iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 12/09/2026

The Arrogance of Space - Nuneaton Ring Road (NE) 52.52433787, -1.46402843 Approximate space ratio: - Cars: 46% - Buildings: 39% - Pedestrians: 10% - Public Transport: 4% - Cyclists: 1% Generate your own: cyklokoalicia.sk/arrogance/

A satellite image of the north east of Nuneaton's ring road (Leicester Road gyratory) with a colour-coded overlay filling squares of about 2.2m. Colours represent different uses - e.g., red for cars, light blue for pedestrians - and a calculation has been performed to roughly determine how much space in this area has been given over to various uses. Cars has the biggest allocation with 46%, followed by buildings at 39%. Pedestrians get 10% and cyclists just 1%. The calculation is an estimate based on OpenStreetMap data but does a good job in showing how much space is given over to motorised transport.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10/09/2026

That's just rude - doesn't the weather know it's New Bike Day? I've just finished getting my new e-bike together and now it decides to rain! I did want to test it before tomorrow's commute - not sure using a ride to work is the best time for testing something new.

A new Tern Vektrok P7i Performance folding e-bike standing unused in a living room, ready to ride.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 12/08/2026

Today's partial solar eclipse at Edgbaston cricket - it's gone very dark, a weird gloom and peculiar atmosphere and sound. Glad to witness it (if through a lens) at the stadium. Quite special. #SolarEclipse #Edgbaston #Cricket #Birmingham

Edgbaston cricket stadium during a partial solar eclipse. A Birmingham Phoenix flag flies, the stadium floodlight is illuminated, and a bright partial solar eclipse is distant towards the bottom of the picture.

Partial solar eclipse at its maximum as seen through a phone at Edgbaston cricket ground.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 05/08/2026

Isn't it a damning indictment of scientific illiteracy that a statement was issued to say a relatively tiny object impacting the moon "poses no danger to Earth"? Are there people thinking it's a Space: 1999 situation, or the moon will crack open like in Dr Who? www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Extract from The Guardian article: 'The Nasa spokesperson Jimi Russell said on Tuesday: "The impact poses no danger to Earth and Nasa scientists are planning to collect lunar data from the event and refine techniques for tracking objects in space."'

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 04/08/2026

Took the ring road for the first time since roadworks started a little while back yesterday - works that have caused the (temporary) loss of a shared-use cycle path with no signed diversion. This is a key link between the two sides of town, busy at peak time. @warwickshirecc.bsky.social

Approaching roadworks on Nuneaton's ring road, just passing green traffic lights controlling a pedestrian-only crossing. A sign places on the pedestrian side of a shared-use path to the left announces "Footpath Ahead Closed", another directs pedestrians to the crossing. The cycle side of the shared-use path is clear with no other indication that it's about to disappear and no signed diversion for cycling.

The entire shared-use path to the left of the road (Nuneaton's ring-road, Vicarage Street, A444) comes to an abrupt end. Three traffic cones and a "Footpath Closed" sign initially block the way, followed by two large works information signs announcing the scheme, contractor, and completion date of Winter 2026. Then fencing further blocks the route, beyond which it has been dug up. There is no diversion sign at this point and no easy connection from the shared-use path to the main carriageway, where there is a kerb separating the two.

Moving along the ring-road (Vicarage Street, A444), the Justice Centre looms large on the right. To the left, the shared-use path has been completely removed and a trench dug. This is secured by fencing and cones. A newly installed small traffic island is just ahead creating a pinch point. A solid white line tells road users in this direction that they must not overtake, but no signs are present saying "no overtaking cyclists" or similar.

Continuing along Vicarage Street, the now closed junction with Wheat Street is visible to the right (the opposite side to the main shared-use path which has been removed and is the subject of this post). It is coned off but pedestrian access across the junction has been maintained with temporary tarmac blobs providing a drop-kerb of sorts. The path on the right is also shared-use but there has been no indication of how to join it as a diverted route. The signalled crossing in Image 1 is a pedestrian-only crossing, not for cycling, and could be awkward to use with tight turning angles.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 27/06/2026

Nice walk today with a much more reasonable temperature and a welcome breeze - but as I was in shorts, I'm not quite sure how I managed to get through this bridleway without my legs being stung or scratched to pieces on all the nettles and thorny things!

