Spartacus

Apparently it would have been higher, except for the random discussions on the EDF 🤣

So your take on the article about the increase in accidents is questioning how the spend is calculated. jeez louise, you are so transparent in your methodology now.

Might be of interest to the discussion Cyclists injuring record numbers at pedestrian crossings https://share.google/bwAFKqPRE6IKmaKJY Behind a firewall but says " A record number of pedestrians has been injured by cyclists, the latest official data show. Department for Transport (DfT) road casualty figures analysed by The Telegraph also reveal the highest-ever number of casualties involving cyclists at zebra crossings and on pavements. In 2024, police recorded 603 incidents where a pedestrian was injured in collision with a cyclist, an 18.9 per cent increase on 507 similar injuries in 2023. Last year, 321 of those collisions occurred on either a pavement or a pedestrian crossing – a 9 per cent increase on 292 in 2023 In just five years, the number of pedestrians injured in collision with a cyclist on a pavement or at a crossing soared 60 per cent compared to 2019. During that period, the Government ploughed billions of pounds into promoting cycling, as well as allowing private companies to hire out e-bikes in cities. The true threat posted by cyclists who flout road rules will be far greater because the DfT data, known as Stats 19, only record injuries reported to police. The data do not show which party was at fault or whether collisions involved conventional bicycles or e-bikes. Call to protect pedestrians from cyclists There has been growing concern that some cyclists ignore road rules by failing to stop at red lights or zebra crossings, or riding on pavements. Road safety campaigners claim the data proves more must be done to protect pedestrians, particularly those who are elderly or young, from dangerous cyclists. Of the 603 recorded injuries in 2024, roughly one in three (189) was a serious injury requiring hospital treatment, with one pedestrian dying from their injuries. The 189 killed or seriously injured was the joint-highest on record, equalling 2023. The data include incidents where pedestrians were injured in collision with a cyclist and the police became involved. More than a quarter of those injuries last year occurred on pedestrian crossings, with 164 at zebra and pelican crossings. This was up 13.1 per cent on the previous year. The next most common locations for accidents were on verges or footways, including pavements, where there were 157 injuries. There were 132 injuries on roads themselves. A total of 16 per cent of all those injured were 65 or over and 15.3 per cent were children under 16." For balance it does go on to say "Cars pose a far greater risk to pedestrians, with 24 times more pedestrians injured by motorists than cyclists. However, ten years ago the gap was far greater with 43 times more pedestrians injured by cars than bicycles. In 2024, there were 14,727 injuries to pedestrians after collisions with cars."

Blimey Digital id solves the obesity crisis 🤣

@Earl Aelfheah you still haven't answered @Rockets question "do you agree with that too - cyclists should just stop at red lights?" Avoiding it makes you sound like you dusagree. Fair play, at least we know where you stand.

I think.Rockets did hint at a solution, "Stop at red lights"

I think digital id is potentially a good thing, number of reasons for that. Eventually it will encompass services you already have from the goverment, your driving licence, you NI number, your gov gateway (all obvious extensions) Services like photo card driving licences have already proved to have flaws, including Mr Smith, who looks similar to Mr Green, passing Mr Greens test to get Mr Green a "dodgy" dtiving licence as an example. Digital id may also ensure only people entitled to NHS care get it and health tourists pay to use our health service. However, whilst I think.its a good idea, social media will ensure it is still born. Over the weekend I've seen so many anti digital id posts, including Kier as Davros leading the Labour Daleks (did make me chuckle) , comparisons to 1984 and even a song about it. Someone posted "what would happen if we all refused to sign up" and how within 31 days it would topple the government. Will it actually happen maybe , but I have a feeling, like most things whatever way it goes both sides will again employ project fear and misinformation.

@malumbu, I am convinced you said, and I quote, "I don't find this thread of any interest" yet still you are reading and posting 😉 I also love your latest quote "a number of you have it wrong in treating all cyclists the same. We are not a uniform group " as often the pro cycling lobbying posters on here believe exactly that of drivers that they are a uniform group. Maybe we all need to take off the blinkers recognise some cyclists are breaking the rules as well.as some drivers, and then we could potentially have a chance of a constructive debate.

