London Undone – TFL Rant

[martinmir]

Every day I travel under London from the North West to the South. I have my ipod on for background music and a copy of Douglas Copeland’s ‘Microserfs’. Some mornings I nearly doze off from being half asleep. If you haven’t travelled using the London underground its best described as a coal mine in a large volcano and the general public is the molten laver. Move B*tch, get out of hell of my way! (All manners go out of the window) I’ve even seen PHD Doctors with Brompton folder able commuter bikes with their Bose lifestyle earphones pushing themselves through crowds.

Now compare London’s underground to the metro Paris Underground and we are certainly not as proud as the French, with their international status of most clean metro system of the world. What so thats a few other major western places. Its that bad that if you put your feet up on the chairs you get a hefty on the spot fine. This happens often I’ve read.

Anyway with that rant over I just want to say fresh air is very important and the underground is the most unnatural way of traveling and is best left in a cheap B rated sci-fi movie living on mars but what can I do I live in London.

[Xarlaxas]

Well that puts me off travelling in the underground when I visit London even more, is it really that bad? o.o

[Stewsburntmonkey]

I never found the Tube that bad. If you've ever tried to take a cab across London the value of the Tube becomes very obvious. The same is true in New York; traveling underground can be a lot faster than fighting the traffic on the surface. The main problem with both London and New York is that the subways were built so long ago that they are too cramped and often don't work nearly as well as more modern systems.

[Rkiver]

Having used the underground in London, and the metro in France, the metro is superior.

However considering we have NOTHING like it in Ireland, I like the underground also. Believe me if you didn't have it you'd know what madness we have in Dublin, tis not fun.

[Davman]

During the day, 2-3pm, I actually quite enjoy the Underground. I was lucky enough to work for a boss that was willing to let me take an extra hour lunchbreak as long as I worked it off later, to travel to Camden to get some shopping/piercings. As such, the 30minute journey from White City to Camden Town wasn't actually too bad! Empty seats and everything.

But yes, 8-10am, 4-7pm it is a complete and utter disaster that I dreaded. After two weeks of commuting I actually started renting a flat 10 minutes walk from work to avoid travelling into and out of London.

[NeoThermic]

At least the TFL is doing works to improve the lines. I love the underground. It's fast, frequent, and rather fault tolerant. Often the Victoria line is closed on weekends for upgrades, and I can still get to St Pancras via a combination of the Circle/District and the Northern Line. Sure, the Metro might be cleaner, but the London underground is easier to navigate.

NeoThermic

[Darksun]

I've only ever used it as a tourist, and from that angle I think the london underground is excellent, it's a fast and easy way of getting around. I'm sure it's different if you're using it during rush hour every day though

[Nimbus]

Having used the underground in London, and the metro in France, the metro is superior.

However considering we have NOTHING like it in Ireland, I like the underground also. Believe me if you didn't have it you'd know what madness we have in Dublin, tis not fun.

Agreed. The LUAS and DART just can't make up for the lack of a subway.

[Mas Tnega]

It's served me reasonably well in the past. Then again, I've never touched it at the times of 8am or 5pm, having only used it to go my parent's house, wherever I'm staying in Edinburgh, or <that event>.

[LLamaBoy]

I've only been on the Tube once (soon to be a second time, yay party) and I didn't find it particularly hellish. But I'm sure it's worse for regulars, particularly in the warmer months of the year.
Any repeated routine can get frustrating if you let it, and mixing people with it potentially makes it doubly worse. On the other hand, if you look at it in a different way, maybe it can be a lot more enjoyable. Instead of being bothered by people, observe them. Play a game, see if you can guess things about them. Make up stories, families and pets for them. Imagine what books they read, or their favourite food.
Probably harder to do in the bleary-eyed morning, but it might keep your mind off the journey.

[zjoere]

I've only used it a couple of times when our shool went too london. Apart from the fact it was a bit crowded I liked the experience. And the fact that is was crowded was just because all of us on it

[Xarlaxas]

Also, Mornington Crescent anyone?

Mornington Crescent! Woot.

[Xocrates]

I never went to London, so I can't comment on its Underground system.

I do use the Lisbon Underground daily though, but let's face it:



It's a wee bit simpler.

[Xocrates]

Ah! Ever seen the one from the place I actually live in:

[Stewsburntmonkey]

I like staying near the train station in Rome which is where the two lines come together, so it's pretty convenient.


New York's is a bit of a mess, especially down in my neck of the woods, Lower Manhattan.