Another 24-hour strike on London’s Tube network is underway and, despite TfL’s Strike Information page letting people know what best to do to handle the situation, it’s brought with it another day of disruption in the capital.

Whilst the strikes don’t directly affect those of us that choose to cycle to work every day, they do lead to the roads filling up with drivers not used to London roads and cyclists that have dusted off the bikes that have laid unloved in the back of a cupboard for months.

It’s particularly noticeable at the junctions in the capital, a swarm of hi-viz vests and more expensive cycling attire finding themselves bunched together at red lights before streaming off in long, strung-out peletons; the natural order quickly restored as the regulars on the road, familiar with London traffic’s nuances and quirks make their way around and in front of the less sure fair-weather cyclists and ‘only bike on a strike day’ commuters.

Cycling, once you’re used to it, really is a great way of commuting in London and it’s only by staying above ground that you truly appreciate how all the pieces of the city fit together. With Mayor Boris Johnson keen to get more of London on their bikes today’s events may sound like an ideal scenario and in some ways it is, despite a small number of ’wet behind the ears’ cyclists frustrating drivers with their lack of basic bike handling skills and general road manners.

It is only a small number though and, with practice, I’m confident that they will gain confidence and get better at reading the road and situations that affect both themselves and others upon it. It’s days like today where they’ve decided to give the bike a try that they will get this practice.

With today’s walkout taking the strike tally up to three since September and neither the Unions nor those in power seemingly willing to negotiate to a satisfactory conclusion, it’s perhaps ironic that a walk-out which is supposed to show those in control how important the underground network is to London is often the sort of day that shows Londoners how much easier it is to get about their lives without using the Tube than they thought…