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by wjhall
26 Mar 2024, 9:06am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England
Replies: 15
Views: 641

Re: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England

Stradageek wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 8:59am , assume you are talking to Donald Trump ...

c) Has anyone asked both those promenading the front and the cafe owners what they think?
What an insulting comparison for the councillors of England.

The council claims in the report to have been in close consultation with the cafe owners.
by wjhall
26 Mar 2024, 8:56am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England
Replies: 15
Views: 641

Re: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England

I think you will find the as sent covering letter quiet brief enough.

As sent I also introduced section headings, which have the bullet point function, without too much resembling the platitudes of management speak. Some of the section heading could have been tuned. I forgot the bolding, which is also a useful technique.

You have to remember that at one level councillors only count the pitchforks, they do not trouble to examine the sharpness.

At another level, councillors do read things. I once sent something of at least this length, although better organised, I was younger then, to Bristol City Council, for circulation to the Downs Comittee, about the one way proposal for Circular Road that had floated up, and received a reply from the Executive Councillor responsible thanking me for a detailled contribution setting out the issues so clearly.

& That is enough of my time on North Somerset Council, on to ATE...


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240324 NSC Beach p1.png
240324 NSC Beach p2.png
by wjhall
24 Mar 2024, 9:08pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England
Replies: 15
Views: 641

Re: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England

I rearranged it so that it started with a covering letter in which the main point was waste of public funds, the suggestion that the council has embarrassed itself enough without diverting funds from completely different programmes. Then I sent it to a selection of relevant councillors, at least one from each party.

It is true I could have added to the covering letter the statement that it will be worse as evidence of my standing as a user, but I doubt if a detailed design point like that really has much impact, especially as they have employed a giant consultancy to propose it, and claim that ATE have agreed that the contraflow will do. The detailed comments that follow the covering letter now have headings which help to catch the eye.

All your suggestions are useful, but life is short and poking the beast is better than thinking too long about poking the beast.

Now to rework it for the version sent to ATE.

I am not familiar with the political situation, it is quite possible that considering a report that says the removal would not be value for money, and lists the other programmes that would lose funding, whilst appearing to be in favour of removal may be designed as a way to allow councillors to wring their hands and say there is nothing they can do, in view of pressure from the people who would lose their funding. Or it might be that this will be proclaimed as a major fightback against fifteen minute towns, 20 mph limits and so on.
by wjhall
23 Mar 2024, 7:54pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England
Replies: 15
Views: 641

Re: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England

When drafting I was inclined to think that a bit of knockabout would liven it up, but perhaps I will write: "The clamour to arrange the parking so that people can sit in their cars and look at the river, presumably eating their own sandwiches, does not seem to be aimed at improving the trade of local restaurants." This is a dogwhistle version of the same message.

I am sure that any local cycle groups will already have noticed and made their contribution.

Since national funding is involved any UK taxpayer has standing to comment.

Active Travel England seem to be very slack. This cost something like a million, whereas the cycle facility as now defined comprises the white line defining the contraflow cycle lane, about an hour's work for a competent white lining gang. This is again a national matter.
by wjhall
23 Mar 2024, 1:30pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England
Replies: 15
Views: 641

Clevedon Seafront - Cycle track removal - Active Travel England

North Somerset Life has just come out and contains a reference to the imminent council meeting on 27 March (1) to approve removal of the Active Travel England funded cycle track on the river front, and scraping together the funds to do it. It appears that Active Travel England (ATE) have agreed that a cycle contraflow lane is sufficient to justify spending the whole budget on road and car park repairs, and creating a one way road out of a perfectly cycleable minor road.

I am drafting a letter to the council to urge them not to waste public funds, and intend to send something similar to ATE to urge them to show some backbone and ask for their money back.



The draft is as follows:


I note that North Somerset Council intend to approve a programme of capital works intended to remove the Active Travel England funded cycling related improvements on The Beach, Clevedon and replace them with increased car parking. I object to this removal and suggest that councillors should not accept it.

