Search found 211 matches

by mikeonabike
7 Feb 2024, 11:49am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Why car drivers must wait longer at red traffic lights in Düsseldorf
Replies: 23
Views: 1475

Re: Why car drivers must wait longer at red traffic lights in Düsseldorf

Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Feb 2024, 10:07am
Pete Owens wrote: 2 Feb 2024, 11:13pm The all red phase is not a facility for pedestrians (though at older junctions in the UK without any provision at all for pedestrians you have to try to dash across between stages). I think you are thinking of SOME states in the US where drivers are allowed to turn right through red lights but must yield to pedestrians. In Germany there will be separate signals for pedestrians - and unlike the UK pedestrians can be prosecuted for crossing on the red signal.
This system is used in some parts of Europe too.
Is it not also used in the UK, at lights that dont have a specific pedestrian? Otherwise how else do peds cross?
by mikeonabike
5 Feb 2023, 5:33pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Stirling, Falkirk area.
Replies: 6
Views: 529

Re: Stirling, Falkirk area.

From Stirling you could head SW across the Campsies to the Carron reservoir and then drop down to the canal near Kilsyth. From there an easy ride on the towpath to the Wheel, and then a bit further on to the Kelpies.
by mikeonabike
10 Oct 2022, 11:43am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Calling Edinburgh Cyclists
Replies: 5
Views: 541

Re: Calling Edinburgh Cyclists

The track round the north of the estate is pretty rough. But there is a way of going through the estate on tarmac: take the road from Dalmeny village, when you come to the B924 carry straight on into the estate and on down to near the big house, turn right and follow the road (not the walking path) past the farm buildings and up the hill. About 500m before you reach the A90 turn right, down and up then right onto the track that will bring you out near Cramond Brig.
by mikeonabike
22 May 2022, 9:36am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Belfast accommodation
Replies: 2
Views: 242

Re: Belfast accommodation

Thanks Keith, that's helpful
by mikeonabike
21 May 2022, 1:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Belfast accommodation
Replies: 2
Views: 242

Belfast accommodation

I am planning a trip to Ireland, ending up in Belfast before catching a ferry.. Does anyone have any recommendations for cycle-friendly accommodation in/near the city centre? Thanks
by mikeonabike
9 May 2022, 11:27am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Munich - Venice
Replies: 24
Views: 1068

Re: Munich - Venice

When we cycled to Venice we stayed on the Lido Island, plenty of accommodation there and all very tourist-friendly with easy cycling. We were travelling back by train so got the ferry from Lido to Piazza Rioma (?) which is next to the station and I think that the bus station is there too.
by mikeonabike
12 Apr 2022, 7:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Boris's Brain is missing
Replies: 3961
Views: 207278

Re: Boris's Brain is missing

This fine is for Johnson's birthday cake party. But the Met haven't finished yet, so probably more to come. Johnson previously admitted (eventually) attending the garden party in May 2020 - he conspicuously failed to comment on that when "apologising" today.

Anyway, this one criminal act should be enough for him to be kicked out. But apparently Putin has so intimidated the Tories that they want to suspend proper democratic procedures and keep Johnson in place. It might have been appropriate to recall parliament this week to debate Ukraine, but Johnson is afraid of having to defend himself for lying to MPs. Maybe it would be easier if Johnson simply prorogued parliament for the next couple of years to avoid any distractions from his war?
by mikeonabike
8 Apr 2022, 12:58pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Boris's Brain is missing
Replies: 3961
Views: 207278

Re: Boris's Brain is missing

Should we feel sorry for Rishi? His wife has stated to HMRC that she isn't tied to the UK and might up-sticks back to India at any time (with the kids?). No wonder he is too intimidated to consider upping taxes on all these non-doms and oligarchs, much easy to tax the plebs more.
by mikeonabike
8 Apr 2022, 12:53pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Breaking International Law
Replies: 378
Views: 22804

Re: Breaking International Law

Still saying that over 30% of NI voters would support parties who want UK to break international law. Isn't breaking international law rather out of favour since February 24th?
by mikeonabike
8 Apr 2022, 12:46pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cyclists and mobile phones - deeply depressing ignorance by journalists?
Replies: 52
Views: 2688

Re: Cyclists and mobile phones - deeply depressing ignorance by journalists?

The minister's response was pretty good. If anyone read the full article rather than just the headline they would be usefully educated.

What could have been added was that the hierarchy of road-users applies to the cyclist vis-a-vis the pedestrian. So the cyclist should now be aware of their duty towards pedestrians (if they were not already aware). And so perhaps the wider point is that the govt needs to educate everyone about that.
by mikeonabike
30 Nov 2021, 7:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Breaking International Law
Replies: 378
Views: 22804

Re: Breaking International Law

Jdsk wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 3:41pm The Court of Appeal in Belfast has begun hearing a challenge to the lawfulness of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
A group of unionist politicians claim it is unlawful as it conflicts with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the Act of Union.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59463835

Jonathan
In court, the government is defending the lawfulness of the NIP, arguing that of course it doesn't conflict with the GFA and the Act of Union. But then in public the government moans that the NIP has to change because it isn't compatible with the GFA/etc. :?
by mikeonabike
24 Sep 2021, 7:58pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Europe 2021
Replies: 935
Views: 41691

Re: Europe 2021

We are currently touring in Spain which does not require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants/etc. (Though capacities are restricted and some things are simply shut)

We arrived via France where their App accepts the NHS vaccinations as mentioned above.
by mikeonabike
18 Aug 2021, 4:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Routes in Fife?
Replies: 6
Views: 596

Re: Cycle Routes in Fife?

The first part of EV1 through Dunferlmine is all built-up but then it is a nice route over the hills and round Loch Leven.

The coastal route has nice coastal views and is a bit shorter. But it goes through some busy places (Kirkaldy and Glenrothes).

Both generally ok for surface, though the coastal route from Aberdour to Burntisland is very lumpy.
by mikeonabike
8 Aug 2021, 6:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Moderates and Extremists
Replies: 78
Views: 3155

Re: Moderates and Extremists

pwa wrote: 6 Aug 2021, 6:29am What I am trying to put over is the notion that the word "extremist" means "far removed from the norm", and people who fall into that category are usually a bit of a worry to others because they rock the boat. But the word "extremist" on its own does not tell you whether they are right or wrong.
So would you call a trainspotter "extremist" because after all it is not the norm for people to go trainspotting? Do trainspotters rock the boat? And what is wrong with rocking the boat?
by mikeonabike
14 Jun 2021, 6:55pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Replies: 589
Views: 61810

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Steve X wrote: 14 Jun 2021, 8:02am When traveling in future, if I wish to make an advance booking I think I will go to a train station and do this as the booking agents seem to be able to access the seats and bikes availability more easily than I can. We have a train station about 7 miles away.
We regularly travel London-Edinburgh with bikes and always go to the station to book tickets. Usually the agent is able to hold the seat reservation then book the bikes onto the same train (and often then change the seat reservation so we are near the bikes :D ) and then we pay. Last time, they made us book and pay for the seats first, then checked the bikes and realised that the bike spaces were already taken (unusual), so they had to do it all again for the next train.