kford

I find it quite reassuring when I see them pulling over the uninsured - these drivers are statistically more likely to crash into you. I don't think they do tax though - that's the DVLA's job.

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I never realised those camera vans could check a > number plate with DVLA and from that and tell the > colour of the driver, decide whether the car's > nice or not, then issue an order to stop the > vehicle. Technology these days truly is amazing. The one I saw behind Buckingham Palace had stopped mainly eastern-European types. Maybe it was a different model of camera.

Is there a plain white van with cameras protruding out of the back windows, parked down the road from the operation? If there is, it's probably an ANPR op, tackling drivers with no insurance, outstanding fines or pulling over vehicles with links to criminal activity. There's often one set up by the Oval, on Vauxhall Bridge or behind Buck Pal.

Highway Code Rule 243 DO NOT stop or park near a school entrance anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space near the brow of a hill or hump bridge opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles in front of an entrance to a property on a bend where you would obstruct cyclists? use of cycle facilities

You should've rubbed his nose in it

It's funny, Louisa, as a biker and a cyclist, it's cars, lorries and buses that seem to cause all the near misses and accidents I read about. And I love 'They tend to be arrogant and selfish'. Brilliant sweeping generalisation. You should get yourself on a bike. The sense of having all that freedom might make you less pent-up and bitter.

I've had slow service and indifferent food there too on many occasions. Very overrated.

I'd suggest getting a bike or a scooter. Takes me 25-30 mins to Baker Street in any conditions. Even a cycle only takes 35-40 mins, compared to 55 on the train and tube.

I heard them and thought it might be related to Brazil's win over the Ivory Coast a few minutes earlier.

They're here again - more polite, but couldn't contain his contempt when I said 'sorry, I'm not interested' (with a smile)

Was it theft or vandalism? I know friends who've had just one blade nicked, just to save someone a few quid at Halfords.

Do you drive an Algerian or Italian-made car?

Canada geese aren't native and they've pushed many indigenous wildfowl off lakes and ponds in just a few decades. Collared doves aren't native either.

Removing the traffic lights altogether and replacing the junction with a mini roundabout would solve all the problems - there's room too.

I've use ICE for years. Very useful.

Look on ebay in the next few weeks. It might've been taken to break for spares. Shame.

It was on Hansler - next door to us! They filmed our extension over the fence.

You mean right into Clapham Park Road, here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=bedford+road+sw4&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bedford+Rd,+London+SW4,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&ei=LHMGTJbgMuWW4gbe0NXIDA&ved=0CB0Q8gEwAA&ll=51.459943,-0.129175&spn=0.007153,0.019162&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.460031,-0.129184&panoid=0G-7f3ESQRbOG3tRhU-dZg&cbp=12,178.19,,0,18.51 This is new and is there not for safety reasons, but to ease congestion as the road is too narrow to allow through traffic to pass on the left (Bedford Rd is notoriously busy, partly because of ill-timed traffic light sequences at this junction). There is just one no left turn sign on the traffic light. Easy to ignore if the light is on green and you've always made that turn before, but the sign is clear, they will argue. There's no come back, I'm afraid. They would rather you turn left and then perform a tricky U-turn to get to where you're going. Bonkers, and dangerous.

Where in clapham?

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Great news. I'm guessing it's been dropped and had its locks hacked at, as mine was when it was nicked and recovered a couple of years ago. Sounds like opportunists walking it away, rather than that van your neighbours heard too.

Yes. Especially as it was there again this morning, blocking my bus.

I saw that Orwellian smart car parked opposite the Bishop, in the bus lane, causing more congestion than the roadworks outside the post office, ironically trying to nab people driving and parking in the bus lane.

Might be those pesky parakeets.

They want the planes back.