Overgrown bridleway, the path obscured by all the foliage

Overgrown bridleway, the path partly obscured by foliage and grasses. A metal fence secures a neighbouring field which prevents a small diversion

Overgrown bridleway, the path is visible but partly obscured by foliage

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 24/06/2026

Looks like we have a resident in the garden - I've been watching this Robin for a while, doing its circuit, getting material for its nest, often hopping back to this chair before flying into the hedge. #birds #wildlife #garden

A robin with its beak full of old grass on its way to build its nest. It's standing on the back of an old wooden garden chair. Behind it is green ivy.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 24/06/2026

On days like this, a lack of trees is really evident. I find my self looking at every green verge between pavement and road - "a tree could go there, two trees could go there, another one there, three or four there" It'd make a world of difference (and stop people dumping cars on green spaces).

A comparison of an urban street with no trees, with another that is tightly lined with mature trees. The former shows temperatures ranging from 36 to 50 degrees Celsius; the latter shows 18-26 degrees Celsius.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 15/06/2026

Also, "DRIVER" not "CAR" - will journalists, editors, headline writers, police etc please do your jobs and sort your writing out.

Screenshot of BBC News article thumbnail: "Boy, 2, seriously hurt as car crashes into nursery..."

BBC News article extract: "A car drove through a fence at the Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-School on Vale Road in the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire at just before 09:55 BST, police said."

Manchester Evening News: "Ellesmere Port nursery incident LIVE as boy, 2, seriously hurt after car ploughs into playground."

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10/06/2026

#Warwickshire's abhorrent transphobic #ReformUK administration is coming for books, according to this statement from leader George Finch (also leads Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council) - a statement which is full of contradiction as it attempts to embolden his own nasty political ideology. 😡

ReformUK Warwickshire statement:

"Safeguarding Children and Ensuring the Neutrality of Warwickshire's Libraries

"In the last week, a number of Warwickshire residents have pointed out to me that libraries in our county have been promoting contested gender ideology. I thank the residents who've brought these cases to me and share their concern. As taxpayer-funded institutions, Warwickshire County Council's libraries should be politically neutral, family-friendly, and not seek to embolden political ideologies. These are highly-charged and polarising issues and should not be taught to children as pure fact. These are fundamental principles for the Reform UK administration in Warwickshire.

"To combat this trend, my administration will begin work on a comprehensive policy to strengthen neutrality, increase safeguarding, and provide parents with peace of mind that their children are not being told to believe one set of political ideas over any other. This policy will cover not just o...

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10/06/2026

A snapshot into train ticket price increases since 2004 - I found an old Chelmsford to London Off-Peak Travelcard dated Sat 05 Sep 2004. I looked up the same today using Sat 20 Jun 2026. Then: £12.60 (Inflation adjusted: £23.35) Now: £34.20 (exc. booking fee) Real terms increase: +£10.29 or 46.47%

Scanned copy of a train ticket:

One Day Travelcard, standard class, off-peak. Issued and valid on 05 Sep 2004. Between Chelmsford Essex & London Zones 1-6. Price £12.60.

Screenshot of a train ticket summary at thetrainline.com

Off-Peak Day Travelcard for Sat 20 Jun 2026. Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street plus bus, tube, tram, and DLR around London. Price £34.20 + £1.39 booking fee (£35.59 total)

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 28/05/2026

Enjoyed watching last night's storm at about 3am - maybe the biggest I've seen for about 20yrs; at one point lightning flashes every 1-2s, going on for the best part of 90mins. Feeling the lack of sleep now though, and it's another hot one forecast - but I really should do some work. #UKWeather

Still extracted from a video of an overnight thunderstorm, showing a fork of lighting stretching down from the sky to behind a line of trees. The picture has a blue hue where the lightning lights up the sky. It is shot through a window with visible raindrops.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 26/05/2026

It's just gone 5:50pm. I've been waiting all day for a parcel that's supposedly out for delivery today. What do we reckon the likelihood is now, given this tracking history? Is "DX" even worse than Evri? No time slot given. Just "please be aware that [delivery] is likely to be attempted today."

