Mark Nelson
@sphericalsquare.bsky.social
CTO in ecommerce, enjoys cycling & active travel.
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.
If you prefer you charts in a pie, it's even clearer.
November 13, 2025 at 8:42 AM
If you prefer you charts in a pie, it's even clearer.
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.
There's a few bus specific timing segments around the city (and beyond, but these are just Newcastle).
I've got an archive of the GNR and Chilli Road times, but others could be taken from the Urban Observatory if you know which roads should be affected.
I've got an archive of the GNR and Chilli Road times, but others could be taken from the Urban Observatory if you know which roads should be affected.
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
There's a few bus specific timing segments around the city (and beyond, but these are just Newcastle).
I've got an archive of the GNR and Chilli Road times, but others could be taken from the Urban Observatory if you know which roads should be affected.
I've got an archive of the GNR and Chilli Road times, but others could be taken from the Urban Observatory if you know which roads should be affected.
It's worth noting in the same time period there have also been:
12 collisions at Killingworth Way
10 collisions at Holystone
9 collisions at Dudley Lane
28 collisions between Silverlink and Moor Farm, not at junctions.
You can find all the data at dft.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
12 collisions at Killingworth Way
10 collisions at Holystone
9 collisions at Dudley Lane
28 collisions between Silverlink and Moor Farm, not at junctions.
You can find all the data at dft.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It's worth noting in the same time period there have also been:
12 collisions at Killingworth Way
10 collisions at Holystone
9 collisions at Dudley Lane
28 collisions between Silverlink and Moor Farm, not at junctions.
You can find all the data at dft.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
12 collisions at Killingworth Way
10 collisions at Holystone
9 collisions at Dudley Lane
28 collisions between Silverlink and Moor Farm, not at junctions.
You can find all the data at dft.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...
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).
Some drivers are 🔔🔚
October 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Some drivers are 🔔🔚
Sheffield often seems to suffer from awkward truncation.
October 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sheffield often seems to suffer from awkward truncation.
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' 🙄
Having said that, the first half hour wasn't that much fun.
Anybody who has to wear glasses and has cycled in fog will know know the pain of riding in fog (is it still foggy or do I just need to wipe my lenses, again 🤔🤷🏻♀️)
Anybody who has to wear glasses and has cycled in fog will know know the pain of riding in fog (is it still foggy or do I just need to wipe my lenses, again 🤔🤷🏻♀️)
October 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Having said that, the first half hour wasn't that much fun.
Anybody who has to wear glasses and has cycled in fog will know know the pain of riding in fog (is it still foggy or do I just need to wipe my lenses, again 🤔🤷🏻♀️)
Anybody who has to wear glasses and has cycled in fog will know know the pain of riding in fog (is it still foggy or do I just need to wipe my lenses, again 🤔🤷🏻♀️)
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.
The town right next to that junction has a very good cycle network in older parts of it. It hasn't been extended as the town has grown though, doesn't link to the hospital mentioned. There are no links across the duel carriageways surrounding the town either.
October 11, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The town right next to that junction has a very good cycle network in older parts of it. It hasn't been extended as the town has grown though, doesn't link to the hospital mentioned. There are no links across the duel carriageways surrounding the town either.
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).
All the ☀️ this year means my solar array had already generated more ⚡at the end of September than the whole of last year.
It also meant free energy for almost 6 months for the first time, missing out by £5:30, as exports covered imports, gas and standing charges from April onwards.
It also meant free energy for almost 6 months for the first time, missing out by £5:30, as exports covered imports, gas and standing charges from April onwards.
October 7, 2025 at 6:53 PM
All the ☀️ this year means my solar array had already generated more ⚡at the end of September than the whole of last year.
It also meant free energy for almost 6 months for the first time, missing out by £5:30, as exports covered imports, gas and standing charges from April onwards.
It also meant free energy for almost 6 months for the first time, missing out by £5:30, as exports covered imports, gas and standing charges from April onwards.
I've had an interesting morning at Northern Trains Heaton Train Maintenance Depo open day. Lots of train to see from a perspective you don't usually get and various stalls to explain things.
September 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I've had an interesting morning at Northern Trains Heaton Train Maintenance Depo open day. Lots of train to see from a perspective you don't usually get and various stalls to explain things.
Just pretending to drive a Pacer.
September 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Just pretending to drive a Pacer.
As it's the weekend, just for fun I looked at how the total number of Micras licenced to be on the road compares to the number of Range Rovers for the last ten years.
That's quite a lot of space lost in the cause of doing the same thing more excessively.
That's quite a lot of space lost in the cause of doing the same thing more excessively.
September 21, 2025 at 8:07 AM
As it's the weekend, just for fun I looked at how the total number of Micras licenced to be on the road compares to the number of Range Rovers for the last ten years.
