Ben (BicycleBenUK)
@ben.fiets.uk
Introverted advocate/blogger on UK active travel. Self-employed podcast editor. Also sustainable public transport, nature, environment, Holland. Sometimes spins vinyl, dabbles in ham radio, badly plays piano.
📍 Nuneaton, Warwickshire
🌎 fiets.uk/links
📍 Nuneaton, Warwickshire
🌎 fiets.uk/links
Pinned
Ben (BicycleBenUK)
@ben.fiets.uk
· Nov 7
The season of preaching 'road safety' messaging
The clocks have gone back, Christmas adverts are on the TV, nights are drawing in - it can only mean one thing: it's time for official 'road safety' organisations to preach their annual messages of "b...
fiets.uk
On the blog: The clocks have gone back, nights are drawing in – it can only mean one thing: it’s time for official ‘road safety’ organisations to preach their annual messages of “be safe, be seen” to people travelling outside of motor vehicles...
fiets.uk/2025-11-06/t...
fiets.uk/2025-11-06/t...
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
Just ban it. Stop this being socially acceptable FFS 🤬
January 10, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Just ban it. Stop this being socially acceptable FFS 🤬
Meanwhile, just a few hundred miles away, we don't have complete, comfortable and safe cycle routes to the local town centre, employment sites, or schools (including a newly built high school).
@warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
@warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
The Dutch will double intercity bike routes in the next 5 years, from 1100 to 2300km.
Every city has local routes: Utrecht, for example, has 420km of separated bike lanes & bike streets. 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙨𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 allow people to safety go by bike throughout NL.
More info:
www.fietsersbond.nl/nieuws/doorf...
Every city has local routes: Utrecht, for example, has 420km of separated bike lanes & bike streets. 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙨𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 allow people to safety go by bike throughout NL.
More info:
www.fietsersbond.nl/nieuws/doorf...
January 10, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Meanwhile, just a few hundred miles away, we don't have complete, comfortable and safe cycle routes to the local town centre, employment sites, or schools (including a newly built high school).
@warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
@warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
🎉 Exciting news! Registration for #BigWalkAndWheel 2026 is NOW OPEN!
Be part of the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge and inspire pupils to make a difference! Because changing how we travel changes everything.
In partnership with #schwalbeuk.
Sign up now: buff.ly/JWiEYjx
Be part of the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge and inspire pupils to make a difference! Because changing how we travel changes everything.
In partnership with #schwalbeuk.
Sign up now: buff.ly/JWiEYjx
January 9, 2026 at 9:02 AM
🎉 Exciting news! Registration for #BigWalkAndWheel 2026 is NOW OPEN!
Be part of the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge and inspire pupils to make a difference! Because changing how we travel changes everything.
In partnership with #schwalbeuk.
Sign up now: buff.ly/JWiEYjx
Be part of the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge and inspire pupils to make a difference! Because changing how we travel changes everything.
In partnership with #schwalbeuk.
Sign up now: buff.ly/JWiEYjx
Not good enough. Just ban pavement parking full stop. Make it clear, unambiguous, and not open to interpretation, so that everyone understands pavements are for people. Only in cases where it's appropriate and necessary, councils should implement signed exemptions.
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
New powers for councils in England to fine pavement parkers
Councils will be able to take action against those creating "unnecessary obstruction" of the pavement.
www.bbc.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Not good enough. Just ban pavement parking full stop. Make it clear, unambiguous, and not open to interpretation, so that everyone understands pavements are for people. Only in cases where it's appropriate and necessary, councils should implement signed exemptions.
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
@jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social
First time out on the bike this year - sun's out, temperature is comfortably above freezing, snow has gone. Seemed like a good idea. Didn't notice the wind before setting off - I did notice when I quickly found a hill! That and my unfit legs!
January 7, 2026 at 1:49 PM
First time out on the bike this year - sun's out, temperature is comfortably above freezing, snow has gone. Seemed like a good idea. Didn't notice the wind before setting off - I did notice when I quickly found a hill! That and my unfit legs!
Impressive fireworks from London as usual - could do without digital additions though.
January 1, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Impressive fireworks from London as usual - could do without digital additions though.
