When Will It Ever End?
They’re at it again digging up the pavement on Southgate Road in Hackney
Note.
- This time the bus-stop I regularly use is shut!
- There were no signs up, that this work would be going on.
- At least the guys seem to be doing a good job.
Over the last six months, we’ve had water, telecoms and pavement layers digging everything up. Sometimes, I feel trapped as all the bus stops are closed.
There hasn’t been as much work on the Islington side of the road, but then you can always tell when you cross the border between plebeian Hackney and posh Islington, as the pavements get worse.
I’ve only fallen over twice on the street since my stroke and both times it was in Islington.
Walking Between Cannon Street And Moorgate Stations
I took these pictures as I walked between Cannon Street And Moorgate stations.
Note.
- It was a Sunday, so there wasn’t much traffic about.
- The bus stop on King William Street is served by buses 21, 43 and 141. wjich all go to Moorgate and Old Street stations.
I needed to find out how long it took for this other post, called Thoughts On The Closure Of The Northern Line At Bank To Complete The Upgrade To Bank Station.
Timings were as follows.
- Cannon Street Station to the Northbound bus stop on King William Street – 3 minutes
- Cannon Street Station to Bank Junction – 6 minutes
- Cannon Street Station to Moorgate Station – 15 minutes
How much faster would I be in better weather?
Chaos In The Balls Pond Road
This article in The Times is called High Court Deals Blow To Expansion Of Cycle Lanes And Wider Pavements.
This was the first paragraph.
Road closures designed to boost walking and cycling could face legal challenges after a judge declared that a big expansion of the plans was “unlawful”.
A challenge to the often ill-thought out improvements from black-cab drovers has been successful.
My experience, yesterday, summed up my inconvenience with such a scheme.
yaxiI actually, think that matters are being made worse by some of the designs and planning by the Council Clowns.
A big scheme is being undertaken around the Balls Pond Road to bring in a cycleway between Tottenham and the City. In Hackney, it looks like it will improve walking and calm the traffic in residential areas as well.
I had a serious stroke ten years and my eyesight was ruined enough, so that I couldn’t drive, so I rely heavily on buses to get around.
On Tuesday, I needed to go to the Angel to pick up a prescription. On arriving at the junction of Balls Pond Road and Southgate Road, I found that one of Islington’s Idiots had planned to dig up the junction and all four bus stops were closed. The traffic was so jammed as well, that there weren’t even any stray black cabs stoating about!
In the end, I walked to the next bus stop. This was not easy, as the lock-down has ruined my feet and they were painful.
But I got a bus to the Angel and after a bit of food shopping, I looked for a taxi to come home.
But another branch of Clowns and Idiots Ltd. has closed the taxi rank, so I had to resort to the bus, which got stuck in another set of jams caused by Thames Water at one of their well-used Party Places.
I did find a black cab, but he was unable to take me home, as the area was gridlocked. So he said give him a tenner and walk. As this was less than what was on the meter, I complied!
I laid down the principles of project planning using small computers in the 1970s.
Obviously, My ideas have fallen on deaf ears in Islington Council.
A Design Crime – Pedestrian Chaos At London Bridge
To get home from London Bridge station, I usually get the 141 bus in the station, or if I’m walking along the riverside, I get a 21 or 141 bus from the stop at the Southern side of the bridge.
There is now, no stop on the bridge, so it meant walking nearly to Bank station to get a bus. Not everybody of my age could manage that!
I hope the pea-brained idiot, who designed the current scheme at London Bridge, with no bus stops in either direction has been given his marching orders.
I know that for COVID-19 and wannabe terrorists something must be done, but surely one of the bus-stops in each direction should be working.
I suspect, it was designed by the same idiot, who decided to close the important Waterloo and City Line.
The Mayor won’t care, as he’s a South Londoner.
Coulsdon South Station Has Gone Step-Free
Coulsdon South station went step-free a couple of months ago, so I went to take a look.
