About time!!

[Sparx]

Probably the most pointless bus lane ever

I think ive only ever seen one or two buses use it while traffic backs up for miles

BBC News - Government to scrap M4 bus lane

 

[Lamp]

Yay!

 

[Job]

Don't use it, only venture into the Megalopolis if I really, really have to.
Too many people, no fuckin space for anything.
Zillions of people who hate each other, horrendous culture shock
seeing so many foriegners.
I like the Science museum though.

 

[cHodAX]

I live in the north but even I am glad to see that fucker scrapped, it was a disaster from day 1.

 

[Sparx]

Don't use it, only venture into the Megalopolis if I really, really have to.
Too many people, no fuckin space for anything.
Zillions of people who hate each other, horrendous culture shock
seeing so many foriegners.
I like the Science museum though.

You are doing what many people do, you are mistaking rudeness for people minding their own business. I grew up in a tiny village and now in London so have experienced both ways of life. I much prefer the city way of life

 

[old.Tohtori]

A bus lane that busses don't use?

That seems odd. One would think that a buslane would be for busses only and busses -should- use it at all times.

Agree with Sparx there, it's not rude, just doing own thing and letting others be.

Helsinki is in no way London ofcourse, but even here you can easily sit around in your bathrobe, drinking a mohito, sitting on a public bench and people will let you be as long as you don't bother others.

Cops and security guards might check your sanity and alcohol level though, but otherwise i love the city life 'cause you don't have to be careful of everything you do since A: it's all been seen and B: there's hardly gossip when people see you once in a half century

Funny thing though, i've heard from total strangers that i have a doppelganger out there. One guy even said "You were wasted earlier today!" when i was actually in a different city.

It's a perfect excuse too

 

[Lamp]

Don't use it, only venture into the Megalopolis if I really, really have to.
Too many people, no fuckin space for anything.
Zillions of people who hate each other, horrendous culture shock
seeing so many foriegners.
I like the Science museum though.

I live & work in London & love it. Its got such a deep history, especially in the City of London. Amazing place

Too many people? Not really. Depends what you're used to. Central London's a great place to people watch. Yes, driving round the centre of London can be a nightmare, but thats what licenced taxis & public transport is for. Plus you'll see much more walking or cycling (not for the faint hearted).

Zillions of people who hate each other? Not true. Most people in any large city are busying about with their own lives. Its not just a London thing. Hate? Nah? Sure, there are some dangerous places in London (Harlesden, Tottenham, Hackney, Peckham, Norwood), but there are bad places in every city in the world. Just gotta use common sense.

I love the fact London's full of "foreigners". Wouldn't be the same without the huge diversity of cultures. Love it.

 

[Sparx]

Bus lanes here are also used by black cabs and motorbikes. Thats all i ever saw on the M4 lane. That and MPs

 

[Ch3tan]

Job must enjoy living in his cave

 

[Lamp]

even here you can easily sit around in your bathrobe, drinking a mohito, sitting on a public bench

lmao

just picturing sitting on a park bench, wearing a bathrobe & fluffy bunny slippers sipping a cocktail watching the world go by. Nice

 

[Sparx]

I resent the tottenham being dangerous its not really as bad as it was 10 years ago. Hackney is ok so long as you stay out of the estates, they look like the bronx with people in their gardens

 

[Ch3tan]

Norwood and Tottenham dangerous? LOL.

Most areas have dodgy places.

 

[Lamp]

I know the area around Bruce Grove / St Loys Rd / Philip Lane / Downhills Park Rd area very well. Some seriously dodgy characters round there lol

But yeah, you're right. There are bad spots in all areas.

 

[Bahumat]

On TopGear Terry Wogan said the guy who made that got an OBE!

 

[Sparx]

Bruce Grove i know very well too, my mate lives there. Proper dodgy haha. I have a bus garage on Philip Lane too

Wood Green used to be rough but its really eased now, probably due to the vast amount of hi vis walking down the road constantly

 

[cHodAX]

You are doing what many people do, you are mistaking rudeness for people minding their own business. I grew up in a tiny village and now in London so have experienced both ways of life. I much prefer the city way of life

No, it is rudeness, too caught up in their own little world to show manners or kindness to anyone. People bump into you, no 'sorry' they just walk on. People talk to the bus drivers like crap and never thank the driver as they are getting off, most other places around the country people always thank the driver.

I am not saying rudeness is the rule down there, infact I have met alot of very nice people whilst working in London but the majority of people on the street are downright fucking rude in my own personal experience of working and visting London for well over 20 years.

Sadly, other cities are slowly changing and that kind of behaviour will gradually become the norm. It is an issue with society now, the 'every man for himself' attitude.

 

[old.Tohtori]

If they tried to avoid bumping into you, they'd probably bump someone else. You have to adapt to the flow of the mass. For example, i haven't bumped or been bumped to in past 6-7 years(if memory serves me).

If you say thank you to the driver, they usually are left with a on their face. Kinda like if you try to tip in Finland, it's just not the way.

It's not rude, it's the way of life where there's simply no time to say "Howdy mam" to every million peeps you pass

Rude behaviour in a city is if you deliberately try to do something, accidents don't need a sorry as they are accidents and no one thinks twice of them.

