Earl Aelfheah

Sephiroth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ... I don't think english exceptionalism is confined to the > well off I agree, although the 'glories of empire' are strongly propagated in some English public schools.

Yeah, i do agree with what you say Sephiroth. The difference here is probably two things: 1) a sense of English exceptionalism which is a hangover from colonialism and the teaching of history in relation to the world wars (this is particularly strong amongst the golf club bores and the public school boys who have helped engineer brexit 2) a decades long propaganda battle in the right wing press, which has pushed dodgy stories about bendy bananas, red tape and immigration scare stories. The financial crash and the subsequent austerity agenda (leading to the sense amongst many that led to a lack of "control over their lives, or a general sense of injustice and a system which wasn't working for the majority"), was the spark which made it possible for 1. & 2. to push EU membership up the agenda.

The sovereignty argument is not one I feel I can engage in tbh. I don't get it. If we're going to do trade deals with other countries (the US for example), post brexit - then we'll have to give up control over certain decisions (there will have to be common standards and independent arbitration mechanisms in cases of dispute). Any kind of co-operation, or multilateral relationship will involve pooling sovereignty. The truth is that before 2016, the EU was not on people's list of major concerns. An abstract argument about 'Sovereignty' is just all that Brexit believers have left when everything else slips away. Personally, I don't think Brexit was really about Europe at all. It was about people feeling that they had no control over their lives, or a general sense of injustice and a system which wasn't working for the majority.

M&S by the station is soooo cold. You can actually just stand outside the front and still feel the wafts of ice cold air.

One of the most dangerous things about Trump is that it's becoming harder and harder to feel 'shocked' by his behaviour. I think we have all become desensitised to his BS.

I would get a sparky, yes.

I just wanted a bit of advice to be honest Seabag. I wasn't sure whether or not it was likely to cause an issue, or whether I was right to feel a bit annoyed about it. I'm sorry if it upset you in some way.

If this was really about improving the environment / safer streets, they would pedestrianising, adding segregated bike lanes and fund the expansion of Boris bikes like every other zone 2 borough. They would also stop granting permission for people to concrete over their front gardens and put in drop kerbs. This whole thing is about drivers sense of entitlement and territoriality over public space, wrapped up as environmentalism.

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To be clear, they replaced the inner tube and the back tyre (following a puncture). The new tyre is thinner than the one it replaced and thinner than the tyre on the front wheel. I agree with you peckman - It would make more sense to have the fatter tyre on the back if they are to be different.

Sorry, I wasn?t clear. I meant a new tube, they didn?t patch the existing one. The tyres are continental. I don?t think it?s a big issue just looks a bit weird having a fatter tyre at the front. I am surprised they didn?t mention that it would be a different size. Thanks for your response.

So I know nothing about bike ?kit? / maintenance (I just commute on one) and I?m looking for a bit of advice... just paid to have a puncture fixed (back wheel). The shop advised me to replace the tyre. When I got home I realised that the new tyre looks quite a bit thinner than the front one (35 back, vs 42 front I think). I just assumed that they?d replace like for like, but now I have a fat tyre on front and a thin one at the back (it?s a hybrid). Is this an issue in terms of effecting how things work / the bike will handle or should I not worry about it? Thanks for your help.

In terms of the suitability of the drivers - they're still licenced and Black cab drivers aren't always paragons of virtue. I am sure many can tell their own stories / experiences of black cabbies.

... most electric / hybrid though

I would really like to see a thimble shop. You don't see enough thimble shops nowadays.

Apps such as Uber are in effect 'hailing' service. The idea of having thousands of diesel cars driving around the streets waiting to be waved down is again, an anachronism. A smart phone is a much more efficient way of hailing a cab, which will usually arrive in a few minutes. A business model based on cab drivers memorising every possible route and driving around waiting to be flagged down, is just crazy in this age of smart phones.

I think the use of cab hailing apps such as Uber are the better alternative - I thought I had been clear. As impressive as learning every street off by heart is, it's an obsolete skill. Some black cab drivers have done nothing to ingratiate themselves in the heart of the general public. Only this morning I saw a cabbie deliberately cut across the path of a cyclist.

The black cabs have had a monopoly for ages. Uber should not be allowed to replace it with another one, but that?s not a defence of black cabs.

If you crossed the dotted line, you shouldn?t have been fined and should definitely appeal. For those that say it?s OK to drive up the bus lane- you?re wrong and it makes it difficult/ dangerous for those turning at the proper place (as someone wizzes up, undertaking on the left).

... that said, I saw someone on a Boosted board (e-skateboard) this morning and whilst it looked incredibly fun, he was far from in control/ stable. Those things are a lot faster than most e-scooters too.

I?m all in favour of electric vehicles if they get more people out of their cars (which they probably do). Just a shame that SE London doesn?t see to have the same kind of coverage as other areas of London again. The new Uber ?Jump!? Bikes are the best, but they don?t even come as far south as the north bank of the Thames.

I am not a fan of black cabs generally. Have had to put up with racist 'banter' from cabbies, been refused going south of the river and have often witnessed their deliberate attempts to intimidate cyclists. I know a lot of cabbies are decent, hard working and professional, but as a highly regulated and not inexpensive service, you shouldn't have these sorts of behaviours at all. They are a powerful lobby and so have been pandered to by successive majors (being excluded from the same ULEZ standards as everyone else for example). The truth is that impressive as it may be to memorise every street in London, this is no longer a relevant skill. And what is left (driving a car) is something that many people can do. It shouldn't be such a closed shop / monopoly imo.

yorksgirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sainsburys was built on what was at the time > supposedly protected green space with public > access to the whole space. How the Southwark > councillors and officers swore on their very > lives, at the time, that there would be no further > loss of public space or access, ever. Grim to have > to say this as a lifelong Labour voter but think > open spaces locally were better protected under > Lib Dems. This ^

... Or create segregated cycle lanes like they have in Camden and many other Boroughs (as opposed to painting a bike symbol on a few roads).

Why don't they spend the money raised on extending the Santander hire bike scheme to Southwark?