If you have an annual season ticket you will get a Gold Card that gives you a substantial discount on National Rail Fares. However, if you travel outside your season ticket's zones on Oyster PAYG, you won't get the Gold Card discount unless your Goldcard is linked to your Oyster Card. Apparently this is not automatically done when you buy the season ticket (at least at a station) and I have been told that some station staff have had to be pressed to do it - they don't always know about it and don't always check the written instructions
This situation arises where your employer is paying for your season ticket (perhaps a loan) by cheque. I imagine that if you buy on line the linking work is done in the back office.
The Gold Card Partner Card is essentially a Network Rail Card. http://www.railcard.co.uk/network is clear that the NRC does not give a discount on Oyster PAYG.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
B&D council don't know what they've done
On 15 August I asked B&D council for a list of all roads in the borough down which one cannot cycle in either / both directions fully. On 3 November I got this answer which can be reduced to "we don't know":
"We do not have a register classifying roads in this way, however with very few exceptions almost all roads in the Borough have provision for cycling in both directions and where a road or part of a road does not make this provision, it is our understanding that alternative routes for cyclists are available very nearby. You have been informed previously of the Council’s commitment and support for cyclists and I can inform you that [names of 2 officers] continue to be available to work with you for the benefit of cyclists and cycling as a whole."
Very few exceptions, eh? Please let me know the names of roads in postal Dagenham and Chadwell Heath that habe any kind of restriction on cycling. I wil try to compose my own list. I know Barking well enough to cover it myself, I think, but don't let me stop you!
"We do not have a register classifying roads in this way, however with very few exceptions almost all roads in the Borough have provision for cycling in both directions and where a road or part of a road does not make this provision, it is our understanding that alternative routes for cyclists are available very nearby. You have been informed previously of the Council’s commitment and support for cyclists and I can inform you that [names of 2 officers] continue to be available to work with you for the benefit of cyclists and cycling as a whole."
Very few exceptions, eh? Please let me know the names of roads in postal Dagenham and Chadwell Heath that habe any kind of restriction on cycling. I wil try to compose my own list. I know Barking well enough to cover it myself, I think, but don't let me stop you!
Saturday, 17 September 2011
High Speed Rail
I'm not taking a view on the benefits of high speed rail for the UK, or of HS2 in particular, and it's not particularly relevant to Barking, but I do want to expose some logical flaws in an Economist editorial - at least as reported in 'The Week' (10 September 2011).
The first - and easiest to deal with - flaw:
Talking about "Second-tier" towns [like Stoke] , the writer calims that "their own rail services are likely to be reduced when the new line [HS2] is built". There is clearly no causal link here. Whether or not HS2 is built, rail services on the existing lines can be improved (subject to capacity) or worsened. I hope the writer was not being disingenuous rather than just illogical.
Second, the writer claims that high speed rail in France and Spain has benefitted the larger cities, rather than the smaller towns and cities linked to the high speed network. Maybe so, but exactly the same argument pertains to 'improving existing services'. Faster, more frequent and higher capacity rail services to/from London are likely to cause more people to go to - say - London, whether or not they comprise entirely new lines.
Proponents of HS2 say that the capacity increases possible on the existing network are not enough, and would bring too much disruption when lines and stations are closed during works. Quite obviously new lines bring additional capacity to the network as a whole, and the pro HS2 camp argue that the existing lines can be improved more easily once HS2 is built, quite simply because the proportion of an increased network that will have to close for upgrade work is smaller.
The first - and easiest to deal with - flaw:
Talking about "Second-tier" towns [like Stoke] , the writer calims that "their own rail services are likely to be reduced when the new line [HS2] is built". There is clearly no causal link here. Whether or not HS2 is built, rail services on the existing lines can be improved (subject to capacity) or worsened. I hope the writer was not being disingenuous rather than just illogical.
Second, the writer claims that high speed rail in France and Spain has benefitted the larger cities, rather than the smaller towns and cities linked to the high speed network. Maybe so, but exactly the same argument pertains to 'improving existing services'. Faster, more frequent and higher capacity rail services to/from London are likely to cause more people to go to - say - London, whether or not they comprise entirely new lines.
Proponents of HS2 say that the capacity increases possible on the existing network are not enough, and would bring too much disruption when lines and stations are closed during works. Quite obviously new lines bring additional capacity to the network as a whole, and the pro HS2 camp argue that the existing lines can be improved more easily once HS2 is built, quite simply because the proportion of an increased network that will have to close for upgrade work is smaller.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Real time bus information on the web
http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk/
Branded as countdown, real time bus informatiom as displayed at bus stops is now on line.
Branded as countdown, real time bus informatiom as displayed at bus stops is now on line.
At last a unified London Connection Map
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/London_Rail_Tube_map.pdf
The National Rail website "London's Rail & Tube services map (which replaces the former London Connections map) shows all National Rail routes and stations within the Greater London area, together with London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink services and stations.
