London Paralyzed by the 'Wrong Kind of Snow'
Feb 2nd, 2009, 09:08 AM
#22
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Indeed Patrick - when we get a ton of snow - say 12" or more and all the schools have a snow day and some businesses as well it's really a great holiday.
Six inches of snow is understandable that a place with no cause to have snow removal equipment ready will have huge problems.
But two years ago it was really a dusting of snow that brought the great metropolis to a stand still - still can't figure out why a tad of snow caused the Tube to crash?
wonder if the flannerpooch can get out for his weekly walk? Walking the dogma in the snowy hilly Cotswolds must be dicey i'd think.
Six inches of snow is understandable that a place with no cause to have snow removal equipment ready will have huge problems.
But two years ago it was really a dusting of snow that brought the great metropolis to a stand still - still can't figure out why a tad of snow caused the Tube to crash?
wonder if the flannerpooch can get out for his weekly walk? Walking the dogma in the snowy hilly Cotswolds must be dicey i'd think.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 09:11 AM
#23
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The mayor avoided blaming the type of snow - the gaffe that saw British Rail's Director of Operations pilloried in the press in 1991 - but admitted its volume had proved overwhelming.
He said: "I think we've done pretty well in what are absolutely extraordinary circumstances. There's no doubt about it, this is the right kind of snow, it's just the wrong kind of quantities.
"My message to the heavens is: 'You've put on a fantastic display of snow power but that is probably quite enough'."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/we...etty-well.html
He said: "I think we've done pretty well in what are absolutely extraordinary circumstances. There's no doubt about it, this is the right kind of snow, it's just the wrong kind of quantities.
"My message to the heavens is: 'You've put on a fantastic display of snow power but that is probably quite enough'."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/we...etty-well.html
Feb 2nd, 2009, 09:16 AM
#25
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>>still can't figure out why a tad of snow caused the Tube to crash<<
Probably the drivers not being able to get to the depot for the early services, causing knock-on delays throughout the day. But I don't recall a complete wipe-out, nor was it today.
Probably the drivers not being able to get to the depot for the early services, causing knock-on delays throughout the day. But I don't recall a complete wipe-out, nor was it today.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 09:17 AM
#27
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I just arrived in London (Monday afternoon) and had relatively little trouble.
Our plane (from San Francisco) was on time, but had to wait on the tarmac for a gate. Since flights were not taking off (or were doing so very infrequently) we waited for a little over an hour.
Very quick through immigration. Bags there right away.
The only other sanfu was that the Heathrow Express train was only running every 30 mins. I figured taking a taxi into town was out of the question given all the snow. I was right about that (I learned after arriving and seeing the traffic snarls on the TV news).
Taxis plentiful at Paddington station which is where the Heathrow Express terminates, also not a given I soon learned when checking into the hotel. Reception said that taxis had been hard to come by all day.
It is still snowing (not heavily), and the ground is covered. Sidewalks are difficult to navigate, and stepping off the curb to cross the street is a messy affair.
I should have brought my rubber boots!
I'm sure all will be closer to normal in a day.
LisaG
Our plane (from San Francisco) was on time, but had to wait on the tarmac for a gate. Since flights were not taking off (or were doing so very infrequently) we waited for a little over an hour.
Very quick through immigration. Bags there right away.
The only other sanfu was that the Heathrow Express train was only running every 30 mins. I figured taking a taxi into town was out of the question given all the snow. I was right about that (I learned after arriving and seeing the traffic snarls on the TV news).
Taxis plentiful at Paddington station which is where the Heathrow Express terminates, also not a given I soon learned when checking into the hotel. Reception said that taxis had been hard to come by all day.
It is still snowing (not heavily), and the ground is covered. Sidewalks are difficult to navigate, and stepping off the curb to cross the street is a messy affair.
I should have brought my rubber boots!
I'm sure all will be closer to normal in a day.
LisaG
Feb 2nd, 2009, 10:05 AM
#28
"it's about the people who simply can't cope with a change to their routine and can't welcome the opportunity to go and play for a bit."
I would love to have gone and played - unfortunately, those selfish patients in my hospital refused to join in the spirit of things, and insisted on continuing to be ill, and needing tests done.
The main hospital site in Southampton is near the top of a hill - it is virtually impossible to reach without first descending into a valley, then climbing back up to the hospital. On the odd occasions that we get any sort of snow, the site becomes virtually unreachable if the gritters haven't come through.
This morning the police were turning people away from two of the four main routes in as buses had skidded on the roads, and anything other than 4x4s were unable to climb the hill without slipping backwards. It took me over an hour to travel the last 3 miles into work.
By afternoon, the council had gritted the roads, and everything was flowing smoothly again.
I would love to have gone and played - unfortunately, those selfish patients in my hospital refused to join in the spirit of things, and insisted on continuing to be ill, and needing tests done.
The main hospital site in Southampton is near the top of a hill - it is virtually impossible to reach without first descending into a valley, then climbing back up to the hospital. On the odd occasions that we get any sort of snow, the site becomes virtually unreachable if the gritters haven't come through.
