and it's not a one off, it's always like that, the opposite side of the road is even worse as it's a free for all and not enough people care. The area is not enforced anywhere near enough and ironically there is a local authority CCTV car illegally parked @ 7:12 , and before anyone tells me they have a dispensation, no, they don't. And if you were continue on @ 8:44, that stretch of road is even worse for bad parking. The council did put bollards in to stop cars parking but they are way way to far apart and it's more like a car park than a cycle lane. Great stuff mate, new to the channel, liked and subbed.
@@Londoncycleroutes Hi Mate, @ 10:20 if you carry on past the second bridge there's another footbridge that goes over the railway line. If you go over that and continue on for just a few minutes you get to the River Lea navigation at Enfield Lock, the start of so many great bike rides it being on the edge of the Lea Valley. One way up the canal takes you up into Hertfordshire, the other weaving it's way into London eventually reaching the Thames, i cycle it often as no cars to contend with. Been binge watching your vids and i thought i knew every alley in Enfield but you have proved i don't! Cheers mate.
01:28 Lovely path, nice separation with this little angled wall. I like how people living in this estate can walk quietly, far from the road 02:49 Those plastic curbs are okay, they're just the same colour as the road, they could use a bit of colour or have reflectors on them! 02:56 I do like those planters at the intersections, great for water retention and visibility 05:07 THE AUDACITY 09:47 Are they "rewilding" this place? It looks brilliant!
The part at 6:45 has always been like that , although I must say since the Turkish Supermarket took over the Woolworths it got a lot worse. Thats the main school bus stop so kids are also blocking the paving and road too. I always found it quicker to use the a10 than the hertford road. Used to beat the 217 from Waltham cross down to turnpike lane then beat the 29 bus to Holloway road
Nice roure, thanks! I wonder if Haringey was planning any cycle route 1 extension thorough borough in their active plan, and if any of those plan are under actual consideration
I really hope so! I saw their cabinet member for transport tweeting that multiple feasibility studies are on the way for on-road cycle lanes, though he didn’t elaborate on what they were. There is already a route that’s technically C1 connecting to Tottenham high road and then heading for the back streets but some main road options would be good
Enfield as an outer London Borough seems to do much better than Croydon to the South. Have you done Woodside, Croydon to Greenwich via South Nowood Country Park following the Ravensbourne?
Hope the traffic engineers realize these problems - 1:22 Protected bike lanes too far from the road turn into nature trails where the path is shared. 5:04 People could get hit by a bike as they alight in one of those bus stops where the bike lane runs between the stop and the road.
Yes good point about the bike lanes being too far from the road. On the bus stops the designs are a bit of a compromise where space is lacking I think. Generally they’ve worked alright but they take a bit of getting used to. Definitely prefer it when the lane goes behind the stop though where possible
As great as this route is, it's a showcase as to why we need some standardisation across cycle schemes and boroughs in London. It seems a bit too messy at the moment!
I think it's the best that can be done without the scheme causing a lot more disruption and costing a lot more, though. My hope would be that the next time the road needs major works, e.g. resurfacing, then upgrades can be done at the same time when the road is going to be dug up anyway. Then they can change wand protection to stepped cycle tracks, bus boarders to bus stop bypasses, and so on. I think councils that are seeing what they can build fast and cheap are making the right call.
I'm not a fan of the constant twists and turns and the shared space on pavements & bus build-outs, it has so much potential for conflict. I'll stick with using the canal path, even with the stink from the sewage works.
You know the sewage works! I live in Enfield Lock (my house @ 9:42) and cycle the route in this video almost daily but sometimes do use the towpath and i know the sewage works at Edmonton well. In recent years the smell has been dealt with, years ago it was eye watering bad. And i agree with you on the twists and turns etc, it does get frustrating and also if you continue on up to Waltham Cross the cycle lane disappears just before Bullsmoor Lane i'm guessing because it's the edge of the borough going into Hertfordshire so no allocated funds to continue on.
