Mark Nelson
@sphericalsquare.bsky.social
CTO in ecommerce, enjoys cycling & active travel.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
Language matters. Asylum seekers live in appalling conditions but the buildings are described as "hotels". Members of the Royal family live a life of luxury and privilege but their homes are often called "cottage" or "lodge". Why not just describe things accurately?
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Language matters. Asylum seekers live in appalling conditions but the buildings are described as "hotels". Members of the Royal family live a life of luxury and privilege but their homes are often called "cottage" or "lodge". Why not just describe things accurately?
33% of the benefit of the fuel duty freeze and of the hundreds of millions spent of vehicle salary sacrifice schemes is for leisure driving, but that doesn't seem to be questioned.
It's not low earners who can afford to forego £500 per month from their wages for an EV while saving on tax.
It's not low earners who can afford to forego £500 per month from their wages for an EV while saving on tax.
November 13, 2025 at 11:57 AM
33% of the benefit of the fuel duty freeze and of the hundreds of millions spent of vehicle salary sacrifice schemes is for leisure driving, but that doesn't seem to be questioned.
It's not low earners who can afford to forego £500 per month from their wages for an EV while saving on tax.
It's not low earners who can afford to forego £500 per month from their wages for an EV while saving on tax.
Thanks to open data, it's possible to look at what the spending on the cycle to work scheme is compared to other similar schemes, say vehicle salary sacrifice.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
November 13, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Thanks to open data, it's possible to look at what the spending on the cycle to work scheme is compared to other similar schemes, say vehicle salary sacrifice.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
One of the South Shields trains goes directly to South Shields, the other an elaborate route via Wallsend and Tynemouth and takes an hour longer. Same for St. James - do you want the two minute or 80 minute journey? How are visitors supposed to know?
I realise it's not the most urgent issue, but Metro's insistence on using destinations to identify trains on a *looped route* makes its real-time info completely unintuitive for a regular, let alone a tourist. 🤷♀️ There are two South Shields and two St. James' trains but they're completely different.
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
One of the South Shields trains goes directly to South Shields, the other an elaborate route via Wallsend and Tynemouth and takes an hour longer. Same for St. James - do you want the two minute or 80 minute journey? How are visitors supposed to know?
Reposted by Mark Nelson
I’m selling my Riese & Muller Cruiser 2 Mixte Vario.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
November 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m selling my Riese & Muller Cruiser 2 Mixte Vario.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
Cramlington Councillor call for Moor Farm upgrade due to 14 collisions since the start of 2020.
The upgrade to Silverlink gets mentioned (completed in 2019).
The 15 collisions at Silverlink since the start of 2020 don't get mentioned.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The upgrade to Silverlink gets mentioned (completed in 2019).
The 15 collisions at Silverlink since the start of 2020 don't get mentioned.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Northumberland Moor Farm roundabout an 'accident hotspot'
A councillor renews pressure on the government to carry out upgrades on the A19 junction.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Cramlington Councillor call for Moor Farm upgrade due to 14 collisions since the start of 2020.
The upgrade to Silverlink gets mentioned (completed in 2019).
The 15 collisions at Silverlink since the start of 2020 don't get mentioned.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The upgrade to Silverlink gets mentioned (completed in 2019).
The 15 collisions at Silverlink since the start of 2020 don't get mentioned.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Mark Nelson
They've chosen a bangin' tune for this year's John Lewis Christmas Ad.
November 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
They've chosen a bangin' tune for this year's John Lewis Christmas Ad.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
This is why I was so pissed off to hear Badenoch talk as though everyone in the UK was threatened by a wave of knife crime. It’s bollocks.
There were 1,688 stabbing deaths in the USA in 2023. In the UK: 31. worldpopulationreview.com/country-rank...
