When and where can you take your bike on the tube?
The short answer is, unless it is a folding bike (which are allowed anywhere on the tube at any time) you can only take your bike on London Underground trains outside the rush-hour and not on the deep-section tunnels (although the new Elizabeth Line does allow bikes in tunnelled sections). see the map above. Non-Folding e-bikes are now banned from the Underground at all times due to fire risks.
This means that the times you can go on the tube with a bike are:
- Monday to Friday before 07:30, between 09:30 and 16:00, and after 19:00
- Allowed anytime on weekends and bank holidays, only on the lines listed below
But remember that you cannot take bikes on deep section lines at any time in the tunnels (apart from the Elizabeth Line). You can, however, take them on the overground sections of, otherwise, deep tunnelled lines. Essentially, the deep section tubes are the smaller trains in round tunnels built after World War One, such as the Central Line, Northern, Jubilee Line, Victoria Line and Piccadilly Line (apart from the Elizabeth Line). The Older ‘Cut and Cover’ Lines such as the Metropolitan Line, Circle Line, District Line and Hammersmith and City Line will accept bikes in tunnelled sections.
So, in practice, what does that mean for us?
If you wanted to travel out to Hillingdon for our Sunday Rides from Hillingdon Station you could pick up the Piccadilly Line at Barons Court or Hammersmith and travel out to Hillingdon. Maybe get the Central Line from White City to West Ruislip or the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street and beyond. The new Elizabeth Line does allow more travel across London and changes at Paddington or Farringdon/ Liverpool Street on to the Metropolitan Line are now an option.
If you are wondering why the deep section tunnels (apart from the Elizabeth Line) are excluded, there are three compelling reasons (we are told):
If a train got stuck in a deep tunnel then getting passengers out along the track would be hindered with bikes (less so on the higher up shallow / ‘Cut and Cover’ tunnels).th and travel out to Ruislip. Maybe get the Central Line from White City to Ruislip Gardens or the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street and beyond. The new Elizabeth Line does allow more travel across London and changes at Paddington or Farringdon/ Liverpool Street on to the Metropolitan Line are now an option.
If you are wondering why the deep section tunnels (apart from the Elizabeth Line) are excluded, there are three compelling reasons:
- Try carrying your bike up and down the escalators!
- The trains are small and crowded in Zone 1
- If a train got stuck in a deep tunnel then getting passengers out along the track would be hindered with bikes (less so on the higher up shallow / ‘Cut and Cover’ tunnels).
