Wordsworth was inspired to write a sonnet here, '
Upon Westminster Bridge' ..."
This city does a garment wear,/the beauty of the morning, silent bare./Ships, towers, domes and temples lie/Open to the fields, and to the sky"... There are now very different towers and no longer fields but the trees provide the greenery on the embankment. Our couple have no eyes for the view and the
bicycle rider keeps an eye on the view ahead. She is riding one of London's hire
bikes usually called '
Boris Bikes' after the city's mop headed,
bike riding mayor. At present sponsored by
Barclays Bank (its logo is on the back wheel) who are now bailing out, delivering only half of the £50M it had promised to pay and the deal will end in August 2015. Well they do have to pay those
banking bonuses.
And nearby is one of the
bike hire points. Three people are trying to work out payment and release system. I have puzzled over these payment points myself, but not in London, I don't think there is pleasure in travelling on those
busy lorry laden roads.
Although a more cycle friendly city like Antwerp in Belguim would be tempting. These two were forward planning
bike hire by taking notes. The hire
bikes are on the Jordaenskaai and the metal sheds to the right were originally built c1889 for the storage of goods being landed from the River Schelde which flows past even further to the right. Today it is a car parking area and since 1981 the roofs have been a protected historic monument.
 |
| Joraenskaai |
The view of the roofs also shows how the bike route running past the sheds is separated from the main road.
