FabSwingers.com forum: Commuting via public transport in London

By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

My bosses are arguing for me to return to the office simply to keep an eye on incoming post. I am reluctant but may not have a say. I haven't travelled into the city for over a month. Can anyone tell me what it is like currently? They say I can avoid rush hour if it helps. Typically I use the tfl line from Essex into Liverpool St, then I'll probably walk from there but may consider hopping on the tube. Anyone able to offer a heads up?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"My bosses are arguing for me to return to the office simply to keep an eye on incoming post. I am reluctant but may not have a say. I haven't travelled into the city for over a month. Can anyone tell me what it is like currently? They say I can avoid rush hour if it helps. Typically I use the tfl line from Essex into Liverpool St, then I'll probably walk from there but may consider hopping on the tube. Anyone able to offer a heads up?

If it's on walking distance from liverpool street just walk?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Face masks from 15 .

As soon as the shops open I’m there ..otherwise I’ll die in the suburbs..

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By *orkiecplCouple
over a year ago

York

From my own very limited knowledge i would suggest that you catch a train that gets you into london at 11am, then walk to avoid the tube DO NOT USE THE TUBE,so you start work at midday and stay at work till 7pm or even 8pm then catch a train home. under no circumstances use the tube and avoid trains from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 7pm and you should be ok

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

I have travelled at different times say 10am for the occasional meeting and found it to be OK pre lockdown but understand trains may not be running a full service so might be busier in capacity, or is there a full service now? I will probably walk instead of tube where possible. Tbh I think that working from home still works for me. It is simply that they want me to check the post. Nobody else will be going I

as they are on furlough or are senior to me so can make their own decisions. I'm not even sure many people are sending hard copy documents under lockdown even in the legal industry where we are still reliant on paper documents. I think organisations are being more flexible and are accepting digital versions under the circumstances. I'm hoping there's not a lot of post so then I can argue its not necessary for a daily trip.

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By *rank speakerMan
over a year ago

Worcester

"From my own very limited knowledge i would suggest that you catch a train that gets you into london at 11am, then walk to avoid the tube DO NOT USE THE TUBE,so you start work at midday and stay at work till 7pm or even 8pm then catch a train home. under no circumstances use the tube and avoid trains from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 7pm and you should be ok "

Good suggestion. However you couldn't pay me enough to get on a tube atm at any time!(see my other moans on the subject)

I ( with no evidence) firmly believe that London was ground zero for this infection and the way we're set up leaves us totally open to everything. Let's get this country self sufficient again and we'll all be a lot safer! We're not an island by accident? It's saved us many times in the past so let's close the border now and wherever possible restrict our reliance on supposedly cheaper imports. (And I do realise this is a bold over simplification before anyone jumps on me. But you get the idea?)

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By *ap d agde coupleCouple
over a year ago

Broadstairs

Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way"

Move north and forget about the smog and jam packed tubes of illness.

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By *ap d agde coupleCouple
over a year ago

Broadstairs

"Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way

Move north and forget about the smog and jam packed tubes of illness. "
. To cold oop north actually not in London most of the time sunny south coast

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way

Move north and forget about the smog and jam packed tubes of illness. . To cold oop north actually not in London most of the time sunny south coast "

Only around 2 degrees colder. But least not living on top of each other. A flare with the population density will be impossible to trace.

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By *ap d agde coupleCouple
over a year ago

Broadstairs

"Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way

Move north and forget about the smog and jam packed tubes of illness. . To cold oop north actually not in London most of the time sunny south coast

Only around 2 degrees colder. But least not living on top of each other. A flare with the population density will be impossible to trace. "
To be honest we are not worried about the virus looked at who’s mostly at risk and figure we have absolutely minuscule risk of getting that ill but understand there are people at real risk and they have to be very careful

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

Cycle it!

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By *limmatureguyMan
over a year ago

Tonbridge

Seriously? You're an athletic 39 year old. You are probably at a greater risk of being run over walking to the office from the station than you are from the virus.

If you are still worried then perhaps your mother could walk with you on the first day.