I urge rejection of this programme, in my capacity as a regular visitor to Clevedon sea front and, since the works were funded from national taxation from my interest as a national taxpayer in avoiding waste and misuse of public funds.

I usually enter Clevedon along Hill Road, descending to the sea front along the beach. This is the only safe, direct way to cycle into Clevedon from the north and has the additional advantage of passing a range of useful shops on Hill Road. As far as the works in Hill Road, which are to be retained, are concerned they do not appear to have had detrimental effects on local businesses, it has never been easy to park in Hill Road.

For the works on The Beach, the only argument against the two way cycle lane and parallel parking could be effects on local businesses. There does not yet appear to be any conclusive evidence that local businesses have suffered, or that the restaurants will benefit from the reintroduction of echelon parking to allow fat people to eat burgers in their cars, whilst looking out at the river.

I never considered that the cycle works on the Beach were necessary; the road was quiet and, like most suburban roads conducive to careful driving and cycling. It was potholed and scruffy and I always suspected that the main aim of the cycle works was to use cycle funding for general road repairs and tidying. Removing the cycle track will mean that cycle funding has been used exclusively for general road repairs and resurfacing a car park. As the works are complete we now need to consider the proposed replacement, which will consume further public funds.

This is also not the section of the sea front roads that could most benefit from cycle lanes, it could have been justified as the first stage of Pier-to-Pier route related cycle improvements along the whole sea front, with the usual problem that councils will always put cycle lanes first where they are least likely to be noticed rather than where they are most needed.

The current state of the road, with the two way cycle lane does look much smarter than before, although there are odd features like the junction into the roundabout, and the bollards in the cycle lane at foot crossings that show a lack of understanding of how to design cycle facilities. It is unfortunate that being intended to accommodate cycles has caused an extreme allergic reaction among a vociferous minority.

Worse, although replacing the cycle track with a contraflow cycle lane is being presented as reallocation of road space to cycling it will increase the danger for cyclists. One way systems always increase traffic speeds, and instead of being equal users on a minor road with slow traffic cyclists will now be confined to a narrow strip with faster traffic being encouraged to pass closer. It is strange that Active Travel England are said to accept this painting of a white line as sufficient cycling improvement to justify spending the whole active travel funding on general road and car park repairs.

The so-called independent report has come from a large consultancy, AECOM, working mainly in the USA with no obvious claims to expertise in cycling infrastructure in the UK. I have examined their website and not yet found any claims to expertise in cycling, although they have done some pedestrian modelling in North America. It seems likely that in this case their expertise is mainly in providing 'independent' cover for what politicians have decided to do anyway.


(1) (1) https://n-somerset.moderngov.co.uk/docu ... ndices.pdf (for 27 March 2024)
by wjhall
19 Mar 2024, 8:43pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...a safe way to turn a bike over
Replies: 34
Views: 1601

Re: ...a safe way to turn a bike over

Get the owner to take the bicycle by the handlebars or therabouts and rotate it about the back wheel, which should remain on the ground. This will gain the advantage of leverage, whilst bringing the underside into a vertical position in which the serial number can be read.

A useful manouever for some kissing gates, for which it can be done with panniers in place.

Main risk: that the owner will let go and drop it on the inspector.
by wjhall
22 Nov 2023, 9:34am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: relocation conundrum
Replies: 14
Views: 1846

Re: relocation conundrum

.... wrote: 19 Nov 2023, 8:07pm ....

There are direct trains from Sheffield to Bristol but they're quite expensive - it's cheaper to get to Manchester then go across to be honest.

Splitting the tickets, not the journey, at Cheltenham, Birmingham and Derby will reduce the fares, although to get reservations you will need to use a booking agency that lines up reservations when splitting or just move seats at each point, TOCs no longer seem to allow you to fiddle with reservations yourself. However, since the cycle spaces are all in the same cupboard presumably four separate reservations will do. (Never dared try myself, but my daughter has used XC with a bicycle.) Slight new hiccough because period returns from BRI to CNM are no longer available, need separate singles if you are returning on a different day.

