Search found 202 matches

by basingstoke123
11 Mar 2024, 7:15pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Filthy bridleway
Replies: 56
Views: 2111

Re: Filthy bridleway

Thanks for this.

I was also thinking of footpaths that are separated from the highway, for example, running through as housing estate.

Some 'highways' are not adopted and so are maintained at private expense. For example, some roads on housing estates. I gather that there is a lot of politics (with a small p) behind some of these unadopted roads. Some housing developers consider that the standards and charges required by a local highways authority to take over the road(s) are too high.

Do 'private roads' have public access? A 'user' will often not know the difference.

Such roads can also be used to hold an adjacent development to ransom by preventing access, and thus access has to be made via a less ideal route than the obvious existing road. This has happened in Basingstoke. There are cases where not only motor vehicle access has been restricted but also pedestrian and cycle access. For example, the Golf Club housing development in Basingstoke. I suspect that some are hoping to get a significant payment for access to an adjoining field in case of future development.

Regarding ransom strips and the like: if I had my way, the parties involved would be locked in a room on a Friday afternoon, and only allowed out when they have come to an agreement. They would be allowed as much water to drink as they wanted.
by basingstoke123
10 Mar 2024, 12:24am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Filthy bridleway
Replies: 56
Views: 2111

Re: Filthy bridleway

I also do not fully understand the difference between a public footpath and a 'normal' footpath within a town. Or a bridleway and a cycle path. You often get the odd public right of way in addition to all the usual footpaths (and very occasionally a cycle path). What's the difference? AFAIK the public rights of way existed before the area was developed and were never legally extinguished.

Public footpaths and bridleways are rights of way. Nothing more. They are great for leisure use, to explore the wonderful countryside that we have.

Generally they are not suitable for utility use such as commuting or getting to your local shops, whether walking or cycling.

To me, the issue is not that the bridleway is muddy but that there is a lack of a suitable cycle route (or footway?). I suspect that it will be unlikely to get a bridleway or public footpath improved, unless it is actually blocked. What is needed is a suitable cycle path and footpath which could run along the route of the bridleway.

Is the bridleway in HCC or Southampton? Is it an identified possible route in a relevant LCWIP? Could it be added?

Unfortunately HCC is not very cycling (or walking) friendly, although this is changing, slowly. The occasional major road scheme will now sometimes include cycle facilities with funding from central government. But there is no interest (or money) for anything minor.
by basingstoke123
8 Mar 2024, 10:14am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: CUK Membership Card
Replies: 34
Views: 1734

Re: CUK Membership Card

mjr wrote: 8 Mar 2024, 8:38am
basingstoke123 wrote: 8 Mar 2024, 12:09am Did anyone else renew their membership at the end of Feb? I didn't notice at the time, but my card has:

Expiry date: 29/02/2025.

Does this mean that this year's membership never expires?
It means somebody has ignored the golden rule of date calculations, which is to use a well -tested date library/module and don't bodge the calculation yourself!
Fortunately for any critical real time processing, like card payments, we have New Zealand to act as a beta test country, so that problems can be found and fixed before before 29 February reaches us. This year self service fuel pumps didn't accept card payments due to a date error - or rather, bad software. Actually, it's not bad software, but poor processes or quality control. (I wonder if the software had been outsourced to a less experienced team in a lower cost country).
by basingstoke123
8 Mar 2024, 12:09am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: CUK Membership Card
Replies: 34
Views: 1734

Re: CUK Membership Card

Did anyone else renew their membership at the end of Feb? I didn't notice at the time, but my card has:

Expiry date: 29/02/2025.

Does this mean that this year's membership never expires?
by basingstoke123
1 Jan 2024, 12:54pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: National Transport Strategy
Replies: 155
Views: 39236

Re: National Transport Strategy

Mike Sales wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 11:34am In my many years of cycling I remember a whole series of plans, strategies, studies and whatever, none of which have come to very much. So I am afraid that I do not expect much to come from them in future.
So it's not just my local authority.

Cynically I sometimes think a strategy is where you describe things that you are 'supposed' to do, but have no intention of doing. Then when someone complains 'why isn't the council doing xxxx?', they can be given the reply 'But we are. We take xxxx very seriously. Here is the agreed strategy'.

I must try this in my next work appraisal.

When strategies are periodically revised or updated, there is rarely any review of the previous strategy. No acknowledgement of its ineffectiveness, let alone any analysis as to why.

But the quality of presentation has definitely improved.
by basingstoke123
1 Jan 2024, 12:22pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: National Transport Strategy
Replies: 155
Views: 39236

Re: National Transport Strategy

Jdsk wrote: 15 Dec 2023, 3:48pm White House directive to Federal employees:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo ... on-future/

• Prioritizing electric vehicle use when traveling: Federal employees will rent an EV on official travel when the cost of the EV is less than or equal to the most affordable comparable vehicle available. Employees will also opt for cost-competitive EV options, where available, when using taxis and ride share platforms. This will save taxpayer money and reduce pollution that jeopardizes people’s health and fuels the climate crisis.
• Expanding rail travel: Federal employees will use rail for trips less than 250 miles when cost-effective and available, instead of taking an airplane or vehicle.
• Increasing public transit use: Federal employees will use public transit (e.g., subway, bus, light rail) when conducting local travel or upon arrival at the official travel location.


