Discussion on:

Green commuting: In London, swim to work

A stupid barking mad pipe dream, hopefully not funded by any public money.

Better off trying to put some Venice style ferry boats down them.

Too cold most of the year in the UK to swim in them anyway.

...during the few months where it's actually warm enough to swim in Britain. But as a transportation alternative? Seriously?

Again, a great example of the madness made possible when there's possible access to OPM. (Other People's Money)

As a retired chief sub-editor copy editor in your West Pacific, post colonial parlance I am moved to point out that the blocklines under the main pic, which declare that canals " could haul the modern knowledge economy's raw materials - humans - rather than the sooty black lumps they helped transport in industrial times", is grammatically incorrect, as a canal is an artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation.

The intro par did, however, accurately state that " barges hauled finished goods, coal and other raw materials around the country."

Fraternal regards,

Des Carroll, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia.

"YN proposes morphing the lane into an ice skating conduit come the cold weather. Never mind that it doesnt really get frigid enough in London to sustain a safe, frozen passageway. I like the creative thinking."

This is typical design-junky thinking, that the CONCEPT itself can trump the practical realities of the case proposed. Somehow, this is supposed to ensure continued funding, or somesuch.

CLUE: If the concept CANNOT happen, due to some "design" wrinkle, then I shouldn't even have to say: FAIL.

In the illustration it looks idyllic, in reality, as other readers have commented, it's quite farfetched due to the English climate, unless they find a way to warm up the water that won't cost too much..., but then, won't the workers arrive too tired at their working places?