LancsCycleSam
@cyclesam.uk
Pinned
LancsCycleSam
@cyclesam.uk
· Nov 15
A short introduction post
Formerly known as MCRCycleSam I post about all things walking, cycling, and urbanism. Over the years I've been campaigning for infrastructure to help people get around actively
I named the "Sparrow" crossing, always fun to see the name popping up elsewhere in the country!
Formerly known as MCRCycleSam I post about all things walking, cycling, and urbanism. Over the years I've been campaigning for infrastructure to help people get around actively
I named the "Sparrow" crossing, always fun to see the name popping up elsewhere in the country!
Quotes for a full house heat pump with Octopus and Aira respectively.
This is for a relatively well insulated relatively modern house and after the £7.5k government grant is deducted. Meaning the total install costs are £11.5-£14.5k. Madness.
This is for a relatively well insulated relatively modern house and after the £7.5k government grant is deducted. Meaning the total install costs are £11.5-£14.5k. Madness.
November 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Quotes for a full house heat pump with Octopus and Aira respectively.
This is for a relatively well insulated relatively modern house and after the £7.5k government grant is deducted. Meaning the total install costs are £11.5-£14.5k. Madness.
This is for a relatively well insulated relatively modern house and after the £7.5k government grant is deducted. Meaning the total install costs are £11.5-£14.5k. Madness.
Good news although its quite bad optics especially if the fuel duty freeze is finally ended (which I'm in favour of) as it's seen at the Govt subsidising mostly SE/London rail commuters at the cost of everyone else who drives.
But at the end of the day we have to tax for the behaviour we want.
But at the end of the day we have to tax for the behaviour we want.
Interesting - a fares freeze at the national level for rail in England next year.
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Relief for rail passengers as fare freeze in England announced for 2026
Chancellor will confirm the measure, intended to help commuters on expensive routes, in her budget speech
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Good news although its quite bad optics especially if the fuel duty freeze is finally ended (which I'm in favour of) as it's seen at the Govt subsidising mostly SE/London rail commuters at the cost of everyone else who drives.
But at the end of the day we have to tax for the behaviour we want.
But at the end of the day we have to tax for the behaviour we want.
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
Talbot Rd, since the installation of those concrete blocks, cars now parking further up the road 🤬
November 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Talbot Rd, since the installation of those concrete blocks, cars now parking further up the road 🤬
Always thought a downside of the pegasus crossing was that cyclists and pedestrians had to share a crossing.
November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Always thought a downside of the pegasus crossing was that cyclists and pedestrians had to share a crossing.
We had these in Manchester and they were fantastic but were permanently removed after just a year. Such a shame.
After almost a year's absence, Cargoroo's yellow rental cargo bikes are back on Utrecht's streets.
Ideal for anyone who occasionally needs to transport something or someone and doesn't want to be dependent on a car.
The cargo bike fleet is expected to grow from the current 90 to 150 in 2026.
Ideal for anyone who occasionally needs to transport something or someone and doesn't want to be dependent on a car.
The cargo bike fleet is expected to grow from the current 90 to 150 in 2026.
November 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
We had these in Manchester and they were fantastic but were permanently removed after just a year. Such a shame.
This is an absolutely insane screenshot: two really important crossings of the Thames in East London and the lifts have shocking availability, one of which has been broken for over three years!
November 21, 2025 at 12:20 AM
This is an absolutely insane screenshot: two really important crossings of the Thames in East London and the lifts have shocking availability, one of which has been broken for over three years!
Outdoor temperature here has been chilly all day and now approaching -4 degrees C.
The heat pump has used a measly 4.2kWh of electricity to keep the downstairs at a toasty 20 degrees C all day.
Heat pumps keep you lovely and warm at extreme temps, despite what GB News would have you believe.
The heat pump has used a measly 4.2kWh of electricity to keep the downstairs at a toasty 20 degrees C all day.
Heat pumps keep you lovely and warm at extreme temps, despite what GB News would have you believe.
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Outdoor temperature here has been chilly all day and now approaching -4 degrees C.
The heat pump has used a measly 4.2kWh of electricity to keep the downstairs at a toasty 20 degrees C all day.
