The London Tube strike has probably left you more than a little bit miserable.
The days of hopping on the tube and flying across to the other side of the city in less than half-an-hour already feels like a distant memory, and we’re feeling tired, groggy and grumpy.
Remember setting your alarm later than 6am? Remember how beautifully hot the Central Line was? Remember how fabulous it was to have the whole of London at your fingertips?
Turns out not everyone is feeling quite so gloomy about the 2014 tube strikes, no siree.
We’ve listed the businesses that are probably doing a little happy dance inside their heads over our current transport misfortune.
1. Uber
In case you’ve been hiding in a cave, you’ll have seen that the app has been offering 50% off taxi rides around London when you pay by split fare – essentially sharing the journey with a colleague or friend. Not a bad choice compared to queuing for half an hour just to get on an overcrowded Overground train that smells of stale smoke and sweat, ewww.
Uber launched in California in 2012 and has gone on to become a huge hit in London, offering reasonably priced cabs that you can hail from your phone. All journeys are paid by card, taking away the awkward pulling into a petrol station to get cash moment that most journeys entail.
We’ve no doubt that many commuters are choosing to arrive at the office on time and bruise-free thanks to the affordable taxi firm.
2. Twitter
How can the social media platform get even bigger you ask? By pretty much overtaking the TFL website as the place to go for live travel updates.
#tubestrike has been trending since our beloved transport system grinded to a halt on Monday evening, with users posting everything from hilarious mocked photos, to grim journey tales and changes to services as they happen.
If Twitter needed anymore publicity for its ability to spread news within seconds, it’s got it.
3. Deodrant
In this day and age, deodrant is a pretty big thing, right? According to the majority of people we’ve been sharing our journey to work with – no.
It’s totally socially unacceptable to be whiffy or show any sign of perspiration, especially in enclosed spaces like a train carriage, and so the lack of other people’s awareness to their strong scents only stands to highlight how important it is to use good hygiene.
If there’s anything that makes us want to shower more and re-apply deodorant and perfume at regular intervals throughout the day, it’s being jammed up against a paint-covered man breathing stale cigarette smoke and exuding funky bodily odours. Eww.
4. Boris Bikes
Think about it, how many Boris Bike stands have you walked past in the last two days that were totally empty? How many times have you been ‘almost’ run over by the entire British cycling team?
In fact, the use of Boris Bikes has gone up 70% in the last two days.
Could the entire tube strike have been an elaborate ploy to get people using Boris’ healthy alternative to public transport? Who knows. Either way, there’s been a surge of people ditching their usual route to work in favour of more active commutes to work such as cycling, walking and jogging.
Although, to be fair, wrestling your way into an already full train carriage is probably just as good exercise…
5. Coffee shops
If waking up as the sun comes up just to get to the office on time isn’t enough to leave you shattered, the stress and energy required to make the journey will.
We’ve no doubt that Starbucks and Costa are raking it in thanks to sleepy commuters who just need a good helping of caffeine running through their veins to function.
6. Running shoes
Trainers are utterly glorious right now, aren’t they? They allow you to walk the additional two miles to the office from where your tube rudely terminated early, without wanting to cry and have a little breakdown in the street.
New Balance and Nike in particular are probably doing secret high fives because their trainers look so damn stylish. When you’re trying to avoid eye contact with other angry commuters, all you can see is sexy looking sporty footwear.
Admit it, whether you realised it or not, these brands have secretly brainwashed your footwear dreams with a spot of casual sub-conscious advertising.
7. Apple
You woke up this morning and your battery was 100%, wonderful. You got to work and had no battery. WHY?!
Emailing your boss to tell him you’d be running late, checking Twitter every 42 seconds and trying to follow your Goggle Maps has left your iPhone absolutely drained of any battery, and so you’ve had to make the purchase you’ve been putting off for months – the spare phone charger. Sob.
Apple and other stores that sell cut-price phone chargers must be feeling pretty darn smug about our need for the internet right now.
8. Boats
You probably thought catching a boat down the Thames was probably an urban myth, apparently it’s not.
Thousands of commuters have opted for the scenic route to work, making the most of the five routes offered by TFL between Putney and Woolwich.
Not only is it a great way to beat tube strike misery, it feels pretty fancy too.
9. Pubs
If there was ever a better excuse for post-work drinks it’s the stress of the tube strikes. Plus staying later means you can avoid the rush hour which, right now, is pretty much the worst thing in the entire world. Sort of.
Pubs have not only been displaying hilarious signs to entice in sad and desperate commuters, but they’re probably lapping up the burst of summer sunshine today which means that thousands of Londoners will be opting for Wine Wednesday rather than being told repeatedly to keep behind the yellow line. WE GET IT.
Alcohol definitely seems like a good answer to all the problems TFL has caused.
10. Google Maps
Never has a Google app ever been such a glorious thing. It’s pretty much the only reason we haven’t been sacked throughout this whole tube scandal.
Not that we ever really had any doubt that it was the best thing on our phones, aside from Tinder, obviously.
It’s allowed us to find speedy walking routes we never knew existed, random train routes that have saved us a good hour of queuing and helped us locate obscure bus stops. Good work, Google.
11. Station shops
You’ve only ever used those station kiosks that one time you were so hungover on the way to work you thought you might collapse if you didn’t eat a sausage roll, but now they’re pretty much the best thing ever.
When you need water because your train has been like a sauna, food because who knows when you’ll next get the chance to eat, and gum – because you’re terrified of bad breath – these little shopping beauties are here to help.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.