Road closures in London are a ***** joke - get a grip Boris!
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rossyl
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I really don't get it.
If people are so unhappy with something - change it. Whatever that might be.
If you hate living in London, then move.
I'm currently living out in Surrey, frankly it might have a lot less traffic but it is far too dull for me. I miss being in London and being able to: go out late and get a £20 cab ride home, have good restaurants of every cuisine I can think of avilable around me, have about 50 pubs within a 20min walking distance from work that i can meet friends in, any day of the week having multiple options of things I can do in the evening (100's of theatres, resturants, museums, shows), and last but certainly not least ... always having something in a close vicinity that I've not seen or done before.
The countryside is beautiful in England, we rent a house somewhere in the middle of no-where in England at least once a year, the countryside has no traffic. But would I swap it for the Big Smoke, all the traffic, but a fun and outgoing lifestyle with always something different to do...**** no! Certainly not yet.
If you don't enjoy London, then move. England is not that small!
If people are so unhappy with something - change it. Whatever that might be.
If you hate living in London, then move.
I'm currently living out in Surrey, frankly it might have a lot less traffic but it is far too dull for me. I miss being in London and being able to: go out late and get a £20 cab ride home, have good restaurants of every cuisine I can think of avilable around me, have about 50 pubs within a 20min walking distance from work that i can meet friends in, any day of the week having multiple options of things I can do in the evening (100's of theatres, resturants, museums, shows), and last but certainly not least ... always having something in a close vicinity that I've not seen or done before.
The countryside is beautiful in England, we rent a house somewhere in the middle of no-where in England at least once a year, the countryside has no traffic. But would I swap it for the Big Smoke, all the traffic, but a fun and outgoing lifestyle with always something different to do...**** no! Certainly not yet.
If you don't enjoy London, then move. England is not that small!
rossyl
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You realise that you could walk that fast. Why not leave your car at the office?
Im a londoner ross so dont hate it.....some things about it are bad and im just pointing them out....
The schools here are good and thats why i dont want to move but we are paying through the nose for it....i can have a house on an acre with pool and double garage if i went out....its my choice i love it here....
The schools here are good and thats why i dont want to move but we are paying through the nose for it....i can have a house on an acre with pool and double garage if i went out....its my choice i love it here....
rossyl
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...and that is precisely my point mate. You love it here.
I just don't get it when people are really unhappy and yet stick around. Just move.
mowlas
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From my own point of view, I am nowhere near ready to move, I just want bad planning around road closures sorted out.
CatmanV2
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Not really, Benny. It's a state of mind. Driving is London is ****, so don't do it. Public transport is *way* easier, and even if the roads were empty, with all the junctions and lights and stuff, it's still hardly going to me Monaco.
I get to drive to the underground in my 4200 every morning, then, in my assured seat I mostly get ferried quickly and conveniently to within 5 minutes stroll of my office. At the end of the day, I can chose to head straight home (usually getting a seat) or partake of the manifold delights our city has to offer.
As for arguments around the congestion charge, it was to *reduce* congestion, not eliminate. Not rocket science
C
rossyl
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Not really, Benny. It's a state of mind. Driving is London is ****, so don't do it. Public transport is *way* easier, and even if the roads were empty, with all the junctions and lights and stuff, it's still hardly going to me Monaco.
I get to drive to the underground in my 4200 every morning, then, in my assured seat I mostly get ferried quickly and conveniently to within 5 minutes stroll of my office. At the end of the day, I can chose to head straight home (usually getting a seat) or partake of the manifold delights our city has to offer.
As for arguments around the congestion charge, it was to *reduce* congestion, not eliminate. Not rocket science
C
Quite agree with all of that.
After work I'm doing some shopping on Regents Street, meeting one group of friends in very nice venue for dinner, then meeting another group of mates ina completely different type of location in a pub on the river, then quite late getting the train home.
M<y activities tonight are all in walking distance, or a short Tube journey. I could not drink if I were driving and I will probably catch a little snooze on the train home. I then have a 10 min walk from the station to my house. What's not to like?
The last time I drove in to central London (i.e. zones 1 and 2) was a very long time ago, probably when my other half used to live in zone 1.
Phil H
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Sad fool that I am, I've looked through some of the annual TFL/CC reports and one of the points of concern is the reduction of revenue due to the increase of CC-exempt vehicles (and presumably Boris's bikes)!
You now have a scheme which is self perpetuating; it may have been set up for altruistic reasons but its administration would be threatened by reduced takings so reports will inevitably focus on the need for further pollution studies to underpin yet more regulation and more enforcement. Even though CC may not be a resounding success it won't be abandoned when it brings in over £200m/year and employs people. Sir Humphrey Appleby would be immensely proud of such an achievement.
The obvious answer to pollution and congestion is to ban motor vehicle ownership and use for all residents living in, and within 10 miles of, the CC zone. That would:
Vastly improve the take up of public transport
Increase the feed-in of public transport revenues for infrastructure improvements
Free up many more streets for visitor parking
Allow those of us who do need to drive to the city to proceed unhindered
To avoid alienating local residents TFL could provide a Segway for the breadwinner(s) of each household, the costs being recovered by small precepts levied on Council Tax. This would itself bring rewards for users including a sense of wellbeing for doing the right thing, and increased fitness (balance, hand/eye co-ordination, spacial awareness, etc).
With a little lateral thinking the possibilities are endless.
