CTC benchmarking case studies

See http://www.ctc.org.uk/Default.aspx?TabID=4501#B&D for a set of short case studies about some things B&D council is doing to promote cycling in the borough.

You can fix it

From CTC's newsletter:

"With the end of summer fast approaching, bike maintenance becomes more of an issue. But If fiddling and fettling with oily parts is not your favourite way of spending the dark evenings, you will be surprised to hear that a new report cites mending a bicycle as one of the main ways of improving mental wellbeing. For more information, see http://www.foresight.gov.uk/OurWork/ActiveProjects/Mental%20Capital/Welcome.asp. We want your best roadside and trailside bike repair tips for an article in the next issue of Cycle. Send your suggestions to technical@ctc.org.uk. Remember: the emphasis is on things that go wrong – and can be fixed – when you’re out riding, not home workshop stuff

Edwina's North London Line confusion

I've just watched "Down the Line" on BBC1. The presenter, Edwina Currie, said the North London Line goes from Richmond to Barking in Docklands. Hmm. 0/10 to the writers and/or editors for those errors. The programme showed Edwina travelling down the line with Richard Pout (though the caption had "Pount") and talking about how the line served LBs Hackney and Newham.

Currently trains can't run through Gospel Oak to/from the line to Barking because of the platform construction at Gospel Oak.

London Connections Maps

Despite what I was told, the little enquiry office by the stairs to platform 1 and 1a at Barking Station does have these - in the middle drawer of the office desk. I have been told there that they haven't go any and to go to Fenchurch Street - yet today they had dozens. It's a 4/08 version, which may not be the latest (the on line version is dated 26 September) but it's better than nothing.

The National Rail website says (http://nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/maps/network_rail_maps.html) "Copies of this map are normally available from staffed National Rail stations in London and the South East." Well not in my experience in the case of Barking.

At Limehouse I was told they had more than they could deal with. Why not send them to Barking if they haven't got any - or even to LUL stations!

If you can get hold of these maps, do, and give them out to fellow travellers, friends and family. Many people don't know about them. Even slightly out-of-date / used versions get snapped up in my experience.

National

Streetcar

It's been pointed out to me that this car micro-hire firm now has cars relatively close to Barking (in south Ilford) and a van in Barking. http://www.streetcar.co.uk/. This might provide a good alternative to car ownership for those who need occasional access to a car/van.

They are also looking for spaces to keep their cars - see http://www.streetcar.co.uk/locationsearch.aspx, so if you have a drive or reserved space, check out the deal.

I thought I'd mentioned streetcar on stibasa before - but I can't find anything

North London Line Services

On its network diagrams London Overground is showing a route between Camden Road and South Hampstead - a diversionary route whilst the Euston - South Hampstead stretch of route is closed Mon - Sat. There's no hint on the map, though, that the route is temporary. The closures (until 15 November) are codified on the diagram, but not the temporary [re]opening.

The link is not shown on the latest edition of the ATOC London Connections Map, and TfL's map of the same name doesn't have any hint of the closures or diversionary route.

Demand Responsive Transport

"One of the latest developments to arise from bus fleet management systems is the ability to provide Demand Responsive Transport (DRT). This complements fixed route buses, with DRT services dynamically adjusting themselves to the needs of the travelling public. No vehicle will run unless someone wishes to travel, and the vehicles will detour as necessary to combine a number of trip requirements onto a single vehicle. These services are managed from a central Travel Dispatch Centre, which takes the bookings and uses a sophisticated computer system to optimise the allocation of people to vehicles. At the moment DRT is not a mainstream application but is begging [sc: beginning] to grow in popularity in rural/semi rural areas, eg Cornwall " [source not noted].

Not a public transport model that's likely to be used in cities, but a useful one nevertheless as it provides some of the flexibility of private motor vehicles and taxis without the cost and other disadvantages of owning one.

Permeability

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeability_(spatial_and_transport_planning)

Loosely speaking, permeability is the idea of keeping our streets and paths open. It is generally discussed in my world with reference to cycling (and walking to some extent) . Even if we do limit the access of motor vehicles with one way streets, block offs and no entries, cycling should not be similarly restricted. It takes much campaigning to get unecessary restrictions on cycling undone, and ion the rare occasions it is done, it's hailed as a "cycle facility". The same thing happens if plans to restrict cycling are corrected before anything is built; I successfully campaigned to stop cycles from being banned from turning left into Crow Lane from Whalebone Lane. Welcome though the exemption was, cycling hasn't gained anything -it's had to figh to keep what it had.

