The Unwelcoming Face of Addison Lee
I’ve never used a mini-cab in London, as usually when I need a taxi, I’m in a place where I can flag an empty black cab down. I also live close to the route back to the City, that is usually taken by black cabs. So when it is raining and say I need a black cab for the theatre, it’s only a few seconds before one appears.
So I doubt I would ever need one of the forthright John Griffin’s mini-cabs from Addison Lee.
A few days ago, he was urging his drivers to use bus lanes. As a very regular bus user, I am against this and am pleased to see that Transport for London is taking action according to this report.
Now he has had a go against cyclists. Again it is reported on the BBC. The comments here are mild compared to some sites I’ve looked at.
As some of their mini-cabs sometimes hang around my area, I had thought about possibly using them. But not now! How could I be sure, that I would get what I paid for?
I also find mini-cabs and some may be from Addison Lee a nuisance in the West End, when I’m trying to get my bus home from the theatre. Some tend to block the pavements and junctions, when they are waiting for their passengers.
I would not be bothered if wardens decided to clamp down on this illegal practice.
So I’ll stick to the reliable 38 bus and the occasional black cab.
Two Pleased Ladies and a Happy Driver
Yesterday afternoon, I took a New Bus for London from Islington Green to the Balls Pond Road. Because of the time of day and the weather, there were only about six people on the lower deck of the bus.
In front of me, were two ladies of a certain age and I asked them what they thought of the new bus. They said, that they had so much space and seemed very pleased with it.
I then moved to the back and asked the driver/conductor, what the bus was like to drive. He said he was happy with it, although the acceleration was a bit lively.
So perhaps they should be called Halley’s Comets after Edmond Halley, one of Hackney’s most famous citizens.
From Ballymena With Love
According to this article in the Ballymena Times, the New Bus for London will feature in the new James Bond film, Skyfall.
The bus is set to feature in an action scene set in Trafalgar Square involving the 007 spy, played by Daniel Craig.
Surely, the designer of the bus, didn’t envisage it to be James Bond’s latest transport.
It does however mean that there is a lot of scope for film and book titles.
On the Hackney Express is the obvious one, as the buses at present go to Hackney Central on route 38.
Beccles Station and the Start of the Construction of the Loop
On the way to football at Ipswich, I went via Beccles station, to see how the loop is progressing.
As you can see, there hasn’t been much done yet.
I hope that they improve the station as well as the track. I was there just after a very rainy morning and there was only one dry place to sit; a small patch of low concrete wall. Passengers started turning up about half-an-hour before the train and a couple were quite a bit older than me. There wasn’t even a pub or a cafe nearby.
I’ve been to quite a few unmanned stations in East Anglia, but Beccles must surely be one of the worst, if not the worst!
Where Have All The Stonewall Bus Adverts Gone?
I sat in Starbucks in Upper Street today having a cappuccino, but I didn’t see one of Stonewall’s adverts, that used to be so numerous.
Perhaps the contract has finished.
But I did see a lot advertising a film called Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
It used to be the rumour that when a film was advertised extensively on buses, it was not the best.
GreaterAnglia Trains Don’t Terminate
They complete their journeys, as I heard tonight. Terminate is so hard and possibly tragic. I’ve complained of this before.
The Strange Things You See At Night!
On Sunday night at about nine, as I made my way home on the bus, there was a guy on the vehicle with a complete set of ice hockey gear, including two sticks. He got off at the Lea Valley Ice Centre.
Games must start late!
Abbey Mills Is Revealed
Abbey Mills Pumping station sits like a Moorish castle on the Greenway guarding the Olympic Park.
I’m pleased to see that the years of vegetation have been cleared and it now appears as the great Victorian building it was designed to be. Note that the signpost sits on the south-east corner of the pumping station site. You have good views towards Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.
I carried on to West Ham, where they are building a lift to make it easier to get to the station.
The Bridge Over Stratford High Street Is Coming On
I’ve taken pictures of this before. I took this one today.
The Bridge Over Stratford High Street
The handrails are now in place.
Note that disabled users, those who can’t climb stairs, buggy pushers, cyclists and the plain lazy will go round the side to a light-controlled crossing over the road. Or at least it looks like they will! All in all, this bridge crossing over a very busy route, seems to have been well-designed.
The Busy Greenway By The Olympic Site
Before I went to lunch, I took the 488 bus to Hackney Wick and then walked to the ViewTube.
I had intended to have a coffee at one of the best places in London, but it was just so busy I moved on.
The Anonymous Widower 