And advances exist at yet lower prices if your journey is predictable enough.
by wjhall
16 Nov 2023, 8:55am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 39039

Re: Closure of ticket offices

wjhall wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 10:08am
.... What would be relevant was a campaign to ensure that the other ticket sale methods work well, addressing poor ticket machine design, the faults in the PAYG card system and retaining on board commercial staff. ....

For disabled people buying from staff on the train is presumably the best option, although they may need advance contact to arrange assistance.
The posts suggesting that the current problems in the system, including gatelines, poor ticket machine design and the law requiring ticket purchase before boarding 'if purchase facilities are available,' are a reason for retaining ticket offices have ignored my point that it would have been more useful to campaign for fixing all the other methods, including changing the rules to make on board ticket purchase the norm. The ticket office at BRI does not solve any of these problems for people boarding at SML, or the majority of unmanned stations. We are fortunate at SML that there is no ticket machine and on board sales are both legal, and still much used, although remote advance purchasing is obviously what many people already do. It is presumably possible that the railways could move to requiring advance purchase for stations where there are no purchase facilities, and that is the sort of thing that could slip through whilst everyone is congratulating themselves on saving the imaginary ticket office. Remember, railways are now a public service, so you get what the treasury wants to give you, with customer service no longer a consideration.

Indulging in a nostalgia campaign does nothing to solve the problems in the other methods, including ticket machines generally being badly designed even for able users, although I think I have seen some that look as if the physical layout may be designed for wheelchair users, WSM perhaps.

For disabled people we need some disabled people to comment. I would be quite surprised if talking through a window in the noisy environment of Temple Meads booking hall, with an impatient queue behind, is really better for deaf people than sitting on a train with the undivided attention of the on-board ticket seller.
by wjhall
15 Nov 2023, 10:08am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 39039

Re: Closure of ticket offices

TrevA wrote: 14 Nov 2023, 4:39pm My local station has neither a ticket office or a ticket machine. It’s basically just 2 platforms. I either have to buy a ticket on the train or buy one in advance of travelling. The nearest ticket office is 10 miles in either direction.
In my case five miles, which is the same for all practical purposes, and no ticket machines at the local station (SML) either, which is why I either buy on the train, buy in advance for long journeys where reservations may be useful, or use a PAYG card for local journeys. Increasingly often I see other people using phones, as my daughter does. Staff on the local train can sell almost all tickets, including splits, and are generally very competent, about ten years ago one of them revealed the four way SML to SHF split to me and subsequently all staff have been quite happy selling it, once even operating the doors at CDN in the middle of the process.

Ticket offices have been disappearing since the 1960s and are irrelevant to most travellers. I have avoided the campaign to preserve them, regarding it as irrelevant nostalgia, likely to create extra costs and something in which I have no legitimate interest. What would be relevant was a campaign to ensure that the other ticket sale methods work well, addressing poor ticket machine design, the faults in the PAYG card system and retaining on board commercial staff. What could be better than at seat ticket sales, so much better than allowing extra time to queue in the wind and rain at ticket offices or ticket machines?

For disabled people buying from staff on the train is presumably the best option, although they may need advance contact to arrange assistance.
by wjhall
13 Nov 2023, 3:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: I know this will be a stupid question so sorry
Replies: 31
Views: 3172

Re: I know this will be a stupid question so sorry

The answer will really be by experiment, but a speed figure from a moderately slow cyclist making day trips of 15 km to 100 km could be useful.
When I had a cycle computer fitted the answer was always 14. 5 km/hr for a round trip, wind, hills and everything included, so ten miles would take about an hour. I could usually maintain about 20 km/hr for about an hour, without significant headwinds.
by wjhall
13 Nov 2023, 3:29pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11052

