More Mice From God?
I don’t know what our friend from yesterday would say about this story in tonight’s Standard! Perhaps the mice were feeling cold and needed somewhere to bed down and the actress’s cleavage beckoned.
But they would have had to cross the river!
Standing on a New Bus for London
Coming back from the Angel today, I got a New Bus for London. And it was totally packed and so I had to stand.
As I didn’t have a measure with me, I can’t be sure, but it struck me that the central aisle on the lower deck was wider. Or perhaps those with large cases and packages had got a seat.
So I stood all the way to the stop where I got off.
I can’t say I do this often, but I felt it was easier to stand than on a normal London bus. The handrails were in the right place and it struck me that the dynamics of the bus are better. This could be because the bus is longer and slightly wider, but it might be that the placing of the hybrid drive train is better. It could also be that as all the seats were full and the design placed them in the right position for balance, that the passengers were making the bus more stable.
Of course all of these points could apply to any new bus design. So I think it is true to say, that on the subject of ride and vehicle dynamics, there is a lot to be squeezed out. As I’ve said before there is a war out there and it’s the passengers, who’ll win.
As I stood there holding safely to the handrail, it got me thinking. The ride difference between the New Bus for London and the normal Wight or Dennis product, was almost like that between the old Routemaster and it’s predecessor, the RT. That difference was very marked, as the RT had a very simple suspension and a traditional body, but the Routemaster had independent front suspension and a integral body design. The Routemaster was also a lot lighter than the RT, despite carrying eight more passengers.
The Olympic Legacy
Everybody seems to be complaining that there won’t be any Olympic Legacy. I’ve just had this e-mail read out on Radio 5.
Just compare Manchester after the Commonwealth Games, Sheffield after the World Student Games and Liverpool after the City of Culture with Athens after the Olympics and Montreal after the Olympics.
You can’t say we don’t do legacy. We do it very well!
I could have added, where’s the legacy in Atlanta and my physio from Queensland, doesn’t think there was much legacy after Sydney.
London’s biggest legacy will be the Olympic Park. And no-one who’s ever been over just a few of the UK’s big parks, could not agree that we do parks well. So just as Victoria Park and Hampstead Heath became London’s lungs nearly two centuries ago, the Olympic Park will be London’s park for the 22nd Century.
It’s a pity though London has got no superlambananas or equivalent. They may be rather trivial, but Liverpudlians love them.
The East India Dock Basin
Travelling towards the River Thames, you come to the East India Dock Basin, which is now a nature reserve, is described here.
As you can see, it is well-laid out and has good views of the River Thames. The island in the middle of the basin is growing using the same method that salt marshes do in places like Norfolk. There were quite a few birds about with sheld-duck, tufted duck and coot easily spotted. Apparently, there’s a local kingfisher too! There is a lot of good information. What would Jack Dash have thought?
There are plenty of places to sit and considering how close it is to the end of the 277 bus route and East India station on the DLR, it’s an ideal spot to go for a picnic.
The Southern End of the River Lea
The River Lea meanders its way into the Thames in a rather lackadaisical way. Today I took the 277 bus all the way to Leamouth and followed the signs behind the Esso garage. I’m mentioning the garage as it seems to crop up in a lot of directions.
A sign pointed me to the River Lea Walk and a couple of minutes later I was there.
These pictures show that The Lea isn’t the most attractive of rivers.
A Good Summary of Crossrail
Although, it’s mainly about the start of tunnelling on Crossrail, this post on the BBC, has some good graphics and maps about the new train line through London.
A Good Safety Slogan
I took this picture on the site of the Royal Docks terminal of the new Emirates Air-Line.
A Good Safety Slogan
It’s so obvious, I’m surprised I’ve not seen it before.
St. Dunstan’s, Stepney
This church is mentioned in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
St. Dunstan’s is the sort of English parish church, that you expect to see more in the country, than tucked away in the East End of London.
St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney
It now sits and watches over the important Crossrail site at Stepney Green.
Walking To Stepney Green
Today I went searching for the Crossrail site at Stepney Green. It was a pleasant walk from the area of Stepney Green station, although for convenience I’d taken a 25 bus to get to there in the first place.
As you can see there were a lot of flowers in bloom.
The New Bus for London as a Tourist Bus
I said in my post yesterday, that the new Bus for London makes a superb place from which to explore London as a tourist. So here’s most of the pictures I took from the bus, running on route 38.
The best place to board the bus is either at the Angel in Islington or at Victoria station. But as there is only one in service at the present, you could have a long wait. but there will be eight by the end of May.
i think it is true to say that the standard buses on route 38, aren’t bad for sightseeing. They’re all less than two years old and like the New Bus for London, they’ve been built by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland.
If you want to see a different side of London, go all the way to Hackney, getting off at Central. You can pick up a train from there to the Olympic Park at Stratford or even explore some of the buildings like the Hackney Empire, which is one of the largest theatres in London.
The Anonymous Widower 