Recycling Guide

BBC Green's site has an attempt at a comprehensive recycling guide for those confused by what can and can't be recycled. I haven't checked it out fully, but the problem I have is what can I recycle, and how do I do it (a) Where I live, and (b) Where I work (and in my workplace itself).

http://www.bbcgreen.com/Home-Garden/Recycling/product-by-product-recycling

Earth cartoon

Google images has some cartoon earth characters that might be useful for environmentl campaigning.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=earth+cartoon&gbv=2

Oyster PAYG on National Rail - map out of date

The first hit on this Google search (for PAYG on NationalRail) http://www.google.co.uk/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=payg+national+rail&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB gives a link to an out of date version of the PAYG on National Rail map (dating back to April 08). I've asked National Rail to put this right.

If you follow the second Google hit, you'll see a linkto the map on the target page. That goes to a September 15 version (the latest published, I assume, at the time of writing).

To put in aother way, use
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/OysterPAYG.pdf

and NOT http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/misc/OysterPAYG.pdf

Oyster PAYG and TfL journey planner

I have suggested to TfL that on their on line journey planner they allow users to separately select National Rail lines on which Oyster PAYG can be used.This will allow travellers using PAYG to have more route options without the cost and inconvenience of National rail fares (or travelcards).

Best rail ticket website

The smart money is on www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com despite its name it covers all National Rail, not just its own bit. A nice interface, good at picking cheap fares and even has a system for letting you know when booking opens. Copes well with railcards and lets you reserve cycle space though I had problems with this when buying a special low price ticket. It automatically reserved me a seat (no problem) but then greyed out the cycle reservation option, which it wouldn't let me take before I'd picked the ticket. I had to phone up the rain company and reserve the space (they did it well without fuss) but NEEC need to fix the bug.

Geographical Underground Map

solo2.abac.com/themole/geo_tubemap.gif

Map showing the London Underground lines in proper proportion, rather than schematically. Unfortunately no National Rail, or DLR or other mapping layers

TfL Technology

www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=10209

Interesting article about how GPS and mobile phone technology is likely be applied to buses (iBus) and could also be to private motor vehicles. Nothing much for cycling, though.

Cyclepods

www.cyclepods.co.uk

These bike racks look pretty good and are space saving, but I'm notsure I'm all that convinced about their user friendliness. The have one at the Castle Green centre (where Jo Richardson School is).

Electric vehicle website

Bikes, cars and vans. www.newride.org.uk

Ride & Stride

Sharing the name with many counties' Churches Preservation Trusts bike rides is this leaflet from Newham Council, subtitled A guide to walking and cycling between London's Olympic and Paralympic venues. Call (020) 8430 3662 to get a copy.

Tidy Tent

www.activegardening.co.uk/tidytent.php

"The Tidy Tent is the ideal storage solution for a variety of different items. It is perfect for storing barbecues, garden furniture, prams, pushchairs, wheelchairs, lawnmowers, scooters, bedding plants, children’s garden toys, tools, logs, bicycles – the list goes on and on!

The TidyTent is manufactured from Nylon Polyester PP – a quality fabric that is tough and durable, hardwearing and easy to clean. Field trials have shown that the material shows no sign of colour degradation when exposed to prolonged bright sunlight. The Nylon Polyester PP fabric combined with the flexible fibre–glass rod chassis, have been specifically chosen to provide a lightweight storage solution.

Designed to be quick and easy to install, the TidyTent has a detachable zipped front panel providing the owner with the choice of having the front open or closed – very useful in the summer months when rainfall is less prevalent and access is required frequently."

Polygiene

Polygeine (www.polygiene.com) is an anti-microbial treatment for fabrics, helping to prevent the spread of bugs and reduce odour.

German rail journey planner

reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en is the German Railway's journey planner, covering European Railways, including British ones. It doesn't cover the Underground (nor other metro systems, presumably) but it's brilliant.

Cyclehoop

"The Cyclehoop is a robust steel ring that clamps on to existing street furniture instantly creating secure bicycle stands". A brilliant idea, so I'll forgive their website's problem with agreement in number in the quote above. www.cyclehoop.com

Permeability overcomes one way streets

Kensington & Chelsea Council has allowed cyclists to travel in either direction down six streets that are one-way for other vehicles. Deputy Leader DanielMoylan said "we are recognising ... that [people who cycle] prefer to take the shortest route through quieter streets." Quite. Other councils, please note.

TfL Cycling website

TfL has re-launched its cycling website www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling. It is intended to be a cycling one-stop shop for everyone from newbies through those who cycle occasionally to regular commuters.

London Connections - London Reconnections

I was sad to read not long ago that the blog londonreconnections.blogspot.com ("Transport projects in London") was no longer to be updated as its author was moving on to other things, but to day I discovered the rather similar londonreconnections.blogspot.com ("transport projects and transport issues in and around London.") Checking in on the former, I find that it has been updated recently and lots of fans are leaving comments saying they're glad it's apparently back.