The map highlights principal interchange points and London Fares / Travelcard zones. It also shows the extent to which Oyster pay as you go is valid.
Leaflet copies of this map (with the London & South East map below on the reverse) are normally available from staffed National Rail stations in London and the South East and should now also be available from most London Underground stations."
Should say "replaces the former London Connections Maps" as for many years TfL (and its antecedents) puboished a map under this title. It was fairly recently displace by a map showing where Oyste PAYG could be used. Nevertheless, I welcome at long last one map (not two rivl versions) showing all London's Railways, along with the zones.
"Should now be available from most London Underground stations" is rather tentative, but the old ATOC map (and antecedents) never was. Is there reluctant acceptance that public transport is about where people want to go, and not about who runs which railway?
The National Rail website "London's Rail & Tube services map (which replaces the former London Connections map) shows all National Rail routes and stations within the Greater London area, together with London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink services and stations.
The map highlights principal interchange points and London Fares / Travelcard zones. It also shows the extent to which Oyster pay as you go is valid.
Leaflet copies of this map (with the London & South East map below on the reverse) are normally available from staffed National Rail stations in London and the South East and should now also be available from most London Underground stations."
Should say "replaces the former London Connections Maps" as for many years TfL (and its antecedents) puboished a map under this title. It was fairly recently displace by a map showing where Oyste PAYG could be used. Nevertheless, I welcome at long last one map (not two rivl versions) showing all London's Railways, along with the zones.
"Should now be available from most London Underground stations" is rather tentative, but the old ATOC map (and antecedents) never was. Is there reluctant acceptance that public transport is about where people want to go, and not about who runs which railway?
Monday, 29 August 2011
On line train tickets - Red Spotted Hanky
Train fares supremo Barry Doe's knowledge of the complexities of train fares and ticket buying cannot readlity be condensed into a blogging site such as this, and is not always relevant for this context, but occasionally he has a little tip that's worth repeating.
In issue 677 of Rail magazazine he points out that redspottedhanky.com is the ony independent train ticket website that doesn't charge booking or credit card fees. I am still normally using Eastcoast, as previousy recommended by Barry, but I take it it is nor what he calls independent.
Trying out RSH for a journey I'm making revealed that the interface is virtually identical to Eastcoast's - and the tickets proferred the same selection. Not a scientific test, but at least there's consistency.
In issue 677 of Rail magazazine he points out that redspottedhanky.com is the ony independent train ticket website that doesn't charge booking or credit card fees. I am still normally using Eastcoast, as previousy recommended by Barry, but I take it it is nor what he calls independent.
Trying out RSH for a journey I'm making revealed that the interface is virtually identical to Eastcoast's - and the tickets proferred the same selection. Not a scientific test, but at least there's consistency.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Barking Skyride
Congratulations to all involved in the Barking & Dagenham Skyride last Sunday 21 August, especially council cycling officer Nick Davies. Thanks also to Charlie, Gerhard, Juwel and Stephanie for hosting an LCC stall in Barking Park. It generated quite a bit of interest.
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Halcrow archive films - Victoria Line
http://www.halcrow.com/Who-we-are/film_archive/Victoria-line-archive-film/
I recently Facebooked a link to a 1960s film of the Victoria Line station construction work at Oxford Circus. This is part of Halcrow's film archive, and their website says it it the first in a series of five films about the Victoria Line, but I can't see any links to the other four. Maybe they're being digitised.
I recently Facebooked a link to a 1960s film of the Victoria Line station construction work at Oxford Circus. This is part of Halcrow's film archive, and their website says it it the first in a series of five films about the Victoria Line, but I can't see any links to the other four. Maybe they're being digitised.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Thug
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5PqTlvfavM
This is a very shocking video of a man threatening to punch a cyclist in the face for no apparent reason in Watetloo Rd, Romford. The incident ws filmed on the cyclist's helmet camera.
The video contains offensive language by the man who got out of a car to confront the cyclist.
This is a very shocking video of a man threatening to punch a cyclist in the face for no apparent reason in Watetloo Rd, Romford. The incident ws filmed on the cyclist's helmet camera.
The video contains offensive language by the man who got out of a car to confront the cyclist.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Elsenham airport
Train fares supremo Barry Doe points out that train tickets from London to Elsenham are cheaper that those to, but also valid via. Stansted airport. An opportunity to save your self a little £. Dubious sustainability credentials I admit.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Pavement Cycling not 'blameworthy'?
Just come across an interesting case concerning pavement cycling last
year in the High Court in which the judge made some interesting comments: [my emphasis]
http://www.bailii. org/ew/cases/ EWHC/QB/2010/ B11.html
"43. In my judgment, this piece of road was dangerous for all but the most experienced, traffic fast, confident and dominant of cyclists i.e. the 'serious' cyclist as Mr Ibbotson puts it, as opposed to the ordinary prudent cyclist using a cycle to go to work encumbered with his cyclerucksack.