Tracking History (all Tuesday 26 May 2026):

10:50 Scanned into storage in our Nuneaton Service Centre

05:58 Outfor delivery today

16:50 Item received by DX and awaiting route scan (Due for delivery by Tuesday 26 May 2026)

DX delivery status screen:

Out for delivery today.

Expected Date: Today (Tuesday 26 May 2026)
Time Window: Standard All Day
Tracking Number: Blanked out
To Postcode: Blanked out

Not going to be in? You may like to choose another day or tell us where to leave your item.

As the item is already with the courier, please be aware that it is likely to be attempted today.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 26/05/2026

Did they "crash" or did they land? Headline and video page sounds dramatic, but the proper article quotes a spokesperson as saying they "enacted failsafe landing procedures" and "89 drones [landed] in the water", which paints a somewhat different story. Rather sensationalist clickbait from #BBCNews?

BBC News homepage thumbnail: "Watch: Dozens of light drones crash into harbour in Sydney"

BBC News headline: "Dozens of drones crash into Sydney harbour after light show glitch"

Extract of BBC News report on the light-drone incident:

'A Skymagic spokesperson said: "During the performance on the evening of 25
May, Skymagic experienced a technical issue that resulted in 89 drones landing in the water around Cockle Bay," referring to the wharf area in Darling Harbour.
'The main cause was "an unforeseen change in the radio frequency environment occurring after take-off," Skymagic said, triggering some drones
"to enact failsafe landing procedures in response to compromised positional accuracy".
'A Vivid Sydney spokesperson apologised for the "disappointment and inconvenience caused to attendees" and said the drone operators cancelled the show "in line with standard safety protocols".'

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 20/05/2026

This is *utter stupidity*. Prices are rising due to supply concerns. You don't mitigate it by playing with price; that can make it worse. Instead you must reduce demand. Provide alternative transport choices that allow saving money by lowering mileage. Also "road tax" doesn't exist. @JodieGoslingMP

Extract from The Guardian Live Blog:

"Starmer says planned fuel duty rise for September to be scrapped, and hauliers to get 12-month road tax holiday.

"Kirsteen Sullivan (Lab) asks about the cost of living. Starmer says he can today announce a 12-month holiday for hauliers on road tax. And he says the government will not go ahead with the planned increase in fuel duty."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/20/keir-starmer-wes-streeting-labour-leadership-kemi-badenoch-pmqs-conservatives-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6a0d949e8f085b51400a567a#block-6a0d949e8f085b51400a567a

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 15/05/2026

Man "run over by a van"; "the van failed to stop" - it's not just the journalists at fault for this human-removing language; the police do it too. That van did not do this attack by itself. Also, don't ever tell me the flag-flying was not a fascist act of hate and division.

Extract from The Guardian article:

Police are investigating an incident where a man was run over by a van after a group of people were taking down union flags put up by Raise the Colours campaigners in Birmingham.

A man, in his 30s, suffered a broken leg that required surgery. He remains in hospital after the incident on Thursday evening in the Birmingham suburb of Stirchley, police said.

"The van failed to stop at the scene but was recovered on nearby Prince Road and is now being examined," a statement from West Midlands police said.

"We are viewing CCTV and social media footage as we work to identify the full circumstances of what happened."
The Guardian has spoken to three witnesses and residents in Birmingham who said they were at the incident on Thursday evening - two of whom have given statements to the police.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 11/05/2026

Just written to my MP on the extremely urgent subject of electoral reform. The two-party system is dead and FPTP is not fit for purpose. If Labour doesn't bring in PR now, it is putting the country at genuine risk in the next election. fiets.uk/2026-05-11/l... @jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social #UKLabour

Letter to Jodie Gosling. Full text available here: https://fiets.uk/2026-05-11/letter-to-mp-the-uks-electoral-system/

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10/05/2026

I'd strongly suggest reading articles before commenting (the link was included only a minute after the OP). For the avoidance of doubt, that link again is here, and this screenshot is particularly relevant. It very much connects the argument to an intentional incident. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Det Ch Insp Ruby Burrow said there was no indication at this stage of any ongoing threat to the wider public and asked for witnesses to come forward.

