'A tidal wave' of road restrictions
Discussion
www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=564422&in_review_text_id=531456 
I laugh because I saw all this coming and moved out of London last year.. and boy did my life improve that day..
quote:Everyone point and laugh at people who voted for Livingstone...
A London traffic planning chief today warned of an "enormous tidal wave" of new restrictions to curb motorists when Mayor Ken Livingstone introduces congestion charging.
I laugh because I saw all this coming and moved out of London last year.. and boy did my life improve that day..
surely thats the whole point?! (and don't call me Shirley). Peole move out, stop driving in...congestion gets a little easier...lots of money made, plowed into buses and tubes in london..more people use them...less cars still....everyone is happy! (now I wonder at which point Left reality....sadly think it might have been at 'surely') 
It has been my view for sometime that London is on a downward spiral. Levels of service and the 'ability' of many Londoners is appalling. A myriad of other factors (rising crime, congestion, cost of housing, cost of living, crap transport, huge wage inflation etc etc) mean that the capital is turning into a right dump. I read recently that many large organisations are just inches away from upping sticks and leaving. Just what does London have to offer any more? I think Leeds or Newcastle should be named as the new capital and we should leave london to the drug dealers, muggers and car jackers. Rant over.
Rant mode on again. Read in the paper this morning that Siemens, who are making some new trains for the south east, spent 7 million squids turning their test track in Germany into one that was equally as sh1te as the rail track in the London area. Apparently, they've made trains for 29 countries, but only one, us, had such a cr@ppy rail network. Makes you want to 
the people in charge.
the people in charge.Get a motorbike for the commute. I got one because I was fed up with crap overground/underground trains, but I was amazed just how stressful taking public transport was. I get at least half an hour's more sleep than before and if I have early morning meetings, I don't need to leave home half an hour earlier than normal just to make sure that I was there on time.
quote:Problem here is that motorcycling is risky at the best of times but in London, IMO you'd have to be borderline suicidal.. the chances of being in a collision and hospitalised are high.
Get a motorbike for the commute. I got one because I was fed up with crap overground/underground trains, but I was amazed just how stressful taking public transport was.
This brings me onto another point. When Kengestion charges are introduced next year, because motorbikes enter the area for free, I think you'll see a large increase in number of people using motorbikes. Many will be novices who've turned to the motorbike for this exact reason and the corollary will be a huge increase in motorcycle accidents in London.
Bang go the poxy government's road deaths target, up go insurance costs, and down goes productivity even further due to lost man-hours.
Another fine example of politicians not looking any further ahead than the end of their noses..
Local Elections soon. That does include Ken, doesn't it?
Amazing lack of campaining, then again, maybe he is hoping that voter apathy will stop people putting someone else in.
Anyone know if anyone is standing against him, and if so, are any of the candidates against congestion charging.
Although I start work in central London very early, I can still get one of the 1st tubes in. I've contemplated driving, but I like a quick snooze on the way in ;-) It still annoys me when they want to introduce charging when the public transport is crap. If the trains/tubes are screwed, then I'd go back home, jump in the Cerby, and head for the office. Having to pay 25+ quid to park would piss me off, especially if the reason I had to drive was cos the public transport is bollox.
The icing on the cake would be the congestion charge.
So, where can I get an illegal number plate created? Maybe with Ken Livingstone's car reg number (or is he cyclist?)
Paul
Amazing lack of campaining, then again, maybe he is hoping that voter apathy will stop people putting someone else in.
Anyone know if anyone is standing against him, and if so, are any of the candidates against congestion charging.
Although I start work in central London very early, I can still get one of the 1st tubes in. I've contemplated driving, but I like a quick snooze on the way in ;-) It still annoys me when they want to introduce charging when the public transport is crap. If the trains/tubes are screwed, then I'd go back home, jump in the Cerby, and head for the office. Having to pay 25+ quid to park would piss me off, especially if the reason I had to drive was cos the public transport is bollox.
The icing on the cake would be the congestion charge.
So, where can I get an illegal number plate created? Maybe with Ken Livingstone's car reg number (or is he cyclist?)
Paul
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Its from an as yet undetermined date next year, and the boundary is pretty much only going to include the City and SW1.
Matt.
well thank fun for that. Sw19 is safe (for now)
Apart from the glut of mothers in the morning that make my commute more of a nightmare than if they were neutered at birth.
Matt.
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The result is that a person (me) with sought after skills will no longer work or live in London, thereby depriving said city of income derived from my residence and occupation..
Me too.
And several elements of self deprivation as well, namely:
1) Sharing ageing Tubes and trains with the filth commonly known as the general public (summertime a treat not to be missed);
2) Beggars, gypsies (I've been cursed so many times I'm surprised I'm still alive);
3) Traffic in central areas so congested its totally blighted;
4) Gangs of immigrants hanging around, looking threatening;
5) Arrogant middle management who think that if they pay you enough, then they own your soul. Which means their Hong Kong office can ring you at home at 3am.
The only thing I miss is my Evening Standard, with Victor Lewis-Smith's laugh-out-loud television reviews (does he still do them ?). Otherwise, I'm happy to leave it to others to suf, sorry, enjoy !
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quote:
quote:
Its from an as yet undetermined date next year, and the boundary is pretty much only going to include the City and SW1.
Matt.
well thank fun for that. Sw19 is safe (for now)
Apart from the glut of mothers in the morning that make my commute more of a nightmare than if they were neutered at birth.
Matt.
Yes, I think you summed it up before with something about needing a bonnet mounted minigun...
quote:
And several elements of self deprivation as well, namely:
1) Sharing ageing Tubes and trains with the filth commonly known as the general public (summertime a treat not to be missed);
2) Beggars, gypsies (I've been cursed so many times I'm surprised I'm still alive);
3) Traffic in central areas so congested its totally blighted;
4) Gangs of immigrants hanging around, looking threatening;
5) Arrogant middle management who think that if they pay you enough, then they own your soul. Which means their Hong Kong office can ring you at home at 3am.
I was on the Northern line this morning when I was approached by a lady with a little note saying something like "I am a refugee with 3000 children to feed, please give me money".
Now I know this is better than a note saying "I am a psychopath with a machete and a £500 per day drug habit to feed, please give me money" but my point is - aren't these refugee types supposed to travel clinging to the underneath of trains leaving the bit above the floor to us fare-paying passengers?
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