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By *Wman15Man
over a year ago

Altrincham

I travelled into Liverpool St from East Herts last Thursday arriving at about 0930

I was the only person in the carriage (train originated at Stansted)

Transferred to the H&C to go round to Paddington and there were fewer than 10 people in my carriage

When I left London at 0700 on the Friday trains coming into Liverpool St from Essex definitely looked busier but certainly not crowded

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

Cycle it!"
It's a bit far for that. I'd be a sweaty mess by the time I'd get in! Plus my boss was in a serious cycling accident just outside the office prior to lockdown. No thanks!

And to those saying I/we are not at risk or shouldn't be too bothered about the risk of infection due to age and health, that is not the only point. The other point is infecting others who are vulnerable.

But my main gripe with my situation is that it is a needless risk to travel on public transport when official guidelines state we should continue to work from home where possible which it is for me. I think my boss just hates the idea of me being paid where I could be sitting at home in my pants watching homes under the hammer. Hasn't happened I swear. OK it has but that doesn't mean I don't have my laptop on and emails open and continuing to work

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By *arakiss12TV/TS
over a year ago

Bedford

Stay away from the tube, look for a emptyish bus you can get off quickly if needed. otherwise walk as much as you can.

Don't take anything for granted, your current health and age are no guarantee. Use a face mask and carry some hand wipes or sanitizer with you.

I use a biro on cash machine buttons.

Good luck

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By *limmatureguyMan
over a year ago

Tonbridge

"And to those saying I/we are not at risk or shouldn't be too bothered about the risk of infection due to age and health, that is not the only point. The other point is infecting others who are vulnerable."

Firstly the vulnerable will be isolating, or at least avoiding public transport, and won't come into contact with you.

Secondly, if your company asked you to drive somewhere for work, you wouldn't refuse because you might run someone over on the journey, so the same applies to catching the tube into work.

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

Firstly the vulnerable will be isolating, or at least avoiding public transport, and won't come into contact with you.

Secondly, if your company asked you to drive somewhere for work, you wouldn't refuse because you might run someone over on the journey, so the same applies to catching the tube into work. "
How would you know that I'm not responsible for looking after someone who is vulnerable? Secondly, there are no government guidelines suggesting we shouldn't drive into work as there is a concern we might run someone over. Your posts are quite illogical.

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By *egalBeetleWoman
over a year ago

London

Get the tube, wear a mask and dont suck your fingers?

It's not that difficult. The tube is safer than the bus for me- at least you can control/manage the social distancing.

Walking carries the same risk imho- particles could be passing you as you walk similarly to sitting on a train.

Wear a mask, wash your hands and dont lick them, stick them in your eyes.

Really not difficult

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

We can of course control our own actions to minimise risk. But the action of others? I have had at least two people cough near me within the 2m distance and a stranger I was chatting to briefly thought it would be OK to try and shake my hand to say nice to meet you and patted me around the back. Though I think he was probably tipsy. My friend was in Woolwich yesterday and it's like social distancing isn't even a thing. I went to my cousin's in East London to walk her dog for her last week and people were all having a party outside, at least 4-5 different households. I have seen many cases of people being selfish and reckless still unfortunately.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Have a look at the ACAS site to understand your rights. I firmly believe that bosses shouldn't ask you to do something they are not willing to do themselves.

Maybe say that you will leave home at 10 and then leave the office by 2 and that will be your working day.

I have a 40 minute journey on the tube to my office, this is after a drive down the M1. My work are letting me stay at home for the time being as I care for my mum who has COPD and dementia as well as me falling into the overweight high risk category myself.

I wish you well in your discussions with work and hope that you find a reasonable compromise.

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By *ornLordMan
over a year ago

Wiltshire and London

"Work in London some weeks ,been on the tube since lockdown easiest way to get around not that busy and Ian not in high risk group so personally tune all the way

Move north and forget about the smog and jam packed tubes of illness. . To cold oop north actually not in London most of the time sunny south coast

Only around 2 degrees colder. But least not living on top of each other. A flare with the population density will be impossible to trace. "

I’m planning to move a darn sight further north than Leeds and out of the shitty xenophobic hole that England is becoming.

