Search found 527 matches

by atlas_shrugged
17 Apr 2021, 4:29pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling Camera... and a ****
Replies: 54
Views: 3642

Re: Cycling Camera... and a ****

@markjohnobrien Well we do now. The other weekend I was out cycling from Ely to Mildenhall and on my way back was detained and prevented from cycling back over a bridge. Apparently there were a load of student oaves mucking about on the water and wanted their picture took. I know I am ugly but the last time I looked boats used the river and I was using the road. So I am not sure why they were going full on stasi on me but they did. If you look on the online Daily mail of that vintage you will see a picture of our 'friends' detaining, assaulting, and stealing the bicycle of an elderly man who was outrageously out for a bike ride. He happens also to be a criminal lawyer. Woe betide any old ladies inviting a friend round for a cup of tea in the garden.
by atlas_shrugged
17 Apr 2021, 3:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling Camera... and a ****
Replies: 54
Views: 3642

Re: Cycling Camera... and a ****

Complete sympathies with the OP. I also have had this done to me - even by the polizi!

As cyclists we just need to learn that we are the lowest of the low. It is likely that the polizi will be completely useless and in Cambs/Herts/Beds they are on record as having a policy of not looking at camera footage provided by the public.

As a father you are the best protector your child has. Maybe for your own peace of mind cycle on traffic free routes. I don't have a solution for you until every BMW, mercedes, range rover, audi, and chelsea tractor etc has a 15 mph speed limiter fitted.
by atlas_shrugged
17 Apr 2021, 3:09pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol
Replies: 82
Views: 7354

Re: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol

Sadly the city of Cambridge no longer exists. It has been blighted by greedy property developers, AND cranes. Lots of them.
by atlas_shrugged
17 Apr 2021, 9:03am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol
Replies: 82
Views: 7354

Re: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol

Talking to a fellow cyclist (and driver) in Cranebridge about these priority lights - he made a good point. Before the priority it would be a complete zoo with two steady cyclists side by side, then the impatient cyclist trying to overtake (at a junction), and then the car driver all setting off together. From the car drivers perspective having a prioritised light reduces the stress because the cycle fight has already taken place and the cyclists are on their way and out of the way. So for car drivers, and car driver point of view, these lights are better too.

I still think the fresh rainbow trout get the best deal because they get to cross (under) junctions at 23 mph in their own private lane.
by atlas_shrugged
15 Apr 2021, 10:25am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol
Replies: 82
Views: 7354

Re: Traffic lights giving cyclists a head start - Bristol

We have had a load of these cycle prioritised traffic lights in Cranebridge. They are quite good and I would probably give them 5/10.

What I like is that they give a wobbly and non-confident cyclist time to get going and escape from aggressive and dangerous motorists from behind or wanting to left hook from behind or right-hook from in front. I do not know the difference these junctions make to cyclist safety but I would guess they are a bit safer. The other thing I like is that because the cycles have escaped this is better for the motorist as they worry less about hitting a cyclist.

BUT I ask the question why can't cyclists and pedestrians have *complete* safety? For this to happen there needs to be complete segregation especially at junctions. Cranebridge has just wacked in a box tunnel under Newmarket Road as part of the Chisholm trail. This was quite an expensive operation and has taken time to build. The magnificent Dutch can wack a box tunnel underpass under an 8-lane motorway in 24 hours by contrast. But even if looking at this from a bean counting point of view and say £2M for the underpass how does this compare with the cost of a human life? A human life is already costed by our government at over £1M. So if the underpass saves even 1 life then this starts to be worth doing. What is the value of a world reknown expert in Botany for example - these lives are priceless.

