@ben.fiets.uk
Introverted advocate/blogger on UK active travel. Self-employed podcast editor. Also sustainable public transport, nature, environment, Holland. Sometimes spins vinyl, dabbles in ham radio, badly plays piano. 📍 Nuneaton, Warwickshire 🌎 fiets.uk/links
New on the blog today:
Bedworth’s new Physical Activity Hub opened to the public earlier this week, but there’s a problem. Not to do with the centre itself, but the provision – or lack thereof – of a key piece of infrastructure outside its doors: the lack of cycle parking and cycle routing.
Why a canal towpath is just not suitable as part of an everyday cycle network: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYv... #cycling #ActiveTravel #Nuneaton
Why a canal towpath is just not suitable as part of an everyday cycle network: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYv... #cycling #ActiveTravel #Nuneaton
A short ditty inspired by recent "fun" social media trends, how they help devalue the work of artists and creators, and how they are creating a world of plagiarised, soulless slop (without even getting into the environmental impact!) Stop using Generative A.I, folks and go and learn a craft!
driver going over a bike lane and onto sidewalk around a garbage truck Garbage truck slows down important man forcing him to drive over the bike lane and onto sidewalk to get around - City looks to remove garbage service.
Garbage truck slows down important man forcing him to drive over the bike lane and onto sidewalk to get around - City looks to remove garbage service.
If this is done (and let's hope it works), I really hope they're guaranteed to emit only at ultrasonic frequencies. Many houses now have those awful emitters which I think are supposed to deter rats - yet at 44, I can still hear them; they're ear-piercing. Same for the youth repellers at McDonalds!
Same design. Zero utility.
60p in 2013 is 85p now, accounting for inflation. This price rise to £1.80 takes 1st Class postage to more than double the real terms cost of 13 years ago.
2nd Class at 91p isn't quite so dramatic, but it's still well above inflation - 50p then is worth 71p now.
(Source: BoE Inflation Calculator)
Today we have a double debunk:
1. A debunk of the idea that 67 dog breeds are being banned in Britain
2. A debunk of what the usual suspects are saying online (because they are so tediously predictable!🙄)
🧵1/21
Absolutely the way forward for Operation Snap, if nothing else just to remove different reporting methods. Sending in reports to Warwickshire, West Midlands has been a delight compared to Leicestershire. But outcomes do need to be consistent and universal too.
I used to have some success with Warwickshire, though I haven't been reporting recently as I'm not riding anywhere near as much so can't speak to what they're currently like - saying that though, still too many warning letters for my liking.
This one would come under Warwickshire Police - I can't remember who told me, but someone reliable said they wouldn't action it. Was a while ago mind and if this were my report I'd be inclined to send it in anyway. There's no ambiguity here, regardless of duration. That "car" should not be there.
Yes, although I think (maybe wrong?) that the reporter would only be able to do that at the time, waiting for a police response. Would be good for Operation Snap to take these, but at least in Warwickshire, I've been told they only accept moving traffic offences.
Range Rover parked fully on a pavement obstructing passage. To the left of the vehicle is likely under half a metre of space flanked by a brick wall. To the right is a busy road with double yellow lines. The registration is DJ11 UCH but spaced and disguised with a screw fitting to appear as DJ HUCH. Picture is sourced from one of three given on a FixMyStreet report, https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/9063401
In case anyone doubts issues caused by pavement parking, this FixMyStreet report appeared today with a Range Rover left obstructing the footpath. Illegal spacing/disguised plate as well, plus on double yellow lines. Says it all about the attitude of this driver.
www.fixmystreet.com/report/9063401
It seems clear that under Reform, Warwickshire is not getting positive movements on active travel/cycle infrastructure. To that end, in any collision involving conflict between a driver and someone walking, wheeling, or cycling, partial blame needs to be laid at the feet of Cllr Finch and Reform.
Would be better to have one easy to remember TfWM url that runs a location aware website displaying nearby bus-stops, with very simple and clear identifier codes shown at stops to allow users to select theirs if there are many in close proximity. No QR codes, no issue with changing providers.
Also, we're (rightly) meant to be very suspicious of public QR codes which are easy to hijack and redirect to dodgy sites with a simple sticker overlay which may go unnoticed, not helped by not using the familiar TfWM domain. I checked; various "bus-rt" variants could be registered for shenanigans.
Optical illusion of a woman bent over some papers. Her sunglasses are pushed up and she is wearing a hair band so the top of her head looks exactly like a Muppet face
Sorry I know the world is in a terrible fix but I've been laughing at this for ten minutes now
I don't condone this sort of tone or language against anyone, but let's just look at this the other way around. If someone spoke about "boots-on-neck" in reference to Cllr Finch, or any politician for that matter, there'd rightly be an outcry against violent speech. Why does he think it's okay here?
He actually spoke about a "boots-on-neck" approach to council staff. This is Cllr Finch (Reform), the leader of Warwickshire County Council. Not just once though, but twice. He repeated it, even after being told it was violent speech.
I think this is actual @warwickshirecc.bsky.social policy for cycle infrastructure in Nuneaton and Bedworth.
Nuneaton's Weddington Walk - a paved shared use path along a disused railway line, flanked by trees, grass, and foliage with some trees starting to bloom. It's a nice, pre-spring day!
A 9km walk this afternoon means an aching knee is on the way, but worth it because spring is finally springing! Now lounging in the conservatory, doors wide open, birds singing, sun streaming in - glorious!
Are you an overseas-domiciled billionaire are looking for your next plaything? The British faux-democratic system can be yours for the bargain price of just £12m, payable in two easy instalments.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This summer, govt will set legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for 2038-42 – critical for reaching net zero by 2050 🏭🌍 I’m part of the Environmental Audit Committee, which is urging the government to centre communities. 6 key takeaways from our report, published today 👇
It took me forever to make these, and then the museum just comes up with this whole other back story
First of all, just no.
Then, if Windows 12 requires an NPU chip, are we about to see yet more pointless forced hardware redundancy and e-waste in a few years when Windows 11 is end of life?
I knew I'd do something stupid with rushed maths! 😆
Absolutely. Not letting Labour off the hook on this, just to note that it's been on ongoing problem. The warnings of the 2022 energy crisis should have been learnt with significant funding set aside for programmes to improve our energy independence and security. Seems a no-brainer, but here we are.
