It would seem someone (I suspect a certain Mr Livingstone) had the 'bright'
idea of shutting off Oxford Street today from the Circus right through to
Portman Street.

This was apparently to encourage more shoppers to visit, except most of them
like me would have spent what seemed like an eternity stuck on buses that
have been diverted gawd knows where and refused to let anyone off between
the Circus and the far side of Marble Arch!

Confused passengers, bemused tourists, lost drivers, a complete and utter
shambles par excellence. A BBC News report states they want to do more of
these events - perhaps a better location that is more bus route friendly
would be in order?

Regards
John M Upton

We walked from Baker Street to Westminster today (stopping off at some
places on the way, I might add!) and thought it might be worth taking a
look at Oxford Street on the way.

One thing I noticed was that it was VERY crowded, and it did seem to
have attracted a lot more people than normal.

Maybe it is something that London needed, but my concern is that it's
just a clever way of seeing if it's worth pedestrianising Oxford
Street.

If I'm cynical so be it, but if not - then the question is, where would
the buses go? Where did they go today?

Jonathan

No doubt that moron Livingstone is responsible.

In justification for his westward extension of the Congestion zone
(which itself will simply reate gridlock at its surrounding rat-runs),
he said that "at least people will live longer, and be able to vote me
out of office".

Yes, that's a highly satisfying thought and wholly justified my being
stuck in Wandsworth Bridge Road gridlock for up to half an hour (itself
brought about by the closure of Battersea Bridge - but undoubtedly a
foretaste of what will happen when that traffic is permanently
displaced into this road).

Marc.

In message . com,
" writes
Yes, that's a highly satisfying thought and wholly justified my being
stuck in Wandsworth Bridge Road gridlock for up to half an hour (itself
brought about by the closure of Battersea Bridge - but undoubtedly a
foretaste of what will happen when that traffic is permanently
displaced into this road).
Stop whinging man, anyone who lives in the westward extension to the CC
zone will only pay 10% and will get access to all parts of London free
thereafter.
--
Clive

On 2 Oct 2005 04:11:03 -0700, "
wrote:

In justification for his westward extension of the Congestion zone
(which itself will simply reate gridlock at its surrounding rat-runs),


That was the prediction for the original zone, wasn't it? And it
just didn't happen.

Clive,

Why should I not whinge: or this now also verbotten in Blair's Britain
too?

Anyway, since I live outside the extension zone, I will not be getting
any discount: just all of the extra traffic displaced.

Laurence,

Of course it did (does): have you been on the North Circular recently?
Or the Marylebone Road? Or through Vauxhall Cross? Or the Earl's Court
one-way system? These all now have even heavier traffic, since those
not wishing to pay the charge simply drive around it. That situation
will simply be displaced outwards now. For example, those wishing to
avoid the even greater jams now to be visited on Earl's Court will use
the next roads to the West, e.g. Wandsworth Bridge Road, Harwood Road,
Munster Road, Hammersmith Broadway etc.

Marc.

On 2 Oct 2005 06:48:52 -0700, "
wrote:

Of course it did (does): have you been on the North Circular recently?
Or the Marylebone Road? Or through Vauxhall Cross? Or the Earl's Court
one-way system?

Yup. Marylebone Rd. was always a hold-up, but doesn't seem any worse
since CC. I'm amazed how freely traffic moves round the Southern
perimeter of the zone. N. Circ. retains the traditional hot spots,
but isn't any worse. Much of it has improved enormously.

But if everyone would choose public transport where it IS viable, we
could all move much more freely.

On 2 Oct 2005 06:48:52 -0700, "
wrote:

Clive,

Why should I not whinge:

We should whinge because you're not quoting appropriately.

Not using Google, are you?

--
James Farrar
. @gmail.com

Laurence Payne wrote:
But if everyone would choose public transport where it IS viable, we
could all move much more freely.

And here lies the problem. PT can't cope with the extra people, which
is why it has been suggested that they introduce a charge on those
using trains in peak hours!

The problem is we don't want to keep building in and around London and
trying to get more people in to the capital each day. Move jobs outside
London (is it still necessary to have an office in WC1 to look good?).

We might be a tiny island, but there is still land outside the South
East to use. We are massively over populated around here, and the
building is nowhere near slowing down.

The roads may end up empty if by 2010 we're paying £50 a day, but we
aren't building lots of new railway lines, or running services 24/7 (if
you live outside the M25, try getting a bus at 4am - or even 9pm on a
weekend) then the car will ALWAYS be necessary.

j.morris wrote:
is it still necessary to have an office in WC1 to look good?

Sadly, my company is moving from W12 to W1 in a few years time, we
should be movign to Rugby or something.