Just minutes to the new year - 2025 has been pretty good all told. A resolution to attend more live stuff has been met with a few gigs/concert and loads of cricket, plus successfully moving house. Hope 2026 is another good one.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
December 31, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Just minutes to the new year - 2025 has been pretty good all told. A resolution to attend more live stuff has been met with a few gigs/concert and loads of cricket, plus successfully moving house. Hope 2026 is another good one.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
It's not as if we weren't warned.
December 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It's not as if we weren't warned.
Might be worth thinking up some sort of offline codeword or phrase that can be used to authenticate people on the phone or leaving voice messages claiming to be family members or friends. Blasted AI and blasted scammers.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/d...
‘Help! I need money. It’s an emergency’: your child’s voicemail that could be a scam
Steps to help combat fraud in which criminals use AI-generated replica of a person’s voice to deceive victims
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Might be worth thinking up some sort of offline codeword or phrase that can be used to authenticate people on the phone or leaving voice messages claiming to be family members or friends. Blasted AI and blasted scammers.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/d...
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
People asking why there is an increase in pupils declaring SEND:
1. There is less stigma associated with admitting you are struggling
2. The 'academic' curriculum introduced by Gove does not meet the needs of lots of pupils
3. Many 'behaviour policies' make schools inherently SEND non-inclusive.
1. There is less stigma associated with admitting you are struggling
2. The 'academic' curriculum introduced by Gove does not meet the needs of lots of pupils
3. Many 'behaviour policies' make schools inherently SEND non-inclusive.
December 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
People asking why there is an increase in pupils declaring SEND:
1. There is less stigma associated with admitting you are struggling
2. The 'academic' curriculum introduced by Gove does not meet the needs of lots of pupils
3. Many 'behaviour policies' make schools inherently SEND non-inclusive.
1. There is less stigma associated with admitting you are struggling
2. The 'academic' curriculum introduced by Gove does not meet the needs of lots of pupils
3. Many 'behaviour policies' make schools inherently SEND non-inclusive.
Support musicians or lose musicians - don't stream; buy their physical releases. Or buy downloads. But even if you must stream, at the very least stop using #Spotify!
"If everyone who streamed All Hell on Spotify had done so using Tidal instead, we would have received an extra £31,847.38, which would double the amount we made from streaming of the album in this time period. Or if everyone used Apple Music it would have been £12,331 more."
Los Campesinos:
Los Campesinos:
Here’s how much money Los Camp! make from streaming… - Los Campesinos!
loscampesinos.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Support musicians or lose musicians - don't stream; buy their physical releases. Or buy downloads. But even if you must stream, at the very least stop using #Spotify!
Funding award for @warwickshirecc.bsky.social towards #activeTravel schemes, totalling £10m over five years - will this result in any visible improvements though? Excuse my scepticism, but previous awards were meant to contribute to the A47 cycle schemes in #Nuneaton which have failed to be built.
Warwickshire secures almost £10 million Active Travel funding to boost walking, wheeling and cycling – Warwickshire County Council
Warwickshire County Council is celebrating a major funding award that will accelerate the county’s ambition to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer, easie
www.warwickshire.gov.uk
December 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Funding award for @warwickshirecc.bsky.social towards #activeTravel schemes, totalling £10m over five years - will this result in any visible improvements though? Excuse my scepticism, but previous awards were meant to contribute to the A47 cycle schemes in #Nuneaton which have failed to be built.
Delighted to see local lad Mark Selby win in the UK Championship, as will The Boy, although a magnificent comeback effort from Judd Trump - really looked like challenging to get over the line despite being 5 frames behind at one point. Very entertaining. #Snooker #UKChampionship
December 7, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Delighted to see local lad Mark Selby win in the UK Championship, as will The Boy, although a magnificent comeback effort from Judd Trump - really looked like challenging to get over the line despite being 5 frames behind at one point. Very entertaining. #Snooker #UKChampionship
"We can't all be expected to bike" - well, neither can we all be expected to drive.
“We can’t all be expected to bike.”
Fair. But that’s not the point.
“Not everyone can or wants to bike. But some people can & do—and they deserve a safe, efficient, affordable way to move through the city. It’s about freedom of choice.”