44. In my judgment, although it is illegal for cyclists to use the pavement (unless it is specifically sanctioned by a local authority for shared use), when weighing up the danger to himself (cp danger to
pedestrians) it was a reasonable decision by the Claimant to ride on the pavements in this area rather than the road in the context of the duty of care owed to himself to take reasonable care for his own safety
whilst cycling. In my judgment, although illegal and potentially negligent in any action vis a vis a pedestrian, it was not "blameworthy" in terms of negligence in contributory negligence."
It would be interesting to know whether this has any implications for pavement cycling beyond deciding damagesas it seems to echo then Home Office Minister Paul Boateng's famous statement when pavement cycling FPNs were introduced that “The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so."
year in the High Court in which the judge made some interesting comments: [my emphasis]
http://www.bailii. org/ew/cases/ EWHC/QB/2010/ B11.html
"43. In my judgment, this piece of road was dangerous for all but the most experienced, traffic fast, confident and dominant of cyclists i.e. the 'serious' cyclist as Mr Ibbotson puts it, as opposed to the ordinary prudent cyclist using a cycle to go to work encumbered with his cyclerucksack.
44. In my judgment, although it is illegal for cyclists to use the pavement (unless it is specifically sanctioned by a local authority for shared use), when weighing up the danger to himself (cp danger to
pedestrians) it was a reasonable decision by the Claimant to ride on the pavements in this area rather than the road in the context of the duty of care owed to himself to take reasonable care for his own safety
whilst cycling. In my judgment, although illegal and potentially negligent in any action vis a vis a pedestrian, it was not "blameworthy" in terms of negligence in contributory negligence."
It would be interesting to know whether this has any implications for pavement cycling beyond deciding damagesas it seems to echo then Home Office Minister Paul Boateng's famous statement when pavement cycling FPNs were introduced that “The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so."
Friday, 1 July 2011
East Coast Abolish £5 minimum spend on ticket website
My main objection to this limit is that it was applied after you had typed in all your credit card details, shoe size, mother's maiden name. A little programming tweak would have brought the warning up at a much earlier point in the process and saved irritation. East Coast's predecessor ignored me when I flagged this bug up, but fares guru Barry Doe has used his contact and achievd the better result of removal of the £5 minimum. I last fell for this bug buying a £4.20 ticket. I would have happily paid £5 to avoid the hassle, and finished up paying £5.20 to a competitor who charges £1 per transaction.
Thanks Barry, thanks East Coast (at last).
Thanks Barry, thanks East Coast (at last).
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Death and injury on the footway: Cyclists and pedestrians: the risks
This extract from the current issue of CTC's Cycle Digest might be helpful if you are confronted with opinion on cyclists and pedestrians / cycling on the pavement. It would seem to follow that the priority here is, as usual, dealing with the death and injury caused by motor vehicles and their drivers.
"cyclists very rarely cause pedestrians harm: just one pedestrian has been killed in collision with a pedal cycle in the past 2 years. In that time, there have been 1,070 pedestrians killed in collisions with motor vehicles. As for cases where the cyclist was found to have been acting illegally, there have been 3 other instances in the whole of the past decade, besides Jason Howard, where cyclists have been convicted following the deaths of pedestrians, two on the pavement, one on a grass verge.
By contrast, in 2005 - 09 there was an average of 45 pedestrians killed in collisions with motor vehicles on pavements or verges each year – that’s almost one a week.
Levels of prosecution
In total (i.e. including on-road as well as pavement collisions), there were 500 pedestrians and 104 cyclists killed on Britain’s road network in 2009 – that’s about 11 non-motorised users killed on average per week. Moreover, less than a quarter of all road fatalities ever lead to a prosecution, let alone a prison sentence – so that’s probably about 8-9 cyclists and pedestrians a week whose bereaved families then find the driver concerned faces no prosecution at all. And even when prosecuted and convicted, it is common for drivers who have killed pedestrians or cyclists to face fines of just a couple of hundred pounds."
"cyclists very rarely cause pedestrians harm: just one pedestrian has been killed in collision with a pedal cycle in the past 2 years. In that time, there have been 1,070 pedestrians killed in collisions with motor vehicles. As for cases where the cyclist was found to have been acting illegally, there have been 3 other instances in the whole of the past decade, besides Jason Howard, where cyclists have been convicted following the deaths of pedestrians, two on the pavement, one on a grass verge.
By contrast, in 2005 - 09 there was an average of 45 pedestrians killed in collisions with motor vehicles on pavements or verges each year – that’s almost one a week.