That's quite a lot of space lost in the cause of doing the same thing more excessively.
That's quite a lot of space lost in the cause of doing the same thing more excessively.
September 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
On this mornings bike ride around Northumberland I stopped for my flapjack directly in line with the Tyne Bridge just as the Red Arrows were lining up to fly over it.
It was a fair way north. About 2 hours as the 🚲 rides, or about 2 minutes as the 🛩️flies.
There did seem to be a 🛩️missing though!
It was a fair way north. About 2 hours as the 🚲 rides, or about 2 minutes as the 🛩️flies.
There did seem to be a 🛩️missing though!
September 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
On this mornings bike ride around Northumberland I stopped for my flapjack directly in line with the Tyne Bridge just as the Red Arrows were lining up to fly over it.
It was a fair way north. About 2 hours as the 🚲 rides, or about 2 minutes as the 🛩️flies.
There did seem to be a 🛩️missing though!
It was a fair way north. About 2 hours as the 🚲 rides, or about 2 minutes as the 🛩️flies.
There did seem to be a 🛩️missing though!
Annual ride out to watch the Curlew Cup.
It was a beautiful morning for it, though a slight head wind on the Ryals won't have been that welcome for riders.
Here the riders have just climbed at 17% gradient.
It was a beautiful morning for it, though a slight head wind on the Ryals won't have been that welcome for riders.
Here the riders have just climbed at 17% gradient.
August 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Annual ride out to watch the Curlew Cup.
It was a beautiful morning for it, though a slight head wind on the Ryals won't have been that welcome for riders.
Here the riders have just climbed at 17% gradient.
It was a beautiful morning for it, though a slight head wind on the Ryals won't have been that welcome for riders.
Here the riders have just climbed at 17% gradient.
If you are a fan of quiet roads and tracks, it was a good route. I didn't see anybody for a couple of hours.
August 15, 2025 at 5:14 PM
If you are a fan of quiet roads and tracks, it was a good route. I didn't see anybody for a couple of hours.
I've had the day off, so went for a bike ride. There were a lot of very stern signs on the first bit.
It wasn't clear what the advice for cyclists was, but the flags weren't flying so I took some photos then rode off really quickly into Kielder Forest.
I did hear a loud explosion later on!
🛩️💣🚲
It wasn't clear what the advice for cyclists was, but the flags weren't flying so I took some photos then rode off really quickly into Kielder Forest.
I did hear a loud explosion later on!
🛩️💣🚲
August 15, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I've had the day off, so went for a bike ride. There were a lot of very stern signs on the first bit.
It wasn't clear what the advice for cyclists was, but the flags weren't flying so I took some photos then rode off really quickly into Kielder Forest.
I did hear a loud explosion later on!
🛩️💣🚲
It wasn't clear what the advice for cyclists was, but the flags weren't flying so I took some photos then rode off really quickly into Kielder Forest.
I did hear a loud explosion later on!
🛩️💣🚲
I can confirm this.
I cycled through the Lake District at the weekend. Some of the climbs are indeed a challenge, particularly on a fully loaded bike, but are well worth it for the bits in between.
Also, follow Anna's posts for a great chronicle of cycling the length of the county 👇🏽
I cycled through the Lake District at the weekend. Some of the climbs are indeed a challenge, particularly on a fully loaded bike, but are well worth it for the bits in between.
Also, follow Anna's posts for a great chronicle of cycling the length of the county 👇🏽
August 13, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I can confirm this.
I cycled through the Lake District at the weekend. Some of the climbs are indeed a challenge, particularly on a fully loaded bike, but are well worth it for the bits in between.
Also, follow Anna's posts for a great chronicle of cycling the length of the county 👇🏽
I cycled through the Lake District at the weekend. Some of the climbs are indeed a challenge, particularly on a fully loaded bike, but are well worth it for the bits in between.
Also, follow Anna's posts for a great chronicle of cycling the length of the county 👇🏽
I also went past an odd bit of road. It's on maps as far back as 1898 and due I guess to quirks of geology and topography is now between the north and southbound lanes of the M6. It doubled the distance to the next shop so I didn't ride the full length of it as hunger chose the direct route for me!
August 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I also went past an odd bit of road. It's on maps as far back as 1898 and due I guess to quirks of geology and topography is now between the north and southbound lanes of the M6. It doubled the distance to the next shop so I didn't ride the full length of it as hunger chose the direct route for me!
As you get further north things get a bit more dramatic, the quiet roads get very steep, and today the sun disappeared to be replaced by constant drizzle.
August 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
As you get further north things get a bit more dramatic, the quiet roads get very steep, and today the sun disappeared to be replaced by constant drizzle.