Bob crow based noddergedon is coming - BOB CROW DIES

bompington

Took me 50 minutes for my 45 mile commute, just like it usually does :twisted:

il_principe

I have to drive a tiny French-made electric van from Elephant and Castle to Kingston this afternoon, then ride home. Not looking forward to it at all. Company van which we've sold and I'm delivery. Limited to 30mph. Really looking forward to negotiating the A3 in the bloody thing, especially as I rarely drive in London and there is a monsoon forecast. Also have a meeting this afternoon that I need to cycle to, hope they won't mind me dripping all over their office. Have deployed full Castelli/Sportful rain gear, but lost my waterproof cap to the wind last night. It was only a week old. :roll:

Anonymous

That's what you get for not wearing a helmet.......

il_principe

coriordan wrote:

That's what you get for not wearing a helmet.......

Actually I'm helmeted today. Have to be when I ride to clients; company policy.

Pufftmw

Il Principe wrote:

coriordan wrote:

That's what you get for not wearing a helmet.......

Actually I'm helmeted today. Have to be when I ride to clients; company policy.

Full face? Or are your clients really that bad?

rjsterry

Just been out to a meeting in South Ken via Brompton and Tube. Roads very busy, and about 90% cabs. Must be raking it in. Tube surprisingly busy for late morning/midday

Clever Pun

bikenado last night wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be

my legs needed to check my avatar though

keyser__soze

First Aspect wrote:

London rail users subsidise the rest of the UK? Eh? Have you seen rail fares in Scotland? Trust me, you aren't subsidising independent franchises, idiot.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/09/train-pas ... n-4223022/

Wrath Rob

Clever Pun wrote:

bikenado last night wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be

my legs needed to check my avatar though

That's 'coz there was no rain. Tonight should separate the men (and women) from the nodders.

First.Aspect

Keyser__Soze wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

London rail users subsidise the rest of the UK? Eh? Have you seen rail fares in Scotland? Trust me, you aren't subsidising independent franchises, idiot.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/09/train-pas ... f-britain-<a href="tel:4223022" sl-processed="1">4223022</a>/

this sort of thing really gets on my tits. Those data show that urban commuters subsidise rural rail journeys. By the same reasoning Edinbugh commuters are unfairly subsidising rail fares in Suffolk. Not such a good headline I suppose.

Incidentally that southampton season ticket is a bargain. 78miles for £5k a year. It's nearly £4k for the 45mike commute between Edinbugh and Glasgow, despite all the subsidies we are supposed to be getting.

jds_1981

First Aspect wrote:

Incidentally that southampton season ticket is a bargain. 78miles for £5k a year. It's nearly £4k for the 45mike commute between Edinbugh and Glasgow, despite all the subsidies we are supposed to be getting.

Problem is, you end up in Southampton or London....

pinno

London gets the Olympics. They have the parliament. They have the bulk of the great museums. They have the City and the cash it generates. The have Buckingham palace, Kew Gardens and Mary f***in Poppins.

We cannot all live there. If it is one of the primary generators of money, then we have a right to some of it. So if our transportation is subsidised by the big stink, so flippin what?

Spent 2 days in Barcelona and the Metro is fantastic. Clean, efficient, wide carriages, plenty of staff and Policia everywhere.

As a hub, as a centre of commerce, cities need to have good communication. If it benefits everyone, why is transport not subsidised by the Government like the SNCF/TGV and the major lines into Tokyo. The new Tokyo magnetic rail line from Okinawa cost $billions but it is relatively cheap because it is heavily subsidised. It has almost eliminated internal flights in Japan. The Japanese communications network benefits the whole country economically. We need a better transport system and we need one that is subsidised.

PS I loathe London. What a hole. Apart from a few buildings of note, the place should be demolished and we should start again.

How about:
No cars except Taxis within the M25 area. Make the M25 a giant car park (it is anyway). You would be able to get on a bus into the City in no time.
Only delivery vehicles, buses, bicycles and disabled car drivers. pedestrianise all the town centres in London borough. Then it would work.

crumbschief

Ok let's do it,Pina for mayor.

pinno

crumbschief wrote:

Ok let's do it,Pina for mayor.

Cheers mate, that is absolutely priceless because it will really really pi$$ Stevo 666 right off.

asprilla

pinarello001 wrote:

As a hub, as a centre of commerce, cities need to have good communication. If it benefits everyone, why is transport not subsidised by the Government like the SNCF/TGV and the major lines into Tokyo. The new Tokyo magnetic rail line from Okinawa cost $billions but it is relatively cheap because it is heavily subsidised. It has almost eliminated internal flights in Japan. The Japanese communications network benefits the whole country economically. We need a better transport system and we need one that is subsidised.

Flying in Japan is substantially cheaper and quicker than taking the Bullet Train. Return flights from Haneda to Hiroshima costs about half what the train does, and as a bonus you get to see Fuji-San from above which is frankly spectacular. Can't comment on the maglev.

pinno

I hate flying.

The calorific value of one gallon of petrol can fuel a cyclist for 10,000 miles.

Flying is pants. Why get into a jet propelled Aluminium cannister and rise to 37,000 feet above the earth?

