Monday, 24 June 2013

Cheaper TfL phone number

TfL have added 0343 222 1234 to 0845 222 1234. The former should be cheaper to call. I have added it to my contacts so that I can call it from my mobile easily.

Of course TfL (and its predecessors) was Abbey 1234, which is identical to 222 1234 and which became 7222 1234 in the London renumbering (and change to 020 code) in 1999-2000. Given that about 1/3 of the UK population * could dial this as a local call, I'm not sure what what has been achieved by introducing an 03 number

I do suggest TfL stake their claim for 2222 1234 when it becomes available, and possibly 2221 2345.

* Calls to London from each of the 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959 and 01992 area codes were charged at local rate, as were calls from London to each of those area codes.

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Lost Oyster Cards

If you lose your Oyster card and find yourself buying a new one, do not transfer any products from the old card to the new. Report it as lost/stolen and get a replacement (free), then redeem the new card when the replacement arrives.

As you may gather I have fallen into this trap. I transferred the balance and the auto top up from the lost card to the replacement, and TfL won't send out a replacement for the lost card now.

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Mando Footloose Electric bike

http://electricbikereport.com/mando-footloose/

A very interesting idea. The pedals turn a generator, rather than a chain. This seems to me to open up excellent possibilities with recumbent bikes without the issue of long chain runs. On a recumbent trike you caould pedal at  constant cadence constantly, even while stationary.

However, the fear is that this way of powering a bike may be rather inefficient - plus of course it can only work by electricity, whereas a conventional electric bike can be used like any bike and pedalled home without electricity.

Nevertheless, I like it.

Saturday, 8 June 2013

Local Bike Recycling Project

https://www.facebook.com/RecyclesIlfordCorps

This bike recycling project is based in the Salvation Army's building at 15 Clements Road, Ilford. They had a sale this morning, so I popped along.

They had plenty of bikes there, but the stock on display was heavily dominated by mountain bikes. The price range seemed to be £70-£120 based on my unscientific sample.

The project teaches disadvantaged people to maintain bikes using workshops on Fridays, when they will also accepted donated bikes/parts.