Levels of prosecution
In total (i.e. including on-road as well as pavement collisions), there were 500 pedestrians and 104 cyclists killed on Britain’s road network in 2009 – that’s about 11 non-motorised users killed on average per week. Moreover, less than a quarter of all road fatalities ever lead to a prosecution, let alone a prison sentence – so that’s probably about 8-9 cyclists and pedestrians a week whose bereaved families then find the driver concerned faces no prosecution at all. And even when prosecuted and convicted, it is common for drivers who have killed pedestrians or cyclists to face fines of just a couple of hundred pounds."
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Barking (& Dagenham) Skyride Local circuit
The route of the Barking & Dagenham Local Skyride has been released - perhaps provisionally. See the map here:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms%3Foe%3DUTF8%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26ie%3DUTF8%26hq%3D%26hnear%3D0x48761d9cb8584b29:0x58b96fc939fbb960,London%2BE10%2B5LP%26gl%3Duk%26hl%3Den%26vps%3D1%26jsv%3D346c%26authuser%3D0%26msa%3D0%26msid%3D210546813079394734054.0004a51ea766968508a4f
We should, I suppose, politely call it the Barking & Dagenham Skyride, but as it extends only as far east as Mayesbrook Park, it could rightly be called tha Barking Skyride
http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms%3Foe%3DUTF8%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26ie%3DUTF8%26hq%3D%26hnear%3D0x48761d9cb8584b29:0x58b96fc939fbb960,London%2BE10%2B5LP%26gl%3Duk%26hl%3Den%26vps%3D1%26jsv%3D346c%26authuser%3D0%26msa%3D0%26msid%3D210546813079394734054.0004a51ea766968508a4f
We should, I suppose, politely call it the Barking & Dagenham Skyride, but as it extends only as far east as Mayesbrook Park, it could rightly be called tha Barking Skyride
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Potholes of Barking
Potholes on my regular routes are something like old friends. One gets to know well what they look like over the years, and watches how they increase in size as time goes by. The analogy ends there though.
Pothole one (feat. Coke Can) in this blog is acoss the Road from The Brittania (as was) in Church Road. I thought I had reported this before, but have reported it just now for good measure.
http://www.fixmystreet.com/report/188968#update_165738
Pothole 2 (feat. beer can) is the worst, or second worse, of the series of defects in Salisbury Avenue on a signposted route from Salisbury Avenue.
In both cases I managed to upload the wrong photos at the first attempt. Apologies.
http://www.fixmystreet.com/report/159324#update_165739
Pothole one (feat. Coke Can) in this blog is acoss the Road from The Brittania (as was) in Church Road. I thought I had reported this before, but have reported it just now for good measure.
http://www.fixmystreet.com/report/188968#update_165738
Pothole 2 (feat. beer can) is the worst, or second worse, of the series of defects in Salisbury Avenue on a signposted route from Salisbury Avenue.
In both cases I managed to upload the wrong photos at the first attempt. Apologies.
http://www.fixmystreet.com/report/159324#update_165739
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Vandome Cycling
I saw an ad in B&D Council's The News for Vandome Cycling, only to find from the website that it is owned by B&D LCC member Russell Coe, of Dagenham. Vandome is offering repairs and maintenance (including contracts), and maintenance classes, National Standards Training, led rides, bikes and spares for sale and fitness development.
We wish him all the best with that, I'm sure.
We wish him all the best with that, I'm sure.
Monday, 6 June 2011
RailPlanner
Train fares oracle Barry Doe recommends RailPlanner for planning rail journeys and mining your way through the Byzantine complexity of rail fares in the UK. He says current online journey planners show up journeys starting later at A, with changes at B, C and D, to arrive at E at the same time as you would have done if you'd just turned up a bit earlier at A. I can't say my testing using East Coast bears this out, though. Barry's example in Rail Magazine (issue 671) involved catching the 1208 from Bradford on Sunday 15 May and arriving in London at 1522, with no changes, rather than catching the 1225 and changing twice to arrive in London at the same time. You might want to save the 17 minutes and pay by changing twice, but Barry's point is that with online planners - I don't know which - the direct and slightly slower train is hard to find. I tested with Sunday 12 June and the engine found direct trains, and the interface allowed me easily to filter out trains with changes.
Now it's hard to find anyone who thinks that our train ticket system is clear and legible. There are situations where you can save money by buying separate tickets from A to B, B to C and C to D, instead of a ticket from A to D, and end up on the same train(s) youb would have by buying the through ticket. Plainly a nonsensical situation.
Barry says that offline RailPlanner gives some useful options for planning/ticketing that aren't available with online planners, but it is available in a browser accessible version and is presumably essentially the same on either platform. Barry recommends the 'silver' version, which costs £59.40 pa at the offer price he has negotiated. Presumably for some people, this would pay for itself by a combination of cheaper fares, simpler journeys, and reduced journey times.
