A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
This is a sound you will not hear in London this week.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Mind the gap.
MARTÍNEZ: That iconic warning on London's underground trains went silent this week as workers went on strike and most subway service was halted. That sent millions of commuters scrambling for buses and bicycles, including NPR's London correspondent Lauren Frayer.
LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE: There are one, two, three, at least four entrances to the Oxford Circus tube station here. It's one of the busiest intersections in London, Regent Street, Oxford Street, the main shopping area. But right now, there's, like, a metal grate pulled over the entrance to the tube station, and there's nobody here. It's one of the world's oldest and Europe's busiest subway systems. But this week, the tube has little to no service.
You look like you're trying to get to work.
PSHEMEK SHAREK: Yeah, it's one big problem.
ALIYA LAMELL: Usually, I'll take the train because it's quicker. I had to take, like, three buses today.
ZOEY ABAVARI: Took me three hours to get to school today.
FRAYER: You're a dedicated student.
ABAVARI: I know, right? I even left early. I left at 6 because of the strikes.
LEE OWEN: It's very busy, love, but it's very frustrating with the traffic.
FRAYER: It takes twice as long to get anywhere?
OWEN: Twice as long. People is paying a lot more money for their cab rides, though.
FRAYER: That was Pshemek Sharek (ph), a Polish painter hauling all of his gear by foot rather than tube. College students Aliya Lamell (ph) and Zoey Abavari (ph) just trying to get to class. And Lee Owen (ph), who drives one of London's iconic black cabs. Cabbies and e-bikes are doing a swift trade if you can find one. But cycling or working from home just isn't possible for everyone. Jordan Price Williams (ph) is a musician trying to get to a gig with his cello.
I mean, you can't cycle with that.
JORDAN PRICE WILLIAMS: No. I did briefly think about it this morning. Then I thought, no, that's a bit bonkers (laughter).
FRAYER: Instead, he took an overcrowded bus where he says everyone glared at his cello taking up a seat. Tube drivers are striking for better pay and conditions, including a 32-hour work week rather than 35. Downing Street has urged them, their unions and management to get back around the negotiating table, otherwise the strike goes through Friday morning. And the only thing that might complicate things even more is typical British weather. Heavy rain is forecast to start tomorrow.
Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.
(SOUNDBITE OF ANDREW BIRD'S "/=/") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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