"This was a serious incident which will have caused concern in the community," she said.

"We believe an argument has taken place in Arnold town centre and this has resulted in a car being driven at a group of people.
"We know five people were injured but we'd still like to hear from anyone else involved.

"Any witnesses who were in Arnold Market Place, or the wider town centre area around this time, should also get in touch."'

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10/05/2026

This is assault at best, if not attempted murder, using the car as a weapon. Yet the driver is not mentioned until the third paragraph. Nobody would frame an incident as "a knife stabbed people", so why remove the offender in motor violence? This type of incident is also getting far too common.

Screenshot of a BBC News article:

Man critically injured after car hits pedestrians

One person has suffered life-threatening injuries after a car crashed into five pedestrians in a town centre in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire Police said an "argument" was believed to have taken place before a red Vauxhall Astra struck a group in Market Place, Arnold, at about 01:10 BST on Saturday.

The driver, believed to be a white man, abandoned the car and left the scene. Police added counter terrorism officers were not involved in its investigations and there was "no indication" of "any ongoing threat to the wider public".

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 08/05/2026

Seats won vs popular vote paints a different picture in Nuneaton and Bedworth. While Reform won 78.9% of 19 seats, its vote share was "only" 43.3%. On this metric, Conservatives take 2nd place. Green and Labour are almost tied for 3rd, with Lab just edging ahead by about 0.73%. #LocalElections2026

Pie chart showing the share of the 19 seats up for grabs in the local election for Nuneaton and Bedworth:

Reform: 78.9% (15)
Green: 10.5% (2)
Labour: 10.5% (2)
Conservative: 0%
Lib Dem: 0%

Pie chart showing the vote share in the local election for Nuneaton and Bedworth:

Reform: 43.29%
Conservative: 20.62%
Labour: 17.76%
Green: 17.03%
Lib Dem: 0.86%
TUSC: 0.44%

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 08/05/2026

Expected but disappointing. My area's results are a complete wipeout for Conservatives, Lib Dem; Labour severely diminished; a small Green gain (but not for me - boo). Otherwise, Reform dominate. Low turnout; only one ward hit 50%, two were close, under 38% average. #LocalElections2026 #UKPolitics

Column chart for Nuneaton and Bedworth local election results comparing parties before and after the poll:

Conservative: 0 (-7)
Green: 2 (+1)
Labour: 2 (-8)
Lib Dem: 0 (-1)
Reform: 15 (+15)

Line chart showing turnout for each of the 19 wards, with an average line at 37.9%. St Nicolas just exceeded 50%, with Milby and Whitestone the only other two to exceed 48%. The lowest turnout was in Camp Hill with 28.79%.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 08/05/2026

Starmer says Labour won a "landslide" in the '24 General Election. That's extremely simplistic, looking at seats in isolation. While they did win a big majority, it was *only* on 33% of the vote - a third of those who turned out - despite the exhaustion after 14 years of chaotic Tory governments.

Extract from The Guardian live blog, headlined "Starmer says he intends to lead Labour into the next election".

A line in a quote from Keir Starmer is highlighted, "...we won a landslide victory in July 2024. I led our party to that victory. That is a five year mandate to change the country."

He continues: "Yes, there are difficult conditions. The inheritance was terrible. The international context is very, very difficult. But we need to inject that hope and convince people that things can and will get better. And that's why in coming days, I'll set out the further steps that we will take."

Asked if he would stand as PM at the next election, Starmer replied: "Yes. There's a five-year term I was elected to do. I intend to see that through."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/07/elections-2026-local-scotland-wales-reform-green-labour-conservatives-live-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-69fd9b5a8f08beea73b772be#block-69fd9b5a8f08beea73b772be

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 26/04/2026

Just occasionally, FB comments show the best of people. A complainer makes a veiled issue about a group of kids+cycles in the town centre; a load of commenters come to the defence of the teenagers who are just harmlessly hanging out with friends. Young people are too often demonised, so good to see.

Facebook post with the author's name, source group, and timestamp redacted. Post reads (sic) "Has the town centre officially been transformed into a play ground at the he weekend?" Accompanying is a photo of the road by Nuneaton town hall, a quiet street open to cycles and other traffic. It's a nice day and about 10 teenagers are there with their bicycles, hanging out and causing no problems.