So, here we have a relatively cheap software solution to the problem of train fare / journey planning complexity. Why not just piut it on the www let everyone use it for free? They could use it direct themselves, or via an agent at a ticket office or travel agent. Software should be able to find the best fares and journeys (not necessarily the quickest and cheapest) and the rail system would have a dataset of actual journeys/tickets to inform its planning. So the software would mine the information and save the trouble and cost/confusion of simplifying fares.
To take up Barry's offer you need to quote RAILoffer when ordering, which you can do by phone or using the pdf downloadable form - post or fax! See http://www.travelinfosystems.com/
Now it's hard to find anyone who thinks that our train ticket system is clear and legible. There are situations where you can save money by buying separate tickets from A to B, B to C and C to D, instead of a ticket from A to D, and end up on the same train(s) youb would have by buying the through ticket. Plainly a nonsensical situation.
Barry says that offline RailPlanner gives some useful options for planning/ticketing that aren't available with online planners, but it is available in a browser accessible version and is presumably essentially the same on either platform. Barry recommends the 'silver' version, which costs £59.40 pa at the offer price he has negotiated. Presumably for some people, this would pay for itself by a combination of cheaper fares, simpler journeys, and reduced journey times.
So, here we have a relatively cheap software solution to the problem of train fare / journey planning complexity. Why not just piut it on the www let everyone use it for free? They could use it direct themselves, or via an agent at a ticket office or travel agent. Software should be able to find the best fares and journeys (not necessarily the quickest and cheapest) and the rail system would have a dataset of actual journeys/tickets to inform its planning. So the software would mine the information and save the trouble and cost/confusion of simplifying fares.
To take up Barry's offer you need to quote RAILoffer when ordering, which you can do by phone or using the pdf downloadable form - post or fax! See http://www.travelinfosystems.com/
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Barry Mason, RIP
With great sadness I am passing on the news that Barry Mason has died in Spain where he was on a cycling holiday. He will be a great loss to cycling and our sympathy is with those who knew and loved him.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5328
http://asitc.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/barry-mason/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/06/05/british-holiday-maker-dies-after-going-for-a-dip-in-spain-115875-23180076/
There is a tribute to Barry on the LCC website to accompany the growing number on e-mail groups and blogs:
http://lcc.org.uk/articles/barry-mason
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5328
http://asitc.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/barry-mason/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/06/05/british-holiday-maker-dies-after-going-for-a-dip-in-spain-115875-23180076/
There is a tribute to Barry on the LCC website to accompany the growing number on e-mail groups and blogs:
http://lcc.org.uk/articles/barry-mason
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Afternoon tea rides?
I am repeating a post from over two years ago (gulp). I haven't re-checked the info, but I have added some new details from comments received.
The following Essex country churches are known to serve tea and cakes on summer Sunday afternoons:
The following Essex country churches are known to serve tea and cakes on summer Sunday afternoons:
- Blackmore, St Laurence. 2 or possibly 2.30-4.30pm (first Sunday of months of May - October). Very popular with cyclists.
- High Beech, Holy Innocents. 2-5pm, every Sunday May - September). Allegedly 20 types of cake (source of this info not recorded, but I feel certain there should be a disclaimer here somewhere!)
- Stanford Rivers, St Margaret. 2 - 4.30 some say, but the church's website says 2.30-4.30. Tea also available by arrangement.
- All Saints Doddinghurst - I'm told by Andrew Smith that they serve tea and cake, and to check their website, but I can't find anything there and the site isn't being updated.
Another stolen bike website
http://www.bikerevolution.org/
Is a stolen bike website that I've just come across. I'm not sure of the merits of there being several such sites. I found the link on http://www.goinggoingbike.com/ a bike auction site with devices to prevent stolen bikes being sold on it.
This is all well and good, but if someone steals your bike the chances are they will sell it on for such a good price that the buyer will "ask no questions"
Is a stolen bike website that I've just come across. I'm not sure of the merits of there being several such sites. I found the link on http://www.goinggoingbike.com/ a bike auction site with devices to prevent stolen bikes being sold on it.
This is all well and good, but if someone steals your bike the chances are they will sell it on for such a good price that the buyer will "ask no questions"
Tyre sizes available in Wilkinson's, Barking
Wilkinson's is quite useful in a town with no bike shop, except out of town Halfords, but I've always been puzzled by the selection of tyre sizes. Here is what was available in their Barking branch today. I'm only quoting ISO sizes, formerly known as ETRTO sizes. Although unfamiliar to any, they are the only ones that are reliable. The British, European and US sizes can seem similar whilst being very different.This guide converts between the different standards.
ISO uses width in mm, dash, bead circumference in mm. Obviously the latter is critical. The former doesn't make that much difference, especially with a few mm of course
Wilkinson's had 47-406, 47-507, 47-559, 37-622 and 32-630 sizes. I believe the most popular size in the world is 37-590, which British (Empire) people know as 26 x 1 3/8. 37-622 is a common size amongs my LCC friends.