This & other useful comebacks, in @momentummag.bsky.social.
Fair. But that’s not the point.
“Not everyone can or wants to bike. But some people can & do—and they deserve a safe, efficient, affordable way to move through the city. It’s about freedom of choice.”
This & other useful comebacks, in @momentummag.bsky.social.
Your Comeback Guide to all the Anti-Cycling Arguments You’ll Hear This Year
Anti-bike arguments aren’t just frustrating—they’re outdated, inaccurate, and often repeated without a shred of evidence.
momentummag.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
"We can't all be expected to bike" - well, neither can we all be expected to drive.
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
A really good (and hilarious) essay on the problems of people using AI as search engines
December 5, 2025 at 5:34 AM
A really good (and hilarious) essay on the problems of people using AI as search engines
Free bus travel? Incentivised walking, wheeling, and cycling?
To support Small Business Saturday (6 December) and encourage people to shop locally this Christmas, we're providing FREE PARKING in all of our off-street car parks in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth (on-street parking charges still apply).
December 4, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Free bus travel? Incentivised walking, wheeling, and cycling?
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
ID cards, limiting trial by jury, and now "plans for a huge rollout for facial recognition cameras in cities, towns and villages across the country"
Labour laying the foundations for a far right government to build on #GMB
Labour laying the foundations for a far right government to build on #GMB
December 4, 2025 at 6:10 AM
ID cards, limiting trial by jury, and now "plans for a huge rollout for facial recognition cameras in cities, towns and villages across the country"
Labour laying the foundations for a far right government to build on #GMB
Labour laying the foundations for a far right government to build on #GMB
It'd be nice to think that councillors, officers in @warwickshirecc.bsky.social would see this and do something to reduce, prevent future statistics before they happen - maybe build those cycle schemes that were promised years ago but have been essentially abandoned, putting people at risk
#cycling
#cycling
Almost 100 cyclists injured on Warwickshire roads in just one year
Two cyclists died in road crashes and 26 were seriously injured according to the data from Warwickshire Police
www.coventrytelegraph.net
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
It'd be nice to think that councillors, officers in @warwickshirecc.bsky.social would see this and do something to reduce, prevent future statistics before they happen - maybe build those cycle schemes that were promised years ago but have been essentially abandoned, putting people at risk
#cycling
#cycling
First leisure cycle for a very long time - certainly since moving! New year resolution: get back on two wheels a bit more! Went past the old house for fun; the street has taken down its fascist-flags (neighbouring streets haven't)
November 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
First leisure cycle for a very long time - certainly since moving! New year resolution: get back on two wheels a bit more! Went past the old house for fun; the street has taken down its fascist-flags (neighbouring streets haven't)
G-reg Ford Fiesta
L-reg Peugeot 405
That's it; no car of my own since 2007.
L-reg Peugeot 405
That's it; no car of my own since 2007.
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
November 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
G-reg Ford Fiesta
L-reg Peugeot 405
That's it; no car of my own since 2007.
L-reg Peugeot 405
That's it; no car of my own since 2007.
Warwick District Council is removing itself from X/Twitter due to the platform's controversial content, misinformation, and incitement. It'd be nice if others did the same. But on the same argument, they should surely also leave Facebook, Nextdoor.
@warwickdc.gov.uk @warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@warwickdc.gov.uk @warwickshirecc.bsky.social
Warwick District Council to suspend the use social media platform X
Warwick District Council halts X (formerly Twitter) use, citing concerns over content and misinformation, shifting focus to other social channels and tech.
leamington.nub.news
November 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Warwick District Council is removing itself from X/Twitter due to the platform's controversial content, misinformation, and incitement. It'd be nice if others did the same. But on the same argument, they should surely also leave Facebook, Nextdoor.
@warwickdc.gov.uk @warwickshirecc.bsky.social
@warwickdc.gov.uk @warwickshirecc.bsky.social
Someone should say the line on every live show, on every phone-in! If the BBC is that scared, they'll have a hell of a job editing everything - but to the point it'd become glaringly obvious!
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Someone should say the line on every live show, on every phone-in! If the BBC is that scared, they'll have a hell of a job editing everything - but to the point it'd become glaringly obvious!
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...