‘I respect that you don’t want to wear a mask – but why scoff at me for still wearing one?’

Have people forgot that COVID-19 still exists? (Credits: Getty Images)

In today’s MetroTalk readers are sharing their views on public transportation – the safety concerns, the scarcity of buses, and the controversial decision to restrict the use of TfL over-60s bus passes.

Now, if you’ve got some spare change, you can always catch a black cab, known for their friendly chit-chat – though opinions on that vary!

Meanwhile, are you still masking? For one reader it’s simply out of the question to consider otherwise, she just wishes people would understand…

But what do you think about our readers letters today?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

‘There are no buses because everyone just takes a car – not vice versa’

More buses, less cars (Credits: Getty Images)

B Aston of Liverpool (MetroTalk, Fri) says that the problem with ‘London-based Extinction Rebellion people’ such as myself is that we keep telling people to use buses when there aren’t any.

Just to clarify – because this is an important point that I might have failed to communicate – I wholeheartedly agree that there needs to be much, much more bus transport in the UK.

We need more people to use the bus but in order for that to happen, we need a lot more in the way of bus services.

And here lies the crux of the issue – people feel like they need to own cars because there are no buses. There are no buses because everyone just takes a car.

At Extinction Rebellion, we advocate for a change in culture – a transition to a society where we put people and planet ahead of naked corporate greed.

I know that might sound woolly but its effects will be concrete. And one of those concrete effects needs to be a massive proliferation of bus services, so most people can rely on the bus to get to work and back, and car usage becomes a tiny exception instead of the norm.

I know that, as a Londoner, I have been a beneficiary of a disproportionate quantity of infrastructure spending.

I hope B Aston does not hold that against me. Extinction Rebellion is committed to a fair deal for everyone, no matter where they live, with governance led by and focused on local communities. Ryan Cooper, London

Would you take the bus over a car if there was more infrastructure? (Picture: Getty)

Why restrict the over-60s travel pass?

Eddy G (MetroTalk, Fri) responds to my complaint about the removal of free travel for over-60s on London transport before 9am on weekdays, by saying the capital does better than the rest of the country.

No one appreciates London’s public transport more than I do – I was born in a Midlands village and we had no bus service at all on a Sunday. However, there are other considerations. I have worked since 16 and had no career breaks.

I have never claimed unemployment, and I was one of the WASPIs who had to wait to claim their state pension.

I consider it a ‘double whammy’ to also have free morning travel taken away when I, and so many others, have worked hard for these benefits.

Also, working in the NHS, I have noticed that many elderly patients who prefer to attend early in the morning when clinics are less busy now attend later to avoid travel expenses, and this means a longer wait for them in clinic.

Yes, I agree London does have a first-class public transport service, but it was a shame to take away the benefit of free early morning travel from the most vulnerable, a point that has been echoed not only by MPs I have raised this with, but also Transport for London staff themselves. Elizabeth, London

The ‘wallpaper’ illusion

Have you ever experienced ‘wallpaper’ illusion? (Credits: Getty Images)

Neil Anderson, 52, was left fighting for his life after tumbling 100ft down a ‘broken’ escalator his family said should have been closed off (Metro, Mon).

‘Broken’ escalators are a safety hazard and should be cordoned off.

Much research has been written about a phenomena known as the ‘wallpaper’ illusion, where folk can become disorientated by the parallel lines of the escalator treads, an experience that often results in trips and accidents.

People associate escalators with motion and so they’re psychologically geared up for a ride rather than a climb up or a walk down. I feel strongly, that there needs to be legislation regarding this problem as shopping malls etc tend to favour people flow over safety concerns. George, London

‘I “respect” others’ not wearing a mask – why not do the same if I wear one?’

Rob Boxall and his wife, Mandy, and daughter, Mollie, are living in Covid lockdown – Mandy because she is in remission from cancer and Mollie because she has cerebral palsy (Metro, Mon).

Rob says he has been abused in the street, with people telling him to take his ‘f***ing mask off’.

I empathise with them. I am a full-time carer for my mother after Covid and have been scoffed at for wearing a mask.

All the time during lockdown we were told to ‘respect’ those who couldn’t (or chose not to) wear one.

You don’t know a person’s story. I thought respect was a two-way street? SJ Maunder, Maidstone

‘Yes, Fiona Bruce should apologise’

I disagree with Janice (MetroTalk, Mon), who says Fiona Bruce has no cause to apologise after referring to an audience member as ‘the black guy’.

Fiona would never have referred to a white person by their colour on the programme, she would simply have found a different distinguishing feature to address them by.

I am afraid to say it was lazy and unprofessional of her and emphasised that she feels the person is ‘different’ from mainstream UK society. That is why she needed to apologise. Dee, London

Is there a place for atheists?

Quite simply is there anywhere I can go in this world as an atheist (and happy to be one), where I can live in peace without any form of religion? Steve, Sutton

The gift of the gab in a London cab

Readers share their cabbie experiences (Credits: Getty Images)

Welcome to London from Australia, Brett and Kerrie (MetroTalk, Tue). So sorry you got an unfriendly black-cab driver from Heathrow to Earl’s Court. With most of them, you cannot get a word in edgeways the whole journey! Mark, Richmond

Next time – if there is one – you should ask whether they can take you south of the river. After about a dozen replies of ‘no, sorry mate’ you’ll find one who takes you and then you’ll be in a ‘proper’ London cab.

Then they won’t stop chewing your ear off – but at least in that 30-40 minute ride you’ll be fully up to date with what’s going on in London.

You’ll get a lot about the mayor, Uber, bus drivers and cyclists but there should be enough about other politics, sport and the celebs they’ve had in the back of their cab. Then you’ll know your visit has begun. Jim, London

MORE : Man left in coma after tumbling 100ft down escalator that wasn’t moving

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In today’s MetroTalk readers share their views on public transport – the safety concerns, the lack of buses, and the controversial decision to restrict TfL over-60s bus passes to 9am.