please talk me through the elephant and castle chaos?

[indiepanda]

I have used the 63 bus to get to work for a number of years but the traffic is a nightmare from Elephant up to Blackfriars most days now, and even though most days I've not left work till after the rush hour, it's actually worse going home because they've coned off most of the road from St George's Circus down to Elephant and it's just gridlock for the buses.

It's getting to the point where its worth getting the train again - though the service into City Thameslink is pretty unpleasant in the rush hour. Anyone know how early a train you need to get in order to not have to shove your way onto the train / stand most days? I really resent paying extra to get to work in order to stand up, especially as I am far enough from the station that to get a meaningful time saving I have to pay for train on top of bus rather than instead of.

[miga]

Depends on where you get the Thameslink from. It's fair to say that by Peckham Rye, it's standing room only any time after 7, and after 8, you'll be smelling someone's armpit.

[PeckhamRose]

Blame the London Cycling Campaign... (I'll get my (motorcycle) jacket!)

[bobbsy]

Buy a cheap scooter. Quick, easy, next to nothing in insurance tax and petrol. You get wet and cold every now and then.

[Earl Aelfheah]

originally the plan was to demolish the shopping centre and extend a pedestrianised Walworth Road across the plot to the northern roundabout, which would be transformed into a public square. In this context (a pedestrianised shopping street and public square) the whole thing made sense. Unfortunately the shopping centre now stays and the peninsula will be little more than a windswept smog filled non-place.

[????]

rahrahrah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> originally the plan was to demolish the shopping

> centre and extend a pedestrianised Walworth Road

> across the plot to the northern roundabout, which

> would be transformed into a public square. In this

> context (a pedestrianised shopping street and

> public square) the whole thing made sense.

> Unfortunately the shopping centre now stays and

> the peninsula will be little more than a windswept

> smog filled non-place.

Sounds like an improvement