Gun Street

Sometimes very early in the morning I alight at the Marble Arch bus stop on Park Lane. Before the bus stops to let me off, I run through my choices: do I go over or under, stay on, or head back? These are the choices I have to get where I’m going. I am not going any place complicated, just across Park Lane into Mayfair; but my choices this early in the morning have unique advantages, disadvantages and danger.

The Marble Arch bus stop on Park Lane is almost directly in front of Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner. Park Lane’s busy six lanes stretch along the Eastern edge of Hyde Park from Speaker’s Corner on the North to Hyde Park Corner to the South. A green and manicured median separates the 3 lanes heading north from the 3 lanes heading south. In short, Park Lane is a wide, busy thoroughfare, and I put some thought into its crossing.

Going Under

I normally eschew the convenient pedestrian subway, the entrance of which is directly at the bus stop. At this time in the morning there aren’t many people about. The subway tunnel might have a vagabond sleeping under layers of donated blankets and salvaged cardboard. Or, the vagrant might have been already chased off by the early beat police. The tiles used to construct the subway and the fluorescent lighting make me think of New York and the summer of the Son of Sam. The tunnel feels dangerous for a woman on her own at an overly early or late hour. I can’t help but think of the rape scene from the film Irreversible. It is a strong, extremely disturbing film. I do not know if I recommend it. Probably not.

Going Over

I didn’t realise this was an option until last week. I noticed a cross walk where I didn’t know one had existed. The cross walk leads across the first three lanes to the manicured median. The trail comes to an abrupt stop with 3 lanes yet to cross. You have to wait for a lull in the traffic and run across when you think you have enough time. At this time in the morning the traffic accommodates this scampering across the road activity; still, I find it uncomfortable. I like a proper path through traffic.

Head Back

What I used to do before I ever rode the bus with The Man so early in the morning, was walk back the way the bus had just come from until I reached the official, fully functioning cross walk that cuts across what I deem to be the most ridiculous war memorial in creation* and into the heart of Mayfair. Heading Back is certainly not the shortest route to where I’m going; but there was a time (before the Man and I rode this way together) when I was perfectly happy doubling back for a safe street crossing option.

Stay On

The Man and I began an occasional co-commute. It was on these escapades that I discovered I could stay on the bus until it reached the Edgeware Road side of Marble Arch. I’m not convinced it’s any shorter than the heading back option (The Man is), but it does provide an easy street crossing route and the added bonus that I can stay on the bus for a couple of more minutes with my eyes closed in a pseudo sleep. Early in the morning, this is a nice thing.

Currently, however, road works have disrupted the Edgeware Road / Marble Arch bus stop. The bus carries on for another block before it opens its doors. This extra block gives me pause.

Go over or under, head back or stay on?

*The memorial for animals who have lost their lives in war. "They had no choice." Don't get me wrong; I love animals. This memorial is an atrocious slab of concrete where previously there were plants, grass, living organisms. To my way of thinking animals don't give a rat's ass about a memorial ... and all this particular monument does is add a little more concrete to the city.