Trend-spotting

LONDON — Feb. 20 — I'm signing off from London, and am off to Seville for a few days before returning to Seattle. Thanks to all who shared some great tips and suggestions, and happy travels to those planning a trip to London this spring or summer.

Here are some parting thoughts on a few trends worth watching:

• Smoking may be banned in pubs, clubs and perhaps other indoor spots soon. The British Parliament has voted for a ban on smoking in indoor public places. Where and when has yet to be decided.

• Chip and Pin — UK banks are issuing credit cards that require customers to punch in a pin number rather than sign a charge slip. Merchants were supposed to stop accepting signature authorizations in mid-February, but so far, with so many people forgetting their pin numbers, enforcement has been lax. In the meantime, they continue to accept signatures for credit card charges from foreigners like us who aren't yet on the pin system.

• Sunday trading: Look but don't buy. The law allows some stores to stay open only six hours on Sunday. Most open a half hour to an hour early so customers can browse, but purchases can't be made until the official opening time.

• Scooter Man — If you've had too much to drink and don't want to drive, a service called "Scooter Man" will send someone to get you and your car at the local pub and drive you home.

• Oyster cards, the new prepaid electronic ticket cards being used on the London Underground and buses, are turning out to be useful in other ways. One newspaper calls them the high-tech version of lipstick around the collar. The cards record where and when you travel. This information comes up on a screen whenever you go to an automated machine to add money to it. Spouses who suspect cheating have been using them to find out where their partners have been spending their time.