On Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:38:15 -0800 (PST)
George wrote:
Getting these unsuitable buses in the first place was the worst
example of political dogma over common sense that I've ever seen.

There was nothing unsuitable about them. I've seen loads of them at victoria -
what was the problem? People wibble on about london being special - there is
nothing special about london. Its streets are no narrower or more curvy than
a lot of european cities. Anyone who thinks bendybuses have a hard time here
should see them navigate their way around the centre of Metz in France!

The fare dodging issue is anything but fatuous!

Funny how everywhere else in europe copes.

B2003

In message , at 09:48:29 on Wed, 21 Dec
2011, d remarked:

The fare dodging issue is anything but fatuous!

Funny how everywhere else in europe copes.

It's easy to cope when the culture is different. Reminds me of a USA TV
show at the time of the London Riots which showed footage of looters
queuing up outside a small electrical store to relieve it of its stock.
The Americans were incredulous that they'd queue, rather than fight with
each other to get in first for the best stuff.

We are well known for queuing in the UK, but not so well known for
paying fares if we think we can avoid it. The usual excuse being "if
they can't be bothered to collect the money in a watertight fashion..."
--
Roland Perry

We are well known for queuing in the UK

But wrongly in the bits of London I inhabit where the "bus queue" of my
childhood has become the "I'm getting on the bus now, I'm entitled"
ruck. And as for "let them off first" on the tube..........
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

On 21/12/2011 19:42, Robin wrote:

And as for "let them off first" on the tube..........

Someone tried that. He's been stood on the same platform for three and a
half years now...


--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 09:48:29AM +0000, d wrote:
On Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:38:15 -0800 (PST)
George wrote:
Getting these unsuitable buses in the first place was the worst
example of political dogma over common sense that I've ever seen.
There was nothing unsuitable about them. I've seen loads of them at victoria

Yes, queueing outside the bus station!

what was the problem? People wibble on about london being special - there is
nothing special about london. Its streets are no narrower or more curvy than
a lot of european cities. Anyone who thinks bendybuses have a hard time here
should see them navigate their way around the centre of Metz in France!

Metz is a small town, you can't sensibly compare it to London.

--
David Cantrell | Bourgeois reactionary pig

All praise the Sun God
For He is a Fun God
Ra Ra Ra!

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:17:15 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 09:48:29AM +0000, d wrote:
On Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:38:15 -0800 (PST)
George wrote:
Getting these unsuitable buses in the first place was the worst
example of political dogma over common sense that I've ever seen.
There was nothing unsuitable about them. I've seen loads of them at victoria

Yes, queueing outside the bus station!

You mean unlike all the double deckers that queue too?

what was the problem? People wibble on about london being special - there is
nothing special about london. Its streets are no narrower or more curvy than
a lot of european cities. Anyone who thinks bendybuses have a hard time here
should see them navigate their way around the centre of Metz in France!

Metz is a small town, you can't sensibly compare it to London.

Of course you can , its the size of the streets that matter , not the size
of the town.

FYI I saw bendy buses navigating this street with little problem:

http://g.co/maps/spjnn

If they can manage to get around the old part of Metz there's no problem
with them getting around London. The only issue they had was that certain
vested interest groups + Boris decided they didn't like them from the get go
for whatever political reasons. No one ever bothered to asked the people that
actually mattered - ie the passengers.

B2003

On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 12:32:12PM +0000, d wrote:
On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:17:15 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
Metz is a small town, you can't sensibly compare it to London.
Of course you can , its the size of the streets that matter , not the size
of the town.

Small town == not much traffic == not so many problems caused by
blocking junctions.

FYI I saw bendy buses navigating this street with little problem:

http://g.co/maps/spjnn

If they can manage to get around the old part of Metz there's no problem
with them getting around London.

Sure, just like they do in York. Where there's **** all traffic.

vested interest groups + Boris decided they didn't like them from the get go
for whatever political reasons. No one ever bothered to asked the people that
actually mattered - ie the passengers.

Well, apart from that nice Mr. Johnson making it part of his manifesto
and people voting for him. The mayor has basically no significant
powers over anything that matters to most people apart from transport,
so the transport part of his manifesto was the only important bit.

--
David Cantrell | Nth greatest programmer in the world

Immigration: making Britain great since AD43

On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:56:08 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 12:32:12PM +0000, d wrote:
On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:17:15 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
Metz is a small town, you can't sensibly compare it to London.
Of course you can , its the size of the streets that matter , not the size
of the town.

Small town == not much traffic == not so many problems caused by
blocking junctions.

I never once saw a bendy bus block a junction. ISTM its just another myth
perpetuated by non bus users who didn't like them.

FYI I saw bendy buses navigating this street with little problem:

http://g.co/maps/spjnn

If they can manage to get around the old part of Metz there's no problem
with them getting around London.

Sure, just like they do in York. Where there's **** all traffic.

Whats traffic got to do with it? Either they block junctions and kill poor
innocent cyclists or they don't.

Well, apart from that nice Mr. Johnson making it part of his manifesto
and people voting for him. The mayor has basically no significant
powers over anything that matters to most people apart from transport,
so the transport part of his manifesto was the only important bit.

If you seriouly think the majority of people (including myself) who voted for
Boris did it because they didn't like bendy buses then you're an idiot.
I - as I suspect many others - simply voted for the buffoon to get rid if
that even bigger idiot Livingstone. Frankly I've yet to see a serious
candidate fielded for the london major. They're all been lightweights and
hasbeens from all parties.

B2003

On Jan 11, 12:24*pm, wrote:

If you seriouly think the majority of people (including myself) who voted for
Boris did it because they didn't like bendy buses then you're an idiot.
I - as I suspect many others - simply voted for the buffoon to get rid if
that even bigger idiot Livingstone. Frankly I've yet to see a serious
candidate fielded for the london major. They're all been lightweights and
hasbeens from all parties.

Genuine question then - who would you consider to be a reasonably
acceptable / competent candidate for Mayor?

I sort of agree with your basic diagnosis (in your final sentence
above) but I'm not sure who would be a better choice than the current
candidates.

B2003

Are you not due an increment (B2004?) by now? New year and all
that? ;-)

--
Paul C
via Google

On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:39:53 -0800 (PST)
Paul Corfield wrote:
Genuine question then - who would you consider to be a reasonably
acceptable / competent candidate for Mayor?

Good question. TBH there arn't many politicians who impress me right now.
A few years back I'd have said Steve Norris until he turned out to be a
blame shifting snake with that potters bar incident. Portillo would perhaps
make a good mayor since he seems to have turned into a pretty thoughtful and
intelligent man. Of course he's no longer in politics so he's out.
Ken Clarke would be good so long as they don't let him anywhere near justice
or anything to do with europe.

Are you not due an increment (B2004?) by now? New year and all
that? ;-)

Doesn't rhyme!

B2003