Future Thameslink service from Peckham Rye

[Helenalexandra1]

ianc, completely agree, I have started taking an Uber taxi to my central London workplace when I have something important first thing, which is not exactly cost effective.

I am considering moving out of the area for somewhere with better and more reliable transport links as the current situation is unsustainable, and it would be shame for the transport issues to lead to a brain drain from the area.

[ianc]

Helenalexandra1, I'm considering the same as my tenancy comes up in June. I'm lucky enough to work quite a lot from home, but the times I've had to make regular 9am starts in town have made me realise how much it's all deteriorated over the last few years.

I think the powers that be should be ashamed that they encourage the concentration of so many employment opportunities and industries in central London, then don't provide a passable transport service for folks in the surrounding areas. When I started work in 1994 (also living in Dulwich), it used to take me *maximum* of 1 hour to get to Oxford Circus for work, and there were lots of alternative routes that were all do-able.

[wulfhound]

Electric bikes are definitely worth taking a look at.

I'm lucky in as much as the times I have to turn up at the office door looking sharp are few and far between; it's tricky to ride a full Dutch style bike (full mudguards, enclosed chain, hub gears, fat tyres etc.) from ED to the West End without breaking at least a bit of a sweat. Power-assist solves the problem, albeit at a price (about an extra ?500 on top of the cost of a normal bike for a decent battery/motor combination).. basically means you can carry lots of extra weight on the kind of bike that'll keep your clothes clean & still not get sweaty regardless of fitness levels.

If having to be places 9 sharp in a crisp suit were a more regular occurrence for me, definitely what I'd do.