On Tue, 5 Sep 2006 18:39:16 +0100, "Demiurge" wrote:

Paul Corfield wrote:
Or shock, horror travel to Herne Hill and then get a bus (3, 37 or 196)
across to Brixton. This gives 20 buses per hour on that stretch.
For the real cheapo option you could simply get a 109 bus from Croydon
to Brixton using Oyster Pre-Pay and pay £1 in the morning peak and 80p
on the way home. I accept this is only an option if you have the time to
spare for a longer journey. Buses run every 6 mins for most of the day.

Thanks for the advice. I read an article in the Croydon Advertiser calling
route 109 and 250 the "routes to Hell", as supposedly there is often trouble
on these route, the sound of which puts me off - but it never specified what
kind of trouble. Have you heard anything of this?

There has been a load of very ill informed commentary about the volume
of radio calls from buses to the control room called "code reds". The
Standard tried, badly IMO, the link the volume of such calls with a
picture of utter anarchy and wanton violence on bendy bus routes. They
failed completely to mention that a code red call can be for a full
range of issues including those removed from the bus e.g. requesting the
emergency services for a road accident that has happened in front of a
bus but not involving it. They also completely failed to mention that
bendy bus routes are amongst the very busiest in London and
statistically you are more likely to get more "code reds" simply by
virtue of the fact that there are huge volumes of passengers. The local
newspapers have picked up on the Standard's lead and egged on by
mindless local councillors have been whipping up the same story in local
rags.

I am not aware of any specific problems with the 109 and 250. If I
wished to indulge in a stereotypical commentary I could say that Brixton
is a down at heel, crime ridden ghetto and therefore some of that crime
must therefore transfer to the bus system. However that would be a
gross exaggeration. You can encounter crime anywhere in London and
sometimes it spills on to the bus and rail network - if you wish to
avoid it then don't use public transport but then you are not immune if
you lock yourself away in a car either.

I travel all over the place by public transport and I cannot recall ever
being the victim of crime. Provided you are sensible and street wise
then I think it is perfectly OK to use public transport - in just the
same way as you need to be sensible and street wise when walking down
the street. The bus may well be a slow option compared to the train but
it is cheap and services are very frequent - only you can make the
judgement about how best to balance your travelling needs, time and
money.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!