Way back when I worked in academic publishing, assessing newly submitted papers and finding suitable people to peer review them, I encountered hundreds of weird and wonderful names every day. And kept a list of which most amused. Which never got published because, well, it would be mean. But… the […]
A quick note on something that keeps popping up and bugging me — a factoid that has been passed through Chinese whispers to become something entirely different, and entirely incorrect. Triggered on this particular occasion by reading The Ranty Highwayman’s account of a talk by Phillip Darnton: He went on […]
The road haulage lobby briefly grabbed a bit of attention last month when they blamed the victims killed by their industry: http://beyondthekerb.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/cyclists-go-truck-yourselves/ But really, the history of their practices is worth looking at. Mick Hamer (yes, this Mick Hamer) in Wheels Within Wheels reviews how the road freight industry has […]
Given that Stevenage seems to be the exemplar du jour of the UK’s unique culture, wedded to the motorcar and impossible to persuade to use a bicycle — a representative sample of the English attitude and environment, and definitely not just a self-selected population of suburbanites in an anomalistic mid-20th […]
Everyone point and laugh at Barclays and their latest risible contribution to cycling safety PR stunt… From: Lauri Beecroft <lauri.beecroft> Date: Mon, May 20, 2013 at 3:45 PM Subject: Barclays and SportsDirect team up to offer discount on helmets Hi, How are you? Just wanted to get in touch as […]
My father was a compulsive hoarder. Well… an enthusiastic collector of things, at least. Some of the things are quite amazing. Today I am flicking through the folders labelled “Weymouth Relief Road”, ahead of tomorrow’s seaside infrastructure safari along the new Relief Road Cycle Track, and was delighted by this […]
I have tickets for the Caledonian Sleeper. I don’t think I’m going to be able to use them. They are £39 advance "bargain berth" tickets — non refundable. Technically, they’re not transferable either, so they’re not for sale. But I could possibly aide somebody in their pretending to be me. […]
Oh hooray, more "encouragement" to be "confident on the roads". That’s sure to be useful. Why has nobody thought to try doing that before? From: Natasha Lytton <natasha.lytton> Date: Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 10:27 AM Subject: Cycling and the City – Christine Bleakley wants women to get on their […]