Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
No buses on Green Lanes
Just walked back from Manor House tube and passed four empty 141s abandoned in the snow. In the other direction I saw five "not in service" 29s struggling to get up the hill, and then finally one which seemed to be taking on passengers. I don't think any buses were running Northbound on Green Lanes.
Usually the buses keep running no matter what, but it's all gone horribly wrong this time, with the hill up to Manor House a virtual ice rink since this afternoon; I walked up to the tube at 4.30 and cars were slipping backwards and blocking the road so buses couldn't get up there. I can't think where everyone is going in their cars in this weather.
The local tubes are still running more-or-less, with some big gaps in between trains.
The weather forecast was only for 'light snow" - I seriously doubt that GL had been gritted at any point today.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Thanks for this info, we got stranded at Newington Green with 2 small kids who were deeply unhappy at the unexpected walk home. Had no idea what was going on as the roads had been clear when we set out. We did manage to briefly distract them with a magical walk through Clissold Park as night was falling though.
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Permalink Reply by empyrean_aisles on
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I'm trying not to panic, because I'm within a few weeks of my due date and have been having abdominal pains this evening that might just be Braxton-Hicks contractions, but they might also be early labour. And if cars and buses can't get up the hill to Manor House, and the tubes stop running for the evening, I can't really see how I will be able to get to UCH. So, I'm grateful to Maddy & Liz for posting with this info, and if anyone else has any updates on the state of the roads or public transport between here and Euston, I would be *very* grateful to hear it, at least until the roads clear.
Empyrean
(trying to keep her sense of humour by weighing the risks of an unplanned home birth versus giving birth on the 29 if none of the local cab companies will go out in this weather ...)
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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Actually. although no buses were running I did see an ambulance charging down Green Lanes last night, so they are obviously doing their best to get through. And if cars are still driving around, then so are cabs I imagine. Don't worry, you'll get there somehow.
(I had my son at home - it was a planned home birth but he came so fast that the midwife only got here for the last twenty minutes of my labour. It can be done!!)
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Thanks for the reassurance, Maddy - I'd really prefer not to use up an ambulance when they should be attending to people with actual medical crises brought on by the cold & ice, but I guess if the worst came to the worst it's good to know they're a possibility.
(The pains eventually stopped last night -- I think probably because of the adrenaline when I read this thread!)
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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It's a shame that everyone on Hewitt Rd is so "right-on" they don't own or have access to a 4WD. Nothing is more thrilling for a neighbour than being woken at 4am and asked for a lift to the hospital though.
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There is no public transport on Christmas day, whatever the weather.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Nobody talks about fitting buses and cars in the UK with winter tyres.. It's illegal here to drive on snow without them!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/isarsteve/5244156886/
Of course, we get problems during and just after snow storms.. but certainly not the chaos you get. I put a lot down to the use of 'winter tyres'.
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There had been a weather warning in place for London issued by the met-office for Thursday night. They forecast heavy snow starting at 1pm on Saturday. OK, so they were off by a couple of hours but frankly anyone who got in their car yesterday or took an unnecessary journey has less common sense than me or a very short memory.
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Sure, people who expect to drive normally in their cars in such weather, need to consider changing their actions.
But, the theme here was 'no buses..'.
Does anyone know what winter precautions London's bus operator's take?
Do the buses have winter tyres? At least on the traction wheels?
My experience with the winter tyres on my car is that I can still drive on un-gritted back streets, albeit at very reduced speeds.
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I hear what you are saying, John, but I have lived in countries where they have very severe winters and that doesn't tend to stop normal life, people do go out short distances and public transport does tend to cope unless its a blizzard.
Hackney/Islington was fine by the way, roads were normal and buses were running -the problems all seemed to stem from the area around Finsbury Park/Manor House.
It wasn't all bad - the parks were stunning and one of the snowmen on Islington Green is courtesy of the E family. Just recalling a tip from OAE last year, most snowy conditions can be defeated by the aid of good footwear- this was our mistake, kids shod for bus journey not walking, won't make that mistake again- I on the other hand had occasion to bless Clarks (this is not a sponsored post- I really was thankful I'd invested in their snowboots, but other footwear is available)
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I withdraw my earlier comment about lack of common sense. I have hidden a child's present in my house and now cannot find it. It's not a small present either.
Yes the footwear problem for children is a tricky one. You basically do have to buy those expensive snow shoes. Packing the socks on just doesn't seem to work.
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