Cyclists at Dartford Tunnel Crossing

currently living in Dartford I have been recently offered a temporary job working in Brentwood Essex and was considering the possibility of a cycle commute as the mileage doesn't seem too bad, question is has anyone had experience of the cycle crossing service at the Dartford Tunnel if so does it cost and where exactly does it drop you off on the north side as I would need to pick up secondary roads from there avoiding the motorway....can anyone advise?
thanks

Hugh, there are quite a few reports of it on-line and some discussion on here buried in old threads. Look at this:

http://realcycling.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/cycling-above-and-below-thames-at.html

Quite a bit of discussion of it here:

https://www.lfgss.com/thread21084.html
https://www.lfgss.com/thread70039.html

And any excuse to repost this:

the original method, this was taken in 1966 on our club run shortly after the tunnel opened we had to cross in relays of four at a time ](http://s768.photobucket.com/user/griffks/media/DartfordCrossing1966.jpg.html)[/IMG]

There are call areas at one end, you can them up and then wait, and wait til a landrover defender turns up. You strap your bike to the rack on the back, take your own straps. Then you are driven to the other side.

thanks for the heads up.....I think it will be feasible once I clear Lakeside

Better tell them you're going to do that commute regularly now, Hugh. :)

A blast from the past. You youngsters must remember the old 72 inch winter fixed gear races?

Can be up to a 45 minute wait for the vehicle to take you over though - the only time I've done it I waited 35. Not a problem for a one-off as part of a ride, but potentially a pain for a commute.

Occasionally it is even a Flat Bed Lorry lay your bike in the back with the others and jump in the crew cab.
The wait never seems to be the same they also have a list of times it is not available might be worth giving the Crossing a ring.

There are 3 hour gaps in the service at the moment on some mornings and the drivers are full-on 'road tax, helmet, bike licence types'.
Van takes 3 bikes max.
Used it a couple of times for laughs but I wouldn't want to rely on it. There is a ferry down river which may be better.

A blast from the past. You youngsters must remember the old 72 inch winter fixed gear races?

yes indeed I do they were often called medium gear events usually 10 or 25 miles designed as early season training time trials....after riding low fixed 60's all winter a 72 gear seemed high enough

yes indeed I do they were often called medium gear events usually 10 or 25 miles designed as early season training time trials....after riding low fixed 60's all winter a 72 gear seemed high enough

Thats a good but of context for those getting familiar with distance fg riding

I use the Tunnel crossing service most weekends. The weekday "no-service/on-demand service timetable" has been extended to the weekends now. I found out last weekend. I picked up a flyer with the current timetable on from the maintenance fella, does anyone want it scanned in for perusal?

Dave.

I'd like to see it please.

Would come in handy to have it posted here, thanks.

No probs, here y'go.

"No Service between 9AM-10.30AM".

Thats the one that really clobbers me, especially on my weekend fun rides up to Lundun and back. I've made up a 44 mile circular route from Dirtfud then crossing the river using the Tunnel service then Up to Isle o' Dawgs on the northside of the Thames then cross back over the river at Greenwich and back to Dirtfud along the Thames path south of ol' man ribber. I've had to re-route up the South side of the Thames a few times on weekend runs then cross at Woolwich via the Tunnel or Ferry.

Dave.

Thanks for scanning that, good to have.

No problem. Used the service yesterday, no other changes other than only 2 out of the 3 rear rack positions work thesedays cos one of the locking arms seems to have gone! So, If 3 are crossing at once you'd have to pop one bike into the back of the truck through the window hatch.

Used service yesterday and it was a flatbed truck we all had to just lay our bikes in the back.....fortunately thy didn't slide around too much.

The pick up point for the cycle crossing has changed if anyones using the bike crossing Service.

Due to the work being done on removing the toll booths and changing the road layout a bit the Crossing Control office that used to have the Yellow phone on to hail the Maint Dept has gone. Instead make your way to the little Security hut about 50yrds behind you where the old point was located and speak to the friendly Security Guard. He'll show you where the phone is to hail the service as it's no long obvious.

Minor update.

The pick-up point has changed again if anyones planning on using the free Dartford crossing service. Cyclists now have their own little shelter opposite the 'Crossing Control' building, its even got a seat and the bright yellyphone handily located inside the shelter. Observez-vous...

More details.

Update ends :)

Dredged;
Anyone used this recently?
If anyone has a Orbital route too that’d be great

This Orbital route is one of the more popular... We've illustrated it a couple of times
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24508386

1 Attachment

• The_Orbital.gpx

Thanks, kept finding Ferry ones.
Is it a nice ride or more functional to achieve the goal?