Think of the London Underground like a nightclub for sardines. During peak hours—roughly 7:30 to 9:30 AM and 4:00 to 7:00 PM—your bike is the uninvited guest showing up in a massive foam costume. You are not allowed to bring a full-sized, two-wheeled bicycle into these sardine-can parties. It’s the unwritten law of the Tube, written quite clearly on signs.
The Transport for London (TfL) rulebook states you must fold your bicycle if you want to travel during these angry-commuter hours. If your bike doesn’t fold up like a Transformers toy, you have to wait. It’s a simple as that, no exceptions, no matter how convincing your “I’m just going to the pub” face is.
