Owen Massey
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bookllyfr.bsky.social
Owen Massey
@bookllyfr.bsky.social
1.1K followers 650 following 760 posts
/'əʊɪn 'mæsiː/

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librarian・pedestrian・own views・they/them・Net Zero・Vision Zero・pro-trans・pro-trains・not my king・no gods・no masters・no borders・no statues・no heroes・❄️
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bookllyfr.bsky.social
It’s true! I took a photo of the paper plaque last week
This Was The SiTE of The SwiNDLE STock TAVeRN 1250-1709
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
This was Emily Scaysbrook's 'well-considered evidence-based suggestion' when she stood (and lost) as a high-traffic candidate in May: a congestion charge!

web.archive.org/web/20250722...
Introduce a time-based congestion charge. As a last resort, a peak-time-only congestion charge could help manage traffic without restricting movement entirely. Essential workers should be exempt, and any revenue should be reinvested into public and active transport.
November 4, 2025 at 11:40 AM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Google Maps at 0830 and 1215. Looks pretty clear to me.
Oxford traffic on Google Maps at 0830 on 2025-11-03 Oxford traffic on Google Maps at 1215 on 2025-11-03
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
This gives me an excuse to post the pun I came up with after I too came into possession of some quinces
One quince: QUINCE Two quinces: QUINCIDENCE
October 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
It looks as if that stretch of Cuckoo Lane is also one of the light blue dashed 'Connecting Routes Off Road' on the County Council's 'Oxford Cycle Network Map' (with its secret codes not otherwise public ...)

mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s5...
Excerpt from the Oxford Cycle Network Map showing the area around Headington Hill
October 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
A community group near me raised funds to paint junction boxes, one of which has a chessboard pattern on top. The DIY approach!

www.boundarybrookcommunityprojects.co.uk/oxbox
Junction box painted in brightly-coloured curved shapes with a black and white grid on the top
September 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
I've had enough of listening. Time for action on low traffic.

My letter in the Oxford Times today
Your correspondent says 'we should listen' when it comes to Oxford's perennial transport issues. I've been listening. I've listened to people say that children's safety doesn't matter, because drivers can't be expected to slow down. I've listened to people say that bus passengers don't matter, because drivers have more money. I've listened to people say that traffic jams don't matter, because cities will always be congested. I've listened to people say that collisions don't matter, because 'accidents will happen'. I've listened to people say that vehicle emissions don't matter, because climate science isn't real. And I've listened to people say that we mustn't reduce traffic, because that might inconvenience drivers. I've listened, and I'm still waiting to hear a single effective alternative to low traffic. Owen McKnight Oxford
September 25, 2025 at 8:33 AM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
… leading to a set of rooms looking out over Cornmarket.
A roof of exposed beams A second roof of exposed beams
September 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
… a warren of corridors with exposed beams …
A corridor with exposed beams Another corridor with exposed beams A third corridor with exposed beams, one at a hilarious angle
September 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Here’s the approach to Staircase XXI …
A maze of steps and glass Another maze of steps and glass
September 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackst...
August 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
'Great Britain--Foreign relations--Wales' 🤨

@rhyskamjones.bsky.social this is how the Library of Congress has catalogued your book (congratulations!)
Library of Congress Subject Headings: Great Britain--Foreign relations--Wales Wales--Social life and customs--19th century Wales--Foreign relations--Great Britain
August 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Oxfordshire’s crime commissioner doesn’t seem to care about road crime. My letter in this weekend’s Oxford Mail:
A doctor who refused to prescribe lifesaving medicine would be struck off. But Tory police commissioner Matthew Barber refuses to support some lifesaving measures on our county's roads. Yet again, he makes excuses for not introducing speed cameras on some dangerous roads. Research from the RAC Foundation proves what common sense tells us: speed cameras save lives. That's why the Institute of Advanced Motorists supports their use. Owen McKnight
August 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Oxford Mail comments today
'it'll stop, only people are students it seems, too bloody many of them' 'Oxford has only had a university for 900 years, after all.'
July 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
PUBLIC SUBSRIPTION

www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/streets/insc...
Circular plaque reading CITY OF OXFORD THIS BRIDGE WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSRIPTION (missing a letter)
July 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
'Gay-Lo Directories operates from a hut behind the reception area of a kennels'