A handful of Facebook comments defending the young people hanging out in town. All posts have their authors redacted. These are not the only posts in support of the teenagers, but are representative of the consensus response.

"personally love to see groups of lads or girls out riding bikes physically being with their friends and out meeting others than through headsets or phones
Leave them be for god sake moaning for the sake of moaning If I could wheelie a bike as good as some of them can I would still be doing it at 44 pmsl"

"I'd rather cyclists be there than the ranting racists pretending they're out to to protect all women"

"Give them a break can't do wrong from right these days"

"One of these lads is mine and hes been out with his mates since 12 oclock. They were out all day yesterday until the sun went down and they will do exactly the same everytime the weather allows. They aren't causing mischief, they don't ride around with balaclavas on or out nicking peds so l also am failing to see what the problem is. I'd rather him be out making memories with the lads than sat on his xbox all weekend. The pigeon you managed to capture is probably causing more trouble shitting on people"

"This is great to see. People out enjoying the great weather and socialising."

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 20/04/2026

How many crashes will it take before #NationalHighways finally get this junction reworked? They've said they'll look at it, but nothing has happened yet. 40 incidents have occurred between 2015-2024, and more since that are not yet shown on CrashMap. www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-n...

Screenshot from CrashMap focused on the A5 with the Drayton Lane junction to the north west, and Woodford Lane junction centred. The latter shows 40 orange and red markers indicating that number of slight and serious collisions at the junction (no fatalities in this period fortunately). The Drayton Lane junction shows four slight and severe incidents. There are two further slight collisions on the A5 east of the Woodford Lane junction. All incidents involve motor traffic; no cyclists or pedestrians.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 19/04/2026

Take a look at @gailmyerscough.co.uk's shop - I got given one of her prints for my birthday this year and it looks great, sitting with my record player.

One of Gail's prints in an A4 frame standing on a window sill behind a record player, with vases of tulips either side.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 18/04/2026

Labour Party leaflet through my door this morning - is it a game of "fill in the blank" for who they're supposedly working for? A simple oversight like that doesn't inspire confidence.

A local Labour Party door leaflet focusing on the bottom panel which reads "LABOUR: WORKING HARD FOR" - the sentence is not completed.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 15/04/2026

Such considerate drivers(!) A private access road this may be, but it doesn't mean you can just dump your cars on the pavement, blocking a pedestrian route.

A white Toyota parked entirely on a footpath, with the offside two wheels on the edge of a playing field. The road is marked with double yellow lines and traffic can be seen queuing on that road.

A black Ford parked entirely on a footpath, with the nearside two wheels on the edge of a field. The road is marked with double yellow lines.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 15/04/2026

A rare exception to my self-imposed ban on clicking Daily Mail links. "Yes" is now at 71%.

Screenshot of a poll on the Daily Mail website.

"Should Britain rejoin the European Union?"

"Yes - better for the economy": 71% (11188 votes)
"No - stick with Brexit": 21% (3340 votes)
"Closer ties, not full membership ": 6% (959 votes)
"Not now": 2% (236 votes)

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 08/04/2026

Didn't realise that these photos from the outside of the Orion are actually taken using a GoPro of all things - Not a new one though; a GoPro Hero4. I wonder why they choose such an old model? Modified and certified for space resilience would be a complete guess. #Artemis #Space

Photograph of the Orion spacecraft as it begins to move behind the moon relative to Earth. The moon is illuminated to the right side of the image and just above the lunar limb is the crescent of a setting Earth. This photograph is taken using a GoPro Hero4 camera fitted to the spacecraft's Solar Array Wing (SAW). The Orion is prominent to the left of the frame. Image from NASA (images.nasa.gov).

