Cargo Bike Ben

Cargo Bike Ben

@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Utility cycling & active travel advocate. Passionate about ending car dependency (not banning cars), reducing urban sprawl + how bikes are the easiest and most cost effective way to achieve that. Former journalist turned software developer. r/fuckcars mod

2K followers737 following3.3K posts

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Every supermarket should be required to provide parking for bicycles within clear visibility of the front of the store. Otherwise, people end up making their own parking. This store does have bike parking, but it’s behind the store in the perfect place for a bike thief to operate in private.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Victim blaming season is back, alongside darker evenings and mornings. But perhaps it’s time to recognise that like “cities aren’t loud; cars are loud”, our roads aren’t dangerous by themselves. It’s the motor vehicles on them that create the danger and that perhaps it’s time to address the source.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

If you’re looking for the perfect costume this year, dress in black bib tights and a black long sleeve jersey with black gloves on… Hey presto, Schrodinger’s Cyclist. Both invisible all in black, and clearly visible that they’re not in the fucking bike lane.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Michael Burchert
@michaelburchert.bsky.social

A big thing that Lula won in Brazil. Eat shit AfD, MAGA and all the other blown up by bots and tech bro 5% minority death cultists. People want sustainable living conditions.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Tom Flood
@tomflood.bsky.social

Wellington,NZ knows what’s up. Street projections ahead of my talk in a couple weeks.🔥🔥🔥 📸 @axleryde.bsky.social

The Journal@thejournal.ie

Assistant Garda Commissioner Denis Ferry said "all pedestrians" including in urban areas should wear high visibility clothing. "I think you should do everything you can to ensure you're visible," he said. www.thejournal.ie/driving-phon...

thejournal.ieMinister tells drivers to put phones in glove box, while gardaí say city pedestrians need high-visSeán Canney said he will receive a plan for reform of the beleaguered Road Safety Authority within weeks.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

🕸️ Cobweb Curtains For Zoosha 🦇
@brianvan.bsky.social

Replying to @brianvan.bsky.social

The article goes as far to ask if the cyclists were deserving because they were taking the lane - which is not a real question on several levels. Taking the lane is legal, and hitting a person committing a traffic violation with a car *on purpose* is attempted murder. News editors believe otherwise?

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Fuddle Duddle 🦫 ℕ𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟙
@tkocyla.bsky.social

Replying to @twseal.bsky.social

Actively bankrolling Alberta separatists, let alone years of infecting Canadian conservatives with their vacuous slogans, nihilistic policies, degenerate values, and sadistic nativism. These assholes left their fingerprints all over Canadian politics and now blame us for interference? FUCK THEM!!!

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Bike parking on station platforms - instead of investing in secure parking for large scale multi-modal transportation - seems to be one of those weird British quirks. I mean I suppose it’s more secure that expecting them to lock them outside the station but still…

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social
Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social

SCOOP: 'Tommy' from the now-viral exchange with Abdul El-Sayed is Thomas Teepell, a former staffer for Republican Senator Josh Hawley with close ties to Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht. He's the son of a former Bobby Jindal staffer whose consultant work was instrumental in getting Hawley elected.

thehandbasket.co'Tommy' from viral El-Sayed video is former Sen. Hawley staffer with Christian nationalist tiesThomas Teepell is the son of a former long-time Bobby Jindal staffer who's close to Sean Feucht.
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

While it's positive that MPs appear to be finally aiming to tackle the emoto problem at the source, it's incredibly disappointing to see some still insist on calling them "illegal ebikes". To be clear. Under UK law, there is no such thing.

View full thread
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

The real issue with authority figures like Scott Arthur MP and others using the term "illegal e-bike" is that it frames the problem around the idea of non-complaint bicycles. That is not the case. We are talking about motor vehicles used otherwise in accordance with the law.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Using the word e-bike to do with any kind of discussion around enforcement against illegally operated motor vehicles creates confusion and deliberately implies that bicycles are the problem.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

While it's positive that MPs appear to be finally aiming to tackle the emoto problem at the source, it's incredibly disappointing to see some still insist on calling them "illegal ebikes". To be clear. Under UK law, there is no such thing.

View full thread
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

And yet, MPs like Scott Arthur don't just continue to use the legally incorrect and confusing term; they double down on it. They need to understand a) they are wrong. b) the term is only "understood" because authority figures like himself continue to use a phrases that has no legal grounding.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

While it's positive that MPs appear to be finally aiming to tackle the emoto problem at the source, it's incredibly disappointing to see some still insist on calling them "illegal ebikes". To be clear. Under UK law, there is no such thing.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

It either complies with EAPC regulations, in which case it is an ebike, or it is a motor vehicle. There is no grey area in the eyes of the law. So anything that exceeds the limits placed on it by those regulations is an emoto/electric motorcycle; not an ebike.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social

WATCH: Seriously, if you’re following ANY bike-lane debate, you really should watch and share this excellent news story. Ford LIES that bike-lanes are bad for small business, and THE ACTUAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION obliterates him with data. Remember and share this as Ford tears out Toronto bike-lanes.

toronto.citynews.caAnnex businesses tell Ford to back off Bloor bike lanesStores in the Annex say the Bloor bike lanes have been a big boost to business. As Michelle Mackey reports, the neighborhood's BIA wants the province to back off its new bill that could see the lanes removed.
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Mersey Ferries are now on day five of no cross river service. Just a reminder that Merseyrail’s official position is that those using ebikes for transport can still cross the river using the ferry. What ferry? It isn’t an alternative. Ban the ban now.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Observing The City
@observingthecity.ca

Construction trucks leaving Bloor and Islington area after being successfully deterred from starting work on removing bike lanes in Toronto by a large protest.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike
@gazza-d.eurosky.social

Any driver who claims those signs are misleading or unclear needs to take an extended retest. The UK should introduce yearly online testing (pass or insurance goes up or is cancelled) and practical tests for when photocard driving licences need renewing.

