Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It's quite short compared to WW2 (Boris's favourite comparator, not to mention Captain Tom).
You could go outside during WW2, except when an air raid was on.
It's quite short compared to WW2 (Boris's favourite comparator, not to mention Captain Tom).
Government is devolved, so the architect of these signs is not Westminster.
Khan can gob all he likes but almost nothing is devolved to him. He can't even mandate masks on LU even though he wants to. He's basically an elected transport chief and that's all he is. The Borough Councils have a lot more power than he does.
He also wouldn't say anything from him came from "the Government" as he has no remit to do so.
Despite the very conspicuous spat that’s been going on between Khan and the government, I’m quite sure these signs are endorsed by both parties.
Incidentally, on reflection my earlier post may have been slightly unclear. To clarify, the posters are displayed on LU stations (apart from a few NR stations seem to have “borrowed” them), but the PA announcements are being played at NR stations. The latter certainly aren’t devolved through the mayor.
Does anyone have a photo of one of these signs or know the exact text on them?
If it says "only use public transport if it's essential" or implies that that's probably reasonable, as you should drive if you own or have access to a car, or if not and you have a bicycle you should cycle, or if walking is an option that. Public transport or a taxi is to be the last choice only if all the others aren't viable.
I think that whilst public transport is being advertised for “essential use only”, it is permitted for workers who cannot work from home to use this service, as this is essential for their livelihood, and I think the fact that this message has been confusing people into thinking that non essential workers cannot use it is the reason why rail travel is down as much as 99%Then I would be asking the Government why it is telling me to go to work on one hand, then preventing me from doing so on the other.
Do a search on google for something like “Underground essential worker signs”. It’s the signs which are displayed on a white board and have two large circles with text in them, the top circle being green the bottom circle being red.
I’ve been seeing them almost daily for the last three weeks, but I won’t be going near one for the next 3 weeks now!
I think that whilst public transport is being advertised for “essential use only”, it is permitted for workers who cannot work from home to use this service, as this is essential for their livelihood, and I think the fact that this message has been confusing people into thinking that non essential workers cannot use it is the reason why rail travel is down as much as 99%
For me "essential use only" would be acceptible, as I would consider getting to work as essential. However, according to some on here, the signage refers to "key workers" only being allowed to use public transport, which would be misleading.
Then I would be asking the Government why it is telling me to go to work on one hand, then preventing me from doing so on the other.
These?
(not my photo)
That's a bit naughty. Probably Sadiq's job.
Agreed. In London many people will need to use public transport to get to a supermarket, for instance.
But are they doing that?
The initial guidance was only travel to work if you cannot work from home. I agree there is a slight blur between that wording and the word “essential”, however I think the intent is pretty clear.
As I said elsewhere, forgetting about the definition of essential for one moment, someone going on a jolly will stand out like a sore thumb, especially if travelling as a group. In reality, in my spheres of experience at least, it’s been fairly self-enforcing.
I suspect a family turning up at a booking office asking for a set of day returns to Clacton-on-Sea would be questioned sufficiently that they’d end up giving up. Likewise I seem to remember we did read on here from a reliable source that BTP were actively turfing people off Skegness trains, so perhaps things have been different in different areas.
Part of the trouble was that in the early days there was still very heavy early-morning crowding, which was largely attributed to construction workers. It was this which led to things having to be turned a bit more hard-hitting. (Although HS2 work still seems to be going on!).
Few seem to have been using the Underground for shopping, though perhaps this is different on buses.
These?
(not my photo)
That's a bit naughty. Probably Sadiq's job.
The issue is that at no stage has the Government said in its advice that you're not allowed to go to work if you're not a key or an "essential" worker. "Only travel to work if you cannot work from home " isn't the initial advice, it has been the guidance all along and still is.
If the Mayor is saying otherwise, he is contradicting the guidance.
Should it not be the case they every employer should have run through their workforce and identified those staff who can work from home? Taking aside those people and those involved in specifically prohibited workplaces like pubs and restaurants, doesn’t this largely leave essential workers?
My place certainly has done exactly that, and has also taken some steps to assist or encourage those “essential” staff to come by car where expedient.
It could I suppose be argued that if a bus is an option you should use it over the Tube, as drivers have now been properly protected and distancing is easier than on cramped deep Tube trains.
It could I suppose be argued that if a bus is an option you should use it over the Tube, as drivers have now been properly protected and distancing is easier than on cramped deep Tube trains.
Taking aside those people and those involved in specifically prohibited workplaces like pubs and restaurants, doesn’t this largely leave essential workers?
I'm not convinced that either of those are actually the case.
The bus driver still shares a compartment with the public, and there's no guarantee that a bus will be less crowded than even a tube train.
The Mayor has done little but contradict and criticise the government over elements of the response that he has no say over. It appears that he is more interested in opposing the government for the sake opposition than to do anything that will actually benefit Londoners.The issue is that at no stage has the Government said in its advice that you're not allowed to go to work if you're not a key or an "essential" worker. "Only travel to work if you cannot work from home " isn't the initial advice, it has been the guidance all along and still is.
If the Mayor is saying otherwise, he is contradicting the guidance.
I've found that it is mainly older people who are blatantly ignoring the rules, despite what the media wants us to believe, but as normal the police will do nothing about the little old ladies due to the fear of being criticised as too much of society loves to blame the young for all ills and thinks the old can do no wrong.I’d imagine pretty much the only Underground use at present is people going to or from work plus a few people making their way to or from medical appointments or collecting medications. (Plus a few hoodies travelling about who are sufficiently brazen to ignore everything).
The Mayor has done little but contradict and criticise the government over elements of the response that he has no say over. It appears that he is more interested in opposing the government for the sake opposition than to do anything that will actually benefit Londoners.
The mayor's stance is to protect transport workers who happen to basically be his employees. He is trying to keep demand on TfL's services as limited as possible to ensure that transport workers are not put at unnecessary risk.