Enfield Lock used to be the home of the Enfield Ordnance Factory, the birthplace of the Lee Enfield rifles, the Brno-Enfield (Bren) light machine gun, the Stirling-Enfield (Sten) submachine gun, and most other infantry small-arms of the World Wars. The presence of the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey indicates an interest dating back to well before Tudor times (although the very early research was done at Monmouth and Tintern Abbey, in the Welsh Borders, as well as at the Woolwich Arsenal, now Boadmarsh Prison and Thamesmead). This was also the birthplace of the Royal Enfield motorcycle, although they're now made in India.
Very good history I wish I had included!
@@Londoncycleroutes take a trip up to the excellent Gunpowder Park and Knights Pits nature reserve, you will not be disappointed. If you are feeling brave and like hill climbs you can exit the park via the path almost opposite Mott St and cycle up it, out of the valley to High Beech.
@@CyclingSteveHi Steve, I live in Enfield lock and know this part of Enfield like the back of my hand, some really nice cycling routes including the lea navigation. And Mott Street, tried it dozens of times and never done it without having to stop! Towards the top it does get very steep doesn't it. Have you done it in one go? Cheers.
Albany Park was the actual kids area, next to the pool, Albany park field was the landscaped area that used to be just an open field. They used to make us run the field for P.E when I went Albany School
Good local knowledge!
The route thorugh the park used in this is a detached part of national route 12 and at Enfield Lock (the lock not the station) it joins national route 1, so you can carry on much further north along paths through the Lee Valley Park and at Rye House join national route 61 to Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. A trip out from London and back on the train is dead easy to do as there are lots of stations along the Lee Valley and at the towns I listed.
The NCN12 west of the park is under constrcution but Enfield are busy adding to it at Enfield Chase including lots of brand new off road cycle paths. So I'm hoping all that work will get through to Hadley Wood and the main bit of route 12, not least as there will be a monster of a south Herts and Enfield circular ride.
Great tips, I didn’t know this! Thanks again
That's some pretty nice cycle infrastructure Enfield have put in there. Top marks!
Underrated borough imo!
OK, now I'm picking videos of places I frequented. LOL. I lived in Tottenham in my 30s and had friends who lived right by the actual lock in Enfield Lock and used to cycle along Hertford road frequently. The other route I used was to cycle down to the River Lee through Tottenham Marsh and then all the way to Enfield Lock along there but it has zero lighting so in the winter months was not a good route unless you have decent lights.
I need to check out the actual lock, not sure I’ve seen it in person properly
Nice video! On the point of bus borders, this is actually how Copenhagen (and lots of other
places in Denmark) design a majority of their bus stops. You just step down from the pavement onto the segregated cycle lane and board the bus. It’s easier for cyclists to manage there, I think, because not many buses will stop at every stop on a given route (and are less frequent than in London). In any case, I really like seeing them here. Looks like they work well.
Yeah I do think they work fine - I prefer bypasses but sometimes there’s not the space for them and this is the other good way of doing it
Some bus passengers are worried about bus borders especially if you can't see well or can't move very well. The buses on this route give a warning to look out of cyclists on your way out of the bus. I tend to stop and wait when a bus is there with people getting on an off the bus which is what you're supposed to do.
Another great cycle route wasn't far off from Waltham cross as mentioned in your last video 👍
Thank you for watching!
Looking a lot lovlier than what's currently out there, I bet :).
Haha yes it’s a bit grim at the moment!
Thanks for this, it's route i take almost daily as i live in Enfield Lock (my house @ 9:42). The section at 6:42 is notorious and it's not a one off, it's always like that, the opposite side of the road is even worse as it's a free for all and not enough people care. The area is not enforced anywhere near enough and ironically there is a local authority CCTV car illegally parked @ 7:12 , and before anyone tells me they have a dispensation, no, they don't. And if you were continue on @ 8:44, that stretch of road is even worse for bad parking. The council did put bollards in to stop cars parking but they are way way to far apart and it's more like a car park than a cycle lane. Great stuff mate, new to the channel, liked and subbed.
Really interesting thanks, always great to hear local knowledge as this isn’t my usual part of London. The parking around that section is such a mess!
