http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/details.asp?id=39
Energy saving light bulbs with fixed dimming levels achieved by turning a standard light switch on and off in a particular way ("switch dimmable") have been around for some time, and there are some available here, but this is the first place I've seen ones compatible with a normal dimmer switch.
The Good Energy (on line) shop is worth a look around though at the moment quite a bit of it is "coming soon".
Friday, 11 April 2008
Doctor Bike
I wrote this text in an e-mail having been asked about the need for professional mechanics to be "Doctor Bike".
The vast majority of bikes that come to Dr Bike in my experience need really basic things done like tyres pumped up, brakes adjusted, gears adjusted, chains lubricated and (on kids' bikes) saddles raised. These are pretty straightforward jobs which many volunteers can tackle or help with, given enough tools, pumps, lubricant, etc. Ideally the bike's owner or parent thereof pays attention to this and learns how to tackle it independently. Sadly, many are just taking advantage of the free service and not taking the opportunity to learn.
Whilst the vast majority of bikes need these basics, there are relatively few that need ONLY these basics, and this is where there skilled / professional mechanics come in. What I think works well is "nurse bike" working the queue dealing with basic problem as above and referring people to the mechanic only for skilled / more complex jobs. Sort of triage.
Unfortunately there will probably be a fair amount of bikes that are beyond fixing (at least by Dr Bike). I've seen ones with major components missing - brakes typically. I don't know if these people are expecting free spare parts or a miracle, but either are a tall order. The poor quality of some machines as new and the lack of proper bike shops means the condition of some bikes is lamentable / worrying. Or major jobs that the mechanics can't fix for lack of spares are a key issue and the mechanics will need to know what to to to reach a successful outcome. Referring people to their local bike shop when there isn't one is no good - but it is a risk with people from outside the area. Again back up from local groups may help with this.
Another fairly common fault is knackered tyres. Replacing tyres is not that difficult once you've got a replacement, but with the lack of bike shops, actually getting replacements can be tricky, unless you really know what you're doing, which many don't. Wilkinsons (for eample) sells bike tyres, but I really doubt anyone who works there will know how to match the required size. Even bike shop websites can be misleading / confusing about tyre sizes.
If an event organiser is going to pay for mechanics to be Dr Bike, it will be a good plan to try to get volunteers together to work with them and do simpler stuff. Some triaging may involve turning people away with information/advice if it is clear that the mechanics won't be able to help.
The volunteers will have varying levels of skill / confidence and there are a few people in local LCC branches that are skilled mechnics - some pro some perhaps best described as pro-am.
--
Volunteering at a Dr Bike can help in three main ways - first, dealing with the basic jobs as described above and freeing up the mechanics to do the more complex things. Second, learning from the mechanics so that you will be able to tackle incresingly more skilled bike fixing jobs. Third, helping to get bikes back on the road.
The vast majority of bikes that come to Dr Bike in my experience need really basic things done like tyres pumped up, brakes adjusted, gears adjusted, chains lubricated and (on kids' bikes) saddles raised. These are pretty straightforward jobs which many volunteers can tackle or help with, given enough tools, pumps, lubricant, etc. Ideally the bike's owner or parent thereof pays attention to this and learns how to tackle it independently. Sadly, many are just taking advantage of the free service and not taking the opportunity to learn.
Whilst the vast majority of bikes need these basics, there are relatively few that need ONLY these basics, and this is where there skilled / professional mechanics come in. What I think works well is "nurse bike" working the queue dealing with basic problem as above and referring people to the mechanic only for skilled / more complex jobs. Sort of triage.
Unfortunately there will probably be a fair amount of bikes that are beyond fixing (at least by Dr Bike). I've seen ones with major components missing - brakes typically. I don't know if these people are expecting free spare parts or a miracle, but either are a tall order. The poor quality of some machines as new and the lack of proper bike shops means the condition of some bikes is lamentable / worrying. Or major jobs that the mechanics can't fix for lack of spares are a key issue and the mechanics will need to know what to to to reach a successful outcome. Referring people to their local bike shop when there isn't one is no good - but it is a risk with people from outside the area. Again back up from local groups may help with this.
