The Big 'Let's sell our cars and take buses/ebikes instead' thread (warning: probably very dull)

Stevo_666

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

rick_chasey

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

Stevo_666

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

I think you must be some sort of strike magnet. Trains running as normal round this way.

rick_chasey

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

I think you must be some sort of strike magnet. Trains running as normal round this way.

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/service-updates?uq=638266591314860000#INCD87AA7D8CF76430C94EFFA9538AE9E28

Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.
Saturday 5 August - A limited service will run with services starting later and finishing earlier than normal. Some stations will have NO service for the whole day, including Brighton.
Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.

For more details please see our Industrial Action web page.

An amended timetable with fewer services will run. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It’s likely you will need to queue and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time for your journey.

We will not operate the usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. To help customers we have added extra stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon, and as such these trains will be operating as Southern services. Gatwick Express tickets are valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/industrial-action

King’s Cross and Cambridge

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton and Cambridge.

(AKA the slow train. 40 minutes slower than the fast train)

Stevo_666

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

I think you must be some sort of strike magnet. Trains running as normal round this way.

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/service-updates?uq=638266591314860000#INCD87AA7D8CF76430C94EFFA9538AE9E28

Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.
Saturday 5 August - A limited service will run with services starting later and finishing earlier than normal. Some stations will have NO service for the whole day, including Brighton.
Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.

This is what South Eastern has to say:
"The ASLEF union has an overtime ban from 31 July to 5 August, and from 7 to 12 August. We expect to run our full service during this time."

Really effective strikes, comrades

rjsterry

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

I think you must be some sort of strike magnet. Trains running as normal round this way.

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/service-updates?uq=638266591314860000#INCD87AA7D8CF76430C94EFFA9538AE9E28

Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.
Saturday 5 August - A limited service will run with services starting later and finishing earlier than normal. Some stations will have NO service for the whole day, including Brighton.
Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.

This is what South Eastern has to say:
"The ASLEF union has an overtime ban from 31 July to 5 August, and from 7 to 12 August. We expect to run our full service during this time."

Really effective strikes, comrades

Southern are getting round the problem by just removing half the services from the timetable. If it doesn't exist it can't be cancelled or late. Great fun.

Stevo_666

rjsterry said:

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

I'll stick this in here, don't know if any other train operators do something similar but it's pretty good https://tfw.signalbox.io/?location=@52.45003,-4.06383,7.1Z

It does seem to cover the whole network but only shows the trains in Wales in colour.

Currently showing 3 live trains from Cambridge to London all running on time.

Are you taking a wrecking ball to someone's hobby horse here Pross?

I wouldn’t worry, the strikes this week mean that only the slow trains are running, so “on time” is all relative, when they’re not running the services they normally do.

I think you must be some sort of strike magnet. Trains running as normal round this way.

https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/service-updates?uq=638266591314860000#INCD87AA7D8CF76430C94EFFA9538AE9E28

Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.
Saturday 5 August - A limited service will run with services starting later and finishing earlier than normal. Some stations will have NO service for the whole day, including Brighton.
Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August - An amended timetable with fewer services will run during this time. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours. It is likely you will need to queue and may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time to complete your journey.

This is what South Eastern has to say:
"The ASLEF union has an overtime ban from 31 July to 5 August, and from 7 to 12 August. We expect to run our full service during this time."

Really effective strikes, comrades

Southern are getting round the problem by just removing half the services from the timetable. If it doesn't exist it can't be cancelled or late. Great fun.

Seems to be a full timetable over in my corner of the world. No issues with ineffective strikes

rjsterry

Tends to be the evening services. I think the 5 o'clock crowd are still covered.

briantrumpet

shirley_basso said:

briantrumpet said:

You pays yer money and takes yer choice in Topsham. I've got not drive, no garage, no on-street parking within 100m at best, but the house is still silly money. I've no idea what a garage would cost now, but probably more than I paid for my house in 1992. Obviously it has other attractions other than easy parking for everyone.

10 pubs, for starters

Sad to say you're out of date... it'll end up being the Topsham Two at this rate.

Stevo_666

rjsterry said:

Tends to be the evening services. I think the 5 o'clock crowd are still covered.

Still all running normally on the way back and no cancellations etc. They can strike like this as much as they want.

pblakeney

rjsterry said:

TheBigBean said:

rjsterry said:

rick_chasey said:

rjsterry said:

rick_chasey said:

Stand by it. They should maximise revenues, and charge as much as they can for those spots.

Nice revenue raiser, reduces the incentives to own a car, win win.

Do you want people to stop using their car or raise revenue.


Pick *one*.

Well right now we don't have the public finances to support non-car travel, so why not charge people for car travel in order to help fund non-car travel investment?

It also penalises owning two cars, which I am a fan of too.

It takes up road space and causes problems for pedestrians etc, so they should be charged for the additional negative externalities they cause.