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 06/04/2026

Just wow. Imagine being one of the four astronauts right now, completely isolated from Earth - and then imagine how it must've felt being a command module pilot in the Apollo era, left alone and cut-off even from your colleagues on the lunar surface, and so far from home #NASA #Artemis #Space #Moon

The Orion spacecraft "Integrity" moving behind the moon, itself shaded in darkness except for gentle illumination to the right. The crescent Earth is a tiny object to the immediate right of the moon, about to be obscured as the spacecraft continues its flyby. Image is a screenshot from NASA TV on YouTube

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 06/04/2026

Watching/listening to NASA TV during the flyby, and also browsing the #NASA image gallery - there are loads of stunning images, but I do wish they had the ability to sort by date taken. It's all a bit jumbled with (for example) pre-launch pictures mixed in with space-based photos. #Artemis #Space

Screenshot of NASA's image gallery at images.nasa.gov, filtered by "Orion" and showing only images (i.e., no videos). There are pre-launch pictures mixed in with photos taken from inside Integrity (the Orion spacecraft) while in space.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 05/04/2026

That tiny crescent of a sphere hanging in the darkness of space - the only known home for life. 8.3bn people, trillions of other species, everyone + everything that is/has ever lived, that's home for us all. We are neighbours on a unique speck of cosmic dust. It's time we acted like it. #Artemis

View from the Orion spacecraft's Solar Array Wing (SAW) showing the spacecraft with numerous engines on the left side of the image, with an opposite SAW extending out. To the lower right of the image is the Earth, showing as a small crescent in the blackness of space. Image is a screenshot from NASA TV on YouTube, showing a mission elapsed time of 3 days, 14 hours, 52 minutes.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 04/04/2026

This was a scan of a film shot from a bog-standard pocket camera from the cheaper end of the Argos Catalogue (this one) which I enjoyed using but it wasn't exactly outstanding. I didn't go digital properly until 2005. A phone camera nowadays blows this thing (and my first digital camera) away!

Extract from the Argos Catalogue Spring/Summer 1995 showing a Praktica AG-800D 35mm compact camera. Described as including 3-way electronic flash, red-eye reduction, auto fill in/off, flash ready LED, auto focus, DX coding, date back facility allows date to be printed on photographs, motorised advance and rewind, includes case and lanyard. £36.99

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 04/04/2026

Camera technology has come on a tad since I was there 24 years back! Great view!

View from Berkeley Road, Boars Hill near Oxford in 2002 on a compact film camera. The city is barely legible in the distance as we overlook rolling fields and trees on a nice day.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 02/04/2026

That last one is not the worst in this set of roadworks though. Here we have a near totally blocked pavement, no alternative bypass, no "footpath closed" sign, and no temporary crossing to use the opposite side.

Roadworks approaching a junction. Motorists are provided with a "Single file traffic sign" and traffic light control. In the distance, red plastic railings are crossing the pavement and left side of the carriageway. There is no bypass for pedestrians

A close-up of the roadworks confirming there is no pathway accessible for pedestrians except for squeezing past on the left side in very limited space behind- certainly not accessible.

A close-up of the limited space which pedestrians might squeeze through. Not a chance for wheelchair users and a trip risk for visually impaired people

A measurement of the gap available showing an approximate (and maybe slightly generous) 44cm

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 02/04/2026

What's the general consensus on this temporary lighting placement? Interfering with tactile paving and leaving limited space to pass behind seems problematic, no? If these weren't all-in-one units, placement could surely be a bit more considered.

A metal cart with a pole to the right forming temporary pedestrian crossing control equipment. The cart is placed on tactile paving and there is a degree of restricted space behind.

Digital estimated measurement behind the equipment cart to the grass verge, crossing tactile paving. The measurement is approximately 72cm.

Photo of a metal cart with a pole forming temporary pedestrian crossing control equipment on the opposite side of the carriageway. This cart is placed on tactile paving while this time there is good space behind.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 01/04/2026

Thank goodness for that. Always find a launch exciting but also very nerve-wracking when crewed. #Artemis.

Artemis II liftoff - screenshot from NASA TV (YouTube)

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 01/04/2026

It makes no sense to avoid telling people to reduce their fuel usage now. Not only would it help safeguard against potential ongoing volatility where the earlier action could lessen short term impact, it should be standard messaging in light of the climate emergency anyway.

Extract from The Guardian live blog at 10:34am today:

Starmer declines invitation to tell drivers to use less petrol

Q: [From Sky News’ Lucy McDaird] Do you think people should change their behaviour now, in terms of using petrol?