Stabbing Deaths by Country 2025
Statistics on stabbing deaths by country, detailing the number of knife-related deaths as well as the rate per 100,000 people, including the answer to which country has the most stabbing deaths.
worldpopulationreview.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
This is why I was so pissed off to hear Badenoch talk as though everyone in the UK was threatened by a wave of knife crime. It’s bollocks.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
Any time anyone starts talking about taking us out of the ECHR, ask them two questions:
1. Which of these rights don't you believe in?
2. What exactly would you replace it with. And don't take any vague promises like Brexit benefits.
1. Which of these rights don't you believe in?
2. What exactly would you replace it with. And don't take any vague promises like Brexit benefits.
October 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Any time anyone starts talking about taking us out of the ECHR, ask them two questions:
1. Which of these rights don't you believe in?
2. What exactly would you replace it with. And don't take any vague promises like Brexit benefits.
1. Which of these rights don't you believe in?
2. What exactly would you replace it with. And don't take any vague promises like Brexit benefits.
Pressed go on all the appliances at 12:00. I've never seen my smart meter display turn orange before!
It feels a bit odd when I usually space everything out to use the most solar and as little grid energy as possible, but you have to do you bit to keep things stable (and earn a few pennies).
It feels a bit odd when I usually space everything out to use the most solar and as little grid energy as possible, but you have to do you bit to keep things stable (and earn a few pennies).
October 25, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Pressed go on all the appliances at 12:00. I've never seen my smart meter display turn orange before!
It feels a bit odd when I usually space everything out to use the most solar and as little grid energy as possible, but you have to do you bit to keep things stable (and earn a few pennies).
It feels a bit odd when I usually space everything out to use the most solar and as little grid energy as possible, but you have to do you bit to keep things stable (and earn a few pennies).
Reposted by Mark Nelson
In conjunction with @northeastptug.bsky.social we recently wrote to the city council to urge it to work towards making New Bridge Street and Blackett Street match the vision that has been sold to residents. newcycling.org/2025/10/the-...
The future of New Bridge Street and Blackett Street
As the completion of the new Government building on New Bridge Street nears the public realm surrounding the development is starting to take shape. Image on hoardings around the building site, as w…
newcycling.org
October 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM
In conjunction with @northeastptug.bsky.social we recently wrote to the city council to urge it to work towards making New Bridge Street and Blackett Street match the vision that has been sold to residents. newcycling.org/2025/10/the-...
Some drivers are 🔔🔚
October 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Some drivers are 🔔🔚
Reposted by Mark Nelson
A wet and windy Friday night couldn't keep away a storm trooper, wizard, witch and the Joker from a Halloween Cycle ride...
Cheers to
@ntstreetlife.bsky.social
Plus a 4 yr old who joined for his first group and night time ride! 👏👏👏
Cheers to
@ntstreetlife.bsky.social
Plus a 4 yr old who joined for his first group and night time ride! 👏👏👏
October 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A wet and windy Friday night couldn't keep away a storm trooper, wizard, witch and the Joker from a Halloween Cycle ride...
Cheers to
@ntstreetlife.bsky.social
Plus a 4 yr old who joined for his first group and night time ride! 👏👏👏
Cheers to
@ntstreetlife.bsky.social
Plus a 4 yr old who joined for his first group and night time ride! 👏👏👏
Reposted by Mark Nelson
All this windy weather means we’re bringing forward the final prize on the Power Tower... TRIPLE FREE ELECTRICITY SESSION SATURDAY!!! (And we'll get back to giving away that gorgeous EV next week 👀)
Yup... THREE HOURS of free extra power, 12-3pm Sat 25 Oct.
Yup... THREE HOURS of free extra power, 12-3pm Sat 25 Oct.
October 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
All this windy weather means we’re bringing forward the final prize on the Power Tower... TRIPLE FREE ELECTRICITY SESSION SATURDAY!!! (And we'll get back to giving away that gorgeous EV next week 👀)
Yup... THREE HOURS of free extra power, 12-3pm Sat 25 Oct.
Yup... THREE HOURS of free extra power, 12-3pm Sat 25 Oct.
Storm Benjamin making energy cheaper on Friday evening.
