Hell In A Handbasket
Articles like this are comforting because they remind me that we’re not the only country whose populace can be ridiculously reactionary.
London’s subway bosses have erased the River Thames.
Mayor Boris Johnson on Thursday joined a chorus of disapproval at a new version of the London Underground map that does not show the river, which divides north and south London.
Subway operator Transport for London said the map was simplified after becoming cluttered. Bands denoting different fare zones and some small print also have been removed.
Johnson’s office said the mayor “has ordered the river to be reinstated as soon as possible” without incurring extra costs.
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In the Guardian newspaper, Patrick Barkham said it had “removed a vital orienting point” and “besmirched the capital’s history.”
Okay, I can see the point about the river orienting you while you’re trying to navigate the Tube, but besmirching the city’s history? Come on. What, are Tube riders not giving the city the proper reverence by reflecting on the Thames’ role in the region’s development?