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Yes, that's a problem - shoddy reporting from the media, and statements from organisations (e.g., police) who should know and communicate better.

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15.5mph (25kph) is the cut-off for the motor, and yes, you need to pedal for the motor to work.

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Trying to work out costs for running my e-bike, for fun. Assuming maths is right: - If charging constant at 164w for stated 3.5hrs for full charge, at 22.12p/kWh = 12.7p - Full assist = 50km/30mi range = 0.26p/km; 0.43p/mile! - Cheaper still at lower assist level. Try getting that from an EV car!

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Yes, I know the e-bike can't do every journey a car does; not the point. It's clear the e-bike choice gives me significant savings for regular local journeys just on mileage alone. And for me, the e-bike choice avoided adding a second car to the household, so savings are far greater still.

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Working out the same for a petrol car. Assume 50mpg or 17.6km/litre, 255.7L covers 4,500km. Current average price for fuel ranges from 159.7p to 194.9p, so my annual commuting mileage would cost in the region of £360 - £500. I haven't even started on VED, MOT, servicing etc. Cars are expensive!

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That means my planned 4,500km per year (assuming I use the same bike for every commute) will cost a massive... £11.70. Glad I decided to get the bike and not a small car for my new commute!

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Yes, I have a suspicion that "change" will simply mean more EV over ICE cars, and not fundamentally rethinking how people get about their local areas - or even further afield with multi-modal public transport (i.e., he needs to stop the ban on all e-bikes on trains before it's started in earnest).

Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050

Change the way we travel? Then mandate that councils MUST rapidly roll-out safe, connected, direct cycle infrastructure everywhere (+fund them). It takes 15-20 mins by e-bike to travel across town, but direct uses a 40mph road with guaranteed close passes and only a narrow footpath for active travel

theguardian.com

Exclusive: PM, who is facing pressure over whether to approve North Sea oil and gasfields, makes strongest comments yet on issue

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Driving that’s too fast, too dangerous and utterly lawless: why do we tolerate this petro-masculinity? | George Monbiot

Completely agree with all of this. On narrow streets during the school run I see ridiculous oversized vehicles blocking everyone's way, drivers bumping kerbs to get through, U-turns over pavements and verges, wrong-way driving to get to a junction, phone use... chaos.

theguardian.com

In towns and in the countryside, I see 4x4s and pick up trucks driven without care or conscience. It’s a Magafication of transport, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Adrian Teal @tealcartoons.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

This is haunting... It's the oldest piece of music for which we have both the words and the notes. A song to the Hurrian goddess Nikkal, it was written on clay tablets around 3500 years ago, and was discovered in the 1950s in the ruins of the ancient city of Ugarit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8tf...

youtube.com

THE OLDEST SONG IN THE WORLD

YouTube video by Peter Pringle

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The data is automatically calculated from OpenStreetMap by analysing the use of 2.2m squares and there may be some inaccuracies - e.g., in this area, cycling space is shared not dedicated; buses use the same roads as drivers - but it's a good approximation.

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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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I dare say the trade off there may well be weight - at apparently 23kg (that I've not verified myself yet), it's going to give my arms a bit of a workout manoeuvring it when folded!

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Battery is all-but flat, giving me about 50km/31mi range on highest assist level. A little short of the advertised 34 miles, but I deliberately added in some hills and am not the lightest cargo! Happy with that! Will easily cover my commuting needs for a couple of days and most longer rides too.

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Ingenious. I think I might just be okay fortunately. Someone on Mastodon said the clips have size adaptors which I didn't realise, so the tubing size isn't an issue. And for the lower hook, it *just* fits but a cable tie could add a bit of security if it's needed.

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Very nice - and you've reminded me I need to get another mirror!

Not light! Apparently about 23kg though I've not checked (I will, but the scales need batteries). Hope I'll be able to haul it on to a train, but if any lifts aren't working then that'll be interesting. Range is supposed to be 34-68 miles - I've just done 10mi full assist; battery lost 1/5 "blips"

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Bother - one slight issue, my pannier bag which I only bought a few weeks ago but is now used and scuffed, does not fit the rack - the tubing is too thick for the clips. Need to rethink that.

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Went out anyway, in what I thought was a gap in the rain - not really. Got wet, but it works and it's fun! Ten miles done and not too tired!

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 08/09/2026

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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Test commute in a fair amount of rain this morning but still enjoyable (especially nipping past the cars). The highlight? Passing a maybe 5 year old riding his bike to school with a grin on his face, shouting "yay!" as he passed - just showing that rain is no impediment to a fun start to the day!

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

media: are these blackshirts fascists. andy burnham: good question. my favourite biscuit with tea is a custard cream although in culcheth we used to call them cuppy-busters.

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A popular tweet of mine from my early days on twitter.

Text which says "Does Sean Connery like herbs?
Yes, but only partially."

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Peter Welsh @peterwelsh68.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Stop the Blokes

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 05/09/2026

They say it's an anti-migrant protest and we're supposed to take it at their word (like I'd trust anything associated with far right extremists and fascists), but it could have been anything. Today's lacklustre response surely risks opening the door to something more sinister than a basic protest.

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 05/09/2026

Police should've swiftly cracked down on this. "Protesters" in black, faces covered, no placards, silent, intimidating, and affecting key national infrastructure - a very different vibe to the climate protests which attracted the heavy hand of the State in response.

theguardian.com

Black-clad protesters in balaclavas block road at port of Dover in Kent

Port authorities say access roads ‘free flowing’ again after large group forces road closures in both directions

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 05/09/2026

How about no? Given the number of people who can't unglue their eyeballs from phone screens, I don't see this ending well. Where are the physical switches and knobs that can be operated without taking eyes off the road? This is dangerous design and it will kill someone - probably not the driver.

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Rosamundi @rosamundi.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

they're not protestors, they're far right thugs.

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Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)

Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Not that many years since a popular position in right-wing British politics was calling for the police to use significant force to remove protesters blocking roads Of course, that was when environmentalists were doing it

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 04/09/2026

Metropolitan Police getting their terminology wrong again, labelling e-motorbikes as "e-bikes" and thus furthering confusion. They're not the only ones to make this error of course, but they absolutely need to get this right. It's errors like this that lead to confusion, hostility, and mistakes.

youtu.be

On shift with the Police Surrons

You’ve seen the edits, now see them in action. We’re joining officers on the ground to show you how the bikes are being used in real operations across London. Targeting phone snatchers, our message…

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 02/09/2026

That's a question for scientists and researchers - from my perspective, it seems to be well used for modern science, but there's also world heritage, education, and inspiration which has a lot of value too.

Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 02/09/2026

Good as long as it happens, but I don't like this "we'll find a way" language. Don't make out it's something difficult to do. The funding cut is a miniscule <£2.8m per year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Andy Burnham says "We'll find a way to save Jodrell Bank"

Burnham said "there is no way that we can see its demise, and it won't happen under my Government".

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 29/08/2026

Make your favourite film sound as boring as possible without giving away the title. Robin Williams finally finishes a long-running board game

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Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 29/08/2026

Make your favourite film sound as boring as possible without giving away the title. Roy Scheider goes fishing.