malumbu

There was a brief discussion on the Lounge about the good old days of the Forum and the drinks where people with differing views seemed to get on fine with each other. Can't find it or I would give you the link @Earl Aelfheah or @Sephiroth I think one of you had said something along these lines. Yes go for it Sue!

There are things people moan about, and at the same time things people should campaign for. I've said so many times it is a shame with so much energy going into anti this, anti that, and anti the other time could be better spent. You've identified a good cause. Go for it, I will happily support if I am permitted.

Rude

Canada has been a go to place for dental treatment for a long time for those in the 'States without medical insurance.

I referred to commuting. Not those who have to drive in the course of their work. And if the businesses have to pay to park? Again, so what? All businesses operating in central London have had to pay to drive unless electric. Huge swathes of London, and every city, have parking restrictions. Not sure why you are fighting the battles of others.

I really need to do a tour of Tooting South Indian/Sri Lankan restaurants. There used to be a SE22 curry club, think this folded before COVID. Perhaps @Suewe can start a Tooting curry club. And share our tadpoles stories at the same time. Need to check that they survived the frost.

Oh come on, most people commute by public transport. You are just making excuses. If it takes longer to drive or to use public transport, so what. It may be annoying but that is life. I'm sure most of us have jobs where the commute is easier, and other jobs where it has been a pain. I expect an hour is very much the norm door to door for most of us living in London. What is the law? As far as I understand local authorities have the power and are subject to non-statutory guidance. Ultimately decisions can be challenged through judicial review. Most governments let local authorities get on with it. Only Sunak, in desperation, appealed to the petrol heads and that got him nowhere. Thankfully his motorists' charter was disposed of when he was deposed. Until then governments of both colour had been going loosely in the right direction with regards to sustainable and active travel, certainly from Blair onwards.

Recommend Dosa n Chutney in Tooting and Rikshaw in Gypsy Hill for dosas. The latter a few mins away by train from East Dulwich station. Karnataka has great food but rather a long way to go plus all those carbon air miles. Reminds me of some American students in London who would take it in turn to fly back to Chicago or somewhere like that to bring pizzas back. https://dosanchutney.uk/ https://rikshawrestaurant.com/ My word, free reviews without having to sign up and pay for my food blog. Crispy Dosa is the chain, not that local though.

OK, it's late so I will try and summarise 1. It's going to take much longer than originally planned to turn the fleet electric. Covid/financial crisis hasn't helped but much of the blame on manufacturers for dragging their feet and supersizing their vehicles (Audi, JLR, Mercdedes, Volvo and others) rather than promoting smaller more efficient vehicles 2. Replacing conventional vehicles with EVs means we still have congested roads, EV is part of the solution, using vehicles less and smarter and moving to more sustainable forms of transport the other part of the equation 3. You have to produce electricity and we are far from making this fully sustainable 4. Embedded carbon in vehicle manufacture, the larger the bigger the carbon footprint, particularly as utility of our fleet is getting lower. So no, on its own, it is not the answer

Parking is part of the normal cost for many who drive to work. Why should we feel sorry?

Nah, I'm the mild one

A Harley - something you will have never seen me on. Even before Trump's tariffs. The company was selling over weight over priced bikes that hardly anyone wanted, so Reagan put a massive tariff on the large, cheaper, and better Japanese bikes which saved the Harley brand. Sounds familiar! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_motorcycle_tariff And 30 years before that cool American bikers did not ride Harleys Triumph 6T Thunderbird

Me driving during peak hours. I don't think so. You may be surprised that there are other ways to commute. Much faster. Cheaper. More healthy. Better for the environment And smugger

Court Lane was my commute for many years. Horridly congested at peak hours. Don't know why anyone would have driven on this route. So much nicer now.

I started my boycott of McDonalds early, a few decades ago.

My issue is all the stop the ULEZ, stop the CPZs, stop the LTNs, stop taxing motorists etc are single issue campaigning against restrictions on motoring. Meanwhile the UK is still failing to meet air quality standards, is behind on legal commitments to reduce carbon emissions from road transport, so in the short term more people are ill and die, and longer term (and not so long term as it is happening in front of our eyes) radical changes to our climate. These campaigns have no answer to this.

The posts on the closure of the road and the LTN are repetitive, and there is a whole separate thread on this. I like the square and seeing it used suggests others do too.

It's been four years since the junction was closed, perhaps time to move on? Maybe even enjoy the lovely square. Or keep your issues to the LTN thread rather than bringing a downer on this one.

Fortunately this side of the pond the powers that be look at all the evidence, rather than isolated incidents. Intuitively floating bus stops sound a bad concept. In reality there are relatively few incidents. That is not saying their are no incidents, and things can always be improved. Reminds me of when motorbikes were permitted in bus lanes. On paper seemed risky but in reality it is fine. Of course I'm talking legal motorcycles, generally ridden responsibly not illegal e bike's which il is often the opposite

That's a national issue and should be for government to take a lead. Not really relevant/specific to the gyratory

Dress code is the Blythe. Flower boxes were being put up when I checked yesterday. Terry, a long standing member of bar staff, has gone and Con left very quietly so no party. Some final pics of Con's reign from FB https://www.facebook.com/blythehilltavern

@Listen upAs a cyclist how would you improve things? It's always dreadful at peak commute. I did that for over 15 years.

I hear they are nice in your wellies, free frogspawn to anyone who know the literary reference

Got loads of frogspawn. Don't have that much success as can't keep it in the pond as the newts eat it. I took the first clump out yesterday and put it in a bucket with netting on top. The loads more appeared.,... Last year I kept it like this and then transferred to some large plant saucers when they were near to walking onto land. Had to top up the water, provide shade as they will have cooked in the sunshine, and fed with boiled cabbage, kale or other green stuff. I got a few froglets. two or three years ago I picked up some spawn from someone in SE22 who had a whole nursery, numerous ponds, in their back garden. Never seen any baby newts or spawn, maybe have ten or more, but I know they go roaming.

Newts, ducks, from my understanding cats and dogs don't eat frogspawn, they may eat tadpoles. Continuing this conversation on the nature thread.