Another fairly common fault is knackered tyres. Replacing tyres is not that difficult once you've got a replacement, but with the lack of bike shops, actually getting replacements can be tricky, unless you really know what you're doing, which many don't. Wilkinsons (for eample) sells bike tyres, but I really doubt anyone who works there will know how to match the required size. Even bike shop websites can be misleading / confusing about tyre sizes.
If an event organiser is going to pay for mechanics to be Dr Bike, it will be a good plan to try to get volunteers together to work with them and do simpler stuff. Some triaging may involve turning people away with information/advice if it is clear that the mechanics won't be able to help.
The volunteers will have varying levels of skill / confidence and there are a few people in local LCC branches that are skilled mechnics - some pro some perhaps best described as pro-am.
--
Volunteering at a Dr Bike can help in three main ways - first, dealing with the basic jobs as described above and freeing up the mechanics to do the more complex things. Second, learning from the mechanics so that you will be able to tackle incresingly more skilled bike fixing jobs. Third, helping to get bikes back on the road.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Cycle campaigning tour of Barking
I spent most of today cycling round Barking with B&D council cycling officer Nick Davies. Nick cycles himself; this is a real breakthrough in several ways, most importantly because he understands first hand what things need to be done to improve access for cycling.
I showed him around a large selection of the small scale improvements that have been on my list for years in many cases. The tour would have been impractical by any other transport mode. I didn't have to explain to Nick what the problems were as he not only saw them with his own eyes - crucially seeing as someone who cycles but is also an engineer, envisaging how to solve or alleviate the problems.
Not only did I not have to explain what the problems are, but I didn't have to explain why they ought to be put right because Nick understands how a pro-cycling policy has to be expressed as physical works on the ground.
Nick says many of the problems could be put right for relatively small amounts of £, so he intends making a start. This should help raise the conspicuity of cycle facilities in the borough (and therefore the profile of cycling) whilst at the same time actually improving conditions for cyclists - something which larger scale works don't always unequivocally achieve.
E-mail fan as I am, it would take tons of e-mailing, even with photos, to do the same job as we did in a few hours of cycling. And the weather was perfect.
I showed him around a large selection of the small scale improvements that have been on my list for years in many cases. The tour would have been impractical by any other transport mode. I didn't have to explain to Nick what the problems were as he not only saw them with his own eyes - crucially seeing as someone who cycles but is also an engineer, envisaging how to solve or alleviate the problems.
Not only did I not have to explain what the problems are, but I didn't have to explain why they ought to be put right because Nick understands how a pro-cycling policy has to be expressed as physical works on the ground.
Nick says many of the problems could be put right for relatively small amounts of £, so he intends making a start. This should help raise the conspicuity of cycle facilities in the borough (and therefore the profile of cycling) whilst at the same time actually improving conditions for cyclists - something which larger scale works don't always unequivocally achieve.
E-mail fan as I am, it would take tons of e-mailing, even with photos, to do the same job as we did in a few hours of cycling. And the weather was perfect.
Annoying block off in riverside path
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dock+road+barking&sll=51.536279,0.081478&sspn=0.358771,0.928345&ie=UTF8&ll=51.532001,0.076046&spn=0.011213,0.029011&z=15&iwloc=addr
Locals know the path from the southern end of Abbey Road along the Roding to the A13 and then alongside the A13 to Gascoigne Road. Some while back it was formalised with a proper surface and smart parapet and fence. I came down if from the Gascoigne Road end today, only to find a fence (not a temporary type) across the path at "The Waterfront" development of flats at the end of Abbey Road (in fact in Dock Road not shown on the map).
There are steps down to Abbey Road on the western side of the fence, and the path continues on the western side with steps up and down that surely can't be disability discrimination act compliant. I climbed through the fence and continued round to the barrage (which can be crossed from that side, though there is construction site fencing still on the West Bank side).
I don't know what this is all about. Temporary restrictions owing to construction are to be expected, but why build a permanent fence across a brand new riverside path - and not bother to warn people that there's no access to Abbey Road from Gascoigne Rd using the path?