Jonathan
(bolding mine)

Wow!

In other words, continue to use petrol and diesel (gas) cars unless a comparable sized electric car is cheaper or the same cost.

Does this mean that US Federal employees and official business could previously use more expensive travel options, when there was a choice? And we wonder why government organisatins are expensive.
by basingstoke123
27 Dec 2023, 12:59am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....
Replies: 631
Views: 315375

Re: A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....

Bonefishblues wrote: 1 Oct 2023, 9:23am
cycle tramp wrote: 1 Oct 2023, 9:13am
dutchbike wrote: 20 Sep 2023, 3:12pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... e-66852585

Another blackout. Driver aquitted, not proven in Scotland, after killing two pedestrians who were on the pavement.

Not a lenient sentence stricly speaking but deeply worrying never the less,
That's the joys of jurors for you - having been in the jury myself, I found that many of my fellows lacked the prosecutor's belief in the evidence, preferring not to exercise their brain and based their whole decision on the arguement of the defence.. Given that I suspect may of the jurors drove the out come is predictable- if the jurors were may up of people who had lost the ones they love in equally tragic circumstances I would imagine the decision reached would have been different...
From Wiki re the Scottish system:

Although historically it [not proven] may be a similar verdict to not guilty, in the present day not proven is typically used by a jury when there is a belief that the defendant is guilty but The Crown has not provided sufficient evidence. Scots law requires corroboration; the evidence of one witness, however credible, is not sufficient to prove a charge against an accused or to establish any material or crucial fact.
(I realise I'm late in commenting). If the defendant claimed that he blacked out, then he shouldn't be allowed to drive until the medical cause has been diagnosed and following treatment he has had two years free from any further blackouts. If no successful diagnosis, then there is still a risk of further blackouts, so there should be a much longer period before driving again. Someone guilty of careless or dangerous driving could improve their standard of driving. But blackouts could reoccur at any time.
by basingstoke123
27 Dec 2023, 12:34am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Price of anti angle grinder locks are really falling now there is competition
Replies: 34
Views: 2920

Re: Price of anti angle grinder locks are really falling now there is competition

pwa wrote: 23 Dec 2023, 10:08am As mentioned upthread, with a bike that is regularly left in a dodgy location, having an unappealing and scruffy appearance is a help. And for better security, leave your bike locked up where it is visible from multiple angles, to lots of people, so that the thief won't feel comfortable that the owner isn't returning. And then have a decent lock on top of those measures, not instead of them.
I would add "And next to other bikes". Other cyclists are more likely to notice someone acting suspiciously than people just walking past, and will have a vested interest in deterring any potential theives.

How common is it for thieves to use angle grinders?

I doubt that it is practical to stop someone who is determined to steal your bike from stealing your bike. But most of the time, this is not the case.

Deterring the casual thief is fairly easy to do - lock it! And make it obvious, so that there is no point in someone taking a closer look before realising that they cannot just hope on and ride off.

Then for the 'professional' thief, you just need to make it difficult enough that it's not worth the effort or risk, or the next bike is easier / more desirable than yours. Having a tourer is a good start. It is obviously not a expensive mountain bike, nor a fast lightweight racer. Very few people recognise a good tourer. (And I really should replace the handlebar tape and worn out seat.)

It reminds me of the story of two people who come across a lion, so start to run. One of them says 'we're doomed - we'll never outrun a lion!' The other replies 'I don't have to. I only have to run faster than you.'
by basingstoke123
9 Aug 2023, 7:01pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Who would drive an EV ?
Replies: 209
Views: 15207

Re: Who would drive an EV ?

ANTONISH wrote: 28 Jul 2023, 5:35pm
TrevA wrote: 28 Jul 2023, 10:36am
ANTONISH wrote: 28 Jul 2023, 9:35am

How would we define unnecessary ? - and how would we "structure" society in order to eliminate the unnecessary travel?
Encourage homeworking. My daughter has been working from home since the start of lockdown. She can do her job perfectly well without having to go into the office, but has now been told she must be in the office for 40% of her time. No real reason for this, she doesn’t work with any of her office co-workers, her team is spread around the country, so contact is by phone and email.

I did the same in the 3 years before I retired. I used to go into the office once every 2 months. Luckily, my organisation was a bit more forward thinking.