Tell everyone you know - there’s a #FREEELECTRICITY SESSION TOMORROW!!!
📆 9-10pm Fri 24th October (yes, in the evening)
⚡️ Extra power is free
✅ Octoplus members, emails on the way
🤳 Share your pics to show us what you get up to
📆 9-10pm Fri 24th October (yes, in the evening)
⚡️ Extra power is free
✅ Octoplus members, emails on the way
🤳 Share your pics to show us what you get up to
October 23, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Storm Benjamin making energy cheaper on Friday evening.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
We joined our friends from SPACE for Fenham and Arthur's Hill on their Glow ride last night as part of the
@cyclinguk.bsky.social "My ride. Our right" campaign. Find out what is was about and see pictures from the event in the video and gallery below 👇🏻
@cyclinguk.bsky.social "My ride. Our right" campaign. Find out what is was about and see pictures from the event in the video and gallery below 👇🏻
Participants called for safer streets and better cycling infrastructure, especially for women riding after dark
Toby the Jack Russell among the cyclists lit up for a 'Glow Ride' in Newcastle
Toby the Jack Russell among the cyclists lit up for a 'Glow Ride' in Newcastle
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
We joined our friends from SPACE for Fenham and Arthur's Hill on their Glow ride last night as part of the
@cyclinguk.bsky.social "My ride. Our right" campaign. Find out what is was about and see pictures from the event in the video and gallery below 👇🏻
@cyclinguk.bsky.social "My ride. Our right" campaign. Find out what is was about and see pictures from the event in the video and gallery below 👇🏻
Reposted by Mark Nelson
Lights and spooky costumes at the ready for the @ntstreetlife.bsky.social Hallowe’en takeover.
October 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Lights and spooky costumes at the ready for the @ntstreetlife.bsky.social Hallowe’en takeover.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
![1
Nurse:
It’s become a real problem in this area
2
Nurse:
We’ve seen the whole community lost to addiction
3
Show a building sign posted:
Westminster ‘X’ Addiction Clinic
With various Westminster people or looking at their phones outside it
Nurse:
Ministers, Spads, Researchers…
4
Nurse:
Most mornings we’ll get a call about someone acting strangely
[Nurse on phone taking a call]
Ok - we’ll be right over
5
Nurse:
We just have a gentle chat
[Nurses approach a minister –Robert Jenrick? - standing in the Palace of Westminster
Minister:
I understand your concerns…
6
Nurse:
Are you OK love?
Minister:
Yes I’m just hearing legitimate concerns from real voters
7
Nurse:
That’s a robot, a Nazi and a poorly-disguised Russian
[Show that the people he is talking to are precisely these characters]
Nurse 2:
Give us your phone, love
8
Nurse:
At the clinic we put them in a Grass-Touching Pod, with a real voter to talk to
[We see them back at the clinic, holding the minister's head and pushing him into a glass isolation booth with a grass floor. And it is a baffled looking woman, on a chair, ready to talk to him.]
9
Minister:
YOU MUST BE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING CIVIL WAR
[woman looks baffled]
10
woman:
I just want a bus service
Minister:
LOOK AT MY FLAG
[produces a St George's flag]
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreicahofq6s4xow7vowj7dx6odw6ejdwr4kwcmzta7qwi4hg2nvywji@jpeg)
There's a phone in on BBC Newcastle about roads. Apparently it took somebody an hour to get across the Tyne Bridge and along the Central Motorway last week. That's about twice as long as it actually took everybody else at busiest times.
No challenge though, just 'it's bad for cars everywhere' 🙄
No challenge though, just 'it's bad for cars everywhere' 🙄
October 20, 2025 at 8:19 AM
There's a phone in on BBC Newcastle about roads. Apparently it took somebody an hour to get across the Tyne Bridge and along the Central Motorway last week. That's about twice as long as it actually took everybody else at busiest times.
