Fellow travellers

http://www.fellowtravellers.co.uk/

"Fellowtravellers' alternative transport system puts control of public transport in the hands of the people who use it – by enabling users to create new bus, minibus and shared-taxi routes which meet real need; and by raising efficiency, economy, and reliability across the board."

"Anyone with a PSV licence, local authority private hire or taxi licence, or section 22 permits and a suitable vehicle can offer a route through Fellowtravellers. To help providers to plan and develop routes, any member of the public can suggest a route they would like to see delivered.To help providers assess potential routes, they can post prospective routes on site and gain valuable customer feedback and expressions of interest before fully committing themselves to delivery.

Providers can post routes which they intend to deliver as regular daily services, or for one day only (perhaps filling the empty leg of an existing booking). The service will be inexpensive because longer contracts and multiple passengers will enable providers to keep costs down; it will be safe because all fellow passengers will be registered Fellowtravellers' users; and it will be reliable because local competition will motivate providers to deliver the best service at the keenest price."

Veloroutes

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=38512

This digital mapping site was tipped in August/September 2009's 'Cycle', CTC's magazine. It's built on the ubiquitous Google maps and looks not unlike bikely, that I think I've mentioned here before. The writer of the letter says it's "American based but covers the UK too". There are too many of these route recording sites, but that doesn't mean this one isn't good.

The specific route I've linked to starts in Creekmouth, Barking, but appears to cross the river there - where there is no means to do so. It then zig zags all over the shop.

Just like the old days

As more enlightened councils are looking for ways to increase cycling permeability in their boroughs, I have once again had to write to ours to ask them not to introduce one-way working in Axe Street, Barking.

Admittedly, they only removed the one way working introduced in the (early) 1970s recently to facilitate building works, but here is an opportunity restore a little bit of Barking's street network to full cycling access. The person to write to to object is Darren Henaghan. Objections have to be in writing. The notice is in thenews (Council Newspaper) p20 of the 17 October edition.

Clearing up messy gardens

B&D council have started a campaign under their "Love Where We Live" initiative to clear up messy front gardens in the borough. If you wish to report one, phone 020 8215 3010. This apples to all front gardens, not just council properties. Those unable to maintain their own front gardens, such as elderly people, may be able to get help. There will also be a tool library giving once only loans of gardening equipment to people who cannot afford their own.

I sourced this information from the council's newspaper, thenews, page 5 of the 17 October edition. I couldn't easily find anything on the council's website.

This made the BBC news on 22 October - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8320093.stm

Teacup service replaces Circle Line

From December, instead of just running round the Circle, Circle Line trains will run from Hammersmith, through Edgware Road, right round the Circle to Edgware Road again to terminate and reverse.

This will enable trains to be near their depot at Hammersmith more frequently to receive routine maintenance and therefore be less likely to be taken out of service with faults.

The concern is what it will say on the front of the train that isn't at best uninformative and at worst confusing to people who might set off to Hammersmith in the wrong direction.

Blakes Corner Abuse

The roadway from Station Pde to Ripple Rd is open again, mainly to let East London Transit (ELT) buses through. Each end of the newly re-opened stretch sports "no motor vehicles" signs with "except buses" qualifications or similar). Sadly, even before ELT starts to run, motorists are ignoring the signs and driving into / through the area.

If this were "cyclists" there would be calls for some cruel and unusual punishment to be inflicted, but motorists - despite their claims that they are put upon - can apparently get away with illegality such as this, even whilst driving past the police station.

Eco man with a van

http://www.ecovanandman.com/

"Eco Van & Man is a London man and van removal company with a difference. Not only do we provide a highly professional, competitively priced moving and storage service throughout London but we are totally committed to caring for the environment.

Our aim is to run our business on a completely sustainable and carbon neutral basis and not only have we invested in the finest electric and LPG vans, recyclable materials and committed people but have undertaken to set up and invest in an Eco charity and our own Eco forest to offset the few carbon generating aspects of our operations."