Having said that, a counter-word. The article gave a figure for percentage of Tube journeys currently paid by cash. It was extremely small, in the low single digits. An equally if not more valid figure would be the percentage of people who never or very rarely travel by Tube but would do so if it were easy to pay by cash. This would be hard to ascertain though, I think many people would tend to say "Of course I'd take the Tube if only I could (pay by cash/take my dog/get a free ice cream)" but would not actually take the opportunity if it were there. You could, I suppose, look at the percentages for something more easily ascertained, eg supermarket takings, and make some extrapolation.

They haven't taken cash on buses for years, AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), so this seems a logical step. I don't think the concerns raised of fare evasion are realistic; it's getting through the barriers without paying that constitutes fare evasion, not the handing over of cash. Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) and contactless mean most people won't have a physical ticket anyway (if they still exist?) so nothing changes there.

The concern about the unbanked, of which school children probably constitute the largest section, is more realistic IMO^▸ (in my opinion). But as the article says, cash will still be taken for Oyster at shops. This is the way many public transport systems have operated for decades, since before card payment was common and contactless payments were even invented, so it's not really a problem. And those same kids have somehow been travelling by cashless bus all this time.

Well if we're reminiscing about guard's vans... I remember aged about 18 or 19 riding my bicycle to Cheltenham in brilliant sunshine. While I was there the heavens opened, thunder and lightning, dancing rain drops and all. So I decided to get the train back. Put my bike in the guard's van. Got out at Stroud, walked along the platform to the guard's van and there were two bikes in it. Neither of them mine. Panic! Some thief at Gloucester or Stonehouse has walked off with my bike! "Yours is in the other van" said the guard. Yes, two guard's vans (but only one guard).  No buffet though.  This would have been the late 80s.

"We've painted some friendly bicycle symbols on the busy road to make friends with all the cars and lorries."
It looks like the the type of road that's annoyingly in between; not so busy you'd never consider it but not so quiet it's no problem, not so narrow that no one can overtake you until there's a decent gap in the traffic but not so wide they can just drive by ? leading to lots of irritating but not quite dangerous close passes and lots of frustrated bus and lorry drivers.

I'm no expert on e-bikes but I'm fairly sure there aren't any using the various types of rapid charging which e-cars have. They're just charged from a standard mains socket, which does the job in a reasonable time because the batteries are so much smaller than those in a car or van.

Great stuff! How did the small wheels of the folder ride compared to the more standard sized ones, especially on the gravel and stones of the towpath?

Also, I see that EZEGO has a sort of protective guard on the front chainring but if you find your trousers getting oily, you've got a number of options. You've probably worked them out by now anyway but in addition to trousers in socks, there are a variety of devices such as snap wraps, velcro bands and even bespoke leather bands designed to keep your trousers unsmirched. Though in this weather it might not make any difference...

Which means they tend to be a bit useless as bike spaces. Mind you the same applies to the similar spaces on Cross Country Voyagers, except that rather than luggage it tends to the cleaner's rubbish bag occupying those!

I haven't yet taken a bike on an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) but the frequent complaint I hear from friends who have is that the cycle spaces are as often as not taken up by general luggage. In fact it seems it is GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) policy that these spaces should be used as overflow luggage storage (is this right?), and perhaps because of the luggage rack installed, people do this anyway.

These vehicles exist and are being used on the roads. They're not even a new invention ? I first saw one about eight years ago (being ridden up the Gloucester Rd in Bristol). All that's new is the involvement of hire companies in addition to manufacturers and retailers. The sensible thing to do is to bring all slow, small, electrically powered vehicles, regardless of configuration of wheels and seats, under one set of regulations along the lines of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC^» (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles - webpage)) rules: 250W maximum, 25km/h cut out, no self-start, and some general fitness for purpose along the lines of BS6102 Pt1.

Legalisation would allow people to use them, or rather to carry on using them, and be covered by insurance if they cause a crash (many/most home insurance policies cover this) as well as be prosecuted for specific offences eg jumping red lights if necessary.


Edit:VickiS - Clarifying Abbreviation

The salutation serves a purpose, especially for the hard of hearing, to "start listening, I'm about to say something important."

Ouch! That stings but I'm trying to stay neutral.

There's a bloke I know in Birmingham who has several times ended up in the canals. It's worth pointing out this has almost always been on a Friday or Saturday night around about 11:30...

Well done them! It could have a useful future on lines which are difficult to electrify (whether for engineering or political reasons) though OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") surely remains the best choice overall.

Following on from the part night photocells Broadgage mentions, it would be clever if they learnt not only when the clocks change but which day of the week it is, so they can keep the lights on longer for the Friday/Saturday night revellers. 

Probably the most appropriate "on line" event ever! I'm in two minds as to whether to join "live".