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Post by ServerKing on Mar 15, 2016 16:00:08 GMT
This is not a political post merely one for information. Mr Khan has launched his manifesto today. I have naturally looked at the transport section and am very disappointed at what is / is not in there. There are several things in it that make little sense to me. Sad that there is so little comment about the bus service, other than fares, and how it would develop. I will provide a link in this overall thread and brief commentary on the other manifestos when they emerge in the near future. I had a browse thru the blurb... He's a little behind the times - no one's going to use a 'one hour bus hopper' ticket or otherwise, in this age of Contactless travel. Two hours would be better, but unless it's an enthusiast, Joe Public may not be keen to jump on and off buses in Central London or otherwise in the space of two hours ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) Unless your bus is turned early or goes mechanical, there's no need to switch from one bus to another in a short period of time. If that included Contactless on the Tube and Overground as well, he may be onto something. As for extremism / better schools / 'changes to fire services' (sounds like a good way to annoy the Fire Brigades Union, perhaps sparking another lot of strikes) or the plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street ( does he know how long it is from one end to the other?) ![:o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/shocked.png) sounds a little far fetched. You can't tuck away all the buses down Wigmore Street or Grosvenor Street, as the pollution will just move ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) And how will businesses deliver to Oxford Street's shops if every backstreet (now full of buses and cars avoiding Oxford Street) is choc-a-bloc? ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) Tackling Low Pay has already been done (London Weighting - usually in Council / Local Government jobs, seldom in private sector) - best thing would be going after the landlords / investors who are making London too expensive to live in forcing us out into the Shires and beyond as the area is getting to d*mn expensive to live in "Glass ceilings" and gender inequality are one thing, but how about "Glass windows" that actually function on the LT's? ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) I've picked enough holes in his Manifesto - ![](http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb47/johnselby123/struggling_zps1lvhci4r.jpg) I dread to think what the headlines will be like a year from now? ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by sid on Mar 16, 2016 8:01:03 GMT
Usual Labour Mayoral nonsense - they all think money grows on trees. As much as I'm far more likely to vote Labour, they need to stop thinking that people are thick and that we actually realise that cutting fares massively just isn't workable - it backfired on Ken and it will do the same again. As for more railways, I think some attention is needed towards the existing railway network first. He also hasn't stated if he'll remove LT's, only that no more will be ordered after the 195 extra recently ordered. Your statement is unfair. "Usual Labour Mayoral Nonsense" - the tone is very arrogant. Yes you made a point which is your opinion but it is expressed as a very open statement. If I could have Boris or Ken, I would personally pick Ken any day - he done so much more for transport than Boris although it was a whole new world in them days. Ken even initiated the "Boris Bikes", introduced the Oyster card, free travel for kids and the introduction of the congestion charge - all good things in my opinion. Looking at that with what Boris has done really sums it up - you have a cable car to nowhere and a vanity bus project which has cost the taxpayer thousands in rectifications. Boris is one of these "TV sofa" individuals where the day job is secondary. And as stated, the above is in my opinion. I don't think there's much to choose between Boris and Ken but the free travel for kids introduced by the latter has been every bit the unmitigated disaster that most people predicted. The bus network just cannot cope with the demand and for many people the bus network is inaccessible between 07.00 and 09.00, except during school holidays of course!
