Some transport news

First, TfL again refusing to do anything about dangerous traffic situation, this time by only leaving traffic lights working for three hours a day and insisting putting them on for 24 hours a day wouldn't help things.  Obviously public opinion, from pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, disagrees, but TfL is not their to serve the people who pay their salaries.  I have no idea of the real reason behind this refusal, so I assume that it's got to do with somehow generating signal failures elsewhere on the system.

Second, in Croyden, TfL is working with the local council to try and force children to walk to school, rather than be driven there.  While I approve of the exercise, the lessening of pollution, and the diminishing of the horror of school run traffic, something about this seems wrong, and it's the fact that we bloody well pay for the use of those roads, so being encouraged not to use them is a bloody cheek.  How about more and better bus services for the schools?

Third, Bob Crow continues with his domestic terrorism to prevent technological progress.

Fourth, check out plans for SkyCycle, in which special cycle lanes will be built above the streets of the capital in order to protect drivers from cyclists' inconsiderate and downright dangerous lack of basic road skills.

Fifth, and most importantly, in a more general rail services piece, there's some compelling evidence that our train operators are using the money they claim from Network Rail as a nice little earner for themselves.  They keep more than 90% of what they get, throwing a few crumbs their passengers' ways.  Sorry the picture is sideways (but not very).

Does anyone know how to get this to rotate the right way?

Red lights, grey morning

Nothing original to report this morning; a one minute delay on the train for no particular reason, followed by being held at a red signal while a platform opened up, led to a 10-minute delay in my commute this morning for an extra £25.

In other news, it seems we may finally have seen the last of the summer.  Such as it was.

Let's see if the journey home brings us anything fresh for the Tube Bingo card (did you remember yours this morning?)...


UPDATE: the return journey was a great one(!)  The District Line from Edgware Road to Wimbledon took a small series of delays for a thoroughly inaudible reason.  Once the driver had figured out his PA problem, we stopped for a red signal that evolved into a full-blown signal failure.  Fifteen minutes late into Wimbledon, I obviously missed my connecting train to Hampton Court.  The next one arrived a minute late and got to its final destination a minute late.  No explanation was offered.  In all, that makes a delay of 31 minutes from my original projected arrival time for another £77.50.

On the plus side, my Tube Bingo card is looking good.

NB: astute readers may remember I once circumvented a missed train at Wimbledon via a very circuitous route.  I felt it only fair not to do the same this time for comparative purposes...