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/busines...
Two men sit holding dogs in front of a rainbow banner with the phone number 118-453. Caption: 'Gay-Lo Directories operates from a hut behind the reception area of a kennels'
July 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
My letter on pavement parking in today's Oxford Mail. Here's the link to the consultations:

letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/hub-page/hig...

#PavementsAreForPeople
Pavement parking Thank you to the three Oxfordshire MPs who have signed a House of Commons motion condemning parking on pavements. The motion calls on the Department for Transport to publish the results of its consultation on pavement parking, which it has been concealing for an astonishing five years! We know why. There's massive public support for banning pavement parking - but successive governments are too frightened of the car lobby. Never mind that you have to push your baby in the road when there's no space left for a pushchair. Never mind that your children can't see to cross the road safely between carelessly parked cars. Never mind your elderly relative who's losing their sight, or your friend who has to navigate their wheelchair over cracked pavements - or it could be you. While the government dithers, there is a chance for local residents to fight back against this antisocial behaviour. The County Council is reviewing Controlled Parking Zones. They are asking 'Do you think there are issues with obstructive parking on the footway in the area?' and 'Do you think a local ban on footway parking is required?' Let's reclaim our streets, for yourself, your family, and your neighbours. Ask the council to ban pavement parking by visiting https://tinyurl.com/pavements4people Owen McKnight Oxford
July 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Lincoln College have opened the High Street door into their magnificent library, too!

(formerly All Saints’, the City Church)
A grand stone church built in classical style with a massive portico, high windows, and a spire
July 3, 2025 at 12:29 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Thank you for this modest proposal, which I got published in today's Oxford Mail letters page!
Your editorial column complains that 'taxpayers' are fined when they ignore road signs - fines which go towards improving transport for law-abiding taxpayers. Councillor Liam Walker was quick to defend drivers who make a 'silly little mistake', but driving in a bus lane isn't a victimless crime when it delays hardworking commuters. Fortunately, there is an easy way to enforce the rules of the road which avoids any accusations of making money. Drivers who break the rules should simply get points on their licence. Owen McKnight Oxford
June 30, 2025 at 3:19 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
It’s Sarah Acland’s home at 10 Park Town. You can see both the colour photo and an older monochrome photo at mattersphotographical.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/s... which identifies the sculpture as having been given by John Ruskin!
Group photograph captioned ‘The Acland servants, circa 1897’. In the background is what is described as ‘a Della Robbia Virgin and Child given by Ruskin in 1878’
June 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Screenshot from the congestion charge consultation explaining that income must be used for transport schemes, including discounted park and ride fares
June 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
I’ve been wondering what a public health intervention based on ‘don’t wear lycra’ could possibly look like.

I think what you’re looking for is the superb work of More Than A Cyclist - which explicitly and deliberately contrasts cycling gear with normal clothes.
Poster showing a man wearing lycra and a cycle helmet and the same man wearing a shirt and stethoscope
May 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Gary Larson cartoon adapted What we say: We should improve society somewhat What they hear: BAN CARS
May 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
Just watched the driver of this van use the zebra crossing as a convenient access route for blocking - and damaging - the newly relaid pavement.

Sheer entitlement.
Large white van parked diagonally across the pavement blocking access to a zebra crossing
May 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
bookllyfr.bsky.social
The UK Highway Code is explicit that responsibility is not shared equally.
Everyone suffers when road collisions occur, whether they are physically injured or not. But those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others. This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles. Cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse drawn vehicles likewise have a responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians. None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety.
May 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM