The Ranty Highwayman
@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
A highway engineer's adventures in time & space. The street is not too narrow your imagination is too narrow | Independent sustainable mobility design specialist | Better streets & places | Runs @cityinfinity.bsky.social | https://linktr.ee/rantyhighwayman
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#HelloBluesky, I'm Mark, a civil & highway engineer with nearly 30 years experience, with the last decade as a specialist in sustainable mobility design. I'm a freelancer at @cityinfinity.bsky.social.
I post about highways & transport, often with Opinions.
Also homebrewing, silly films and snark.
I post about highways & transport, often with Opinions.
Also homebrewing, silly films and snark.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Chapel St East now open! 😍🚶♀️👨🦽➡️🛴🚲🚌🚛
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Chapel St East now open! 😍🚶♀️👨🦽➡️🛴🚲🚌🚛
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Useless, ineffective, ignores the laws of physics and don't easily fit on the sidewalk.
But enough about Doug Ford.
#SignMakeItBetter
globalnews.ca/news/1154479...
But enough about Doug Ford.
#SignMakeItBetter
globalnews.ca/news/1154479...
New Ontario school zone signs too big to fit on poles, cities say | Globalnews.ca
Cities say the signs sent to replace speed cameras are too big. The transportation minister believes they should be able to 'figure out how to install a sign.'
globalnews.ca
November 27, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Useless, ineffective, ignores the laws of physics and don't easily fit on the sidewalk.
But enough about Doug Ford.
#SignMakeItBetter
globalnews.ca/news/1154479...
But enough about Doug Ford.
#SignMakeItBetter
globalnews.ca/news/1154479...
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
JUST REPHASE THE LIGHTS!
Rejected petition: "Change the frequency of traffic lights in high-traffic areas like harpurhey"
#RejectedPetition
#RejectedPetition
Rejected petition: Change the frequency of traffic lights in high-traffic areas like harpurhey
Have a look at the frequency of traffic lights and compare it to the rate of traffic and see if removing certain traffic lights will help reduce the size of traffic jams
petition.parliament.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:23 PM
JUST REPHASE THE LIGHTS!
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
A green bicycle priority street in the Netherlands
November 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A green bicycle priority street in the Netherlands
Big news from Wales.
Side road zebra crossings as an option where both roads are 20mph are on their way 🦓
Another tool in the box, but I'd recommend contextual use because they are not a universal solution.
www.gov.wales/written-stat...
Side road zebra crossings as an option where both roads are 20mph are on their way 🦓
Another tool in the box, but I'd recommend contextual use because they are not a universal solution.
www.gov.wales/written-stat...
Written Statement: Side Road Zebra Crossings in Wales | GOV.WALES
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
www.gov.wales
November 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Big news from Wales.
Side road zebra crossings as an option where both roads are 20mph are on their way 🦓
Another tool in the box, but I'd recommend contextual use because they are not a universal solution.
www.gov.wales/written-stat...
Side road zebra crossings as an option where both roads are 20mph are on their way 🦓
Another tool in the box, but I'd recommend contextual use because they are not a universal solution.
www.gov.wales/written-stat...
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
KEEP OUT (1972): A masterclass in shocking minimalism, this 15 second PIF warning kids of the dangers of messing about by train tracks leaves its horrors to the imagination. I have vivid memories of this one popping up during kid's shows on ITV!
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
KEEP OUT (1972): A masterclass in shocking minimalism, this 15 second PIF warning kids of the dangers of messing about by train tracks leaves its horrors to the imagination. I have vivid memories of this one popping up during kid's shows on ITV!
So usual #Budget discourse then? Some winners and some losers?
(I tend to wait for proper analysis a few days after TBH. If I can be bothered.)
(I tend to wait for proper analysis a few days after TBH. If I can be bothered.)
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
So usual #Budget discourse then? Some winners and some losers?
(I tend to wait for proper analysis a few days after TBH. If I can be bothered.)
(I tend to wait for proper analysis a few days after TBH. If I can be bothered.)
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Today is not just #Budget day, it's also UN World #SustainableTransport Day.
We're calling on the Government to support public and shared transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, which have all these benefits and more.
We're calling on the Government to support public and shared transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, which have all these benefits and more.
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Today is not just #Budget day, it's also UN World #SustainableTransport Day.
We're calling on the Government to support public and shared transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, which have all these benefits and more.