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

wjhall wrote: 13 Nov 2023, 10:38am ....
Unfortunately the need to make the goretex the innermost layer of a boot does mean that it is not protected against wear....
The innermost layer in my boots definitely has Goretex stamped all over it. It is presumably the inner layer of a typical four layer GoreTex structure, described by GoreTex as a dryable lining, with the membrane as the next layer out, and not very thick because they are reputed to wear through within a year or so.
That is the essential point, it cannot be something that absorbs water, otherwise when the damp soaks through the membrane from the leather or fabric outer it would be retained in quantity. So you do not see boots made with the GoreTex within a structural sandwich. Given that the soaked outer leather is the largest amount of water near the membrane, and that overnight the air inside the boot is connected to a non-condensing atmosphere the outer leather as the source of damp patches appearing inside the membrane over night is the most plausible explanation.
by wjhall
13 Nov 2023, 3:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11052

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

Given that water molecules have a bond length of about 96 pm and dioxygen molecules a bond length of about 121 pm any arguments based on the size of molecules need to be treated with care. For reference other manufacturers quote ePTFE hole sizes of 200 to 500 nanometres for their products. One such says 'The overarching tagline for ePTFE membranes is this: they repel dust and water but allow vapours and moisture to pass.' They give water penetration pressures typically of 1 bar, which seems surprisingly low.

Rather oddly, given their quoted pore sizes they also say: 'These pores are much smaller than a molecule of water, but far larger than a molecule of steam'. Steam being the gaseous form of water this has presumably confused droplets, or water vapour, with dry steam molecules.

This does not mean that an explanation for the water repellent properties of expanded polymer membranes cannot be sought in the interaction of droplets with the holes, presumably surface tension effects. Unfortunately the size of a droplet is rather ill-defined and the presence of droplets implies the presence of moisture, which is also wet, presumably why expanded polymer membrane waterproof garment manufacturers apply DWR to get droplets to run off without wetting.
by wjhall
13 Nov 2023, 10:38am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11052

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

Boots probably provide the best demonstration of how Goretex really works. It is not a magic one-way membrane, but a membrane that has holes fine enough to keep water out if there is water vapour being driven the other way. So with modern boots, which rely on the mebrane and use a non waterproof outer layer, you can arrive home after a wet day's walking and find the inside of your boots warm and dry. In the morning you can find damp patches on the inside, because the damp from the sodden outer has soaked through during the night. Because the membrane is the innermost layer there is no substantial amount of water inside, so when you put your feet in and set off again everything warms up quickly and you feel warm and dry, although generally your socks will always be full of warm sweat vapour, whatever the weather.

Hence the importance of DWR for garments and waterproofing for boot outers, which shed as much water as possible, so that the task left to the membrane is minimised.

Unfortunately the need to make the goretex the innermost layer of a boot does mean that it is not protected against wear.

Similar considerations apply to the traditional river crossing technique, with socks off and boots on, where the inside of any boot construction will normally be sufficiently non-absorbent that when you have tipped the water out and put your boots and socks back on any remaining damp warms up quickly to resemble the natural sweat vapour content.
by wjhall
5 Sep 2023, 4:38pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: What connectors do I need for these dynamo lights?
Replies: 27
Views: 1611

Re: What connectors do I need for these dynamo lights?

As far as the rear lights go the red plastic unclips from the black to reveal the inside, which shows what your are working with, although not necessary for fitting the wires. These push into a spring loaded guillotine. Any size wire, not flex, that is held firmly will no doubt do.
211005-3782 Axa Ray Steady rear lamp repair-original-both halves.JPG
They have an internal sprung connection between the two parts, this can become loose over time, which is probably why they are no longer made. I soldered wires across the internal connection on one, but on the next I must have been heavy handed and unsoldered the connection pads.
by wjhall
1 Aug 2023, 8:56pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike light advice from actual users please
Replies: 87
Views: 5920

Re: Bike light advice from actual users please

Those LED dynamo lamps that I have bought so far worked for acceptance testing on 6V DC from a battery box containing 4 AA batteries.

So an alternative solution, with a bit of DIY is to buy a StVzO dynamo lamp, from a German supplier, put together a battery box and wire it up. As suggested above the flashing function can come from a separate cheap lamp. (Wiggle supply a cheap battery set.)