Locals know the path from the southern end of Abbey Road along the Roding to the A13 and then alongside the A13 to Gascoigne Road. Some while back it was formalised with a proper surface and smart parapet and fence. I came down if from the Gascoigne Road end today, only to find a fence (not a temporary type) across the path at "The Waterfront" development of flats at the end of Abbey Road (in fact in Dock Road not shown on the map).
There are steps down to Abbey Road on the western side of the fence, and the path continues on the western side with steps up and down that surely can't be disability discrimination act compliant. I climbed through the fence and continued round to the barrage (which can be crossed from that side, though there is construction site fencing still on the West Bank side).
I don't know what this is all about. Temporary restrictions owing to construction are to be expected, but why build a permanent fence across a brand new riverside path - and not bother to warn people that there's no access to Abbey Road from Gascoigne Rd using the path?
Jenkins Lane link road under completion at last?
Google maps http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Highbridge+Rd,+Barking,+Greater+London,+United+Kingdom&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=10.820902,29.707031&ie=UTF8&cd=5&geocode=0,51.533854,0.072853&ll=51.531547,0.075316&spn=0.011213,0.029011&z=15
shows the as far as I know unnamed road alongside the A406 from (more or less) Highbridge Road nearly to Jenkins Lane. The road has been built for some time, complete with zebra crossings, bus stop bays and (notoriously) "no entry except buses" signs towards the southern end. I have mentioned this particular solecism several times but to no avail as yet.
Anyway the road stopped at the borough boundary with Newham and for some years there has been a tantalising gap of a few yards between the end of the new road and Jenkins Lane, but when I was there today there was a mechanical digger on site and although I haven't confirmed this it must be the start of works to complete this road and make a link from Barking Town Quay to Jenkins Lane and the Showcase Cinema complex. As to the "no entry except buses", far be it from me to suggest civil disobedience by people cycling.
shows the as far as I know unnamed road alongside the A406 from (more or less) Highbridge Road nearly to Jenkins Lane. The road has been built for some time, complete with zebra crossings, bus stop bays and (notoriously) "no entry except buses" signs towards the southern end. I have mentioned this particular solecism several times but to no avail as yet.
Anyway the road stopped at the borough boundary with Newham and for some years there has been a tantalising gap of a few yards between the end of the new road and Jenkins Lane, but when I was there today there was a mechanical digger on site and although I haven't confirmed this it must be the start of works to complete this road and make a link from Barking Town Quay to Jenkins Lane and the Showcase Cinema complex. As to the "no entry except buses", far be it from me to suggest civil disobedience by people cycling.
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs
You can reduce the amount of ‘unaddressed mail’ you receive by registering your address with
the Royal Mail’s Door to Door opt-out service, but this service will not stop mail addressed to ‘the occupier’.
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400126&mediaId=500081
To register write to:
optout@royalmail.com -or-
Freepost RRBT-2BXB-TTTS
Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX
combine this of course with the Mail, telephone and fax preference services:
http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/
http://www.fpsonline.org.uk/
And see also http://www.mydm.co.uk/ (Direct Marketing Association)
the Royal Mail’s Door to Door opt-out service, but this service will not stop mail addressed to ‘the occupier’.
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400126&mediaId=500081
To register write to:
optout@royalmail.com -or-
Freepost RRBT-2BXB-TTTS
Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX
combine this of course with the Mail, telephone and fax preference services:
http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/
http://www.fpsonline.org.uk/
And see also http://www.mydm.co.uk/ (Direct Marketing Association)
Saturday, 23 February 2008
B&D Cycle Training
The benchmarking day was a good opportunity to hear about what Cycle Training manager Craig Elliott is doing. A true partnership worker, Craig has made strides in involving the police in cycle training. The police receive the the special police-specific cycle training, but they also receive standard adult cycle training and train as trainers of others. They have to engage with the community anyway (quite rightly) and this means they go into schools, but what better thing to do whilst they're there than train kids to ride bikes properly? It "ticks all the boxes" as Craig likes to put it. And it saves £.
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