Just One of Those Days

The tubes (underground rail) are on strike, then the bus breaks down.

Bus Art

Look what popped up in my absence.  Twenty Eight of them is seems.  The bus sculptures are all part of Transport for London's year of the bus......and I find it on the last day of the year!  Luckily I still have eleven days to zip around the city to find them before they are auctioned to raise funds for charity.

Not Just Any Bus Stop

It looks like an other bus top in London, but take a closer look.  The entire bus shelter is made of lego!  It's not just decorative, but is a real working bus stop serving 9 different routes.

Made of more than 100,000 lego bricks it was created as part of TFL's (Transport for London) celebration of the year of the bus.        

The Past Stardom of Transport

In the 1920's transport ruled.  The movers and shakers of the time had grand visions for the role of public transport.  This grand building was the central offices for London Transport, the tallest in the capital for the period.  The top sculptures were commissioned to create the works of art that adorn the building in each direction (this being the north east view).  The building is set out in a manner similar to many churches in that it is laid out like a Latin Cross with a tower at the crossing.

I would love to see the interior, but sadly that is now very unlikely.  If only I had realised visits were possible during Heritage weekend in September, because now the building is to be sold.  Yes you got it… more luxury apartments, St James Park is a very desirable address.

Travel Price Increases

In times of austerity when we are all told to tighten our belts and accept cuts, why then are transport costs increasing?
Yesterday London's Mayor Boris Johnson announced that tube fares are to go up by 4.2%.  Let's not forget they went up at the beginning of this year by 5.6%.

And if you thought you could escape the increases by taking a "Boris Bike" then be prepared for a whopping 100% increase.

The Future of London's Transport Museum

The London underground began 150 years ago (yes 150!!) and today the London's Transport Museum is one of the best and most fun ways to learn about and enjoy transport down through the ages, as well as thinking about the transport of the future. 

How many kids are inspired by the technology of transport to become the engineers of the future.  Transport issues never go away.  In the days of horse drawn vehicles the public was concerned about the ever growing mounds of horse manure polluting the city.  A picture was painted of huge mountains of the stuff piling around us. The museum not only walks us through the history of the vehicles of London's transport systems but also the social  and environmental impact and concerns of the past and future.

Sadly (but altogether too common in this age of austerity where we seem intent on throwing the baby out with the bathwater), all this is currently under threat with cutbacks to funding by both central government and TFL itself.  The cuts proposed amount to 25% of the museums total funding.  Staff are also being asked to take a substantial cut in their salaries.
Supporters of the museum can sign and send a letter to the Trustees of the Museum registering your concerns.