[David9694]

Anyone want to help me with unpicking this? I suspect confusion arises from interview through editing and onto headlining.  There’s also a bunch of articles around this including “Sadiq Khan’s hatred of cars is out of control” (Telegraph)  and so on. 

You drive to Brent Cross for your weekly food shop, Brian? Watford is not good enough, it would seem.  I looked it up, it’s free parking at Brent Cross.  

‘Brian added that taking away “people’s independence” will have a lasting effect on people who rely on their cars, particularly older people.’, so yeah sorry north London kids, you’re going to have to go on breathing in the fumes from my crappy diesel/ my super crappy old petrol car.  Buses sparse and unreliable much, Brian? 

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/london-ulez-ill-travel-90-7434047#comments-wrapper

Topic

[AlsoSomniloquism]

The headline is a mish mash

The headline is a mish mash as well. He reckons it would take him 90 mins to get to brent cross by Public transport (all public transport options reckon 40-50 mins – there is even a direct bus from Stanmore Station to Brent Cross shopping centre). 

So why would it take him 90 mins to get to Hertfordshire (Watford?) to shop, which he doesn’t like going to and which would still effect him anyway as he would still be in the ULEZ? Unless of course he is on the line and would only be affected if he drove into London. 

[srchar]

If only the supermarkets

If only the supermarkets offered a delivery option that Brian could use.

[chrisonabike]

Khan! Is this a thread trying
Khan! Is this a thread trying to summon / flush out a certain identity-changing critic of the mayor?

As for the article much of it is “change?!” but the key point is well expressed:

Most people use their cars for short journeys. A trip to the shop or to see friends. They’re not driving a lot; we might use ours for say 3,000 miles [a year]. And we talk about mental health and avoiding loneliness. Some people might genuinely rely on that trip to the shops, even if it’s just to see people.

It is exactly those trips which we need to facilitate by eg. active travel *. Our hypermobility, facilitated by cars, and the impersonal and physically dividing infrastructure which goes with it is one of the (many and complex) reasons people feel disconnected.

It’s not rocket science – which may be why it always gets a low priority. Tried and tested example solutions are available in several nearby countries (and the UK’s own history). It definitely means change to people’s routines though. That might be shopping more often for less. It might be making a choice about whether to keep a car you only use for intermittent long trips or change how you stay in touch with someone…

These changes come with costs but benefits too:

Elderly people on a cycle tour in Vught

A ‘social cycling tour’ in ʼs-Hertogenbosch

Dutch Inspired Cycling For Groceries

*(I’d include lightweight mobility vehicles here, as do the Dutch:

Who else benefits from the Dutch cycling infrastructure

…although we need a conversation about encouraging more activity generally eg subsidised e-trikes?)

[Argos74]

There’s an Asda, Sainsburys

There’s an Asda, Sainsburys and Lidl within walking distance of Stanmore. Also, by bike, it’s around half an hour each way. So, nope, not too sympathetic.

[RoubaixCube]

With that said. I have bumped

With that said. I have bumped into David Lammy several times whilst taking the tube in to work.

Not as high profile as Khan though.

[Nat Jas Moe]

Shame that Mr Khan doesn’t

Shame that Mr Khan doesn’t hate his chauffeur driven Range Rover enough to take TFL transport and lead by example. But then he probably knows just how long time wise the journey will be and how unreliable the service is.

[Author]

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