Starmer says the government is monitoring the situation carefully. He says the best thing that could happen for petrol prices would be de-escalation in the Gulf.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 28/03/2026

Saw this on Reddit: The US puts most of Europe and the UK under a Level 2 travel warning, "Exercise increased caution". Amusing coming from there. The US doesn't rate itself of course, so what should we give it? Level 3, "Reconsider travel," or Level 3/4, "Contains areas with higher security risk"?

Screenshot of the Travel Advisories Map from the US Department of State, zoomed slightly by me to increase clarity on Europe and Africa. Countries are shaded according to the advice level, from Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions" (blue) to Level 4, "Do not travel" (red). Much of central Europe is shaded yellow for Level 2; Eastern Europe is mostly shaded blue (Level 1), along with a few countries bordering the south of Russia (Georgia (level 1/2), Kazakstan, Mongolia). Canada and Australia are also blue, Level 1. The US of course doesn't rate itself, so it's unshaded and left white.

Screenshot sourced directly from: https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 27/03/2026

Perhaps the Exec. Director's comments and your cover photo should have some basis in reality, @warwickshirecc.bsky.social? The Council has failed to deliver promised, funded active travel schemes that would ENABLE people to choose active travel; the substandard routes we do have are inaccessible.

Header of the Warwickshire County Council press release as shown in my news reader. The title is "Roll and stroll challenge encourages residents to walk, wheel and cycle this May", published at www.warwickshire.gov.uk on Friday 27 March 2026 at 08:30. The cover image has the title "ROLL & STROLL" at the top on a gradient-coloured background moving from red (left) to green (right), and featuring drawn characters walking, cycling, and travelling by wheelchair. A cut-out to the illustration contains a photograph of an older male wearing a white helmet, riding a recumbent tricycle with a visibility flag to the rear right, and a stowed walking stick to the rear left.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 23/03/2026

First walk to the park since my knee injury and 90 mins on feet working on The Boy's bike seems to have been a bit much; lots of dull aching now. Must remember not to force recovery but it's getting better. Nice to be off crutches. I like my new, shiny blue stick which takes the edge off if needed.

Foldable metalic blue walking stick held on the left side, looking down at my feet which are in slippers, walking on a laminate wood floor. The right foot is ahead of the left, roughly in line with the foot of the stick.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 23/03/2026

I *really* don't like fitting/servicing v-brakes - stupid fiddly things: adjust cable, twiddle lever adjustment, tighten this spring screw, loosen that one, re-align pads, rinse and repeat until somehow everything finally works with good lever travel and no rubbing. An hour and a half that took me.

Child's 24-inch "Wild Bike" (red) on a servicing stand, focusing on the front fork where a v-brake can be seen. A very grubby, oily hand is at the front of the image.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 21/03/2026

Just one tiny mention of cycling in @warwickshirecc.bsky.social's new Draft Plan. One that implies urban infrastructure isn't a priority, maybe offers worse cost-benefit ratio, and where high-quality infra can be wriggled out of. The definition then of a token gesture with no intent behind it.

The only mention of cycling infrastructure in Warwickshire County Council's Draft Council Plan: "Improve rural connectivity between our towns and villages with appropriate cycling infrastructure, that in is in keeping with the exsisting natural environment."

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 19/03/2026

First of all, no. I got rid of my #Echo devices after getting fed up with them plus privacy concerns. Second of all, £19.99/month? You're having a laugh! That's a double no. Third, this is just creepy. That's a triple no! #Alexa #Amazon www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Clip from the Guardian article: "'We’ve eliminated the need for that Alexa-speak, such as "turn on bedroom lamp two", you can just speak naturally. Alexa+ knows you, your home, your family. And is available anywhere, any time, as life does not happen in a chat box.'" - Daniel Rausch, Amazon Head of Alexa and Echo

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 16/03/2026

Forgot how hard work these things are! Severely sprained/twisted my bad knee yesterday to the point I couldn't walk on it (improving today, now taking maybe half-weight allowing me to hirple about with one crutch). Lucky I could borrow these else moving about the house would've been interesting.

Looking down on a crutch to the left side of my body.

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