I will still be voting for Ken

[KeyboardJockey]

Then they should appeal it. If that doesn't work then the appeal system maybe needs looking into - people shouldn't be fined for straying into a bus lane if there are compelling reasons to do so, such as avoiding an accident - but bus lanes have do to be enforced, or selfish bastards just ignore them. When I cycled in Hull, where bus lanes are ill-enforced) I lost count of the number of times I nearly got knocked off by twats who thought sitting in traffic was beneath them and charged down the bus lane instead. Tbh, I don't think people should be fined for that, though: they should just have their licences revoked permanently.

Agree the appeal system needs looking into.

I'd like to see better signposted cycle routes as well.

Re your commehnt about people skooting up bus lanes in Hull sometimes the type of vehicle dictates the badness of your driving (if you have a penchant for twattish driving certain vehicles make it worse). If you have a car that will turn on a sixpence and will go 0-60 in under 10 seconds then it does encourage some to duck and dive with sometimes disasterous conswquences. If you like me you drive a 28 year old Land Rover with drum brakes originally designed in 1948 a top speed of 45mph and a turning circle of over 30 feet and no power steering it does encourage me to drive much more safely. Part of the problem is drivers due to modern tech are insulated from the road too much. Those who get in my vehicle sometimes remark just how mujch like getting into a motor bike it is as you are far more connected to road conditions and longer stopping distances mean you have to be more aware of other road users idocies.

 

[Roadkill]

I don't think the type of vehicle dictates how people drive most of the time (except within the obvious constraints of what each vehicle can do). I got cut up by vans, black cabs, big executive saloons, boy racers in souped-up hatchbacks etc etc. Any vehicle can be abused.

Different types of vehicle attract different owners though, needless to say. Older/classic cars are generally IME driven carefully on the whole, because owners value their condition and don't risk knocks as much, and are aware of their limitations. Gazzed-up Vauxhall Corsas, on the other hand, are all too often driven by people who don't give a toss...

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Gazzed-up Vauxhall Corsas, on the other hand, are all too often driven by people who don't give a toss...

Hmmm having had run ins with people driving Corsas cutting me up I thnk they should all have an additional number plate one that reads....


T0553R

 

[Roadkill]

PEN 1 S

 

[KeyboardJockey]

PEN 1 S

That would probably sell for an absolute fortune.

 

[hipipol]

PEN 15 was a numberplaye owned by a man in Hove a few years back
he got fined for making the 5 look too much like an S

 

[London_Calling]

Four more years!

Four more years !!

 

[Maggot]

It hink it has a huge imapct on london when most londoners dont' trust the head of it's polcie force becuase he's lied cheated and flipflopped around as well as being an outspoken arse on the bizarrest of topics outside of his remit doing a very informed impression of a poltition most of the time... and on top of it all refusing poitn blank to consdier that he is personally culpable for the actions of his staff despite beign willing to take home the salery and job title which would imply he was...

Of course Ian Blair has had an impact. But what I said (if you read my post properly you will see) is that Livingstone's opinion of Blair has no impact.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

It seems simple to me: don't drive in the bus lane! In the daytime it's obviously in force and very much needed, and at night you've plenty of space to avoid it anyway.

Unfortunatley if you do that you encourage speeding motorists to undertake you.

The sensible thing to me would be 7am -7 pm operation or whatever. What ever it is is less important than the fact it is standard across London, and preferably the same as other big cities.

 

[scifisam]

Pretty much my attitude, Blair tried to spin out of his force shooting an innocent mad. Whatever your view on the shooting itself, the disgraceful way Blair orchestred the media operation after it was cause enough for the Mayor to ask for him to leave. Does Ken support ID cards as well?

What, the Mayor could sack Blair? Really?

I haven't been able to find out if Ken supports ID cards yet. Mostly he seems to be sitting on the fence, saying that he's never been opposded in principle but has yet to see a workable plan for them. The No2ID forum has a mention of him supporting ID cards when on the Andrew Marr show, but no direct quotes, so it could be a mistinterpretation.

None of that's enough - what I'd like to see is him saying: 'I do not support the government's plans for ID cards,' or something similar. But I guess just not backing them is a start.

 

[scott_forester]

What, the Mayor could sack Blair? Really?

I haven't been able to find out if Ken supports ID cards yet. Mostly he seems to be sitting on the fence, saying that he's never been opposded in principle but has yet to see a workable plan for them. The No2ID forum has a mention of him supporting ID cards when on the Andrew Marr show, but no direct quotes, so it could be a mistinterpretation.

None of that's enough - what I'd like to see is him saying: 'I do not support the government's plans for ID cards,' or something similar. But I guess just not backing them is a start.

I seem to remember hearing him say it on Radio London. The Mayor can't sack Ian Blair but the (very) least he could do it admit his appauling spin on the death of a man on Balir's watch was wrong.

 

[Reno]

People seem to focus almost exclusively on Livingstone's failings while omitting his successes. Despite the bendy bus debacle public transport in London has improved immesurably since he's become mayor. Buses are much more reliable now than they have been in the 24 years that I lived in London. London has also gained more memorable landmark architecture during his reign than it had in the thirty years before. The Gherkin, the Tate Modern, the new bridges and the London Eye are all great additions to the city.

He's not quite the hero he was to me during the period of the GLC, the abolishment of which I still remember with sadness. London noticeably turned for the worse after that.

 

[London_Calling]

I seem to remember hearing him say it on Radio London. The Mayor can't sack Ian Blair but the (very) least he could do it admit his appauling spin on the death of a man on Balir's watch was wrong.

Can't sack him because he doesn't employ him - it's a direct Home Secretary appoinment as best I recall.

I don't quite know what people want from the Mayor in relation to de Menezes, he has no direct powers and has as much influence over policy and events as central Gov (usually via the Commissioner) want to allow him.

Sure he can 'voice concerns' and make a nuisance of himself but Ken learned decades ago it's better to play the long game.

 

[JHE]

People seem to focus almost exclusively on Livingstone's failings while omitting his successes. Despite the bendy bus debacle public transport in London has improved immesurably since he's become mayor. Buses are much more reliable now than they have been in the 24 years that I lived in London. London has also gained more memorable landmark architecture during his reign than it had in the thirty years before. The Gherkin, the Tate Modern, the new bridges and the London Eye are all great additions to the city.

I agree with you on transport. Bendy buses were (and are) a bad idea, but public transport generally has improved. Livingstone has to take some of the credit (and blame) for the changes in public transport.

The Congestion Charge is very much Livingstone's policy. Has it worked out well? (I'm hardly ever overground in central London now and don't drive these days, so I can't really judge. Some people say congestion is as bad as ever.)

I'm not sure that the Mayor of London should take credit for the new buildings you like. Did he commission any of them?

 

[scott_forester]

Can't sack him because he doesn't employ him - it's a direct Home Secretary appoinment as best I recall.

I don't quite know what people want from the Mayor in relation to de Menezes, he has no direct powers and has as much influence over policy and events as central Gov (usually via the Commissioner) want to allow him.

Sure he can 'voice concerns' and make a nuisance of himself but Ken learned decades ago it's better to play the long game.

He supports him, he has said so. When the IPCC said that the Met. Police had been awkward in helping them with there investigation he still supported. Livingstone is the Mayor of London and therefore his attitude to an inept Met. Commissioner is a policy and is something he should be judged on.