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chucknorris

lisyloo wrote: »

Genuine question - are the Boris bikes really that much of a problem?
Ah right 30 minute limit?
I do a much shorter journey but have to change bikes in the middle with a mandatory 5 minute wait.

Was that question in response to my post? If so, yes they are a problem, because I don't live in London, I live in Dorking, so they aren't any here. Also they don't look very efficient, I think that that they would be quite slow, and therefore not appropriate for cycling from one town/city to another.

Mistermeaner

lisyloo wrote: »

It's a ridiculous generalisation.
There are some fabulous upsides to London and loads of free places for kids to get fabulous extra-currrricular activities like museums.
There are also some serious downsides to London - like pollution - we all know this.

However it's still a ridiculous generalisation.

An opinion is all - overcrowding, lack of green space, crime, busy roads, fight for school places, cost of living (housing aside), working hours (Inc commute)

I know plenty of people who worked in London in their 20s then moved when they started breeding as they shared this view.

CLAPTON

Mistermeaner wrote: »

An opinion is all - overcrowding, lack of green space, crime, busy roads, fight for school places, cost of living (housing aside), working hours (Inc commute)

I know plenty of people who worked in London in their 20s then moved when they started breeding as they shared this view.

I'm not sure what you are comparing London to... Manchester/Leeds/Cambridge/Bristol or small villages
but if you genuinely think London lacks open (to all) green spaces then you know nothing about London.

Mistermeaner

Fair enough - I don't know London particularly well, been there as tourist and with work maybe 20-30 Times so scratched the surface only. Green spaces I guess my view is skewed on what I've seen. Would also agree alot of big cities eg manchester etc have same problems.

Perhaps I should make clear: I personally would not want to raise kids in London, and some people I know think the same way.

The original point was about the benefits cap and the effect that may have on London..... perhaps forcing non-working / low income families out of central London to be replaced by people who were previously commuting in from outside - I think generally this is a good thing putting the workers closer to the work.

lisyloo

My view is that a few of your perceptions are (understandably) those of someone whose been there a few times.

lack of green space

London is full of lovely parks - both large ones like Hyde park, St James Park, Green Park as well as smaller green areas which have play facilities, benches etc.

busy roads

I live in two places.
I find the back streets In London are better than the west country.
They are often closed to motor traffic - sometimes physically with bollards that cyclists can get through, other times they are quiet because they are dead ends.
There are lots of rat runs in Bath and make some roads a living hell for residents.
Most people in London would use public transport which is generally very good and cheap (although unpleasantly crowded at peak times).

I know plenty of people who worked in London in their 20s then moved when they started breeding as they shared this view.

There are stark pros and cons of living in London, the same as there are in places like Bristol/Bath (I just mention those as I know them fairly well).
Parking is a real problem in Bath both for both commuters and residents. Cities outside London don't have't great public transport and have parking and traffic problems (try going from Bristol to Bath in the rush hour).

I do agree that plenty of people move out of London, but plenty also stay. It's not universal.

The original point was about the benefits cap and the effect that may have on London..... perhaps forcing non-working / low income families out of central London to be replaced by people who were previously commuting in from outside - I think generally this is a good thing putting the workers closer to the work.

This would be great IMO.
Unfortunately I think there are still enough highly paid people, BTL investors, foreign investors, criminals to keep ordinary people out of central London. By ordinary I mean people on London median wage of £34K.
I don't actually have anything against BTL investors but I think foreign investors should have to pay (like they do in many other countries) and perhaps stopped/penalised from keeping properties empty and dirty money should be kept out. It's going to take a move on more than one front to make any significant difference.

padington

lisyloo wrote: »

My view is that a few of your perceptions are (understandably) those of someone whose been there a few times.



London is full of lovely parks - both large ones like Hyde park, St James Park, Green Park as well as smaller green areas which have play facilities, benches etc.



I live in two places.
I find the back streets In London are better than the west country.
They are often closed to motor traffic - sometimes physically with bollards that cyclists can get through, other times they are quiet because they are dead ends.
There are lots of rat runs in Bath and make some roads a living hell for residents.
Most people in London would use public transport which is generally very good and cheap (although unpleasantly crowded at peak times).



There are stark pros and cons of living in London, the same as there are in places like Bristol/Bath (I just mention those as I know them fairly well).
Parking is a real problem in Bath both for both commuters and residents. Cities outside London don't have't great public transport and have parking and traffic problems (try going from Bristol to Bath in the rush hour).

I do agree that plenty of people move out of London, but plenty also stay. It's not universal.



This would be great IMO.
Unfortunately I think there are still enough highly paid people, BTL investors, foreign investors, criminals to keep ordinary people out of central London. By ordinary I mean people on London median wage of £34K.
I don't actually have anything against BTL investors but I think foreign investors should have to pay (like they do in many other countries) and perhaps stopped/penalised from keeping properties empty and dirty money should be kept out. It's going to take a move on more than one front to make any significant difference.

We have no industry that's big enough to stop our debts getting out of control. Its not a good time to make laws stopping money coming into the country. Better to make a two speed housing market. One that allows foreign investors and another that doesn't allow any investors. Call one market 'private housing'. Call the other 'public housing' . Allow lots of investment in both.

missyrichards

I grew up in London and there are lots of green spaces and lots of free things to do in the central area. The crime is a drawback though I admit, although I haven't got much to compare it to but I imagine there are nice areas of the UK that have much lower crime rates.

gadgetmind

Mistermeaner wrote: »

If you're suitably qualified / experienced to get the best jobs up north it's possible to feel pretty rich on what by London standards would be mediocre income.

Yup, that's what works for me! 20 minute commute by bicycle, city has good transport links and loads of great restaurants, good beer, smashing countryside just a few miles north, and house prices mostly under control. Work wise, there is lots around in engineering, banking, insurance, investment, legal, you name it.

The UK has lots of vibrant towns and cities so I really don't understand the clamour to be in London.

Each to their own.

lisyloo

The UK has lots of vibrant towns and cities so I really don't understand the clamour to be in London.

Are there lots of £100K jobs where you are?
I don't understand the clamour for the low or middle paid.
I understand it for top earners those e.g. £100K jobs, because my perception is that there aren't many of those in the North or indeed elsewhere.
Am I wrong?

gadgetmind

lisyloo wrote: »

Are there lots of £100K jobs where you are?

Yes, lots thanks. We have entrepreneurs, investment bankers, senior managers, CFO/CEOs, etc. aplenty. I'm sure London has us beaten on sheer volume of such jobs, but those with the skills can find work in any major city and most large towns.

I understand it for top earners those e.g. £100K jobs, because my perception is that there aren't many of those in the North or indeed elsewhere. Am I wrong?

Demonstrably.