Shop local - shops and services should be within walking or cycling distance, so you don’t have to travel to get to them.
Not all jobs, not even the majority can be worked from home - "shops and services" how does that work without staff being present?
Not to mention train drivers, garage mechanics, bus drivers, refuse collectors, warehouse workers, supermarket shelf stackers, etc
I have always found it irritating when work is assumed to be in an office.
One problem with jobs can be done from home is that someone else could do the job from home in a much lower cost country (or from an office there). Why pay someone UK rates working from home if someone else could do the same job remotely but in the Philippines or Romania, but for much less?
by basingstoke123
28 Jul 2023, 12:43am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Who would drive an EV ?
Replies: 209
Views: 15207

Re: Who would drive an EV ?

Airlines have had restrictions on carrying batteries for several years now. BA, for example, does not allow any spare batteries in hold luggage, and restricts size and number of batteries in products. These are the sort of batteries in your mobile phone, laptop etc.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/in ... strictions
by basingstoke123
28 Jul 2023, 12:20am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: So much for design standards
Replies: 11
Views: 4194

Re: So much for design standards

There are also double standards. The planners and those in authority seem to think that time only matters to motorists and doesn't matter if you are walking or cycling. All national and most local road schemes are designed to reduce motorist travel times. It might be to reduce congestion, but that is a different way of saying 'reduce journey time' (or not let it increase). A scheme that increases journey time is often intended to discourage driving (or make a detour more attractive - i.e. discourage the through route).

But nearly all 'active travel' schemes increase walking or cycling times. Indirect routes, multiple crossing each with lights (with delays). And this is supposed to be a benefit?
by basingstoke123
22 Jul 2023, 12:00pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 38828

Re: Closure of ticket offices

Nearholmer wrote: 20 Jul 2023, 9:52am Interesting. As I said back up thread, machines can be programmed to provide “staff functions”, giving staff the ability to serve all sorts of deeply obscure and rarely requested fares from the machines …,. Making that available before a change in the way staff are deployed seems a pretty basic requirement to me.

I don’t know much about national rail fare structures and offerings, except that they are unduly complicated, but even on TfL some of the more arcane fare arrangements were so obscure that it was deemed better to have staff oversee the dispensing of them from the machines than to ask customers to DIY, to avoid people getting befuddled and causing great snarl-ups in the queueing.
machines can be programmed to provide “staff functions” - that is the difficult part. With current (IT) technology I would go as far as saying 'impossible'.

The ticket office system is used by staff who:
  • have been trained
  • use the system for hours every day
  • understand the fares and routes
While the public machines are used by:
  • people who have never used it before
  • people who lack the IT/computer skills to get a job in the ticket office
  • people who do not understand the fare options or the rail network
  • regular customers who know exactly what they want, and don't want to waste time answering irrelevant options
I do not see how you can have a system that is quick and efficient for the regular user and be usable by those in the bottom 80% using it for the first time.
by basingstoke123
11 Jul 2023, 4:45pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 38828

Re: Closure of ticket offices

Bmblbzzz wrote: 11 Jul 2023, 9:58am The national figure is 12%, so South Eastern is a significant outlier. Perhaps because journeys there are mostly short and simple? Although those are actually, probably, the simplest to buy at a machine. So maybe some other reason, but I've no idea what.

Percentage of tickets sold, of course, does not equate to percentage of customers/passengers in any straightforward way.
Nor does it indicate how many non-ticket office sales would be lost that resulted from a successful ticket office interaction.

There will be a multiplier effect.

The 'final straw' that caused me to buy a car instead of using trains for long (OK, mid) distance journeys was the requirement to reserve a space for my cycle in advance. This was some years ago, in the days you could still just turn up and buy a ticket for there and then - without needing a loan. However, I only wanted to take a bike for 1 in 5 or 6 journeys. So, making it more difficult to take a bicycle resulted in loosing my non-bicycle train journeys as well.
by basingstoke123
20 Jun 2023, 11:17pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Illegal to carry a bike lock & arrestable offence if locking your bike up impedes others
Replies: 141
Views: 12497

Re: Illegal to carry a bike lock & arrestable offence if locking your bike up impedes others

Pinhead wrote: 20 Jun 2023, 10:57am Oh no now we have religion in the group, WHY has this come in and nothing to do with the original post :evil:
If I got stopped carrying my bike lock, my first reaction would be "oh * - I've left my bike unlocked!"

And I would be praying as I rushed back, hoping that my bike was where I left it.

Once a few years ago when in a shop I noticed that my pannier felt heavier than normal. When I looked inside I saw, to my horror, my bike lock! My bike was in the racks, where I normally leave it when shopping. What relief!
by basingstoke123
1 May 2023, 10:02pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Highway code, Code of conduct
Replies: 35
Views: 3975

Re: Highway code, Code of conduct

Nearholmer wrote: 1 May 2023, 6:15pm Red herring subject.

There already is a code of conduct for cyclists: the Highway Code. Same CoC as for all other road users.

If everyone followed it, there’d be far fewer, maybe approaching nil, problems, but they (we?) don’t. Some people walking sometimes break it; some people cycling sometimes break it; some people driving motor vehicles sometimes break it; I dare say even some people on horseback or driving horse-carts sometimes break it.
I was about to make the same comment, that we already have a Highway Code.