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.
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.
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!
Transport for London Bans Gay Cure Bus Adverts
I put up an article a couple of weeks ago about Stonewall’s adverts on London buses.
I thought there would be some protests and after watching them for nearly three weeks, I haven’t even seen one that has been damaged.
I usually read the Evening Standard and listen to the local news and have seen no reports of any protest either.
But now some gay cure adverts planned by an opposing Christian group, have been banned by Transport for London, as reported here.
I have read about the therapy they are promoting in serious newspapers and magazines and it is not something I believe will work. Therapy, such as that for smoking and nail-biting does work, but only because the person seriously wants to give up. So on the same basis if a person seriously wanted to stop being gay, some simple less agressive therapy might help. There is a serious article in the Guardian, that anybody who believes religious-based methods cure people from being gay should read.
But my biggest issue with the adverts, is that they mimic the ones from Stonewall.
Surely this is an infringement of copyright!
Just imagine the row if Pepsi-Cola copied an advert from Coca-Cola.
Oyster Cards for London Visitors
I have a feeling that London doesn’t do enough to publicise how a visitor to London gets an Oyster card and what the terms are. I was asked this morning by a couple of Austrian ladies and they seemed at a bit of a loss. So I asked a helpful London Underground lady at a barrier and she gave me the full rules, which include.
- To get an Oystercard you need to put up a refundable £5 deposit in addition to how much credit you want.
- You can top up an Oystercard using a credit card at machines.
- If you no longer want your Oystercard when you leave the UK, you can cash it in at certain places. Or even give it to charity!
Where’s the Oyster Information?
At
Stonewall’s Bus Adverts
It would appear that the hated Wonga adverts seem to have all but disappeared, but another group has replaced them from Stonewall.
Stonewall’s Bus Advert
I have no objection, as being gay is just another facet of our many-faceted society, especially as I think that they are promoting same sex marriage in the adverts. I was lucky enough to have a very good marriage, that lasted nearly forty years, so who am I to deny anybody the same happiness, just because their sexuality is different from mine.
I should say that I was only intending to take a picture of the bus on the right, but when your eyesight is dodgy, pictures don’t turn out how you expect them!
Defibrillators on Buses
If you search for defibrillators on buses, you will find that some companies do have them on buses and train staff to use them.
So perhaps where you have a two-man bus, like the New Bus for London, they should be carried and staff should be trained. Note that some of the newer buses have got bigger, so I suspect there might be a space to store a defibrillator.
Guess Who?
On my trip on the New Bus for London, I sat by the rear platform for a time. I took this picture.
Guess Who?
Who is it? I should say that Health and Safety regulations, do not require all passengers to wear a parachute on the rear platform of the New Bus for London. There is always a helpful conductor or as I prefer a Bus Captain there to ensure good behaviour.
I should say, that I had a brief chat with the Bus Captain, who very much liked the bus. I suppose acting as a Rear Gunner chatting to passengers, is better than being shut behind a Plexiglass screen with the money, driving the bus.
If you haven’t identified him yet, here’s a picture after he got off the bus.
Boris on the Stump
It’s only the second time, I’ve ever come across a politician on the stump. The first time, I was under a car fixing the brakes, when I was called out by a lady canvassing for her local party. I voted for her, as she apologised for interrupting me.
The Anonymous Widower 