LancsCycleSam
@cyclesam.uk
Pinned
LancsCycleSam
@cyclesam.uk
· Nov 15
A short introduction post
Formerly known as MCRCycleSam I post about all things walking, cycling, and urbanism. Over the years I've been campaigning for infrastructure to help people get around actively
I named the "Sparrow" crossing, always fun to see the name popping up elsewhere in the country!
Formerly known as MCRCycleSam I post about all things walking, cycling, and urbanism. Over the years I've been campaigning for infrastructure to help people get around actively
I named the "Sparrow" crossing, always fun to see the name popping up elsewhere in the country!
No trains running today so just a casual 50km back from Manchester to Pendle. Only took 2h30 which I thought was quite good.
Thank god for eBikes!
Thank god for eBikes!
November 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
No trains running today so just a casual 50km back from Manchester to Pendle. Only took 2h30 which I thought was quite good.
Thank god for eBikes!
Thank god for eBikes!
Was nice to see this pleasant cycling Junction in Bury as a respite from the other 50km of car centric roads I rode along today.
November 9, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Was nice to see this pleasant cycling Junction in Bury as a respite from the other 50km of car centric roads I rode along today.
Can anyone experienced with North Manchester/East Lancs cycling help me with a rough route from the city centre to Burnley? No trains tomorrow...
November 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Can anyone experienced with North Manchester/East Lancs cycling help me with a rough route from the city centre to Burnley? No trains tomorrow...
My first time using the Deansgate lane. Bloody brilliant.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
November 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
My first time using the Deansgate lane. Bloody brilliant.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
Some photos of the Accessible Nelson scheme going in. Look how much wider the footways are going to be, and the new cycle tracks are taking shape!
November 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Some photos of the Accessible Nelson scheme going in. Look how much wider the footways are going to be, and the new cycle tracks are taking shape!
This long term masterplan for a gyratory in Burnley seems to take a leaf out of TfL's book to me: closing off one side of a gyratory to cars and making the rest of it two way is textbook TfL.
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This long term masterplan for a gyratory in Burnley seems to take a leaf out of TfL's book to me: closing off one side of a gyratory to cars and making the rest of it two way is textbook TfL.
Interesting that BYD is trying to sell a Wall-E future, where kids doomscroll and sip drinks while they're ferried to school with no awareness of their surroundings, as a SELLING point!
Car brand BYD's new SUV ad pokes fun at people walking and cycling, comparing them to Horse & Carts.
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Interesting that BYD is trying to sell a Wall-E future, where kids doomscroll and sip drinks while they're ferried to school with no awareness of their surroundings, as a SELLING point!
Its OK, I didn't want to use the footway anyway...
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Its OK, I didn't want to use the footway anyway...
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
Salford Chapel St new cycleways under construction. @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Salford Chapel St new cycleways under construction. @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
Pleased to see some good progress on the construction of the improved footways and cycle tracks through Nelson, Lancs. I wouldn't say the designs are fully LTN1/20 compliant with lots of locations where the cycle tracks become shared footways, but it'll be the first decent onroad route in E.Lancs.
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Pleased to see some good progress on the construction of the improved footways and cycle tracks through Nelson, Lancs. I wouldn't say the designs are fully LTN1/20 compliant with lots of locations where the cycle tracks become shared footways, but it'll be the first decent onroad route in E.Lancs.
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
BIG NEWS
On 7/12/25, GM sees the biggest change to rail services for 30+ years.
A new fairer, simpler fare system will come in across our 96 stations.
🐝 Singles will be half the price of returns
🐝 Tickets will be valid on any operator
🐝 Average fare will fall by 5.6%
1/2
On 7/12/25, GM sees the biggest change to rail services for 30+ years.
A new fairer, simpler fare system will come in across our 96 stations.
🐝 Singles will be half the price of returns
🐝 Tickets will be valid on any operator
🐝 Average fare will fall by 5.6%
1/2
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
BIG NEWS
On 7/12/25, GM sees the biggest change to rail services for 30+ years.