I once encoutered someone who had his Brompton folding bike stolen shortly after he bought some new tyres for it. Brompton tyres are 37-349 typically, commonly called 16 x 1 3/8. Unfortunately he had bought 16" USA sized tyres, of a mere 305mm diameter (probably 47-305), almost an inch and three quarters too small in diameter.
ISO uses width in mm, dash, bead circumference in mm. Obviously the latter is critical. The former doesn't make that much difference, especially with a few mm of course
Wilkinson's had 47-406, 47-507, 47-559, 37-622 and 32-630 sizes. I believe the most popular size in the world is 37-590, which British (Empire) people know as 26 x 1 3/8. 37-622 is a common size amongs my LCC friends.
I once encoutered someone who had his Brompton folding bike stolen shortly after he bought some new tyres for it. Brompton tyres are 37-349 typically, commonly called 16 x 1 3/8. Unfortunately he had bought 16" USA sized tyres, of a mere 305mm diameter (probably 47-305), almost an inch and three quarters too small in diameter.
Monday, 23 May 2011
Temporary closure of Station Parade (eastbound) - more
http://stibasa.blogspot.com/2011/05/temporary-closure-of-station-parade.html
Further to my previous post, I discovered this via B&D council's new Facebook Page:
http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/News/PressReleases/Pages/BarkingStationWorks.aspx
I note "new cycle parking".
Further to my previous post, I discovered this via B&D council's new Facebook Page:
http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/News/PressReleases/Pages/BarkingStationWorks.aspx
I note "new cycle parking".
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Victoria Road
Following my previous post, I had a quick nose down Victoria Road today. The signs are already installed, albeit covered. At the junction with Loxford Road there are "no entry" signs facing west - apart from tne fact that they are round, one of them is not completely covered.
Nearer Ilford Lane, facing east, are what I assume are one way traffic signs - rectangular. These are covered, but fit with the public notice and correspond with the 'no entry' signs further west.
I apologise that my impact on B&D council in twenty years of campaigning is such that they will still propose and even implement schemes such with no reference to cycling at all. This one is a minor scheme (but many are) and it won't cause major problems, but the feeling is of a death of a thousand cuts. Are we, little by little, progressing, or is it the opposite? Hard campaigning can lead, here and there, to things being restored to how they were before cycling was unfairly and pointlessly restricted, but restrictions themselves continue to increase. B&D council tried their luck with Axe St - t doesn't seem to have happened (a campaigning success), but it requires much vigilance and perseverance to hold back the powerful if not fast flow of anti-cycling measures that this council still manages to propose or even implement, despite the claim that they are prp cycling. It is not enough to just say/write that you are pro cycling, B&D council. You have to live this out, and stamp out the pernicious if ignorant attempts to restrict cycling
Nearer Ilford Lane, facing east, are what I assume are one way traffic signs - rectangular. These are covered, but fit with the public notice and correspond with the 'no entry' signs further west.
I apologise that my impact on B&D council in twenty years of campaigning is such that they will still propose and even implement schemes such with no reference to cycling at all. This one is a minor scheme (but many are) and it won't cause major problems, but the feeling is of a death of a thousand cuts. Are we, little by little, progressing, or is it the opposite? Hard campaigning can lead, here and there, to things being restored to how they were before cycling was unfairly and pointlessly restricted, but restrictions themselves continue to increase. B&D council tried their luck with Axe St - t doesn't seem to have happened (a campaigning success), but it requires much vigilance and perseverance to hold back the powerful if not fast flow of anti-cycling measures that this council still manages to propose or even implement, despite the claim that they are prp cycling. It is not enough to just say/write that you are pro cycling, B&D council. You have to live this out, and stamp out the pernicious if ignorant attempts to restrict cycling
Friday, 20 May 2011
A new name for LCC?
Please have a look at the attached documents, one of which is from the latest London Cyclist magazine, and let ME know your views. The Word document guides you in this, but I think the key point is what name for the organisation would appeal most/best to non-members and even people who don’t cycle. Making everything nice for current members is not what we should be about. *
I have studiously avoided using the word ‘cyclist’ where possible in campaigning, based on the idea that I was convinced of that it conjours up a certain image in (some) people’s minds that may not be entirely positive to them. Cycling does not have this connotation. It is true, though, that cycling is an activity, whereas cyclists are people (yes they are!) and it is better to refer to people than an activity. The approved term was “people who cycle”.
Then there’s the word ‘campaign’, which at once makes specific what it is that we’re about, but also (it is said) sounds off putting.
Lastly of my points is that many LCC branches are called [name of borough] cyclists. There’s a name for the logical fallacy that if lots of people do it it must be right.
