For every year I can remember living in London, September always seems to be a particularly and noticeably bad month for getting around, whether it's bus, train or tube, and I?ve often pondered why (briefly!).

According to the stats that I recall from around time of the Olympic bid, the summer holidays account for a 15% dip in rush hour commuters. So as soon as September dawns there is presumably a 15% increase all in one go.

It could be that we all inaccurately perceive things to be suddenly busier by 20%-25% as soon as September hits. But I think there is something more going on than just a one off "shock to the system" that you get used to again after a few weeks.

I think that part of the reason is that this time of the year sees lots of people starting new travel patterns that they haven't done regularly before, whether that?s school kids starting a new school, students starting a college or university or parents taking their kids to school (perhaps just for the first few weeks). It may be that there is a bedding-in period and that after a few weeks people find that they can travel at slightly different times or on slightly different routes. Then things smooth out settle down again.

Any other theories?