(Sort of) Back on topic:
Do you agree or don't you agree with subsidising transport systems because it has a benefit to us all?

asprilla

pinarello001 wrote:

I hate flying.

The calorific value of one gallon of petrol can fuel a cyclist for 10,000 miles.

Flying is pants. Why get into a jet propelled Aluminium cannister and rise to 37,000 feet above the earth?

(Sort of) Back on topic:
Do you agree or don't you agree with subsidising transport systems because it has a benefit to us all?

I think transport should be as quick, cheap and pleasurable. Unfortunately (apart from cycling) you can generally only have two of the three.

Back off topic; with kids I'd rather be in an airport than a train station platform and if I'm going to be sealed in an aluminium with them and limited entertainment options I want it to be for as short a period as possible.

msmancunia

The problem is, it doesn't feel like we are subsidised. Much of the North West's rail franchise is held by Northern Rail. The rolling stock that comes with the franchise is over forty years old, it's dirty, unreliable, and infrequent - far worse than the overland services I used when I lived in London. The customer service is appalling. It's expensive. The buses are too expensive - a return from North Manchester to the city centre is nearly seven quid for a journey of eight miles.

I don't know anyone up here who actually wants the HS2 either - the journey from Manchester to London is only 2hrs 8 mins as it is. Everybody seems to want more investment in local services that they use every day than rather than a high speed link to the capital that we don't think will bring any business back to the North West.

On the plus side, the terrible transport services got me back on a bike for the first time since I was a teenager, so it's not all bad

rolf_f

msmancunia wrote:

The rolling stock that comes with the franchise is over forty years old, it's dirty, unreliable, and infrequent - far worse than the overland services I used when I lived in London.

Which stock is that? AFAIK, the oldest stuff dates from the mid 80s so not quite 30 years old. And not really that old in terms of railway rolling stock lifespans. If it's unreliable it is down to maintenance and refurb needs rather than any need to replace outright.

Stevo_666

pinarello001 wrote:

crumbschief wrote:

Ok let's do it,Pina for mayor.

Cheers mate, that is absolutely priceless because it will really really pi$$ Stevo 666 right off.

I'm fine with that 'cos we're more likely to see Elvis riding the Loch Ness Monster

pblakeney

pinarello001 wrote:

Flying is pants. Why get into a jet propelled Aluminium cannister and rise to 37,000 feet above the earth?

i am going to New Zealand for a holiday. I am sure that I could do it by bike and boat but on reflection, I would rather fly.

pinno

Asprilla wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

I hate flying....

I think transport should be as quick, cheap and pleasurable. Unfortunately (apart from cycling) you can generally only have two of the three.

That is known as the 'Triple constraint'. Most things in life are tempered by this.

roger_merriman

msmancunia wrote:

The problem is, it doesn't feel like we are subsidised. Much of the North West's rail franchise is held by Northern Rail. The rolling stock that comes with the franchise is over forty years old, it's dirty, unreliable, and infrequent - far worse than the overland services I used when I lived in London. The customer service is appalling. It's expensive. The buses are too expensive - a return from North Manchester to the city centre is nearly seven quid for a journey of eight miles.

I don't know anyone up here who actually wants the HS2 either - the journey from Manchester to London is only 2hrs 8 mins as it is. Everybody seems to want more investment in local services that they use every day than rather than a high speed link to the capital that we don't think will bring any business back to the North West.

On the plus side, the terrible transport services got me back on a bike for the first time since I was a teenager, so it's not all bad

Public transport is fairly slow and pricey in most cases, while I quite like the train to work now, using the train to visit friends family is a slow tiring affair, partially when I used to drive the routes so know how little time and easy it is by car.

to visit my folks leave at 4pm I'll arrive by 7pm by train i've only got to reading station by that point waiting for the Paddington train to Newport, getting to Abergavenny by 10.30pm getting to my folks place by 11ish since they picked me up, no buses etc run at that time or go near.

and this weekend to see my sister in law and various kids, out in Sussex 45mins to a hr drive but a good 2 to 3 hrs on the train...

it is rather galling to spend a fair bit of money to travel fairly uncomfortably has to be said, and thats compared to a old wee ford Fiesta so hardly a high bar to reach.

MaxwellBygraves

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/ ... 4020783374

LiveGiantly

Glad the noddergedon is over for now.....(waits a few days)

arran77

So whose going to step in now?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26527325

Pina?

Stevo?

menthel

arran77 wrote:

So whose going to step in now?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26527325

Pina?

Stevo?

Phil Mitchell?

anonymousblackfg

Is Scargill still alive and kicking?

An odios fat sh*t but he was good at what he did, maybe if he chose a bike instead of the tube or cruise ships he might have lasted a bit longer. As much as he annoyed me he didn't quite deserve to kick the bucket at 52.

jonny_trousers

anonymousblackfg wrote:

he didn't quite deserve to kick the bucket at 52.

In a way he probably did. He clearly lived a lifestyle that meant heart attacks were a serious possibility.

I always though he was the most intelligent thick man I've ever listened to. I certainly admired him, even if I didn't always agree with him.

asprilla

Was it a murder?