Anyway, please think about this and let me know, preferably by e-mail.
* My aim is to get more people cycling more often. For me LCC is an organisation that helps in this aim both directly and by supporting me as a campaigner. Therefore the LCC is worth supporting, but to the end of increasing cycling, not growing the LCC per se, though the more members we have, the more clout we have as we represent a larger constituency.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Temporary closure of Station Parade (eastbound)
http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/thenews/Documents/thenews-49.pdf
A notice in "The News" (B&D council newspaper) says that from 2 June Station Parad Barking will be closed eastbound between Wakering Road and Cambridge Road - ie in front of Barking Station. The order has force for 9 weeks, but they usually err on the cautious side.
Pedestrians will not be able to use the northern footway.
A notice in "The News" (B&D council newspaper) says that from 2 June Station Parad Barking will be closed eastbound between Wakering Road and Cambridge Road - ie in front of Barking Station. The order has force for 9 weeks, but they usually err on the cautious side.
Pedestrians will not be able to use the northern footway.
B&D council still trying to restrict cycling?
B&D council nearly caught me sleeping. They have threatened to introduce one way working in Victoria Road, the last road in B&D off Ilford Lane before the LB Redbridge boundary. I could practically write the e-mail to Darren Henagan with my eyes shut. I have written so many, but B&D still don't seem to be able to apply their pro-cycling policy to their efforts in traffic management.
My letter in "The News" - 'Pay as you drive' will boost cycling
This letter from me was published in a recent edition of B&D Council's newspaper, The News:
Well , another writer on cycling ("Please spend cycle investment wisely", thenews, 2 April). I'll be out of a job - voluntary, by the way!
I don't want to disparage someone who wants to encourage cycling, but I do think I should point out some of the pitfalls of Mrs Green's suggestions. Cycle tracks on pavements arguably need to be clear of opening car
doors to avoid collisions. And for every person who argues cycling should be on the pavement, there's
someone else saying it should be on the road.
I think the idea of banning car parking in cycle lanes is rather optimistic. There's the enforcement issue - have
a look at the cycle track in Pickering Road, Barking. It's constantly full of parked cars.
Mrs Green's letter strikes right at the heart of why Barking and Dagenham is really a driving borough.
Government policy encourages us to buy cars, and cars have high fixed costs. There, parked outside your
home, is your lovely warm and comfortable car, with a full tank of petrol and much of your hard-earned cash
already committed to it. So you use it - of course you do. Yet most cars spend most of their time parked, unused, wasted.
I think that if you don't use your car, you shouldn't have to pay. An easy way of doing this would be to shift all the costs of driving onto the pump price of fuel, rather than vehicle excise duty (not 'road tax', which doesn't exist), VAT on cars and insurance - all costs you pay whether or not you use your car.
The "pay as you drive" way of doing things model would encourage economical driving and economical
cars. Some people might even give up their car and just hire one when they need it. The changes I suggest would boost local shops and amenities, as the cost of the drive to a out-of-town supermarket would make it much less attractive. In rural areas, the village shop and pub would spring back to life. And with fewer parked cars, there'd be more room for cycling and public transport, and more cycling, as the cost would be attractive compared to driving. More buses and trains, and lower fares, too - wonderful virtuous circles.
Colin Newman
Leader, London Cycling Campaign
Barking and Dagenham branch
Saturday, 7 May 2011
At last the rival London Connections Maps are to merge!
For a long time, TfL and AYOC each produced maps called London Connections Maps, showing both National Rail and LUL lines. Foillowing my suggestion several years ago, ATOC's introduced the colour codes for Underground Lines, so with colur coding for each TOC, it makes a good document. TfL's LC map used to show all the National Rail lines in one colour / without colour, until Oyster PAYG spread to National Rail, whereupon it changed the LC Map to the Oyster Map, and colour coded the National rail lines according to the London Terminus, or pair of termini. This avoided the irritating and changing names of the TOCs, but makes the maps very similar in content.
According to Modern Railways magazine (April 2011) ATOC and TfL have devised one map between them. At last and end to the wasteful duplication.
According to Modern Railways magazine (April 2011) ATOC and TfL have devised one map between them. At last and end to the wasteful duplication.
Bank cards insttead of Oyster Cards. Oyster outside London
"TfL an train companies are also to work to complet plans to extend Oyster PAYG outside London, and to evaluate the extension to National Rail services of payment using contactless bank cards, for introduction in 2012. TfL has confirmed that, by the end of 2012, card readers across its whole network will have been upgraded so that a contactless bank card can be used ... for PAYG travel." [Modern Railways April 2011]
Goodbye Oyster Extension Permits
"From 22 May, passengers using a London Oyster Travelcard who want to travel outside their travelcard zones will no longer be required to load an Oyster Extension Permit onto the Oyster Card. The permits were intended to indicate an intention to to extend travel using Oyster pay as you go (PAYG) credit. Although free of charge, the permits ... caused widespread confusion." [Modern Railways, April 2011]
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Where have all the bottle banks gone?