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Post by marlon101 on Mar 28, 2016 18:18:14 GMT
ServerKing - there's every reason to hop between one bus and another if, shock-horror, the bus that runs past your house doesn't also happen to run past the front door of your destination. I have seen that Sadiq is plugging it quite heavily again and I genuinely wonder how imaginative a redesign of the bus network we could possible have off the back of this. We could scale back duplication in many areas and adopt something more aviation like with a hub-and spoke system, boosting reliability and reducing buses carrying fresh-air.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 30, 2016 12:15:54 GMT
Well we now have Zac Goldsmith's transport manifesto available. issuu.com/conservativeparty/docs/zac_transport_manifestoI had to try hard not to fall asleep reading it. A lot of it is based on continuing current policies with endless emphasis on "evil fare cuts" promised by Mr Khan. There is also a very big emphasis on supporting far more electric cars and the provision of charging infrastructure. He does at least mention buses which makes a change. Unfortunately he or his reasearchers have fallen into a trap. They have said the "most overcrowded" bus routes are in South London which is, of course, a reference to the London Assembly report which quoted results from a "self selected" set of surveys via the web. There was no statistical or analytical rigour in that list of routes although I'm sure the routes are busy at times just like loads of routes across London. There are very few original ideas in the transport manifesto and I can see quite a lot of problems - a bland statement that it's OK to pedestrianise Oxford St because Crossrail means people won't need to use buses. In the same document he quotes Sir Peter Hendy saying Crossrail will be full upon opening. How can Crossrail take up the slack in Zone 1 if the trains are full? One wonders if anyone reads these things before they're published? So that's two tediously boring transport manifestos so far only three more to come (LD, UKIP and Green Party). [yawn] ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/notamused.png)
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Post by vjaska on Mar 30, 2016 12:30:15 GMT
Well we now have Zac Goldsmith's transport manifesto available. issuu.com/conservativeparty/docs/zac_transport_manifestoI had to try hard not to fall asleep reading it. A lot of it is based on continuing current policies with endless emphasis on "evil fare cuts" promised by Mr Khan. There is also a very big emphasis on supporting far more electric cars and the provision of charging infrastructure. He does at least mention buses which makes a change. Unfortunately he or his reasearchers have fallen into a trap. They have said the "most overcrowded" bus routes are in South London which is, of course, a reference to the London Assembly report which quoted results from a "self selected" set of surveys via the web. There was no statistical or analytical rigour in that list of routes although I'm sure the routes are busy at times just like loads of routes across London. There are very few original ideas in the transport manifesto and I can see quite a lot of problems - a bland statement that it's OK to pedestrianise Oxford St because Crossrail means people won't need to use buses. In the same document he quotes Sir Peter Hendy saying Crossrail will be full upon opening. How can Crossrail take up the slack in Zone 1 if the trains are full? One wonders if anyone reads these things before they're published? So that's two tediously boring transport manifestos so far only three more to come (LD, UKIP and Green Party). [yawn] ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/notamused.png) Providing he can actually achieve it, some things I do agree with here such as stopping Heathrow expansion, extension of Tramlink & Underground. However, I think he has fallen short in other places so I'm not sure what to think.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 30, 2016 12:52:51 GMT
Well we now have Zac Goldsmith's transport manifesto available. issuu.com/conservativeparty/docs/zac_transport_manifestoI had to try hard not to fall asleep reading it. A lot of it is based on continuing current policies with endless emphasis on "evil fare cuts" promised by Mr Khan. There is also a very big emphasis on supporting far more electric cars and the provision of charging infrastructure. He does at least mention buses which makes a change. Unfortunately he or his reasearchers have fallen into a trap. They have said the "most overcrowded" bus routes are in South London which is, of course, a reference to the London Assembly report which quoted results from a "self selected" set of surveys via the web. There was no statistical or analytical rigour in that list of routes although I'm sure the routes are busy at times just like loads of routes across London. There are very few original ideas in the transport manifesto and I can see quite a lot of problems - a bland statement that it's OK to pedestrianise Oxford St because Crossrail means people won't need to use buses. In the same document he quotes Sir Peter Hendy saying Crossrail will be full upon opening. How can Crossrail take up the slack in Zone 1 if the trains are full? One wonders if anyone reads these things before they're published? So that's two tediously boring transport manifestos so far only three more to come (LD, UKIP and Green Party). [yawn] ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/notamused.png) Providing he can actually achieve it, some things I do agree with here such as stopping Heathrow expansion, extension of Tramlink & Underground. However, I think he has fallen short in other places so I'm not sure what to think. And what's he going to do if Government say "Heathrow is go"? Whinge and moan from the sidelines like Boris has done? The issue is all about what any candidate would do if they oppose expansion. None of them have been clear. Saying you will extend the Northern Line is a no brainer given the work is underway and contracts are signed. It would cost a fortune to stop the work! The comments about the Bakerloo Line and Tramlink are mere aspirations if you read them closely or simply restate the current position. No actual commitment to spend more money to make them happen in a defined timescale.