@@Londoncycleroutes Hi Mate, @ 10:20 if you carry on past the second bridge there's another footbridge that goes over the railway line. If you go over that and continue on for just a few minutes you get to the River Lea navigation at Enfield Lock, the start of so many great bike rides it being on the edge of the Lea Valley. One way up the canal takes you up into Hertfordshire, the other weaving it's way into London eventually reaching the Thames, i cycle it often as no cars to contend with. Been binge watching your vids and i thought i knew every alley in Enfield but you have proved i don't! Cheers mate.
thanks!@@tilerman
01:28 Lovely path, nice separation with this little angled wall. I like how people living in this estate can walk quietly, far from the road
02:49 Those plastic curbs are okay, they're just the same colour as the road, they could use a bit of colour or have reflectors on them!
02:56 I do like those planters at the intersections, great for water retention and visibility
05:07 THE AUDACITY
09:47 Are they "rewilding" this place? It looks brilliant!
I think they're definitely adding a few more interesting plants certainly - the rest of the park is quite barren!
The part at 6:45 has always been like that , although I must say since the Turkish Supermarket took over the Woolworths it got a lot worse. Thats the main school bus stop so kids are also blocking the paving and road too. I always found it quicker to use the a10 than the hertford road. Used to beat the 217 from Waltham cross down to turnpike lane then beat the 29 bus to Holloway road
Probably a lot busier!
Very cool and interesting. You should be London's Cycling Ambassador.
If there’s a vacancy I’d be happy to step up!
Great route, and another super video! 👍
I"m guessing that wasn't one of your "shot, edited & posted on the same day" vids! 😉🤣
Haha no there was quite a gap on this one!
Another nice video!
Thank you! 🙏
excellent. terrific. I want a vid that picks up with the descent into the Enfield Lock bicycle/pedestrian tunnel! (your work is terrific)
I didn’t know about this I’ll have to check it out!
The tunnel isn't well maintained so most forget it's there. I've used it once.
Nice one - been waiting for a POV of Hertford Road for a while :)
Finally got up there!
Thanks
Thanks so much very kind!
Nice roure, thanks!
I wonder if Haringey was planning any cycle route 1 extension thorough borough in their active plan, and if any of those plan are under actual consideration
I really hope so! I saw their cabinet member for transport tweeting that multiple feasibility studies are on the way for on-road cycle lanes, though he didn’t elaborate on what they were. There is already a route that’s technically C1 connecting to Tottenham high road and then heading for the back streets but some main road options would be good
Enfield as an outer London Borough seems to do much better than Croydon to the South. Have you done Woodside, Croydon to Greenwich via South Nowood Country Park following the Ravensbourne?
No not yet! I think some of the paths aren’t surfaced? Or I may have got lost when I tried?
Hope the traffic engineers realize these problems -
1:22 Protected bike lanes too far from the road turn into nature trails where the path is shared.
5:04 People could get hit by a bike as they alight in one of those bus stops where the bike lane runs between the stop and the road.
Yes good point about the bike lanes being too far from the road. On the bus stops the designs are a bit of a compromise where space is lacking I think. Generally they’ve worked alright but they take a bit of getting used to. Definitely prefer it when the lane goes behind the stop though where possible
As great as this route is, it's a showcase as to why we need some standardisation across cycle schemes and boroughs in London. It seems a bit too messy at the moment!
That’s a really good point! It isn’t the most legible
I think it's the best that can be done without the scheme causing a lot more disruption and costing a lot more, though. My hope would be that the next time the road needs major works, e.g. resurfacing, then upgrades can be done at the same time when the road is going to be dug up anyway. Then they can change wand protection to stepped cycle tracks, bus boarders to bus stop bypasses, and so on. I think councils that are seeing what they can build fast and cheap are making the right call.
Good Morning 😂
I rushed to get the video done last night and then… forgot to live it 😹
I'm not a fan of the constant twists and turns and the shared space on pavements & bus build-outs, it has so much potential for conflict.
I'll stick with using the canal path, even with the stink from the sewage works.
That’s definitely an alternative!
You know the sewage works! I live in Enfield Lock (my house @ 9:42) and cycle the route in this video almost daily but sometimes do use the towpath and i know the sewage works at Edmonton well. In recent years the smell has been dealt with, years ago it was eye watering bad. And i agree with you on the twists and turns etc, it does get frustrating and also if you continue on up to Waltham Cross the cycle lane disappears just before Bullsmoor Lane i'm guessing because it's the edge of the borough going into Hertfordshire so no allocated funds to continue on.