Afternoon:
10°c
Commuters today expressed their anger and disappointment at the Tube drivers who left them struggling to get to work this morning.
Millions of Londoners were forced to find alternative methods of transport as the Tube strike threatened to paralyse the capital.
Even Chancellor Alistair Darling made a rare foray on foot, rather than by ministerial car, from his Downing Street home to the Treasury.
Many chose to catch the bus or boat, or walk or cycle to work. Others found their usual route on the Underground was working but with delays and a restricted service.
Many complained about delays, long queues and lack of information.
Brendan Oxford, a 27-year-old IT worker, waited half an hour for a bus to take him from Earl's Court to Holborn.
"Ten went past without stopping," he said. "Apparently there are more buses running today, but I have seen no evidence of that.
"They are just ridiculously busy. I think the Tube drivers are greedy for striking, especially in the current climate."
Grace Flichton, a 26-year-old office worker, found that her journey time from Monument to Hammersmith trebled.
"I usually just nip on the Tube and it takes 35 minutes, but the bus stops are so busy," she said.
Pascal Turner, 30, a waitress, agreed. She said: "There are just not enough buses to cope with the demand today. Two buses went past absolutely full."
There were similar long delays for the river services, despite the fact that services were boosted from a capacity of 1,500 to 8,000.
Kery Latzias, 38, who works in IT ordering, chose to use the shuttle service from Embankment Pier to London Bridge rather than risk the bus.
But he said the decision added an hour to his journey and he later discovered the Jubilee line was running, meaning he could have saved himself the long queues at the river.
"What angers me is not so much that they are striking but that there are no adequate contingency plans," he said. "The Tube service is critical to the City and this cannot be allowed to happen every year."
Amy Watson, 28, who works in financial services, also chose to use the boat service to get to her office in Canary Wharf.
She said: "I'm fairly indifferent towards the negotiations that are going on and I think that there needs to be some sensitivity towards their call for a pay rise. After all, we're all suffering at the moment and all wanting pay rises.
"While some people seem to be incredibly angry about this you have to remember we're all in the same boat and you just have to get on with it."
Felicity Moor, 32, who works in banking, was less forgiving.
"They earn a fortune for driving a train anyway," she said. "I don't see why they should be allowed to strike.
"It loses the City millions of pounds, makes millions of people go out of their way to find alternative ways of travel and loses millions of hours.
"Boris Johnson promised he would sort out a no-strike deal which I think is the absolutely right thing to do - but what I want to know is why he hasn't done it."
Reader views (2)
Felicity Moor who works in banking: "It loses the City millions of pounds" - yes the City can manage that without RMT help thanks very much!
- Jon, London, 10/06/2009 17:01
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Surely both tube unions are only going to make it worse for themselves with bickering and arguing between themselves. And Bob Crowe seems to be the main instigator of the whole sorry mess.
- Mrs Geraldine Harrison, Peterborugh, Cambs. U.K., 10/06/2009 16:10
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