I think you are raising different points Only a few years ago , if a bus stop was closed, 90% of the time a temporary stop was installed a few meters down the road from where the obstruction / issue was. Haven't seen that happen recently which in this situation would be a possibly (a stop installed just past Plough homecraft for example and outside the Plough/ Sainsbutys in the opposite direction) Contactless/oyster, whilst a revolution also has problems The number of tourist i see in central London asking if they can pay cash is amazing, some people actually don't like their information bring grabbed by TfL everytime they tap in and some people want to pay cash as they have limited funds so want to spend only what's in their pocket. Revolution yes, but not always the wonder solution some proclaim.

Got to admit, I agree with @Pugwashugwash , it is a real challenge for those with mobility issues and the uneven pavements really are difficult (think wheel chair users or those who need mobility aids)

This feels like you have never worked in retail or understand the pressures retail businesses have 😅

Is there a view from people on "should Internet only based retail businesses be taxed in a fairer way to level the field for bricks snd moryer businesses?"

Would you also say that the £5billion investment won't have the desired impact as shoppers prefer online ?

There was mention yesterday, which may have slipped by some, that the Goverment is about to launch a "pride in place" £5 billion investment into city and town centres to boost high streets, parks and public spaces. I can see two flaws with this. Firstly it's a sticking plaster over a problem that the government doesn't seem to want to tackle. The decline of town centres is largely down to the impact caused by large players including the Internet giants, (non bricks and morter), who seem not to be paying the appropriate amount of taxes or even bypassing them by sending small value items into the UK. Until the playing field is leveled to give high streets an equal chance, consumers will naturally go for the best price. This would also increase the tax revenue the Chancellor has to play with and keep money in the local economy . Second issue I see is that when we are all staring down the barrel of a potential £30 billion tax hike in the budget, is this the right time to be announcing even more spending. Feels that maybe waiting till the economy is tracking better would be prudent. Of course the argument could be, improving the town centre realm , improves consumer confidence to shop locally, but unless the first point is fixed it could be a case of throwing bad money after good. BBC News - Which areas are due to get share of £5bn funding boost? - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1mx8vr2gr1o

In that case, why do you keep on posting on it ?

Its a long way to Australia, is a tunnel a good cost effective idea ? Personally, I would like to see it returned as a pub and resturant, but not a spoons or harvester, something a little more exciting maybe.

https://youtu.be/pphsrO81ga0?feature=shared

For years campaigns have been clearly aimed at cars, lorries and motorbikes. Remember the "think once, think twice think bike" campaign or the more recent "think child advert" aimed solely at drivers to keep at 20mph? So yes, why not have specific campaigns and adverts to remind cyclists of the rules ? Or do you feel cyclists are being unfairly targeted by campaigns to make them and pedestrians safer ?

There are "plans" to build more reservoirs, with physical work yet to be started, with the first hoped to be completed by 2036, and a second by 2040, then time is needed for them to fill so add at least another 12 months on. However, if the 1.5 million homes are built by 2028, each averaging 2 people occupying them.(some will be more, some will be less) then thats 3 million people showering, bathing and using water. Therefore there is a massive demand that will strain our current inferstructure between 2028 and 2037 (nearly ten years) plus all those homes will need electricity, as the ambition is to phase gas usage out, which will take just as much time to reinforce the network to cover, let alone add in the ability to cope with green production electricity that needs to be moved from wind and solar farms to where it is most needed. Therefore, is the current plan to build more homes, regardless of where they are, potentially going to have serious ramifications on already creaking networks ?

The Government has set an ambitios target to build 1.5 million new homes bu the end of this 4 year term. Possibly unachievable due to various issues in the building industry but ambitious none the less. What they seem to have failed to plan for, which was brought home by this year's drought, is adding more inferstructure including Reservoirs, power lines and sewerage treatment centres. Ate they setting us up for more problems in the future?

But have you read the report that was withdrawn? your answer seems to be focused on the Times article, not the actual report itself. It is available in the foi I found a link to earlier.

I could be wrong, but found a freedom of information request to TfL that references the document mentioned in the article, it even appears to have a link to the document https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0324-2526

It was with the last revolution and the coming of INGSOC (Inglish/English Socialism) that the latest High learnt how to keep their position permanently - by cultivating ignorance among the other classes and by constantly surveying them through the Thought Police. Part of this strategy included the maintenance of a state of continual warfare, which Goldstein discussed in the third chapter. The three major powers were not fighting this perpetual war for victory; they were fighting to keep a state of emergency always present as the surest guarantee of authoritarianism. George Orwell

Curious Earl As you are knowledgable about it enough to knock it, have you read it ?