London Congestion Charge

[Gandalf]

If public transportation was cheap, comfortable and efficient, then I would have no issues with the congestion charge. As it stands, trains are a rip off, buses are uncomfortable and the subway is crowded and nasty.

A joke really, London is tough because so many of the streets are so narrow, you just can't fit that many cars on the road, whence the need for BETTER alternatives to tempt people off of the roads.

When I was in London I saw those new bicycles, but nobody was riding them.

[1-hit Wonder]

Miles, you live in Korea so what would you know about London's transport infrastructure?

Its actually very good, I know ive lived here for 12 years.

0james0: Yes you will have to pay the charge again.

[Gandalf]

Miles, you live in Korea so what would you know about London's transport infrastructure?

Its actually very good, I know ive lived here for 12 years.

0james0: Yes you will have to pay the charge again.

Because I was there for three weeks this summer.

London is rubbish as far as I am concerned, but I went there because the wife wanted to do the tourist thing.

The transport issue was one of the worst things about the UK. Okay, I wasn't always in London, but generally speaking trains are absurdly priced, buses are too and the subway is quite awful.

From what you have posted, I don't think you have been in the UK for 12 years, but if you have been, then well done for surviving such a shit hole.

[Gandalf]

Weren't you in Vietnam with no qualifications the last time I heard from you. And also teaching there quite illegally. But now you tell me you have been in London for 12 years. Fair enough.

[1-hit Wonder]

Wow Miles that is an awesome memory youve got there. Seriously thats astonishing you remembered something I only just recalled posting several years ago.

Yes I have lived in London for 12 years and i have been to Vietnam doing volunteer teaching ( 4 years ago when i was 18, did it for 3 months) although I didnt have a full TEFL qualification, only the week long mini TEFL course. It wasn't illegal though, I had a 3 month business visa that ran out and led to a rather nervy moment at the Camodian border. So no I am not bullshitting.

I just felt slighted on LDN's transport being shit, its honestly not.

Pricey? Certainly but what else isnt in London tbh. £1.20 for the bus and £2 for the tube (with Oyster) arent that bad. The buses are regular, reasonably comfotable and there are some excellent 24hr routes. Overground city trains are about £3. I mean I can get back home from miles away (no pun intended) at ridiclous hours of the morning from most places although that does take a lot of knowledge of the myriad of bus routes. So i class that as pretty good tbh.

Tube looks and smells like shit, but thats what happens when youve got an old and outdated network. Everyone raves about the Paris metro but its just as pricey and only midly more comfortable. Tbh when has travelling on an underground network ever been pleasant? The air is always dirty as fuck down there.

I agree that mainland inter-city rail services are a complete joke price wise especially if you are paying on the day. Cost me £25 just to get to a commuter town on the outskirts the other day. Fookin joke.

So i find some of your observations contentious and disagree. Apologies for having a go with the Korea remark, like I said I was feeling slighted for my home town and was probably in a bad mood when i posted.