In general the problems cars cause are not anywhere near fully paid for by the car user; the pollution and adverse effect on health, the cost on the infrastructure etc etc. So this is a simple small way to go towards redressing the balance.

You're not listening. Islington charges residents nearly a grand a year per vehicle to park outside their home with significant reductions for low-emission vehicles. There are almost no driveways in Islington so everyone with a car is paying that. Islington is as champagne socialist as it gets with a high proportion of EVs and the council is desperate for cash so they *will* already be milking this for as much as they can politically get away with. There is not some untapped reserve of cash to be tapped.

You say that, but my neighbours, for example, park their car on the street to avoid wasting valuable garage space. Presumably there is a price at which they wouldn't and obviously not that many have garages as an option.

Garages don't count as parking spaces. You may laugh but this is standard planning policy and given that cars no longer rust away to nothing if left outside there's some logic to it.

Normally I'd agree but sometimes there are extenuating circumstances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkfJAabXI_g

Pross

Could go in a number of threads on here I suppose but just listening to comments from the Shadow Transport Minister at the Welsh Government on the new blanket 20mph speed limits. Among her objections / explanation of how this will make things less safe:

It is hilly in Wales and it is virtually impossible to go up steep hills at such a low speed (I'm not sure she understands gearing)

It will lead to road rage (if the limit is in place everyone should be driving at that speed anyway, annoying people who want to be driving faster shouldn't be a concern or we'd just scrap speed limits altogether

The classic 'people will be spending all their time looking at their speedo' - I've never understood why this is supposedly the case in a 20mph speed limit when people seem to manage in other speed limits without having to constantly check plus as they'll apparently also be stuck getting road rage behind slow moving drivers why would they need to do anything other than look at the car in front?

It's bizarre that people are prepared to actually utter these sorts of comments in public for broadcasting and making them look stupid.

First.Aspect

They are over used IMO. They make a certain amount of sense in cities, where the ave speed is less than that anyway, but they are implemented in a lot of suburbs and rural locations here. It is common to find yourself driving along a road with no houses or footpaths for a mile or so and still be in a 20 zone, in the Borders. Naturally, everyone ignores it.

I don't know the stats for pedestrians, but I don't see it making much difference either way for cycle safety to be honest.

Ave speed cameras, even in 30 zones, are more effective I find.

Pross

First.Aspect said:

They are over used IMO. They make a certain amount of sense in cities, where the ave speed is less than that anyway, but they are implemented in a lot of suburbs and rural locations here. It is common to find yourself driving along a road with no houses or footpaths for a mile or so and still be in a 20 zone, in the Borders. Naturally, everyone ignores it.

I don't know the stats for pedestrians, but I don't see it making much difference either way for cycle safety to be honest.

Ave speed cameras, even in 30 zones, are more effective I find.

Possibly, I've said before that the biggest issue in my (professional?) opinion is that just chucking up some signs on roads with no other works to make them feel like you should be driving slowly is unlikely to achieve the aim.

However, none of that makes the above comments any less batshit crazy - the Welsh Conservatives are obviously trying to outstupid and out populist their Westminster counterparts.

photonic69

We have a LOT of 20mph zones here, mostly in residential areas (which a lot of people ignore), but more have appeared in main trunk routes in and out of the city.
Bath is a very very hilly city. There are no issues going 20mph uphills. It just means you are stuck in 2nd gear at about 2000rpm. Going down hill means you are in 3rd gear but with the foot riding the brakes all the way.
It took a bit of getting used to but at the end of the day it's just another part of motoring you need to adapt to. If people can't or won't adapt then they really have no place on our roads.

Pross

Exactly, many of the side streets in the Valleys villages are over 10% gradient and you'd be hard pressed to drive them more than 20 mph anyway as they are narrow with on-street parking. Somehow the people who live and park on these streets are able to actually get their cars moving from a stationary start, must be some kind of magic.

briantrumpet

Isn't there a UK Second Amendment on the Right To Drive At Whatever Speed The Driver Thinks Appropriate?

First.Aspect

At 20mph, there is an inalienable right to overtake at the same speed the vehicle in front is going, on the proviso that the vehicle is a bicycle.

In reality only applies if you are going 25 or over, but somewhere hilly like edinburgh that's common, and so too is cycling along with a car right next to ypu at the same speed.

rick_chasey

First.Aspect said:

At 20mph, there is an inalienable right to overtake at the same speed the vehicle in front is going, on the proviso that the vehicle is a bicycle.

In reality only applies if you are going 25 or over, but somewhere hilly like edinburgh that's common, and so too is cycling along with a car right next to ypu at the same speed.

20mph roads are an excuse to exercise the inalienable right to overtake... cars as a cyclist.

Stevo_666

Quite amusing how some people never question whether a 20mph limit is the appropriate limit for a given bit of road. These are often the same people who cannot understand why so many people ignore them.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

At 20mph, there is an inalienable right to overtake at the same speed the vehicle in front is going, on the proviso that the vehicle is a bicycle.