These are my thoughts.
The Bridge
Mechanically, the bridge is typical of many in the UK, but someone has taken care over the design, by the use of well-chosen colours and bricks.
The Café
We need more station cafes like Jaconelli’s Espresso Bar.
- Full range of proper coffee and other drinks.
- Cakes and snacks.
- Gluten-free options.
- Wude selection of alternative milks
- Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
I suspect it is also owner-managed, as most cafes of this type would be in Italy.
It’s one of the best cafes of its type, that I’ve found in a long time.
The Old Bridge
According to one of the guys in the café the old bridge needed replacing.
But leaving it intact, gives the young, fit or agile a second route across the tracks.
Local Walks And Attractions
There are walks nearby in the Surrey Hills and on the London Loop.
I was also told, that you can get a bus to the Lavender Fields.
Zone Six Station On Thameslink
The station is in Zone Six, which puts it in Freedom Pass territory.
It also has two Thameslink and two Southern trains per hour, so it is easily reached.
Car Parking And A Taxi Service
This Google Map shows the station.
Note the car parking and a taxi service, which is called District Cars.
Conclusion
Coulsdon South is now a very well-equipped station and it must be an ideal place to meet a friend, family member or work colleague to either have a chat or a serious discussion.
Surely, with more people continuing to work from home, the need for meetings between those in the office and those at home will grow! Zoom etc. can only do so much and the cpncept doesn’t suit everybody!
So perhaps we’ll see more community-managed meeting rooms, like the one I described in The Newly-Decorated White Horse Room In Westbury Is Open For Bookings.
Pedestrians Get More Space In Dalston
I took these pictures in the Kingsland Road in Dalston this morning.
It will be interesting to see how this narrowing works out.
Not just for pedestrians! But for politicians as well!
There has been a certain amount of drivers against the narrowed roads. Who will they vote for in the next election for London Mayor?
Walking To Liverpool Street Station
I took these pictures yesterday, as I walked from my home to Liverpool Street station.
I had intended to buy the latest edition of Modern Railways at W H Smith’s in the station, but it was shut.
Walking Through De Beauvoir Town
I took these pictures as I walked through de Beauvoir Town, as I walked through today on my way to and from the doctor’s to get my hand dressed.
There wasn’t many people about and I perhaps only got within three metres to one person and her dog.
What would help would be a few seats, so that elderly people like me could take a break.
Walking From Cavendish Square To The Marylebone Lane Entrance Of Bond Street Station
I walked from Cavendish Square to the Maylebone Lane entrance Of Bond Street station, taking these pictures as I proceeded.
Note.
- It was an easy walk
- It took me about seven minutes.
- I passed the rear entrances of John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams.
It could be made a bit flatter, by eliminating kerbs
Would this route be a good enough connection between Crossrail and ehe Proposed Development Under Cavendish Square?
Could a pedestrian tunnel be built from Cavendish Square to Marylebone Lane with a travelator?
Or why not just pedestrianise Herietta Street and put a travelator, where the roads used to be?
It’s a big expensive investment under Cavendish Square and they can afford to make it the best.
Hands-Free Phone Ban For drivers ‘Should Be Considered’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Drivers could be banned from using hands-free mobile phones in England and Wales, a group of MPs has suggested.
I don’t drive and I rarely use a mobile phone to make or receive a phone all, so it won’t bother me much.
But sitting in my preferred slightly-raised position in the downstairs facing-seats on a New Routemaster bus, it’s amazing the number of drivers you see having a phone conversation or typing.
Recently, I nearly had a collision whilst walking along Moorgate.
A young lady going the other way was having a video call with her phone in front of her face. I went left to pass on the road side, as gentlemen are supposed to do and she went the same way.
Luckily, she saw me at the last minute!
So if drivers are to be banned from mobile use, whilst driving, what about banning pedestrians from mobile use, whilst walking on busy streets?
The Anonymous Widower 