A new fairer, simpler fare system will come in across our 96 stations.
🐝 Singles will be half the price of returns
🐝 Tickets will be valid on any operator
🐝 Average fare will fall by 5.6%
1/2
On 7/12/25, GM sees the biggest change to rail services for 30+ years.
A new fairer, simpler fare system will come in across our 96 stations.
🐝 Singles will be half the price of returns
🐝 Tickets will be valid on any operator
🐝 Average fare will fall by 5.6%
1/2
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
Reposting this blog post as we're getting on for two months since. Happy to report I'm still using the same phone for my day to day and still loving it. I'd say there have been very few inconveniences overall and well worth the time I've got back.
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
On Digital Minimalism: Can you live without a smartphone?
sa.mtate.me.uk
May 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposting this blog post as we're getting on for two months since. Happy to report I'm still using the same phone for my day to day and still loving it. I'd say there have been very few inconveniences overall and well worth the time I've got back.
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
One thing I also like recently is "vibe-cycling". I.e just going on a cycle and turning down roads I'm unfamiliar with but I think will lead roughly to the direction I want to go.
I've recently tried to get around more without GPS as part of a wider digital minimalism journey by looking up routes beforehand and remembering them, turning at landmarks etc. I've learned 10x more about the geography of my local area in the last 6 months than the 2 years prior since I moved here.
June 5, 2025 at 11:57 PM
One thing I also like recently is "vibe-cycling". I.e just going on a cycle and turning down roads I'm unfamiliar with but I think will lead roughly to the direction I want to go.
This sort of thing was always such a missed opportunity in Manchester. Lanes would be closed or whole roads would be shut for YEARS to build a tower. People got used to it, then when the tower is built, the road opens again, back to the old car-centric layout.
Question for TfL: If a general traffic lane on an urban motorway in #Wandsworth can be removed for months to accommodate development construction works, are there plans to reallocate the space to active travel, on completion of the works? @willnorman.co.uk
June 4, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This sort of thing was always such a missed opportunity in Manchester. Lanes would be closed or whole roads would be shut for YEARS to build a tower. People got used to it, then when the tower is built, the road opens again, back to the old car-centric layout.
Reposting this blog post as we're getting on for two months since. Happy to report I'm still using the same phone for my day to day and still loving it. I'd say there have been very few inconveniences overall and well worth the time I've got back.
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
On Digital Minimalism: Can you live without a smartphone?
sa.mtate.me.uk
May 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposting this blog post as we're getting on for two months since. Happy to report I'm still using the same phone for my day to day and still loving it. I'd say there have been very few inconveniences overall and well worth the time I've got back.
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
sa.mtate.me.uk/blog/on-digi...
A great ride today around Pendle and Burnley. Really can be a lovely part of the world.
Got a telling off from these geese though.
Got a telling off from these geese though.
May 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
A great ride today around Pendle and Burnley. Really can be a lovely part of the world.
Got a telling off from these geese though.
Got a telling off from these geese though.
The service Lime offers is fantastic although I won't use it these days as it does feel like the bikes are frequently in disrepair (missing saddles, pedals, and phone docks often), and now use cheaper components like tyres and possibly wheels?
May 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The service Lime offers is fantastic although I won't use it these days as it does feel like the bikes are frequently in disrepair (missing saddles, pedals, and phone docks often), and now use cheaper components like tyres and possibly wheels?
There really should just be one app, and a standardised parking machine that has a non-diabolical UI and accepts cash and contactless.
I have less than zero interest in trying to download a new app and register and add credit card details rather than just putting a pound coin in.
I have less than zero interest in trying to download a new app and register and add credit card details rather than just putting a pound coin in.
