Kmflett's Blog

I missed the story earlier in January probably because it appeared in the Mail but Polly Toynbee references it in a Guardian article (20th January).

Farage’s view of the Government’s, in my view sensible further restrictions on drinking and driving is that they were ‘dreamt up by the Islington cycling elite’.

Apparently people only cycle to the pub in North London and never in rural areas, at least according to Farage/

It is the case that lots of people do cycle in north-east London and TFL have recently been claiming that this is one reason for a decline in bus passenger numbers. I’ve never cycled, preferring travel by foot, bus and train, but I think cycling in London is a little safer than hitherto with the fairly widespread provision of bike lanes.

Even so, and I appreciate that despite bluster about Reform support in London, Farage is unlikely to found holding an open air meeting on Islington Green or Highbury Fields. However many use the bus and indeed I found myself again on the 38 from Islington to Hackney last Saturday. It was early evening so people were talking not about Farage, boats or Starmer but their plans for the evening

The 38 bus has a place in left history. David Widgery left an MS on it and Sheila Rowbotham notes journeys in her memoirs.

It runs from Victoria Station through Central London to Islington, central Hackney and ends at Clapton Pond- the Lea Bridge Roundabout. However, for those who may not have noticed, TFL have plans to curtail the route at Holborn in 2026. Details are on the TFL website https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-routes-19-38 Comments are open until 23rd January 2026. While TFL doesn’t have a great record of listening to individual comments if local Councils, Councillors, residents associations etc get involved then changes are not always a fait accompli