In reality only applies if you are going 25 or over, but somewhere hilly like edinburgh that's common, and so too is cycling along with a car right next to ypu at the same speed.

20mph roads are an excuse to exercise the inalienable right to overtake... cars as a cyclist.

Some drivers get a bit agro about that. My cold commute took me down a long hill in Holyrood Park, with a 20 limit. Don't think I ever overtook without getting a blast of the horn or worse. Also wouldn't put it past PC Plod to decide that furious cycling is the same as speeding, thereby making up law on the hoof.

kingstongraham

Stevo_666 said:

Quite amusing how some people never question whether a 20mph limit is the appropriate limit for a given bit of road. These are often the same people who cannot understand why so many people ignore them.

Who's that now?

Stevo_666

And an interesting article on Sadiq Khan trying to suppress research showing that the ULEZ expansion would make very little difference to air quality
https://bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66570024

photonic69

Stevo_666 said:

Quite amusing how some people never question whether a 20mph limit is the appropriate limit for a given bit of road. These are often the same people who cannot understand why so many people ignore them.

It's quite irrelevant whether people question them or not. The limit is set and to not adhear to it is unlawful. End of. What pee's me off is the lack of enforcement of so many laws in this country. It's more of a lottery IF you get caught and not WHEN. Highway Code broken by probably 85% of drivers daily. Maybe more. So few caught and if they do get caught and you read about it in the papers, the level of sentencing handed down by the courts is so arbitrary. For instance - local paper reported a driver doing over 100mph in a 40, 58mph in a 30 and 45mph in a 20 over the course of a few days. Gets SIX points on licence and fines of £300 odd. No ban. Same article in paper mentions a woman getting caught for doing 79mph on the M-Way and gets banned for 6 months plus 6 points on licence with £450 fine and costs.

pangolin

Someone really got a 6 month ban for doing 79 on a motorway?

rick_chasey

pangolin said:

Someone really got a 6 month ban for doing 79 on a motorway?

Guy I worked with was offered 6 months ban or a monster fine (Based on his income) plus speed awareness course because he was doing 80 something when roadworks switched to 40mph and he didn't slow down (at 3am in the morning).

kingstongraham

pangolin said:

Someone really got a 6 month ban for doing 79 on a motorway?

If it takes them over 12 points, sure. And I guess they contested it in court resulting in a higher fine.

First.Aspect

Stevo_666 said:

And an interesting article on Sadiq Khan trying to suppress research showing that the ULEZ expansion would make very little difference to air quality
https://bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66570024

I do distinctly remember being roundly criticised for one of my 10 minute totally unqualified analyses of data that absolutely didn't show a significant change due to the first ULEZ, because in the hive mind's view, it did.

Pross

photonic69 said:

Stevo_666 said:

Quite amusing how some people never question whether a 20mph limit is the appropriate limit for a given bit of road. These are often the same people who cannot understand why so many people ignore them.

It's quite irrelevant whether people question them or not. The limit is set and to not adhear to it is unlawful. End of. What pee's me off is the lack of enforcement of so many laws in this country. It's more of a lottery IF you get caught and not WHEN. Highway Code broken by probably 85% of drivers daily. Maybe more. So few caught and if they do get caught and you read about it in the papers, the level of sentencing handed down by the courts is so arbitrary. For instance - local paper reported a driver doing over 100mph in a 40, 58mph in a 30 and 45mph in a 20 over the course of a few days. Gets SIX points on licence and fines of £300 odd. No ban. Same article in paper mentions a woman getting caught for doing 79mph on the M-Way and gets banned for 6 months plus 6 points on licence with £450 fine and costs.

I don't necessarily disagree with your comments but the Highway Code isn't a legal document. It's one of my pet annoyances that for the majority it is the only traffic 'law' they know and they don't know what is a legal requirement and what is 'best practice' (and in many cases invent their own things that are 'against the Highway Code' such as cycling two abreast). I can't think of many activities people do on a daily basis that are covered by so much legislation for which they have no knowledge although even the stuff they do know such as speeds seem to be routinely ignored as you say as the driver applies their own 'judgement' and 'common sense'. I wonder how many of them would be happy if the pilot flying them on holiday used their own judgement on whether they drunk too much alcohol or whether that health issue is just minor.

kingstongraham

First.Aspect said:

Stevo_666 said:

And an interesting article on Sadiq Khan trying to suppress research showing that the ULEZ expansion would make very little difference to air quality
https://bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66570024

I do distinctly remember being roundly criticised for one of my 10 minute totally unqualified analyses of data that absolutely didn't show a significant change due to the first ULEZ, because in the hive mind's view, it did.

If I remember correctly, that was because you ignored the introduction of the T-charge emissions surcharge in 2017 which was in most regards the same as the ULEZ introduced in 2019.