People our hearts bleed for - The CEO in the Embankment Cycle Lane

From the pages of "sympathy for people who don't need it", in the Standard. A very rich person who likes to pollute Central London complains because their personal convenience is being sacrificed for the good of many, as a segregated cycle lane is built by the Thames.

"It’s ridiculous,” says one FTSE-100 chief executive who used to take that road to commute into the City. “I live in Chelsea but Embankment is just a disaster. My driver these days goes south of the river, drops me off in Southwark and I walk across the Wobbly Bridge to our office in the City."

Is your heart bleeding yet?

Let's take it a bit at a time.

"It’s ridiculous,” 

No - it's roadworks. They happen all the time in London, but when it's hundreds of tipper lorries on the latest redevelopment in Town to strip out its character and replace it with over-priced empty boxes for foreign speculators, the captains of industry are quiet.

"says one FTSE-100 chief executive who used to take that road to commute into the City." 

Well, don't. It's a stupid thing to do. There's not much space in London and the Embankment should be an attractive place to wander, not somewhere for your bourgemobile to clog up the path. Get the Tube. Or ride a bike. They're building a bike lane, apparently. That'll be handy. Or earn your money and get in early. You'll miss the traffic. Although, ironically, you'll still be traffic.

 “I live in Chelsea but Embankment is just a disaster." 

No, it's roadworks. London has them all the time. Often to benefit motorists or property speculators, sometimes for water and gas pipes and electricity and stuff, so this is a bit of variety for you.

"My driver these days goes south of the river, drops me off in Southwark and I walk across the Wobbly Bridge to our office in the City."

It's nice to hear you're getting some exercise these days. You'd pay a fortune for that at a City gym. Appreciate that lovely view up the River. Doesn't that take away the executive stress? And just think - if you're fit enough to walk across the Bouncy Bridge and up the hill into the City, you're probably fit enough to cycle from Chelsea. It'll be great once the bikes don't have to tangle with the coaches and City executives, won't it?