Behold the solution to London’s transport problems. One complete shell for a station. Yeah, the DDA and narrow platforms may be an issue, but isn’t [...]]]> I forgot to upload this a while ago. Anyone who’s been around Holborn will have noticed the old ramp down to the tram station, and wondered what was below Kingsway.

Behold the solution to London’s transport problems. One complete shell for a station. Yeah, the DDA and narrow platforms may be an issue, but isn’t that just a great arterial route waiting to be used.

But no, it’s being used as storage for Crossrail.

Glad I’m paying for only the best with Walker’s crisps.

This roadsign, in the Morristown area of Swansea, Wales, gives the correct message in English – “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”. Apparently it was to make sure [...]]]> We’ve all done it. Had to send an email to someone and trusted the first response we got back.

This roadsign, in the Morristown area of Swansea, Wales, gives the correct message in English – “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”. Apparently it was to make sure the juggernauts which serve the Asda megastore nearby stopped disturbing the locals.

The road-sign manufacturers emailed the translation department at Swansea council, and the response came back:

“Nid wyf yn y swyddfa ar hyn o bryd. Anfonwch unrhyw waith i’w gyfieith.”
“I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated.”

Priceless.

I know what it is, and I know what it’s doing.

But how come no other vehicles are allowed to just mount the pavement and drive around at will?

Is it just laziness? That’s my bike over on the left. I had to walk with it [...]]]>

Motorised Islington Council street-sweeper. On the pavement.

I know what it is, and I know what it’s doing.

But how come no other vehicles are allowed to just mount the pavement and drive around at will?

Is it just laziness? That’s my bike over on the left. I had to walk with it to park it up. Immediately beside my bike, but just out of shot, is the exit from a well known supermarket.

Anyway, they were useless. See that piece of white paper in the foreground, mid way between the man’s brush and the walking lady? It was still there afterwards.

It’s a white van, parked on the street, I thought at first, but there were a couple of subtleties I picked up on. First was that the message [...]]]> Off the back of the City of Westminster’s poor attempts at parking properly, a subscriber to fnar, lets call him Disgruntled of Euston, sent me these pictures.

It’s a white van, parked on the street, I thought at first, but there were a couple of subtleties I picked up on. First was that the message with the picture said the white van man was a bit rude towards the pedestrian, who was carrying some shopping. Also, looking deeper, do you see the disabled sign?

Yes, it says Disabled badge holders only. Now, that one’s not rocket science to figure out. But dig deeper into the picture. There’s another thing that makes this audacious parking.

“This vehicle is either making a delivery or collection on behalf of DHL couriers. Please allow 20 minutes to load or unload before you isue a Penalty Charge Notice. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.”

So, besides a considerable disregard towards humanity, DHL have a special dispensation, where they can park wherever they like, and instruct leniency on the windscreen. Maybe you can try this too. Next time you park on a London street, just leave a cheeky note on the windscreen telling the Traffic Warden to allow 20 minutes before you get a ticket!

Cheeky bastards.

In case you can’t make it out, those are double yellow lines the car is parked on. They aren’t evident in the photograph, but there are double yellow kerb markings too. The explanatory [...]]]> I was stood on St Martin’s lane for about 30 minutes yesterday, watching this small CCTV car from Westminster City Council.

In case you can’t make it out, those are double yellow lines the car is parked on. They aren’t evident in the photograph, but there are double yellow kerb markings too. The explanatory sign on nearby lamp-posts say no parking at any time.

What’s that Mr Driver? You’re on your mobile, whilst parked up in a Westminster City Council CCTV Smart Car, enforcing the law?

I watched this man on his mobile for a good 20 or so out of 30 minutes. I had nothing better to do. I still can’t figure what he was doing though.

I asked the Council whether these little cars are covered by any byelaws to allow them to park anywhere they wished. “We can park where we like” came the reply. No explanation, just a curt response.

Whilst our liberties are being gracefully eroded, this is another example of how London’s councils seem to think they can do what they like.

Bad day for Steps fans, H is dead

The contents of said email? One image…