We're calling on the Government to support public and shared transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, which have all these benefits and more.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
In Goodwin Curve news, @willhaycardiff.bsky.social's latest newsletter notes how the immediate aftermath of the Welsh 20 mph speed limits saw a petition raise 400,000 signatures. Today, a second petition has just 2387 signatures
November 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
In Goodwin Curve news, @willhaycardiff.bsky.social's latest newsletter notes how the immediate aftermath of the Welsh 20 mph speed limits saw a petition raise 400,000 signatures. Today, a second petition has just 2387 signatures
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
In the November edition of Highways Magazine, @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social reflects on the good news that walking rates seem to have stabilised since Covid and they have increased after a decline of a few years.
Digital edition here:
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader...
Digital edition here:
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader...
November 26, 2025 at 8:51 AM
In the November edition of Highways Magazine, @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social reflects on the good news that walking rates seem to have stabilised since Covid and they have increased after a decline of a few years.
Digital edition here:
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader...
Digital edition here:
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader...
Me arguing with someone on Arsebook about why 20mph is a safer urban speed limit and should not just be outside schools for part of the day.
Then:
"It was about speed limits outside schools and nothing to do with physics."
Welcome to Wednesday folks.
Then:
"It was about speed limits outside schools and nothing to do with physics."
Welcome to Wednesday folks.
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Me arguing with someone on Arsebook about why 20mph is a safer urban speed limit and should not just be outside schools for part of the day.
Then:
"It was about speed limits outside schools and nothing to do with physics."
Welcome to Wednesday folks.
Then:
"It was about speed limits outside schools and nothing to do with physics."
Welcome to Wednesday folks.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Checkmate!
Wait, wait, what is that? Cars are a 19th Century technology, too?
Wait, wait, what is that? Cars are a 19th Century technology, too?
November 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Checkmate!
Wait, wait, what is that? Cars are a 19th Century technology, too?
Wait, wait, what is that? Cars are a 19th Century technology, too?
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
This is going to ring true to this guy’s idiot fan base because it’s largely true. Timing may not make any difference to the allegations but it’s true we are now getting a very late, very isolated bout of Noticing Things that could and should have been noticed many years earlier.
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This is going to ring true to this guy’s idiot fan base because it’s largely true. Timing may not make any difference to the allegations but it’s true we are now getting a very late, very isolated bout of Noticing Things that could and should have been noticed many years earlier.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Take the "evidence" that underpins large swathes of traffic engineering. PV2 anyone?
Expect normal people in all walks of life to believe pseudoscience, paranormal claims, and conspiracy theories. Most people do! But everyone’s different too. One might believe in ghosts, but not Bigfoot, or vice versa. Some people believe a ton such claims, some only believe one or two. Zero is rare
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Take the "evidence" that underpins large swathes of traffic engineering. PV2 anyone?
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
A tax on pre-Budget think pieces would be a good idea.
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A tax on pre-Budget think pieces would be a good idea.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
🤝 When you join LCC, you're not just getting all the benefits that come with membership, you're also directly funding work to campaign for a London that everyone can cycle in...
🛒 So, enjoy 33% off LCC Membership this Black Friday, and become one of our 12,000 members: bit.ly/3KmhV46
🛒 So, enjoy 33% off LCC Membership this Black Friday, and become one of our 12,000 members: bit.ly/3KmhV46
November 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
🤝 When you join LCC, you're not just getting all the benefits that come with membership, you're also directly funding work to campaign for a London that everyone can cycle in...
🛒 So, enjoy 33% off LCC Membership this Black Friday, and become one of our 12,000 members: bit.ly/3KmhV46
🛒 So, enjoy 33% off LCC Membership this Black Friday, and become one of our 12,000 members: bit.ly/3KmhV46
Paddington to Stratford on the Elizabeth Line at 6pm.
Such Hell on Earth, I expected Pinhead and his CD Face Launching mate to get on.
Such Hell on Earth, I expected Pinhead and his CD Face Launching mate to get on.
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Paddington to Stratford on the Elizabeth Line at 6pm.
Such Hell on Earth, I expected Pinhead and his CD Face Launching mate to get on.
Such Hell on Earth, I expected Pinhead and his CD Face Launching mate to get on.
Reposted by The Ranty Highwayman
When cities build protected cycle tracks, families don’t have to choose between safety and freedom. Kids can ride on their own, dads can hang back, and everyone gets where they’re going safely and comfortably. Safe infrastructure turns everyday trips into independence, not stress, yo!
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
When cities build protected cycle tracks, families don’t have to choose between safety and freedom. Kids can ride on their own, dads can hang back, and everyone gets where they’re going safely and comfortably. Safe infrastructure turns everyday trips into independence, not stress, yo!