Monday, 17 January 2011
Friday, 19 November 2010
Helmets
Super stuff on bike helmets and other things here: http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/
Monday, 1 November 2010
Increasing modal share
The BMJ has published this: Interventions to promote cycling: systematic review
All very interesting - if you think that a couple of percentage points difference or less in cycling a few journeys a month is important.
There is a startling fact in this paper, but it is not the primary reason for publication, and doesn't leap out. The base rates for cycling reported here, as modal share (proportion of all trips), in the Netherlands is around 40%. In Denmark it's >20%. In the UK we sit at 2% (http://www.velo-city2009.com/assets/files/VC09-ECF-facts-and- figures.pdf).
Why are these rates so different? The obvious difference is infrastructure. Cycling facilities in the UK are risible. Compare them to those in Denmark and Holland, with their focus on subjective safety.
Unless there is investment in such a system in the UK, rates will continue to stagnate, as the population will remain convinced that cycling is an activity for lycra-clad athletes in hi-viz clothing and body armour, weaving in-and-out in hostile traffic conditions. Fine for the committed (no pun intended), but mass cycling will need more to be realised.
Sadly the governments lack of vision, as evidenced by the demise of Cycling England, and the low ambition of UK cycling organizations, mean this is unlikely to improve anytime soon.
All very interesting - if you think that a couple of percentage points difference or less in cycling a few journeys a month is important.
There is a startling fact in this paper, but it is not the primary reason for publication, and doesn't leap out. The base rates for cycling reported here, as modal share (proportion of all trips), in the Netherlands is around 40%. In Denmark it's >20%. In the UK we sit at 2% (http://www.velo-city2009.com/assets/files/VC09-ECF-facts-and- figures.pdf).
Why are these rates so different? The obvious difference is infrastructure. Cycling facilities in the UK are risible. Compare them to those in Denmark and Holland, with their focus on subjective safety.
Unless there is investment in such a system in the UK, rates will continue to stagnate, as the population will remain convinced that cycling is an activity for lycra-clad athletes in hi-viz clothing and body armour, weaving in-and-out in hostile traffic conditions. Fine for the committed (no pun intended), but mass cycling will need more to be realised.
Sadly the governments lack of vision, as evidenced by the demise of Cycling England, and the low ambition of UK cycling organizations, mean this is unlikely to improve anytime soon.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Bedruthan response
Response arrived from the hotel, within 24hrs, and suggests someone has already considered the issue at least:
Dear M. LReaN,
Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to me by our reservations team.
For the record we are totally in agreement with your comments and for this exact reason we are currently in the process of designing a new web page where our guests can now click on ‘accepting terms & conditions’ and also provide other information/requests relating to their stay. We are implementing this as we believe it will be better for the environment and also more convenient for our guests. We are continually looking at ways in which we can improve our practices and guest feedback plays a huge part in this so we are really grateful for your comments.
In the meantime until the new webpage link is up and running I will ask the reservations team to alter the wording on their confirmation letters.
Please do not hesitate to contact me personally should you require any further assistance and we look forward to welcoming you to Bedruthan on Friday.
Kind regards
Mandy Dunn
Rooms Operations Manager
Bedruthan Steps Hotel
Dear M. LReaN,
Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to me by our reservations team.
For the record we are totally in agreement with your comments and for this exact reason we are currently in the process of designing a new web page where our guests can now click on ‘accepting terms & conditions’ and also provide other information/requests relating to their stay. We are implementing this as we believe it will be better for the environment and also more convenient for our guests. We are continually looking at ways in which we can improve our practices and guest feedback plays a huge part in this so we are really grateful for your comments.
In the meantime until the new webpage link is up and running I will ask the reservations team to alter the wording on their confirmation letters.
Please do not hesitate to contact me personally should you require any further assistance and we look forward to welcoming you to Bedruthan on Friday.
Kind regards
Mandy Dunn
Rooms Operations Manager
Bedruthan Steps Hotel
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Environmental hypocrisy
M. et Mme LReaN are off for a lovely break at the weekend. I'm attending a conference and we're staying at the Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Cornwall. Looks lovely, and it should be for the eye-wateringly expensive price tag.
We've already paid a hefty deposit to confirm the booking, but were asked to print, sign and send an additional confirmation document e-mailed after making the booking. It's 5 pages long. That's FIVE pages. And it includes this gem:
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OPT OUT OF THIS SCHEME PLEASE TICK HERE □
For more information please see www.bedruthan.com/hotel/responsible-travel or call our Sustainability Manager on (01637) 861203
Marvellous! So, print 5 pages (paper, ink), post (innumerable costs, but it's got to go a few hundred miles from here, although these are shared...) and lie back thinking what a good environmental type you are.
I sent an e-mail back:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Having made a booking to stay at your hotel this weekend, I was struck by the £5 environmental charge which would be added to my bill unless I opted out. I found this on page 4 of a 5 page document which I was asked to print out and and send to the hotel to confirm our booking.
I thought that by not printing and sending this document the savings in paper, ink and transport costs would be substantial. Indeed, if you were to no longer ask for 5 page confirmation documents from subsequent guests, you would make a very significant environmental benefit at absolutely no cost to anyone.
I think that in my case, payment of a £!!! deposit can be confidently taken as a confirmation of booking.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks,
M. LReaN
Answers posted soon.
We've already paid a hefty deposit to confirm the booking, but were asked to print, sign and send an additional confirmation document e-mailed after making the booking. It's 5 pages long. That's FIVE pages. And it includes this gem:
GUEST GIFTING SCHEME: Bedruthan is committed to promoting sustainable tourism. To aid us in this we will automatically add an additional £5.00 to your accommodation booking, which will go directly to support your choice of one of the following causes:
Carbon offset with co2 balance □ Surfers Against Sewage □ The Community Fund □
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OPT OUT OF THIS SCHEME PLEASE TICK HERE □
For more information please see www.bedruthan.com/hotel/responsible-travel or call our Sustainability Manager on (01637) 861203
Marvellous! So, print 5 pages (paper, ink), post (innumerable costs, but it's got to go a few hundred miles from here, although these are shared...) and lie back thinking what a good environmental type you are.
I sent an e-mail back:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Having made a booking to stay at your hotel this weekend, I was struck by the £5 environmental charge which would be added to my bill unless I opted out. I found this on page 4 of a 5 page document which I was asked to print out and and send to the hotel to confirm our booking.
I thought that by not printing and sending this document the savings in paper, ink and transport costs would be substantial. Indeed, if you were to no longer ask for 5 page confirmation documents from subsequent guests, you would make a very significant environmental benefit at absolutely no cost to anyone.
I think that in my case, payment of a £!!! deposit can be confidently taken as a confirmation of booking.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Many thanks,
M. LReaN
Answers posted soon.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Space on the Roads
Frequently heard: Dutch/Danish infrastructure isn't possible in the UK, we don't have the space.
Nice pictures: http://bit.ly/acKL1Z
Nice pictures: http://bit.ly/acKL1Z
Thursday, 15 July 2010
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