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Post by Chris W on Oct 30, 2005 8:37:43 GMT
Gents Having just read the thread about Xmas and running a service on LUL on Xmas day got me thinking....... this should be interesting then ;D ;D ;D. What does everyone think of Ken Livingstone?'Mrs Thatch' (as Ben Elton would say) destroyed the old London GLC after Ken's 'fairs fair' & other 'loony' policies as they were referred to by Ken's critics in the 80's. However has he had the last laugh or has he rejected or watered down his old ideals just to gain power. Tony Blair one said that it would be a disaster for London if 'Red' Ken was elected Mayor, but now if the rumours are correct, he is seeking a way to extend the number of times someone can be elected so that he is still there during the 2012 London Olympics. I'm particularly interesting in knowing what the general consensus from LU staff (those in the front line) as its you guys that have to put the London Assembly policies into practise...... Imagine one day (particularly since he helped us win the 2012 Olympics) hearing Her Majesty announcing.... "Arise Sir Ken"  |
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Post by Tomcakes on Oct 30, 2005 12:33:43 GMT
He does seem to have made improvements to London's transport system, though alas some of the bus policy has a knock-on effect of making the rest of the countrys service worse.
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Post by rayb on Oct 30, 2005 13:36:18 GMT
When KL was running for Mayor initially, he said he'd bring in the Congestion Charge. He also said he'd put more buses on the road.
He's done both.
How many other politicians have actually kept some (or indeed ANY) of their promises?
Like him or loathe him, at least he's done something to improve London's age old traffic issues, when no one else seemed to have the balls.
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Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
Posts: 9,473
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Post by Phil on Oct 30, 2005 18:27:28 GMT
But even he could not stop PPP, so even he is stuck with Metromess and Tubblies
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Post by londontube on Oct 30, 2005 19:00:02 GMT
I LOVE KEN LIVINGSTON  He's been a saviour for London's transport. He's put more people in work, kept the cost of fares at a good price and as RayB said, the congestion charge and more buses, amazing! I love being a Londoner! PPP is also a good thing, well Metronet anyway. I have nothing against them.The trains are running welland they seem to have it under control. TubeLines on the other hand, incompetent yes, a PPP worth being associated with the LU, NO WAY IN HELL! |
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Post by q8 on Oct 30, 2005 19:03:47 GMT
I will agree that Tublines are not fit to run a winkle stall and seem to be run by morons.
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towerman
My status is now now widower
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Post by towerman on Oct 30, 2005 21:26:02 GMT
The only thing he's done wrong is get rid of routemasters and introduce those horrible bendy buses.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2005 23:13:25 GMT
He was an excellent Mayor as an Independent; he's been a frost since he re-joined Labour.
I can understand why people in East London are pleased about winning the Olympics for 2012; for the rest of us (athletics fans excepted) it'll just be a pain in the butt.
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Oct 30, 2005 23:38:56 GMT
I went for 'Don't care' - Because he is not 'the best thing since sliced bread'. No politician is that good, but they're not 'all the same'. I also don't think he's been 'a disaster for London'.
My main two reasons for picking that option is that I don't live in London, and, it dosen't matter who is mayor - we'll still have to work under the same people who actually come up with these ideas.
I feel that in winning the Olympics and during the aftermath of the recent bombings, he showed total passion for a capital city he clearly adores - and that is so nice to see from someone in his position. Yes, he tried to block PPP, and understands the problems faced with modernising LUL. Then he worked wonders with the buses - but this is where he starts to go wrong. At the moment, the buses (through subsidy to the operators) are losing money hand over fist. The congestion charge (which is supposed to help fund the extended bus network) is so effective, it's not making the money originally predicted. Added to that, TfL have recently admitted that non-payers of the congestion charge are still slipping through the net. The Olympics are going to cost Londoners with a hike in council tax. Then there's Oyster, though not his idea, he has endorsed it even though after Two years it's still not working properly.
I think the public are starting to change their opinion of him - especially in West London (congestion charge extension), and are starting to get a little fed up of the continuing fare rises - especially when PPP was not going to cost Londoners a penny extra. Will he still be here come the next election? I think probably not.
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Post by londontube on Oct 31, 2005 0:10:21 GMT
The only thing he's done wrong is get rid of routemasters and introduce those horrible bendy buses. Thats not down to him! Its EU law, or some rediculous passed motion, that all buses in London must be disability friendly by sometime in 2006. He has to do it!   RE: Colin The Oyster cards and change in paper ticket prices is there to benefit Londoner's. It means visitors to London have to pay more to travel on LT. It is completely fair as those who visit once a year are getting away with the same prices as those who have to use it 5 times a week because they live and work in London! So instead of lowering prices, they have invented a system which means Londoner's pay less for longer term travel on LT, via an Oyster Card and visitors pay more for short term travel on LT, via paper tickets. |
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Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
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Post by Colin on Oct 31, 2005 0:36:23 GMT
But visitor travelcards are no longer issued (unless part of a pre-arranged deal with a tour operator) - vistor's to London are actively encouraged to use Oyster, in fact for seven days travel they have to use an Oyster card, as paper tickets for seven days or more in London do not exist. Also if a visitor has a child, and they obtain the child Oyster card - their kids go free on the buses.
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Post by londontube on Oct 31, 2005 7:52:17 GMT
But most tourists won't choose the Oyster unless they are regular visitors, its too much hassle.
The 7 day paper being non-existent is also a great thing as they are popular with tourists who think, "a 7 day works out better than 4 one day's, so i'll get that!". Thats unfair! So by abolishing 7 day paper and going with the persumption that only 10 out of 100 will bother with an Oyster card, more tourists will be paying for the seperate tickets day after day, while, as it should be, 80 out of 100 Londoner's get an Oyster Card allowing them to have cheaper, lengthier travel!
Tourists don't come to London to sit on a bus all day so I think the fact that children go free on buses is safe as most of them use the tube to get around!
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Post by evilhippo on Oct 31, 2005 11:26:18 GMT
I loved him.
While we had the routemasters.
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Post by antharro on Nov 6, 2005 0:03:58 GMT
Thats not down to him! Its EU law, or some rediculous passed motion, that all buses in London must be disability friendly by sometime in 2006. He has to do it! You're absolutely right. It's also the EU that's been the driving force behind privatisation, hence Metronet and Tubelines... |
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