PH
You now have a scheme which is self perpetuating; it may have been set up for altruistic reasons but its administration would be threatened by reduced takings so reports will inevitably focus on the need for further pollution studies to underpin yet more regulation and more enforcement. Even though CC may not be a resounding success it won't be abandoned when it brings in over £200m/year and employs people. Sir Humphrey Appleby would be immensely proud of such an achievement.
The obvious answer to pollution and congestion is to ban motor vehicle ownership and use for all residents living in, and within 10 miles of, the CC zone. That would:
Vastly improve the take up of public transport
Increase the feed-in of public transport revenues for infrastructure improvements
Free up many more streets for visitor parking
Allow those of us who do need to drive to the city to proceed unhindered
To avoid alienating local residents TFL could provide a Segway for the breadwinner(s) of each household, the costs being recovered by small precepts levied on Council Tax. This would itself bring rewards for users including a sense of wellbeing for doing the right thing, and increased fitness (balance, hand/eye co-ordination, spacial awareness, etc).
With a little lateral thinking the possibilities are endless.
PH
jerkmoans
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TridentTested
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Quite right, it's all about choice. I would love some good traffic-free driving roads near me but I chose to live here because I value higher the things London has to offer and ironically, among them, is the multiplicity of transport possibilities. Despite being a car lover I like having a choice of transport: for most of my journeys I can chose to walk, cycle, motor-scooter, motor-bike, bus, tube, mini-cab, walk out the door and hail a black cab, use the car club on the corner, or take the QP.
jerkmoans
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I've read this thread with considerable interest, and am with Ross and the Catmeister on this one.
Born and raised in Madchester and then semi-rural Cheshire, I've been in the Smoke for about 20 years now. On the rare occasions I drive into the centre I always curse the place: as the largest city in Europe I guess one should expect a little congestion. So avoid, if possible. If you can't, get in first thing, or late, or on Sunday.
Seriously, compared with most places (Manchester, for example) public transport here is utterly fantastic. For all that we moan about the tube, it's generally fast, regular, and gets you where you need to be. Buses all over the place - 24 hours! More taxis then you can shake a stick at. Overground trains picking up the rest of it. And Ross and Catster have summarised the myriad cultural reasons to stick around better than I ever could.
Why else? I'm part of a mixed-race family. Although we attract the odd look or comment, it's rare enough to be noticed. Travel 30 miles in any direction from this polyglot melting-pot and I can guarantee there will be stares, muttered comments, and worse. Hard to think of anywhere on Earth that would be more relaxed about miscegenation. New York maybe? Amsterdam? That's about it.
There are plenty of green spaces to be found if that's your bag. I'm lucky enough to live right on the edge, so there's green belt out back. The trade off is a long commute. But that gives space for a seat, and time to read, think, listen to music.
All in all I wouldn't change it for anything less than a colossal Schloss in a ski resort. But it's a sh!t place to drive.
Born and raised in Madchester and then semi-rural Cheshire, I've been in the Smoke for about 20 years now. On the rare occasions I drive into the centre I always curse the place: as the largest city in Europe I guess one should expect a little congestion. So avoid, if possible. If you can't, get in first thing, or late, or on Sunday.
Seriously, compared with most places (Manchester, for example) public transport here is utterly fantastic. For all that we moan about the tube, it's generally fast, regular, and gets you where you need to be. Buses all over the place - 24 hours! More taxis then you can shake a stick at. Overground trains picking up the rest of it. And Ross and Catster have summarised the myriad cultural reasons to stick around better than I ever could.
Why else? I'm part of a mixed-race family. Although we attract the odd look or comment, it's rare enough to be noticed. Travel 30 miles in any direction from this polyglot melting-pot and I can guarantee there will be stares, muttered comments, and worse. Hard to think of anywhere on Earth that would be more relaxed about miscegenation. New York maybe? Amsterdam? That's about it.
There are plenty of green spaces to be found if that's your bag. I'm lucky enough to live right on the edge, so there's green belt out back. The trade off is a long commute. But that gives space for a seat, and time to read, think, listen to music.
All in all I wouldn't change it for anything less than a colossal Schloss in a ski resort. But it's a sh!t place to drive.
Haha just got in....20mins there and 15mins back....love it after 8....Race ya
Haha
...on a bicycle
BennyD
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Absolutely. I'm delighted there are so many people that like living in the cities, it leaves the countryside with fewer people and less congestion. We spent a week in London earlier this year and it was quite pleasant but wild dogs and a free house in the centre couldn't get me to live there. Each to their own but thanks again guys..
hodroyd
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I'm with you Ian..!! I lived in Chelsea for a few years in the 60's, it was an exciting time then with mini skirts just arriving and free love being worked on, but traffic was still rubbish even then. I love laying my head on the pillow at night and hearing absolutely nothing apart from maybe an owl...bliss..!!
Chrisbassett
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: )
That's why we moved out to the "countryside" of Hampstead Heath, Rob. Look out of the bedroom window and there's a mile of trees 'til the next house. Just missing the winding country lanes.
2b1ask1
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We are seriously looking to move to the Somerset coast in a couple of years, as soon as the youngest completes his GCSE's. Jeanette's work is available anywhere as there is a national shortage of health visitors. As self employed I can cover the country just as easily from there, possibly more easily as the M5/M4 junction gives you access to pretty much anywhere in a good time, I could probably be in Heathrow quicker than from here on a good day, the M25 is just not good enough for the traffic trying to use it and that is not going to get any better. If I go up to town for a meeting I go by train and I'm always amazed that at 9pm the tube is still shoulder to shoulder, I could never commute again...