Heavy Reading
It took longer than usual to get to work (Thames Valley Park) this morning. Road traffic was heavy. In fact, the situation, in my opinion, has never been so bad. Even August, an historically quiet month, was far from ideal.
There seem to be too many of us and anyone who wants a car (and is licensed to drive one), can pretty much have one. Reading’s notorious bottlenecks don’t help matters, either.
But why drive to work in the first place? These are exciting times. Technology now allows you to work remotely (you can surf the web or check email from home or Starbucks, if that takes your fancy). Why surround yourself with grey walls and pervasive office talk when you can sit at your kitchen table and work? It makes sense to me. And kids, why not walk to school?
Email me: 
lala yell responded on 15 Jan 2007 at 5:30 pm #
Getting around Reading is a soul destroying experience and pretty soon big business will vote with their mobiles and leave the town.
Imagine all those workers who have the pleasure of a company courtesy bus to Thames Valley after they have successfully completed a plane journey, or indulged in a packed and sweaty tube ride before taking a seatless train journey to Reading. They have finally arrived in the town where their business meeting takes place. But not quite.
They may foolishly think only a courtesy bus comes between them and a well-earned cup of coffee. But they are mistaken.
The Thames Valley Park bus is newly revamped and ready for action with comfy leather seats and WIFI on board. Well what else does the modern day businessman/woman need?
How about a double decker bus? We see them passing us by every day at Reading Station. Passengers must wait often 20 mins for a bus to appear only to find it is crammed to the sunroofs with professionals gasping for fresh air, their bodies contorted into weird shapes to fit the last remaining volume of space to the shouts of ‘move along to the back now’.
Those on the pavement are either given the chance to get stuck to someone’s shirt in the heaving bus or must to call in late again and wait on the pavement. Regulars resign themselves to the idea that tomorrow they will get up at 4.30am instead of 5am.
You may wonder what else could we possibly want. Well since you’re asking, how about a train station at TVP? But there is much to wonder about. Such as what goes on in the minds of the town’s councillors.
It was often the case last summer that roadworks on market square brought traffic to a standstill.
The road was dug up, after weeks of transport strife, the beautiful cobble stones outside Ninos Reataurant, reminiscent of a picturesque square in Italy were replaced what looked like a tarmac wasteland. But like the traffic during these weeks, this talk diverts from the commuter journey I was telling you about.
Once onboard the TVP bus at Reading Station the 10 minute crawl away from the town to King’s Road had many overheated occupants considering a brisk walk to work.
Have you ever stood by someones foul-stenching armpit for 10 minutes? Oh yes the man had a wash at 5.15am but since then a lot’s happened. Now his face downcast and apologetic, he is a changed man. Can he really pull out the deal- sealing Powerpoint presentation he must give in half an hour?
So we are on the road having made the long breathe-holding journey through Reading which has taken us almost double the time it took to get from London to the town.
Do we accept defeat? Apologize once again to the waiting business associates and brace ourselves to do the same thing again tomorrow. Or do we complain? Even if we don’t bother spending the energy and get on with the job in hand, I’m sure the companies concerned already get the picture.
The good news is Reading’s roads are not as bad as they could be. I’m sure Reading’s congestion problems will get worse only once the inner distribution road’s one way system is in place.
Matt Brady responded on 17 Jan 2007 at 4:24 am #
I agree, and history repeats itself already. Again market place roadworks have brought traffic to a standstill. Again it’s a crawl to TVP.
I’m not interested in leather seats and WiFi (it seems that sometimes I have barely enough room to flip open my phone, let alone my laptop for wireless surfing). So, yes, why not a double decker bus? Or why not more buses?
I don’t know why commuters taking the TVP bus after tube and rail journeys choose to endure such travel discomfort every day. The tube and train to Reading (both super-expensive) at times offer standing room only - and that’s when they’re running. Then more standing on the bus (which thankfully is free). Is it worth it?