My other reason for prioritising vulnerable road users is that this radically increases their average speed and makes their mode of transport competitive with motor vehicles. In Cranebridge a car journey of 4 miles can now often take 2 hours. In Oxford a 1 mile car trip down the Botley Road can take 1 hour. These are measured speeds by me. Equally a cyclist or a pedestrian who knows their normal speed will be horrified at how slow their journey is in inner cities or even between cities. The culprit is the continuous stop-start that they have to make at junctions. It is here that the danger lies. So why not totally remove the danger and reduce the journey time by half? That way the most dangerous thing the 5-year old cyclist will crash into might be a daffodil!
by atlas_shrugged
12 Apr 2021, 6:59pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil
Replies: 138
Views: 9996

Re: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil

This is a good analysis (IMHO) looking at obesity among other things:

https://youtu.be/98UZOybUyFg
by atlas_shrugged
12 Apr 2021, 3:01pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil
Replies: 138
Views: 9996

Re: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil

In our area we have organic food box delivery that is quite busy. If they were able to deliver to shared food lockers this would save their costs massively. This would probably need support from an innovative council.

I guess at present only the oligarchy companies such as Amazon are able to get the appropriate planning permission and investment for lockers and this would be beyond the resources of a small local organic food company.
by atlas_shrugged
12 Apr 2021, 2:31pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil
Replies: 138
Views: 9996

Re: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil

How far away is the nearest Amazon locker from those that have to use a car to do their shopping? In our village we have lost our shop, post office and probably the pub will soon go. But we have a brand new Amazon locker next to the station.

I am not suggesting that Amazon provides food shopping yet. I am just curious if the compulsive car shoppers have a nearby Amazon locker that could also have a neighbouring food locker.

Local shops have been driven out of business by punishing business rates and council red tape and the supermarkets. The local food locker may be able to restore some locality for food shopping.
by atlas_shrugged
9 Apr 2021, 8:58am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Presumed liability petition
Replies: 92
Views: 8051

Re: Presumed liability petition

There are too many uninsured drivers now. Having one police car just to catch one uninsured driver is too expensive, then you need to add the costs of the legal system and prison system etc etc etc.

It is far cheaper to make sure they pay for 3rd party insurance via their fuel payments which are already taxed. That way they never offend in the first place.
by atlas_shrugged
8 Apr 2021, 8:21pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: if a Moulton would...
Replies: 81
Views: 5187

Re: if a Moulton would...

During winter I ride an upright bike to avoid changing the tyres. I also do not like my wrists being bashed and yes it is unpleasant going over every kerb upstand or pothole.

In summer I ride a recumbent and this solves the problem on the wrists plus the bike is about 5 mph faster. BUT there is a bit more bracing on the back when a pothole comes up that can not be avoided!

We await the miracle front and back predictive electronic suspension for bikes .... but I dream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KPYIaks1UY
by atlas_shrugged
7 Apr 2021, 9:32pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Presumed liability petition
Replies: 92
Views: 8051

Re: Presumed liability petition

thirdcrank I think you are right that Presumed liability will not help the problem of uninsured drivers. That is probably my fault for hijacking my own thread as I mentioned the idea of putting 3rd party insurance onto extra fuel tax to try and get the tight-fisted little blighters that won't pay insurance to at least pay something towards 3rd party insurance via their fuel payments.
by atlas_shrugged
7 Apr 2021, 9:06pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling computer advice
Replies: 41
Views: 1818

Re: Cycling computer advice

I found Garmin quite good. If I was buying again I would want:

Full UK postcode support (not just the first 3 characters)
A more power efficient screen which was readable in sunlight (think a colour kindle)
Better battery life than 1 day
by atlas_shrugged
7 Apr 2021, 5:05pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil
Replies: 138
Views: 9996

Re: Obesity epidemic and our addiction to oil

Quite an interesting talk about obesity and a possible link to a worse outcome with the 'virus':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiJ3lOB5XJM
by atlas_shrugged
6 Apr 2021, 7:08pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Presumed liability petition
Replies: 92
Views: 8051

Re: Presumed liability petition

The good drivers subsidising poor and dangerous drivers is what happens at the moment.

By putting 3rd party costs onto fuel you make sure that illegal drivers who would otherwise pay nothing do at least pay something towards their 3rd party insurance.

In addition the drivers who drive more end up paying more for insurance. This is fair because high mileage drivers increase their risk. Similarly the drivers who do little mileage would pay relatively less.
by atlas_shrugged
6 Apr 2021, 1:40pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Presumed liability petition
Replies: 92
Views: 8051

Re: Presumed liability petition

@mattheus 100% agreed