 

[Sparx]

If you stopped to appologise to every person you bumped into you wouldnt get anywhere. There just too many people to avoid bumping into someone at least twice a day
Everyone is in a rush in london, people dont tend to just go out for a walk as much like you do out in the sticks, especially during rush hour. So they are focused on where they are going too much


Everytime i use the bus i hear most people saying thanks to the driver when getting on. People dont like to say thanks at the end of their journey as that involves shouting across a busy bus. Buses in London are alot more packed than country buses. 29 being a perfect example of this.
Obviously kids dont say thanks etc but the adults usually do. Not to sound racist but i find its usually black men that are the most rude.

 

[cHodAX]

If you stopped to appologise to every person you bumped into you wouldnt get anywhere. There just too many people to avoid bumping into someone at least twice a day
Everyone is in a rush in london, people dont tend to just go out for a walk as much like you do out in the sticks, especially during rush hour. So they are focused on where they are going too much


Everytime i use the bus i hear most people saying thanks to the driver when getting on. People dont like to say thanks at the end of their journey as that involves shouting across a busy bus. Buses in London are alot more packed than country buses. 29 being a perfect example of this.
Obviously kids dont say thanks etc but the adults usually do. Not to sound racist but i find its usually black men that are the most rude.

So to summarise what you have said, 95% of people in London are cnuts. I agree.

Have to say, the bus thing definately wasn't like that in my experience whenever I have worked there. That said, you live there so I am sure you have a firmer grip on what things are normally like there. Have to say though, even on packed buses in Manchester like the 201 or 192 I would say 90% of people thank the driver as they are getting off and that includes most kids. It is very much a matter of tradition up here I guess though to the point where it feels un-natural not to thank the driver.

 

[Lamp]

Last time I was in New York, I unavoidably bumped into some guy walking in the opposite direction. Now I'm not exactly a small & unnoticeable, but he shouted "move or I'll make you move". Never had anything like that in London. Ever. Yeah, there are rude people in London, but its a big city thing. Its not just London. But its got worse in the last 20 years fo sure. The Youtube happy slapping generation, rise in anti social violence, serious attituude issues among the youth, glorification of gang culture, lack of jobs, etc etc etc etc etc.

 

[cHodAX]

Last time I was in New York, I unavoidably bumped into some guy walking in the opposite direction. Now I'm not exactly a small & unnoticeable, but he shouted "move or I'll make you move". Never had anything like that in London. Ever. Yeah, there are rude people in London, but its a big city thing. Its not just London. But its got worse in the last 20 years fo sure. The Youtube happy slapping generation, rise in anti social violence, serious attituude issues among the youth, glorification of gang culture, lack of jobs, etc etc etc etc etc.

Yeah I have heard that about NYC, certain times of day are a real grind to get around and some of the financial types are beyond obnoxious if they think they are wealthier than you if gives them the right to treat you like shit.

 

[Sparx]

I still say thanks when i get on and off like you say its whats always done, that and tipping cab drivers.

People just arent comfortable bringing attention to themselves here, they dont like to shout across the bus. Most people would just stand by quietly while someone is kicking off. The media have done a great job in convincing everyone they will get stabbed if they stand up. That Peckham Terminator video on youtube is the prime example of that. In my home town if that happened on the bus nearly everyone on the bus, regardless of age, would have stepped in and got him off the bus.

Its not a rude thing its more of a keeping themselves to themselves, partly through fear of being shot or stabbed. Other times it is of course just rudeness


Me and my best mate used to enjoy playing the game of seeing how many people you could make laugh on the tube, you know they are watching you out the corner of their eye (everyone people watches on the tube) so you say and do stupid things so you see them trying to hold a laugh in. Always great fun to play especially when you are pissed

 

[Sparx]

how many times could i fit on the bus into a paragraph? i reckon i could have it in more that that

 

[old.Tohtori]

Sparx, i do the "Make strangers laugh" routine too, even alone it's fun.

Try one i picked up on from boston legal;

Take out a cigarette box.
Take out a lighter.
Take out a cigarette.
Put the box in your pocket.
Lift the cig(at this point people are going "Ooh, nooo, surely he's not oing to!?".
Stick the cig in your ear and pocket the lighter.
Act as usual.

Ofcourse if you don't smoke, other means work too, like a pencil in ear etc

 

[Sparx]

One we used to do is get on at different doors id sit down and Sean would would past and slap me on the face and continue walking away and sit at the other other end of the train. The shocked look on peoples faces hahah. Obviously thats more fun on a train full of drunk people and not during rush hour on a monday morning

 

[old.Tohtori]

Oh that's nice. A variation could be to enter the same manner, on a non rush hour and the other guy just comes and stands right next to you and you act all confused.

Or have a briefcase(classic), one guy leaves it and gets off at a station. Then other guy comes, sits down, and then takes it when they leave.

 

[Ch3tan]

Or have a briefcase(classic), one guy leaves it and gets off at a station. Then other guy comes, sits down, and then takes it when they leave.

Yeah nice practical joke that one! Let's waste police time with terrorism scares!

 

[TdC]

Don't use it, only venture into the Megalopolis if I really, really have to.
Too many people, no fuckin space for anything.
Zillions of people who hate each other, horrendous culture shock
seeing so many foriegners.
I like the Science museum though.

if you passed me in the street you wouldn't know I was a foreigner.

but I am.

and I watch you.

from space.

watching.

 

[Levin]

Meh. I thought this was another SC2 thread.