London Banter - View Single Post

Tom Anderson · March 11th 09, 10:25 PM posted to uk.transport.london

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009, wrote:

On 11 Mar, 09:50, Tom Barry wrote:
Barry Salter wrote:

What is *needed* for that stretch of the A406 is a much more
substantial upgrade to bring it in line with the rest of the road, but
of course that ain't gonna happen because that would actually be
*useful*.

Useful being shorthand for 'hugely expensive, disruptive,
environmentally damaging and a throwback to the failed ideas of the
1960s when people thought urban motorways were a good idea'.

"Failed" - sorry, I didn't catch your reason why you think they've
failed?

East London with it's A12, A406 and A13 is way easier to traverse than
any other part of London.

And is vile, in large part because it's been dismembered by tarmac.

If you've ever lived in central London (zone
1) and tried to escape London by car,

Then you're mental. What's your point?

you'll know that you REALLY appreciate these "failed" roads. And before
you ask why I would be using a car, have you ever tried to get to remote
parts of the country without a car?

Yes, frequently and successfully.

Living in South London with its failed public transport and its failed,
inadequate road system and its failed connectivity with the rest of the
country, I would very much like one of these "hideous", "disruptive",
"environmentally damaging" and "useless" roads to help me carve my way
through areas of FAILED infrastructure planning.

It's about time that NIMBYs stopped preventing progress and causing the
rest of the Londoners to actually be able to do the business they plan
to do, rather than having their time wasted by congestion (on the roads
/ rails or otherwise).

Well put: you want mighty roads driven through *other* people's
neighbourhoods for *your* benefit.

tom

--
Gin makes a man mean; let's booze up and riot!