HumanTravl@humantravl.bsky.social

The signs look pretty clear to me …

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Adam Tranter
@adamtranter.bsky.social

Of nearly 19,000 driving violations captured over two weeks, precisely zero drivers were prosecuted. This is because there isn't enough back-office capacity at West Midlands Police, and the process to issue fines hasn't kept pace with camera tech. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.comAI cameras spot nearly 19,000 road offences in West MidlandsCaptured images include a front-seat passenger holding a small child on her lap without a seatbelt.
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Mersey Ferries stellar and robust service once again demonstrating why #Merseyrail’s planned #ebike ban is unworkable. Right now, if it was being enforced, the only route across the Mersey for someone using an ebike for transportation would be a 70km/44mi detour via the Runcorn Bridge.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Jij bent niet van suiker gemaakt and all, but I'm still texting my wife to have the garage door open when the heaven open and I'm on the way back from the shop on the bakfiets so I can do an emergency rain evacuation 😂

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

I was recently having a "debate" With someone on Reddit about charging for drop-offs. Unsurprisingly, after their argument had been dismantled, they inevitably pivoted to the "Oh, but what about vulnerable people" red herring we've all seen countless times in debates about parking charges or LTNs.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

I cannot express how tired I am of some people (often motorists) trying to use this bullshit argument to avoid having to accept their position is wrong and change their mind. Just do what I do. When I'm presented with evidence that shows I'm wrong, I change my position. But apparently that's hard.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

London Cycling Campaign
@londoncycling.bsky.social

Good to see gig economy companies calling for bans on dodgy conversion kits which turn cycles into street illegal electric motorbikes that go over ebike max assist speed of 15.5mph and/or don't need pedalling. Excellent piece for @cyclingelectric.bsky.social by @marksuttonbike.bsky.social...

Mark Sutton@marksuttonbike.bsky.social

Under pressure Deliveroo calls for a ban on ‘e-bike’ conversion kits - will run speed checks on vehicles through its app and ban regular offenders. Good to see the heat being applied is having an effect on bringing about some responsibility: www.cyclingelectric.com/news/deliver...

cyclingelectric.comUnder pressure Deliveroo calls for ban on ‘e-bike’ conversion kitsFood delivery giant Deliveroo has called on the Government to ban the sale of so-called unsafe 'e-bike' conversion kits as
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that the org behind the FOI request is ran by and for business owners; many of whom are now in the uncomfortable position of no longer being able to pay staff less because they could freeload off subsidised on street parking.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Evidence has shown time and time again, when you have subsided parking and no time limits (as was the case with Liverpool after 6pm) it is overwhelmingly used by staff in local businesses and by residents avoiding paying for parking in their apartments; not by customers.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Repeat after me… The post-2021 inflation shock did not create Britain’s cost-of-living crisis. It exposed how little financial resilience households had left after decades of rising housing costs and compulsory transport expenditure due to car dependency and car-focused development patterns.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social

It’s remarkable how many people can move on a street when those people don’t feel the need to always take a massive car with them. Mobility in cities is about space.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Brandon - "Fietser"
@americanfietser.bsky.social

"Running errands by bike is not practical when you have children, especially with a baby." What's possible in life is limited by the city you live in. When the infrastructure enables you, the options give you freedom.

Cargo Bike Ben reposted

Brandon - "Fietser"
@americanfietser.bsky.social

It's amazing how some people dehumanize others simply for choosing a transportation method that doesn't involve a car. They also hate traffic and other drivers, while simultaneously seething with rage at anyone walking, cycling, or proposing we fund better public transit.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

These are not ebikes, for fucks sake. They’re electric motorbikes and if the police are selling on motor vehicles with no type approval, that’s the real fucking story @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social. They should be crushed; not put back onto the streets to be seized again.

bbc.co.ukE-bikes seized by police sold on at auction, BBC findsThousands are confiscated annually because they are suspected of being driven illegally or used in a crime - most are destroyed, but last year police sold at least 161.
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

Carbon Brief’s current figures are about 20.1p/mile for petrol, 21p/mile for diesel, 7p/mile for an EV charged at the household price cap, and 2.3p/mile for an EV on a cheap off-peak tariff. The “9x times cheaper” headline is specifically the comparison between ~21p and the 2.3p off-peak EV figure.

Dr Paul Dorfman@drpauldorfman.bsky.social

EVs are now nine times cheaper than petrol or diesel to drive in the UK. www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-evs...

carbonbrief.orgAnalysis: EVs are now nine times cheaper than petrol or diesel to drive in the UK  - Carbon BriefThe latest surge in fossil-fuel prices means it is now up to nine times cheaper in the UK to drive an electric vehicle (EV) than a petrol or diesel car, shows Carbon Brief analysis.
Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

On the same cheap off-peak electricity rate used in the EV comparison, an ebike costs roughly 0.14 pence per mile in energy. That compares with about 2.3 pence per mile for an EV, 20.1 pence for petrol, and 21 pence for diesel. Even on a standard rate, an ebike costs around ~0.43p per mile.

Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social

So using the same off peak figure, an ebike is about 16 times cheaper than an EV, 144 times cheaper than petrol, and 150 times cheaper than diesel to power per mile. It’s a pity that Carbon Brief failed to highlight that fact.