venta

Probably of no interest to anyone who doesn't live in Oxford. Possibly of not much interest to anyone who does, either :)

Walking along Cornmarket yesterday evening, we overheard someone saying "But what is it ? Is it art ? No, it's bollocks."

They were talking about the extremely peculiar benches which have appeared. There's several of them, on both sides of Cornmarket. A sort of upright, with chrome and wood benches down one side, and chrome and wood... things down the other. The things are nearly benches, but are too high, and utterly the wrong shape. Does anyone know what they are ? Or possibly why they are.

If there's anyone in the area with a camera who can provide a photo, that'd help immensely here :)

And this morning, on Cowley Rd, I observed in the window of the empty shop opposite Boots the plans for the Cowley Rd redevelopment. Which were actually quite interesting. They seem to be based round making it a more people-orientated and safer place but - get this - seem to have finally noticed that reducing parking and slapping down sleeping policemen doesn't actually make the cars go away. From a quick skim through, it actually sounded like they might make a sensible job of it. Brief summary of what I can remember:

Put crossings in places people want to cross. This applies particularly to the zebra down by the Plain. Move/ditch some of the traffic islands which make it difficult for buses to get through.

Stop people parking too close to junctions. Mark out proper bays where people can park.

More cycle lanes/signs warning motorists to watch out for bikes.

Impose 20mph speed limit. (Hardly relevant in the day at present, but people go along like bats out of hell at night)

Put the bus stops closer to the places people want to go - like Tescos - and make them long enough for more than one bus at once.

Widen pavements where possible, and make sure bike racks don't block pavements.

All pretty common-sense stuff, you'd think. There's also a plan to have some form of symbolic 'gateway', to be decided with local artists, at either end of the main shopping part of the road. This is supposed to make motorists more aware that they're entering an area of a slightly different nature. I'm imagining them doing something similar in principle to the big gateways at either end of Mumblemumble Street (Gerard ?) in Chinatown in Soho. I rather like this idea. Cowley Rd is a good place, and I think it should be celebrated.

I was planning to recommend everyone go to http://www.eastoxford.com and have a look at the plans, but it appears that that site has expired :( Have a look if you're on Cowley Rd, though.

Oh, and Joe Jackson is great. I sporadically forget this, but am currently remembering.