Lefties and Centrists of London - would you consider voting against the current mayor in the next election?

[hotmumshit]

Cant get a bus down Oxford Street
Crime hasn't gone anywhere, only the phone bike thieves due to international outcry
Housing still a mess

I am a lifelong leftie, but I am not voting the current mayor in again.

Errrr there are several entries to Selfridges, including some at the back (road is not pedestrianised there). Thats the joy of west end shopping. Bet there’s more than one entrance to the Disney store as well.

just out of interest how often do you go to the west - or east end of Oxford St? Thank you

The candy shops have gone. A huge new Harry Potter shop is opening in the next week or so. There's an IKEA. Its changed a lot in the last year or so

I’m sure the selfridges cafe will really feel the pinch when you stop going.

Quite the opposite.

Oxford Street has turned into a velodrome now.

There were some stewards trying to stop that today, but it’s all a bit of a shambles.

Let’s be honest. Most of London is a sink hole. But then if that’s what you vote for, that’s what you deserve.

Why do you think that? The number of wheelchair users is a fraction of the number of people who can only manage short distances. In recent years (due to covid), the number of people suffering from PEM/PENE has risen dramatically, as have conditions like POTS.

Re: Khan, one of the things I like is that he is trying to address indoor air quality in schools. At the last count in England, a couple of years ago, there were 50,000 new cases of long covid in children (for that year, excluding those already suffering with it). Cleaner indoor air helps reduce viral loads, helps children with allergies and asthma, increases concentration, improves exam results and helps decrease teacher absence. It’s been needed for a long time, so although the initial rollout Khan is doing is just a drop in the ocean right now, too few politicians have put their money where their mouths are. It’s easier to just shout “attendance”!

When I was living in London, I had a neighbour who absolutely loathed the Mayor. She wasn’t very happy when I pointed out that people keep voting for him, clearly like his policies and are okay with the way things are going or even actively pleased with the way things are going.

But that’s the reality and we live in a democracy so that’s the end of that.

I don’t know why my comment annoyed her so much.

For me, I thought London was overcrowded, maybe 20 years ago? I remember thinking we must’ve hit tipping point and people will stop wanting to live here…. How long I was 😂 I am not sure what any Mayor could do to address that but that’s partly why I moved.

Ultimately, I think people will prefer the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street. I agree with the OP that it’s a pain for bus users but a lot of things have happened in London that are paying for bus users…. I think they see buses as being a necessary evil that they tolerate rather than encourage.

I also think a lot of it is unfriendly to people with disabilities… or even just human beings really when you look at things like floating bus stops.

it’s a shame people can’t just have a casual chat on here about this stuff any more without all sorts of mad comments about politics coming into it. Saying that the pedestrianisation doesn’t work for you shouldn’t attract so much ire!

London was my home for 30 years, so I still like to have a little chat about it.

I am not a fan of Khan and have never voted for him. I think he is awful. Self interested.
But I do think the pedestrianisation of Oxford St is a Good Thing.

What has he done that you don’t like?

Your hypocrisy is staggering.

You’ve spent the thread twisting others’ replies to make this an antagonistic thread and calling others out for dismissing “people with disabilities” if they disagree with you on an AIBU.

Then you meet another poster with a disability and first you tell them they aren’t disabled, then that you “don’t care how [they] feel” and they have to “be better” because they don’t meet your standard for disabling right.

Not being ableist at all, I apologise if I came across that way. I also can’t really understand the problem, sorry.

Exactly. This is a huge problem they need to stamp out Now. Or else it will just ruin the street. Back to cars and buses and taxis probably, if they don't stop the ebikes. Such a forseeable issue uncontrolled, after all this time and preparation, they didn't get a handle on how to stop the biggest rising problem. And now it'll be much bigger - theft and terror from ebike scum on Oxford Street

Yes, I did last time. Khan is just a waste of space. I voted for an Independent - waste of a vote I know, but I wasn’t voting for him.

If he stands again, I won’t be voting for him then either,

This 100%

I have no objection to pedestrianisation but they need to block and control the bikes. The e-bikes in London are a menace. I've nearly been knocked down on pedestrian crossings twice because they ignore red lights. The black balaclava gangs are genuinely sinister. With 20 mile an hour limits they are travelling as fast/faster as motor vehicles and there are no controls.

As opposed to being choked with motor vehicles as it has been for years? Classic motornormativity

Dislike the guy intensely but Oxford St is a good call. A broken clock…

I'm not sure Sadiq Khan will seek another term, but like others I really support what he has done with ULEZ and also universal free primary school meals.

People blame the Mayor for all sorts he's not actually in charge of. I am completely in favour of the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street which is a hellish place at the moment.

Shame they couldn't have forseen the shit show cars would bring to our cities when they were first introduced

I’ve never voted for Khan and I’m def centrist.
He wants to build on TfL land next to my local tube station. Massive outcry and thankfully it hasn’t happened - yet. We also had a lovely green space opposite our house which has now been built on - not sure if that’s Khan’s doing but I still don’t like it.

i am interested in seeing the new pedestrianised Oxford Street though.

Yes. Khan needs to ban ebikes in London. It's within his control.

I mean if you want to go to the Disney store it’s literally opposite Bond Street station. Get the tube or Elizabeth line. Literally complaining about one day a year when you look at the lights and thinking it trumps poor air quality, pollution and congestion of the dead and decaying street which will only be improved once pedestrianised.

Sadiq has no power to ban ebikes from London - legally they are no different from pedal bikes. It needs an act of Parliament to change the definitions

It's within his control to start the process / campaign for His London 🙄

Ban hire bikes? Why not ban cars instead