So, let’s say the answer to “Is there any tube strike today?” is a resounding YES. What do you do? First, don’t panic. That’s your second step. First, check your phone. TfL’s website will tell you if it’s a full strike or just a “minor” disruption. “Minor” in TfL language means “you will have to walk to Reading.”
Second, embrace the “slow commute.” See a Boris Bike? Rent it. See a footpath? Walk it. See a canal? Consider a boat. Yes, I’m serious—people have taken Uber boats during strikes. It’s ridiculous, expensive, and the best story you’ll tell at a dinner party. “Oh, I nearly capsized at Camden Lock trying to get to Shoreditch.” You’ll sound like a pirate.
Third, remember the golden rule: a tube strike is a great leveller. The CEO of a hedge fund and a barista might both end up stranded at the same bus stop. It’s a beautiful, awful moment of equality. The only difference? The CEO might have a chauffeur. But you have the power of schadenfreude.
The Dark History of Strikes
Did you know the first tube strike was in 1910? It was over a pay dispute of about three shillings. Today, it’s over a pension dispute worth billions. Some things never change, except the pound has gotten much, much weaker. Also, back then, they just didn’t show up. Now, they have picket lines with whistles and homemade signs. It’s basically a carnival with anger issues.
London Tube Strike LIVE - Chaos across Underground network as TFL staff
Here’s a truly surprising fact: tube strikes actually increase some businesses. Bike shops sell out. Coffee shops near bus stops become mini-banks. And the phrase “I’ll walk to work” becomes a badge of honor. You’ll see people in business suits marching down the A40, looking like a very tired army. It’s both inspiring and terrifying.