The all the recycling banks (including the bottle banks) near where I live, and all the recycling banks except the clothes bank) on my route to/from the station have been removed. I live in a flat, so don't have a blue box, so what do I do with glass for recycling?
As a cyclist, I often pick up bottles from the street - it's better than punctures - but now what do I do with them?
As a cyclist, I often pick up bottles from the street - it's better than punctures - but now what do I do with them?
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Linton Road anti cycling; pedestrian route signs
The potholes of Barking
The Road to ... somewhere!
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Institute of Advanced Motorists Cycle Helmet Poll
http://www.iam.org.uk/iam_polls/
Poll closes on 17 April. There is a reasonable range of questions, and not too many, and the chance to comment as free text. This is your chance to plug road danger reduction and point out that the benefits of helmets accrue to pedestrians and car occupants just as much as cyclists.
I am definitely against cycle helmet compulsion, and a cycle helmet sceptic in that I haven't been convinced that the benefits / advantages of cycle helmets outweigh the disbenefits / disadvantages, but this does not mean that helmets don't have benefits. If they do have benefits, and if compulsion will help realise them, then why should pedestrians and car occupants not be compelled to wear them too?
Poll closes on 17 April. There is a reasonable range of questions, and not too many, and the chance to comment as free text. This is your chance to plug road danger reduction and point out that the benefits of helmets accrue to pedestrians and car occupants just as much as cyclists.
I am definitely against cycle helmet compulsion, and a cycle helmet sceptic in that I haven't been convinced that the benefits / advantages of cycle helmets outweigh the disbenefits / disadvantages, but this does not mean that helmets don't have benefits. If they do have benefits, and if compulsion will help realise them, then why should pedestrians and car occupants not be compelled to wear them too?
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Fantastic new off road car parking facility
As you can see in this photo, drivers have decided that it is perfectly OK to block the cycle track (signed as a safe route to school) and half the footway in Pickering Road, Barking. There is apparently no enforcement. When and if it starts I suppose there will be loud complaints along the lines of "we parked there before and got away with it. How come you've given us a ticket now?"I cut my cycle campaigning teeth teeth campaigning about this area when I lived there. When the new estate was designed they ignored cycling (surprise!) and it was only campaigning that achieved this ill thought out cycle track. I had to read nonsensical arguments based on incorrect information about the traffic schemes that previously existed. I campaigned for the new flats and houses to have cycle storage, but I see bikes in front gardens chained to the railings, so I take it they haven't, and of course people move in without a thought for where they can park their car, hence this blatant illegal parking.
Monday, 14 February 2011
Be an even more green cyclist
Principled entrepreneur Simon Nash has set up Green Oil to sell plant based lubrication and cleaning products for bikes. They don't use petrochemicals and they don't sell to the automotive industry, though they could make a lot of money from doing so. The factory is in Wales, and the containers are recyclable, or can be refilled with the same product.
Bikewise Havering: volunteers needed
Havering LCC will have a stall at LB Havering’s Bikewise event on 6 March. The stall will be open from 10am - 4pm and volunteers are needed to staff it.
Please email Gerhard@lcc.co.uk, if you can help, saying what times you can do.
Please email Gerhard@lcc.co.uk, if you can help, saying what times you can do.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Gold card discounts now apply to Underground only Oyster PAYG, and Gold Cards go electronic
According to fares supremo Barry Doe (widely respected, but still a secondary source) annual season ticket holders whose ticket is valid for a station n the London and South East network area can have their Gold Card (which is included in the annual's price) coded onto their Oyster card, so avoiding the inconvenience of carrying round a piece of cardboard and remembering to claim the discount for the Gold Card.
Additionally, the discount of 34% is now extended to Underground only Oyster PAYG fares (similar ts and cs doubtlessly apply). The cheapest annual season ticket used to be Ryde St Johns Road to Ryde Esplanade on the Isle of Wight. It is currently £140 pa and might not take that long to pay for itself.
Additionally, the discount of 34% is now extended to Underground only Oyster PAYG fares (similar ts and cs doubtlessly apply). The cheapest annual season ticket used to be Ryde St Johns Road to Ryde Esplanade on the Isle of Wight. It is currently £140 pa and might not take that long to pay for itself.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Cavalier abuse of cycle track
The cycle track in Pickering Road was in general use as a car park today.Image to follow when I work out why the server is rejecting it.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
More Rs
There used to be three - Reduce, re-use, recycle. Then 'repair' was added. Now, according to Rachel Botsman of Collaborative Consumption (author of What's mine is yours) we should add 'redistribute' as redistribution markets such as e-bay and Swap Tree lead us back to collaborative lifestyles.
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