Thursday, December 22, 2005
Another final Bow Road update: Sorry, there's more. Just when I thought Metronet had finally left my local tube station alone, they suddenly sneaked back in the middle of last night to install a massive new erection outside the front entrance. And here it is - a big tube sign on a stick.
It seems that a big tube sign on a stick is just what Bow Road station has been missing for the last 100 years. Personally I'm not convinced it was necessary to install a new one in the middle of the forecourt given that there's already a big tube sign on a stick a few feet away just above the station entrance. But surely this new roundel-topped totem pole must be here for a reason. Maybe it's been installed to facilitate instant brand recognition for passengers effecting multi-modal interchange at this major transport node, or some other Transport for London buzzphrase. Maybe it's meant to attract new customers into the station who hadn't previously realised there was a station on the site. Maybe it's a memorial to honour Metronet's big blue portakabins which stood for nearly two years blocking the pavement on this very spot. Maybe it's meant to replace the cycle racks which they removed when Bow Road's modernisation programme began. Maybe it's really a giant sundial, installed as part of some oh-so-worthy East End arts project, except that nobody's got round to painting the hours on the pavement yet. Maybe it's meant to become a focus for wholesome community activities such as carol singing or maypole dancing. Or maybe it's just for local residents to tie their pitbulls to. Whatever the case, it's good to see that £3.5 million of public money continues to be well spent.
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It seems that a big tube sign on a stick is just what Bow Road station has been missing for the last 100 years. Personally I'm not convinced it was necessary to install a new one in the middle of the forecourt given that there's already a big tube sign on a stick a few feet away just above the station entrance. But surely this new roundel-topped totem pole must be here for a reason. Maybe it's been installed to facilitate instant brand recognition for passengers effecting 