The government and British Parking Association are launching a national platform letting drivers use their preferred app in any car park. Backed by industry and at no cost to taxpayers, it aims to simplify parking and boost flexibility across the UK.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government teams with parking giants to ensure drivers can use preferred apps in all car parks
British Parking Association will develop and run the 'national parking platform', providing drivers with a more flexible parking experience.
www.gov.uk
May 21, 2025 at 8:24 AM
There really should just be one app, and a standardised parking machine that has a non-diabolical UI and accepts cash and contactless.
I have less than zero interest in trying to download a new app and register and add credit card details rather than just putting a pound coin in.
I have less than zero interest in trying to download a new app and register and add credit card details rather than just putting a pound coin in.
No Sparrow Crossing? Boooo
Seriously though, a great video, even though most transport nerds in my circles already know all this. Always good to see a video on something you know about because if this is accurate, then all the others on things you don't know about probably are too.
Seriously though, a great video, even though most transport nerds in my circles already know all this. Always good to see a video on something you know about because if this is accurate, then all the others on things you don't know about probably are too.
Everything you ever wanted to know about signalised pedestrian crossings. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VB...
Why doesn't the green man flash anymore?
YouTube video by Chris Spargo
www.youtube.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
No Sparrow Crossing? Boooo
Seriously though, a great video, even though most transport nerds in my circles already know all this. Always good to see a video on something you know about because if this is accurate, then all the others on things you don't know about probably are too.
Seriously though, a great video, even though most transport nerds in my circles already know all this. Always good to see a video on something you know about because if this is accurate, then all the others on things you don't know about probably are too.
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
The Middlewood Way. Now in dangerously poor condition near Hazel Knoll Farm.
May 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The Middlewood Way. Now in dangerously poor condition near Hazel Knoll Farm.
The proposed Liverpool-Manchester line makes the Crewe to Ringway link a no brainer. Wonder if that could get tacked on as part of that without the political "controversy" of calling it HS2
May 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The proposed Liverpool-Manchester line makes the Crewe to Ringway link a no brainer. Wonder if that could get tacked on as part of that without the political "controversy" of calling it HS2
On track to be a record #Solar Generation day for us today with essentially no cloud cover and relatively cool temperatures keeping efficiency up.
Should easily sail past 32kWh generated by sunset: this is about 4x the needs of the house.
6.8kWp array on east/west aspects.
Should easily sail past 32kWh generated by sunset: this is about 4x the needs of the house.
6.8kWp array on east/west aspects.
May 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
On track to be a record #Solar Generation day for us today with essentially no cloud cover and relatively cool temperatures keeping efficiency up.
Should easily sail past 32kWh generated by sunset: this is about 4x the needs of the house.
6.8kWp array on east/west aspects.
Should easily sail past 32kWh generated by sunset: this is about 4x the needs of the house.
6.8kWp array on east/west aspects.
Extremely chuffed to get my first sub-30 minute 5k this weekend! My first parkrun was back in October when I completed it in 42 minutes walk-running (emphasis on the walk part).
It's been such a rewarding hobby - despite frequently hating it while actually doing it :D
It's been such a rewarding hobby - despite frequently hating it while actually doing it :D
May 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Extremely chuffed to get my first sub-30 minute 5k this weekend! My first parkrun was back in October when I completed it in 42 minutes walk-running (emphasis on the walk part).
It's been such a rewarding hobby - despite frequently hating it while actually doing it :D
It's been such a rewarding hobby - despite frequently hating it while actually doing it :D
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
The fact that the government is dragging its feet on a national pavement parking ban is a disgrace that is causing millions of vulnerable people to risk their lives because drivers are too lazy and selfish to park properly.
May 6, 2025 at 7:24 AM
The fact that the government is dragging its feet on a national pavement parking ban is a disgrace that is causing millions of vulnerable people to risk their lives because drivers are too lazy and selfish to park properly.
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
Headed down to the Irwell to clear some of that silt that's been left there from the floods at new year. Shifted a reasonable amount, but still lots more to remove. Will have to head down again.
April 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Headed down to the Irwell to clear some of that silt that's been left there from the floods at new year. Shifted a reasonable amount, but still lots more to remove. Will have to head down again.