This morning the police were turning people away from two of the four main routes in as buses had skidded on the roads, and anything other than 4x4s were unable to climb the hill without slipping backwards. It took me over an hour to travel the last 3 miles into work.
By afternoon, the council had gritted the roads, and everything was flowing smoothly again.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 10:36 AM
#29
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Now that "Global Warming" is currently renamed "Climate Change" I can't wait to see how this is all gonna be blamed on my Toyota SUV (the only kind of vehicle that we can get around in during our near daily snow events).
Feb 2nd, 2009, 12:42 PM
#30
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If this snow in London is anything like the recent snow event in Seattle and Portland, I completely sympathize. Like London, these Pacific NW cities are not equipped to handle snow and ice. Lots of folks over here were "snowbound" for days; and let me tell you, that's no fun at all.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 12:56 PM
#31
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5642066.ece
Sounds like the weather is frightful! I grew up in NEW England, however now live in Texas and do understand the craziness when that amount of snow falls in an area where they're not used to it.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 01:23 PM
#32
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I loved the snow. Looked out this morning, decided straight away that I wasn't going to even try to get in to work today. Enjoyed pulling on some waterproof boots and stomping through a thick, fresh layer of undisturbed powdery snow!
With the exception of those who really do need to get to work if humanly possible (and my thanks go out to those of you in the emergency services who do just that) I agree with flanner that a lot of people seem to get far too distressed at the thought of an occasional day out of the office.
Heck, I don't get paid when I don't get in and if I can chill despite the loss of (much needed) funds, surely the majority of folks, whose jobs, let's face it, aren't saving the world, can find it in themselves to accept the (very rare) days like this and just enjoy?
With the exception of those who really do need to get to work if humanly possible (and my thanks go out to those of you in the emergency services who do just that) I agree with flanner that a lot of people seem to get far too distressed at the thought of an occasional day out of the office.
Heck, I don't get paid when I don't get in and if I can chill despite the loss of (much needed) funds, surely the majority of folks, whose jobs, let's face it, aren't saving the world, can find it in themselves to accept the (very rare) days like this and just enjoy?
Feb 2nd, 2009, 02:09 PM
#34
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yea my friend who I was in london
with over Christmas was getting back from Jordan today I see her flight finally got in at 10 pm but I wonder
about the underground she is from Regina and is in london etc to get away from the snow and cold for a few months
with over Christmas was getting back from Jordan today I see her flight finally got in at 10 pm but I wonder
about the underground she is from Regina and is in london etc to get away from the snow and cold for a few months
Feb 2nd, 2009, 03:02 PM
#36
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The people who come on here lampooning London for not being able to handle 8 inches of snow probably are the sort of folks who describe 90F as a heatwave. It's all a matter of what you are used to, and what your infrastructure is designed to handle.
New York and Chicago can handle snow because they invest in snow removal equipment, and the locals have to deal with it often enough that they learn how to drive on the stuff. In Texas, we don't have any snowplows, as such, and only a limited capacity for dealing with ice.
Conversly, when the summer time temperatures are in the 90s, Texans think that's just the way things are supposed to be, but a string of 90 degree days in New York or Chicago makes national headlines about a heatwave, and people there really do suffer because of the number of unairconditioned properties.
New York and Chicago can handle snow because they invest in snow removal equipment, and the locals have to deal with it often enough that they learn how to drive on the stuff. In Texas, we don't have any snowplows, as such, and only a limited capacity for dealing with ice.
Conversly, when the summer time temperatures are in the 90s, Texans think that's just the way things are supposed to be, but a string of 90 degree days in New York or Chicago makes national headlines about a heatwave, and people there really do suffer because of the number of unairconditioned properties.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 04:38 PM
#37
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azzure, you have said it quite well. I'm in the Portland area, and December was very stressful on this town. For us, it was the worst snowstorm in 40 years, with four inches of snow in my enighborhood, and even more elsehwere. We just don't have the equipment/skills to handle snow in any great amount. So, I also sympathize with the Brits today. I hope all of you stay as warm and safe as possible, and that you've stocked up for a few days. Kudos to anyone who has to work in this blizzard!
Feb 3rd, 2009, 06:16 AM
#38
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Good for you, Kavey
I liked this article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/fe...n-snow-weather
"Stuart Jeffries revels in the hush, the beauty, the joy and the anarchy of a city magically transformed"
I liked this article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/fe...n-snow-weather
"Stuart Jeffries revels in the hush, the beauty, the joy and the anarchy of a city magically transformed"
Feb 3rd, 2009, 06:33 AM
#39
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Boris managed to cycle to work as usual - so why can't ten-ton London Double-deckers navigate the same streets?
Did Boris cycle or push his cycle to work?
And a city need not buy expensive snow plows for the rare storm - but just plows that can be attached to any larger and even small truck. But still i guess once every few decades you can just declare a national snow holiday and all will be happy except merchants i guess.
Did Boris cycle or push his cycle to work?
And a city need not buy expensive snow plows for the rare storm - but just plows that can be attached to any larger and even small truck. But still i guess once every few decades you can just declare a national snow holiday and all will be happy except merchants i guess.