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Post by routew15 on Mar 30, 2016 21:00:50 GMT
Zac Goldsmith, in my eyes is like Boris-Lite – another ribbon cutter to the previous mayor, there's not much substance or any spectacular ideas, at least Boris had a few show stoppers (New Bus for London, Cable car etc.) I don't feel Zac even has that. There are not many things that I like about his policies, although one thing that seems sensible enough is having a representative for Buses on the TfL Board. His fare policy is unclear, but fares don't particularly phase me as a voter to be honest. Broadband for London ... mmmm. I think his manifesto is quite hostile towards a few of the different groups of London, the cyclist are on brink of shunning him and the cabbies seem to have there eagle eye on him too. Also it felt like he just copied and pasted a lot things into the manifesto that have already been planned/desired by TfL and Network Rail.
Sadiq Khan, I see him talk a lot but I feel even more confused on what he stands for/ what he would do (besides cut fares). He seems quite nervous to be bold about anything besides cutting fares. The hopper ticket for buses would reduce fares for many bus commuters, meaning you could get from the City to places like Croydon/ Romford/ Hounslow/ Harrow for just £1.50 – Success... but not every success is a good one, the reduction is revenue from buses is not wise especially on a network that has been even more vulnerable to fare evasion. Something that did cross my mind recently, if Mr Khan's 'TfL Bus' company did come into play which garages would be novated? Are we talking about city garages (in order to clean the city air...) or OuterLondon garages (to provide greater quality services...)?
At the moment I've only been impressed by Ms Pidgeon, hoping her manifesto does not let her down.
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Post by vjaska on Mar 30, 2016 22:36:08 GMT
Providing he can actually achieve it, some things I do agree with here such as stopping Heathrow expansion, extension of Tramlink & Underground. However, I think he has fallen short in other places so I'm not sure what to think. And what's he going to do if Government say "Heathrow is go"? Whinge and moan from the sidelines like Boris has done? The issue is all about what any candidate would do if they oppose expansion. None of them have been clear. Saying you will extend the Northern Line is a no brainer given the work is underway and contracts are signed. It would cost a fortune to stop the work! The comments about the Bakerloo Line and Tramlink are mere aspirations if you read them closely or simply restate the current position. No actual commitment to spend more money to make them happen in a defined timescale. And that's why I said providing he can achieve it - so far, I'm underwhelmed by both main candidates, especially Mr. Kahn, who seems to live in cloud cuckoo land with nearly all of his ideas. Anyone know when Mrs. Pidgeon's manifesto will surface or have I missed it?
