Christmas Lights and London Traffic

There are some beautiful Christmas lights in London this year. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to get the best view due to the constant stream of buses, taxis and cars.

My favourite lights are the angels lining Regent Street. The lights build up gradually to fill the wing segments.

There are gold angels lining the route from Piccadilly Circus towards Trafalgar Square.

The lights on The Strand emerging from Trafalgar Square are the same as last year.

My second favourite Christmas lights are in New Bond Street. They are a combination of gradually completely fans, feathers and centrepieces as in the photo below.

Central light in New Bond Street

Feather Christmas lights line New Bond Street

Oxford Street's lights aren't quite as dazzling. The street benefits from the additional lighting on the front of the major stores like Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Just caught Selfridges on camera before a bus arrived

House of Fraser lights caught on camera at a quieter moment

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is using the Oxford Street Lights to celebrate the launch of its Little Stars Campaign.

Little Stars Christmas Lights in Oxford Street, London

Unfortunately, my photos do not really do the lights justice. It is hard to video or even get the right angle for a photograph when your view is constantly interrupted by double decker buses and constant traffic. Never mind all the honking horns and occasional sirens. Seeing emergency vehicles stuck in traffic was worrying.

Pedestrians have to cross Oxford Circus between cars stuck in traffic

Fire engine stuck in traffic between Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus

It simply wasn't possible for me to take a picture of the Regent Street angels from the best angle. I would have been flattened by at least one bus and several taxis. I couldn't help thinking back to the wonderful Lumière London event of last January. We were able to view the wonderful lights unimpeded by traffic.

It was easier to view the lights at Sloane Square and Duke of York Square as they have larger pedestrianised areas.

Christmas Lights in Sloane Square, London

Christmas Tree in Duke of York Square, Chelsea

And you could admire the decorations safely from all angles and all levels at Westfields Shopping Centre. The lighting just seemed to get better and better as day passed into night.

Christmas Lights at Westfields Shopping Centre

Still, it would be great to enjoy a walk underneath the angels of Regent Street - even if it was just for an evening or two again.

Karen Andrews is a freelance French to English translator/transcreator, content writer and editor. She has a strong background in marketing and project management.

Email Karen for further information via karenanglicityen@gmail.com in French, German or English.

Big Data in Action

Big Data sounds big. It’s the buzzword on everyone’s lips with a BIG future. Attendees at the recent techUK Big Data Roadshow were treated to an excellent presentation on what big data means in action by Transport for London (TFL).

Lauren Sager Weinstein, TFL’s Head of Analytics, revealed how data is providing valuable insights into customer journeys leading to better business decisions. She described the benefits to both customer and the business, as well as the challenges.

The London Challenge

The challenge is huge. London is gaining new residents at a rate of 9 every day. Today’s the capital’s population stands at 8.6 million. This figure is expected to increase to 10 million by 2030. It sounds unsustainable on London’s creaking old tube system. TFL cannot make decisions in isolation. It has to liaise with the Mayor of London and other politicians.

Getting the Picture

Oyster cards, contactless data, traffic cameras, signal detectors on roads and bus location data are giving TFL a clearer picture of what is happening on the network in real time. Big data is proving more accurate than traditional clipboard surveys on designated routes.

Data Collection

The original Oyster card scheme was introduced in 2003 and was not designed for big data. Tapping in and tapping out at ticket barrier today creates a linked journey. TFL can track where passengers are going. With buses, you tap in but not out. An algorithm makes an assumption as to where passengers got off and resumed their journey on the Underground. It assumes the most efficient journey choice. Individuals are not tracked. Anonymised data shows Londoners’ journey patterns.

Planning

Lauren explained that such data helps with bus planning. TFL can look at a particular route. If a bus is 80% full, is it time to introduce a new bus? Or a bigger bus? Was it a special event day? How can routes be planned better in future?

TFL captures contactless data on entering buses

Overcrowding

In the case of the Victoria Line, a new signal system is recording the weight of trains to assess overcrowding levels. Overcrowded trains are slower as they have a longer dwell time in stations – due to passengers leaning on doors, etc. The challenge for TFL is how to communicate the information in real time so that customers can alter their journeys/behaviour. A proposal includes symbols on platform signs to show crowding levels.

Lauren displayed data for 9 October 2015. The busiest stations came as no surprise: Kings Cross, Oxford Circus, Victoria, Waterloo, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Brixton, Stratford and Canary Wharf.

Given recent experiences, it didn’t surprise me that Oxford Circus featured in three of the busiest routes: Brixton to Oxford Circus, Liverpool Street to Oxford Circus and Victoria to Oxford Circus. On a couple of occasions recently, I have felt that Oxford Circus was so overcrowded that platforms were dangerous. I would have appreciated being told to take an alternative route before arrival, rather than deciding to get out quick and walk. Entry to and exit from Holborn Station seemed better managed, although that herded cattle feeling isn’t great.

Passengers with Luggage

I was pleased that Lauren showed an awareness of passengers travelling with luggage. As I watch tourists struggle through London’s rabbit warren of tunnels and steps, I do wonder. I get exasperated that my bus from Marylebone stops at Euston instead of Kings Cross/St Pancras. I am now hoping big data will favour a route change. At the end of an exhausting international trip, it’s hard-going.

Open Data

TFL hopes to find suitable partnerships to develop agile thinking and technology further. The focus is on open data. Any new process must have a solid business case behind it. It is seeking a more “joined-up” view for the future.

Personalised data service to customers in transit

Personalised Data Service

TFL is also keen to provide a more personalised service to customers. Passengers have the option as to whether they want to share their data. To do so, they need to register their device and preferences with TFL. This could mean that they would receive notices direct to their phone – e.g. about refunds, roadworks or other issues. TFL works closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on data protection.

When contactless was first introduced, I will admit that I was wary. Now, I like the time gained at the ticket barriers. So I’m looking forward to future developments. I remember learning at UKTI’s Big Data event in Paris that I fell into the most difficult group to persuade…

Can TFL persuade passengers to avoid overcrowded routes? Later that same day, I got off at the great new station at Tottenham Court Road instead of busy Oxford Circus. I approached my destination from a different direction on foot and arrived much happier for the experience.

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She offers 

copywriting, translation

and transcreation services.

For further information,

 see Anglicity's website