Mc Donalds Customer Car Park Camera's

Went to McDonald's on the Botley Road this afternoon, not normally a McDonald's person myself but just felt like a milkshake.  Could not help but notice the very high tech system that they have to records the cards coming and going from the time limited car park.  No parking wardens needed here, the camera's record you number plate details on the way in and then on the way out, and the computer works out how long you have been parked for.  Any longer than 90mins and you will have a fine sent to you at home, not sure how much the fine would be but I am sure it is not going to be cheap.

Didn't See Bill Clinton In Oxford

I think I must have been the only person in Oxford not to see Bill Clinton walking about Oxford today. The former Oxford University student has been walking about Oxford from his hotel without any security and being left alone by the public to do as he pleases, which must be nice for him.  He is in Oxford attending the Re Sourse conference in the Examination School.  Pictured here are a couple of security and a load of flash cars out the front of the conference.

There are a few powerful facts on the Re Sourse conference homepage, worth a quick read.

Wettest Day In Oxford For A Summers Day

Today must have been one of the wettest Summers day that we have ever had in Oxford. It rained non stop all day, and with all this water around the roads around the city centre started to fill up.  This photo was taken this afternoon close to the Oxford train station in Becket Street were a large pool of water had completely filled the street.

Electric Car Charging Points In Oxford

I was reading an article on the BBC about an experiment with an electric Mini, which are made in Oxford, Brian Milligan from the BBC is hoping to drive and electric car from London to Edinburgh. This got me thinking about the charging points in Oxford, and did we have any? Well after having a look around a couple of the car parks and calling the City Council, I can tell you we have two charging points in the City Centre. This one is at the Worcester Street Car Park, the other is in the Westgate Shopping Centre car park on the second level. They are all lit up with these blue LED lights. Unfortunately OCC will charge you to park in the car park while you are recharging, not sure that is right? I did not see any cars recharging when I walked past.

Opp's Is Queen Street One Way?

Please use your satnav and the road signs together! Queen Street is oneway, and it is only for buses. You see a few people every now and then entering Queen Street from the High Street in there car following what the Satnav is saying, but it is not wise, those buses don't have a lot of room to move while in Queen Street. So please take note driving visitors to Oxford, use the park and ride for a better experience, parking is a nightmare in Oxford, and Queen Street is one way and only for buses and taxi's.

Oxford City Council's Parking Shame

Tell me that the Oxford City Council is only interested in making money out of it's contract with the company that enforces the restrictions. In Oxford you will get a fine very quickly for over staying in a parking bay, even by a few minutes, but you can park like this driver all day and not even be noticed by the parking attendants. People like this, the ones who don't think, really get me going. Wonder what Bill Heine fro m BBC Radio Oxford would think?

Ooopps!!

I don't think this is right? While in the car park at work today I noticed a colleague was having trouble with his parking, mmmm, just a little bit too close to the fence I think.

Recession But A Full Car Park

The sky maybe grey, and we maybe in a recession but the car park is full at this Cowley box store centre.  I was reading in the papers today we will not go into recession until early next year as that is when the Australian band AC/DC will be touring the UK. Every tour of the UK that AC/DC has done has been while the UK economy has been in recession, mean while shoppers still shop and fight for car parking spaces in order to buy the bands latest album which is currently at #1.

Duke Of York

This central pub has been closed for awhile now and fenced off ready for being demolished to make way for the expansion of the Westgate Shopping Centre, when ever that gets the go ahead.  I have been meaning to get a photo of it for awhile, and the light was right tonight, so I managed to get a photo before it is gone completely. It was always in a strange location, in the middle of two carparks, but I am sure that was not always the case.

The Standard English Multi Storey Shopping Centre Car Park

Every English Town has one.  A urine smelling, vomit stained, airless, graffiti and tag ridden multi storey shopping centre car park, and Oxford is not letting the country down with it's own Westgate Shopping Centre car park.  After parking your car on the top floor of the car park and heading to the stair well of the car park this is the site you will see.  You then have to decided, should I just walk down the stairs through the smell and mess admiring all the tags on the walls, reading the names off all the local poofs, or call the lift and be trapped in what could be worse??  I think most people take the stairs, imaging being stuck in the lift!!