No challenge though, just 'it's bad for cars everywhere' 🙄
No challenge though, just 'it's bad for cars everywhere' 🙄
Reposted by Mark Nelson
All this talk of self-sacrifice to save the planet makes me grind my teeth. Sustainability is cool, so let's do good things excellently.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/if-sustainab...
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/if-sustainab...
If Sustainability is a sacrifice, you're doing it wrong - Terra Infirma
It’s about 30 months since we sold our family car. Do I miss it? Very occasionally. Certainly not day to day, or even week to week. The main challenge is our usual holiday of a couple of weeks in a re...
www.terrainfirma.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
All this talk of self-sacrifice to save the planet makes me grind my teeth. Sustainability is cool, so let's do good things excellently.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/if-sustainab...
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/if-sustainab...
Reposted by Mark Nelson
First newsletter published! simple.ghost.io/what-seems-t...
If you like this sort of thing, sign up for more
If you like this sort of thing, sign up for more
What Seems to be the Problem?
Can we make any progress on transport while we don't recognise there's a problem to be solved and can't recognise solutions?
simple.ghost.io
October 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
First newsletter published! simple.ghost.io/what-seems-t...
If you like this sort of thing, sign up for more
If you like this sort of thing, sign up for more
It's been a beautiful autumnal day for a ride to Capheaton.
I'm glad a managed to get out after a failed attempt yesterday.
I'm glad a managed to get out after a failed attempt yesterday.
October 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
It's been a beautiful autumnal day for a ride to Capheaton.
I'm glad a managed to get out after a failed attempt yesterday.
I'm glad a managed to get out after a failed attempt yesterday.
Reposted by Mark Nelson
In October 2022 modal filters were installed on streets in Heaton as part of a trial.
Thanks to a permanent traffic counter it was possible to see what effect that had on one of the boundary roads.
Traffic was down every week, by ~500 vehicles per day.
Then the filters were removed...
1/3
Thanks to a permanent traffic counter it was possible to see what effect that had on one of the boundary roads.
Traffic was down every week, by ~500 vehicles per day.
Then the filters were removed...
1/3
October 11, 2025 at 10:23 AM
In October 2022 modal filters were installed on streets in Heaton as part of a trial.
Thanks to a permanent traffic counter it was possible to see what effect that had on one of the boundary roads.
Traffic was down every week, by ~500 vehicles per day.
Then the filters were removed...
1/3
Thanks to a permanent traffic counter it was possible to see what effect that had on one of the boundary roads.
Traffic was down every week, by ~500 vehicles per day.
Then the filters were removed...
1/3
The last student house I lived in for catalogue of church essentials through the door which included wine.
We did consider ordering some as it was pretty cheap, but I think decided it wasn't strong enough in the end (and also wasn't beer 🙄) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We did consider ordering some as it was pretty cheap, but I think decided it wasn't strong enough in the end (and also wasn't beer 🙄) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kenyan Catholic Church drops Mass wine after it becomes common in bars - BBC News
The previous brand was said to have lost its sanctity due to its widespread use outside the church.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The last student house I lived in for catalogue of church essentials through the door which included wine.
We did consider ordering some as it was pretty cheap, but I think decided it wasn't strong enough in the end (and also wasn't beer 🙄) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We did consider ordering some as it was pretty cheap, but I think decided it wasn't strong enough in the end (and also wasn't beer 🙄) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
¾ of a billion pounds to change a junction, that won't fix queues on the A189 and just moves the queues on the A19 to the next junction, which then needs fixing too, contributing to the enormous cost.
That's the cost of two and a bit Northumberland Lines (currently still not fully open).
That's the cost of two and a bit Northumberland Lines (currently still not fully open).
October 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
¾ of a billion pounds to change a junction, that won't fix queues on the A189 and just moves the queues on the A19 to the next junction, which then needs fixing too, contributing to the enormous cost.
That's the cost of two and a bit Northumberland Lines (currently still not fully open).
That's the cost of two and a bit Northumberland Lines (currently still not fully open).