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Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 31, 2016 0:32:33 GMT
Your statement is unfair. "Usual Labour Mayoral Nonsense" - the tone is very arrogant. Yes you made a point which is your opinion but it is expressed as a very open statement. If I could have Boris or Ken, I would personally pick Ken any day - he done so much more for transport than Boris although it was a whole new world in them days. Ken even initiated the "Boris Bikes", introduced the Oyster card, free travel for kids and the introduction of the congestion charge - all good things in my opinion. Looking at that with what Boris has done really sums it up - you have a cable car to nowhere and a vanity bus project which has cost the taxpayer thousands in rectifications. Boris is one of these "TV sofa" individuals where the day job is secondary. And as stated, the above is in my opinion. I don't think there's much to choose between Boris and Ken but the free travel for kids introduced by the latter has been every bit the unmitigated disaster that most people predicted. The bus network just cannot cope with the demand and for many people the bus network is inaccessible between 07.00 and 09.00, except during school holidays of course! Plus it has made may of the kids lazy, they wait for a bus for 1 - 2 stops when they could easily walk it. The time they waited for the bus they would have been past the destination. It has also made the buses mobile youth clubs. Prior to this free travel, never had kids riding up and down at all sorts of hours unless they really had to.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 31, 2016 0:42:42 GMT
Zac Goldsmith, in my eyes is like Boris-Lite – another ribbon cutter to the previous mayor, there's not much substance or any spectacular ideas, at least Boris had a few show stoppers (New Bus for London, Cable car etc.) I don't feel Zac even has that . There are not many things that I like about his policies, although one thing that seems sensible enough is having a representative for Buses on the TfL Board. His fare policy is unclear, but fares don't particularly phase me as a voter to be honest. Broadband for London ... mmmm. I think his manifesto is quite hostile towards a few of the different groups of London, the cyclist are on brink of shunning him and the cabbies seem to have there eagle eye on him too. Also it felt like he just copied and pasted a lot things into the manifesto that have already been planned/desired by TfL and Network Rail. Sadiq Khan, I see him talk a lot but I feel even more confused on what he stands for/ what he would do (besides cut fares). He seems quite nervous to be bold about anything besides cutting fares. The hopper ticket for buses would reduce fares for many bus commuters, meaning you could get from the City to places like Croydon/ Romford/ Hounslow/ Harrow for just £1.50 – Success... but not every success is a good one, the reduction is revenue from buses is not wise especially on a network that has been even more vulnerable to fare evasion. Something that did cross my mind recently, if Mr Khan's 'TfL Bus' company did come into play which garages would be novated? Are we talking about city garages (in order to clean the city air...) or OuterLondon garages (to provide greater quality services...)? At the moment I've only been impressed by Ms Pidgeon, hoping her manifesto does not let her down. I am not convinced b either Goldsmith or Khan; they both seem a let down compared to Boris and Ken. I have to say of the two Khan is the better though.
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Post by routew15 on Mar 31, 2016 8:07:16 GMT
Your statement is unfair. "Usual Labour Mayoral Nonsense" - the tone is very arrogant. Yes you made a point which is your opinion but it is expressed as a very open statement. If I could have Boris or Ken, I would personally pick Ken any day - he done so much more for transport than Boris although it was a whole new world in them days. Ken even initiated the "Boris Bikes", introduced the Oyster card, free travel for kids and the introduction of the congestion charge - all good things in my opinion. Looking at that with what Boris has done really sums it up - you have a cable car to nowhere and a vanity bus project which has cost the taxpayer thousands in rectifications. Boris is one of these "TV sofa" individuals where the day job is secondary. And as stated, the above is in my opinion. I don't think there's much to choose between Boris and Ken but the free travel for kids introduced by the latter has been every bit the unmitigated disaster that most people predicted. The bus network just cannot cope with the demand and for many people the bus network is inaccessible between 07.00 and 09.00, except during school holidays of course! Sorry but I don't think free travel oyster users should get the blame, the transport authority should have invested in overcrowding or improved service levels on buses from the time free travel for young people was introduced. But what is clear, especially from Stratford (and its time wasting control periods) is that when changes to fares or concession are introduced is that TfL will take action after.
