185 Bus

[ClaireHouse]

Keen to get recent experiences of using the 185 from Heber Rd to St Dunstan's College. Are the South Circular roadworks impacting travel time? How reliable/frequent is the service, and any general comments as I'll be travelling with a 9yr old at rush hour. 

[malumbu]

Catford Bridge is your main pinch point from my experience.  They created a gyratory many years ago, which whilst people complain about it, actually improved things a little.  There are massive plans to redevelop around the Town Hall, which would helpfully make this smoother.

If you go back in a time machine there were plans decades ago to tunnel under Forest Hill to bring the South Circ further out East to miss that bit of congestion.

It depends on exactly what time you travel, before about 7.40 traffic flows OK but then the school run kicks in.  That will of course also be St Dunstans parents.  But good on you for not planning to add to this.

However,,,, if traffic backs up from the Bridge, it will probably be worth getting off early walking a bus stop or two,

When your child is older and confident cycling is an option. There is a route through Peckham Rye which is flatter and much quieter than the South Circ, coming out near Catford Bridge

If you are close to East Dulwich Station there is a half hourly service changing at Peckham Rye that takes only around 20 mins to the school from ED Station.

You can get congestion at any time due to taking lanes out, accidents, major road closures elsewhere.  This happens a few times a year, rarely bad enough that the South Circ gridlocks.

Edited May 22 by malumbu

[rjsmall]

My daughter has been taking the 185 from East Dulwich to St Dunstan's for the past few years and on the whole it is very reliable. There is a bus lane for parts of the journey which helps. The road works at The Grove did make the journey time a little longer but this seems to have returned to normal. It can get busy with students and sometimes she has to wait for a second bus in the afternoons.

I did check out the cycle route via Peckham Rye / Brockley Way, going over the rail bridge and via Ladywell Fields coming out at Catford Bridge but it is a bit hilly and felt a bit lonely in parts and I wouldn't feel comfortable with her cycling in the darker months of the year.

[malumbu]

And the 185 is electric too, so much nicer than the diesel buses in particular that poorly designed Boris bus (176)

[ab29]

On 22/05/2025 at 11:04, ClaireHouse said:

Keen to get recent experiences of using the 185 from Heber Rd to St Dunstan's College. Are the South Circular roadworks impacting travel time? How reliable/frequent is the service, and any general comments as I'll be travelling with a 9yr old at rush hour. 

It's beyond crap.

Working for council does not justify this 🤔

Edited Friday at 20:00 by ab29

[malumbu]

I think you have posted on the wrong thread.  Otherwise I haven't a scooby why you have posted the above.  Can you not consider a helpful response rather than politicising a simple request?  

[ab29]

.

Edited Saturday at 03:54 by ab29

[ab29]

On 22/05/2025 at 11:04, ClaireHouse said:

Keen to get recent experiences of using the 185 from Heber Rd to St Dunstan's College. Are the South Circular roadworks impacting travel time? How reliable/frequent is the service, and any general comments as I'll be travelling with a 9yr old at rush hour. 

It has been crap - well, for those of us who actually use buses.  Asking if the South Circular roadworks are impacting the 185 service is like asking if lack of water impact you taking a shower

Edited Saturday at 14:30 by ab29