Getting around London on a bike is cheap, fun, healthy and environmentally responsible. Cycling has a smaller carbon footprint than walking or taking the bus. Choosing a bike over a car just once a day reduces an average person’s carbon emissions from transport by 67%.
Here's everything you need to know about how to store your bike and stay safe when cycling to UAL sites.
Your journey
Cycling
- Keep your distance from buses and large vehicles, as they may turn suddenly and not see you. Remember, in the UK we drive on the left.
- Ride a door’s width away from parked cars.
- Don’t cycle on the pavement unless it’s a designated cycle path.
- Always wear a helmet.
- Use bike lights and bright or reflective clothing if cycling at night or in bad weather.
- Signal clearly and use your bell to warn pedestrians, who may not see you.
- Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cyclist, you might benefit from Transport for London cycling lessons.
Walking
- Take care when crossing the road. Always try to cross at marked crossing points and remember to look both ways.
- At night, try to stick to busy places where there is a lot of activity and good lighting.
- The Met Police advise all Londoners not to text while walking, and to look out for bikes and mopeds.
Registering and storing your bike
- You can get your bike security marked and registered at BikeRegister or at Immobilise.
- It's a good idea to record details of your bike such as the frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back-wheel slots in), the bike registration number and any other distinguishing features. Take a photo.
- When storing your bike, lock the frame and both wheels to the cycle parking stand.
- Where possible, lock your bike at secure cycle parking which is well lit and covered by CCTV. Read the UAL Cycle Storage Guide (PDF 35KB).
- Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street.
- Before you purchase a bike, ask for proof of ownership and check the bike frame number on BikeRegister.
Access support
- In an emergency, always call 999.
- If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the Police textphone service 18000 or text them on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the Relay emergency SMS service.
- If your bike has been stolen, you can report this online or call Police on 101.
- If you would like to speak with a trained counsellor for support, free, one-to-one, confidential counselling is available to all UAL students.
- Students can also use the Tell Someone service to report racism, bullying, harassment or sexual violence and access support.