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By *egalBeetleWoman
over a year ago

London

"We can of course control our own actions to minimise risk. But the action of others? I have had at least two people cough near me within the 2m distance and a stranger I was chatting to briefly thought it would be OK to try and shake my hand to say nice to meet you and patted me around the back. Though I think he was probably tipsy. My friend was in Woolwich yesterday and it's like social distancing isn't even a thing. I went to my cousin's in East London to walk her dog for her last week and people were all having a party outside, at least 4-5 different households. I have seen many cases of people being selfish and reckless still unfortunately. "

And that's when you limit your life outside of work.

I personally would rather have a job (ensuring it's safe to work) than go be social.

I'd pick a different park, wear my mask and tell people to respect the social distancing rules.

I've told people on the tube to move or I move.

You're going to be minding post? Is the work safe or is it just the commute being potentially unsafe?

I'm sneezing too however that's due to hayfever, people need to be mindful of that too.. let's not get too jumpy.

People will have to go back to work soon, a new normal will need to be in place.

Go read every scientific articles instead of worrying over 'what ifs'- the more you know the better right x

Buy a visor if that would make you feel safer, ensure work adheres to social distancing guidelines.

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

"Have a look at the ACAS site to understand your rights. I firmly believe that bosses shouldn't ask you to do something they are not willing to do themselves.

Maybe say that you will leave home at 10 and then leave the office by 2 and that will be your working day.

I wish you well in your discussions with work and hope that you find a reasonable compromise."
Thank you. A group email was sent inviting discussion. Those who replied were consultants but argued that individuals should choose if they are comfortable. Instead of replying to those suggestions in the emails he chose to text me individually saying we (in other words, me) need to open daily and the current Wfh arrangement of working from home isn't sustainable (arguable). I think he did this to exert pressure without other's knowledge. Kinda sly...

I understand that there is some requirement to transition back but he is keeping everyone else on furlough, everyone else still working is wfh. So it seems unfair and actually illogical for me to make a daily commute to perform one task. The 3 hours of travelling could be better spent actually working from home. I guess I will go in on Monday and report to my colleagues on travel conditions, practicalities, necessities etc. Hopefully my proposal of an office visit once per week is accepted. If they wish for more frequent visits in they should assign themselves or someone else

Would be nice to live up north. I'd actually be able to afford a house. And I love Northerners. Even though some are a bit mental. But that's for another thread!

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By *.D.I.D.A.S OP Man
over a year ago

London/Essex... ish... Romford to be exact

And that's when you limit your life outside of work.

I personally would rather have a job (ensuring it's safe to work) than go be social.

I'd pick a different park, wear my mask and tell people to respect the social distancing rules.

I've told people on the tube to move or I move.

You're going to be minding post? Is the work safe or is it just the commute being potentially unsafe?

I'm sneezing too however that's due to hayfever, people need to be mindful of that too.. let's not get too jumpy.

People will have to go back to work soon, a new normal will need to be in place.

Go read every scientific articles instead of worrying over 'what ifs'- the more you know the better right x

Buy a visor if that would make you feel safer, ensure work adheres to social distancing guidelines.

"
It is mainly the commute. Like I said, I'd be the only one in the office in likelihood. Nobody has sorted out the office yet. The office has had individual visits by employees during lockdown to pick up files etc but premises have had no cleaners since lockdown and we don't have sprays or masks etc. Not an issue yet as no visitors are expected, besides postman.

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By *olden RatioWoman
over a year ago

Buckinghamshire

I had to go to the office today for the first time in 10 weeks (City area).

Underground is quiet, streets are quiet... Paternoster Sq was like a ghost town.

Lots of signage directing flow of human traffic and reminding people to keep a 2m distance, not just in stations but also on streets.

Very eerie.

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By *havenbabe01Couple
over a year ago

bedfordshire

hubby is a black cab driver in london

its been quiet although getting busier

a few people using the underground most wearing masks

traffic up as most are using their cars

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By *yn drwgMan
over a year ago

Camarthen

Which train do you suggest he uses!

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