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Post by routew15 on Apr 1, 2016 15:08:56 GMT
Zac Goldsmith, in my eyes is like Boris-Lite – another ribbon cutter to the previous mayor, there's not much substance or any spectacular ideas, at least Boris had a few show stoppers (New Bus for London, Cable car etc.) I don't feel Zac even has that . There are not many things that I like about his policies, although one thing that seems sensible enough is having a representative for Buses on the TfL Board. His fare policy is unclear, but fares don't particularly phase me as a voter to be honest. Broadband for London ... mmmm. I think his manifesto is quite hostile towards a few of the different groups of London, the cyclist are on brink of shunning him and the cabbies seem to have there eagle eye on him too. Also it felt like he just copied and pasted a lot things into the manifesto that have already been planned/desired by TfL and Network Rail. Sadiq Khan, I see him talk a lot but I feel even more confused on what he stands for/ what he would do (besides cut fares). He seems quite nervous to be bold about anything besides cutting fares. The hopper ticket for buses would reduce fares for many bus commuters, meaning you could get from the City to places like Croydon/ Romford/ Hounslow/ Harrow for just £1.50 – Success... but not every success is a good one, the reduction is revenue from buses is not wise especially on a network that has been even more vulnerable to fare evasion. Something that did cross my mind recently, if Mr Khan's 'TfL Bus' company did come into play which garages would be novated? Are we talking about city garages (in order to clean the city air...) or OuterLondon garages (to provide greater quality services...)? At the moment I've only been impressed by Ms Pidgeon, hoping her manifesto does not let her down. I am not convinced b either Goldsmith or Khan; they both seem a let down compared to Boris and Ken. I have to say of the two Khan is the better though. He's most probably a lesser of the two evils but it's a good thing this is not exclusively a two horse race. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Khan won, his thinking is right wing enough for some of the outer boroughs and just about left wing enough for the urban boroughs. Although, I feel like he going to interfere with things that don't need to be interfered with.! Ultimately, I hope I am wrong about Mr Khan (and Mr Goldsmith for that matter) and in a year's time I can look back say "what the hell was I on about... ![O_o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/browraise.png) " but for now he's just another milk-and-water candidate to me
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Post by vjaska on Apr 1, 2016 15:30:49 GMT
I am not convinced b either Goldsmith or Khan; they both seem a let down compared to Boris and Ken. I have to say of the two Khan is the better though. He's most probably a lesser of the two evils but it's a good thing this is not exclusively a two horse race. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Khan won, his thinking is right wing enough for some of the outer boroughs and just about left wing enough for the urban boroughs. Although, I feel like he going to interfere with things that don't need to be interfered with.! Ultimately, I hope I am wrong about Mr Khan (and Mr Goldsmith for that matter) and in a year's time I can look back say "what the hell was I on about... ![O_o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/browraise.png) " but for now he's just another milk-and-water candidate to me I personally think Mr. Goldsmith is the lesser of the two evils given but neither seem particularly great - at this rate, I could be doing the unthinkable and voting for a Lib Dem mayor lol.
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Post by snoggle on Apr 5, 2016 11:35:50 GMT
And two more manifestos have now emerged. Green party mayoral manifestoLib Dem mayoral manifestoI've only given them a tiny skim but there is a lot of stuff in both of them. Both have reasonable views on transport and, shock horror, buses are actually mentioned. ![:o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/shocked.png) Both parties would expand bus services with the Green Party have a more aggressive agenda that covers more accessible vehicles, a fully electric / hybrid fleet by 2020 plus a lot about vehicle safety and driver standards. I'm not sure it all "hangs together" as a workable set of proposals and I can already detect smoke coming out of the ears of some Forum members. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) As you'd expect a lot of emphasis on cycling and walking in both manifestos. Both all support more trams and light rail, TfL taking over all suburban rail services and the GOBLIN being extended under the Thames from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead / Abbey Wood.
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Post by vjaska on Apr 5, 2016 13:33:53 GMT
And two more manifestos have now emerged. Green party mayoral manifestoLib Dem mayoral manifestoI've only given them a tiny skim but there is a lot of stuff in both of them. Both have reasonable views on transport and, shock horror, buses are actually mentioned. ![:o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/shocked.png) Both parties would expand bus services with the Green Party have a more aggressive agenda that covers more accessible vehicles, a fully electric / hybrid fleet by 2020 plus a lot about vehicle safety and driver standards. I'm not sure it all "hangs together" as a workable set of proposals and I can already detect smoke coming out of the ears of some Forum members. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) As you'd expect a lot of emphasis on cycling and walking in both manifestos. Both all support more trams and light rail, TfL taking over all suburban rail services and the GOBLIN being extended under the Thames from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead / Abbey Wood. Shock horror - I think the Lib Dems manifesto seems to be the most sensible one so far - lots of decent things in there. I wonder if my mind is now made up.
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