27 June (Part 1) - Walk this way
New
direction signs have sprung up in Broadway and elsewhere. Modern ones like those
that may be found in central London. I think Boris has been dipping his hand into his,
i.e. our, pockets again. Quite nice although some people have been keen to
report that the walking times displayed are wildly optimistic, so I thought I would
do a few test runs. I mean walks. I chose Crook Log Leisure Centre to the sign and
the sign to Barnehurst station. I hope you can see that the council’s suggested
times are 18 and 16 minutes respectively.
I have a reputation for walking too fast for most people but I tried not to
regard it as a race and my road crossing delays were absolutely minimal although
being stopped while close to Barnehurst station and asked for directions lost
ten or fifteen seconds.
My times were 14 minutes and 45 seconds from the Leisure Centre and 13 minutes
and 10 seconds to the station so I would say the figures shown are realistic for
anyone reasonably fit, and if you aren’t fit you’d be jumping on a bus anyway.
Don’t say I am always negative to everything Bexley council does!
While in Erith Road I saw a cab go by with a notice in the front window which
proclaimed ‘Bexley Mini Cabs’.