Heat pumps keep you lovely and warm at extreme temps, despite what GB News would have you believe.
The heat pump has used a measly 4.2kWh of electricity to keep the downstairs at a toasty 20 degrees C all day.
Heat pumps keep you lovely and warm at extreme temps, despite what GB News would have you believe.
I have a really radical idea:
Drivers shouldn't be able to drive through a damn park.
www.burnleyexpress.net/news/politic...
Drivers shouldn't be able to drive through a damn park.
www.burnleyexpress.net/news/politic...
Drivers hit 78mph in Towneley Park as council moves to bring in calming measures
Motorists using the roads through Towneley Park as a ‘rat run’ short cut have reached 78mph.
www.burnleyexpress.net
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I have a really radical idea:
Drivers shouldn't be able to drive through a damn park.
www.burnleyexpress.net/news/politic...
Drivers shouldn't be able to drive through a damn park.
www.burnleyexpress.net/news/politic...
Lots of complaining on the local facebook groups about roadworks. Some are for gas mains works and some are to improve public realm and walking/cycling.
Been going on for months and are, for the most part, entirely optional. The town is bypassed by a motorway and there are plenty of other routes.
Been going on for months and are, for the most part, entirely optional. The town is bypassed by a motorway and there are plenty of other routes.
November 18, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Lots of complaining on the local facebook groups about roadworks. Some are for gas mains works and some are to improve public realm and walking/cycling.
Been going on for months and are, for the most part, entirely optional. The town is bypassed by a motorway and there are plenty of other routes.
Been going on for months and are, for the most part, entirely optional. The town is bypassed by a motorway and there are plenty of other routes.
Just a £25 gas bill, 350kWh, (of which £9 was standing charge) for 15 Oct - 15 Nov. This is mostly hot water and the hob since the heating hasn't been on too much.
Partially thanks to the relatively mild weather (although it's been chillier up North than elsewhere) but also this heat pump.
Partially thanks to the relatively mild weather (although it's been chillier up North than elsewhere) but also this heat pump.
I recently self installed a mini split AC/Heat pump to my house and I'm amazed by the results. I can now renewably heat the living room at over 400% efficiency, which is comparable to gas prices even with daytime electric prices: overnight electric prices beat gas by a factor of 3 or 4.
November 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Just a £25 gas bill, 350kWh, (of which £9 was standing charge) for 15 Oct - 15 Nov. This is mostly hot water and the hob since the heating hasn't been on too much.
Partially thanks to the relatively mild weather (although it's been chillier up North than elsewhere) but also this heat pump.
Partially thanks to the relatively mild weather (although it's been chillier up North than elsewhere) but also this heat pump.
Gritter has just been past for the first time this season (I live on an infrequent bus route)
Expecting snow tomorrow!
Expecting snow tomorrow!
November 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Gritter has just been past for the first time this season (I live on an infrequent bus route)
Expecting snow tomorrow!
Expecting snow tomorrow!
Continuing the decarbonisation journey, I've found a new induction hob that will be a drop in replacement for our gas hob - even the same size cutout - for £50!
That's less than what it'll cost me to get the gas man out to disconnect the old hob!
That's less than what it'll cost me to get the gas man out to disconnect the old hob!
I recently self installed a mini split AC/Heat pump to my house and I'm amazed by the results. I can now renewably heat the living room at over 400% efficiency, which is comparable to gas prices even with daytime electric prices: overnight electric prices beat gas by a factor of 3 or 4.
November 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Continuing the decarbonisation journey, I've found a new induction hob that will be a drop in replacement for our gas hob - even the same size cutout - for £50!
That's less than what it'll cost me to get the gas man out to disconnect the old hob!
That's less than what it'll cost me to get the gas man out to disconnect the old hob!
I recently self installed a mini split AC/Heat pump to my house and I'm amazed by the results. I can now renewably heat the living room at over 400% efficiency, which is comparable to gas prices even with daytime electric prices: overnight electric prices beat gas by a factor of 3 or 4.
November 14, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I recently self installed a mini split AC/Heat pump to my house and I'm amazed by the results. I can now renewably heat the living room at over 400% efficiency, which is comparable to gas prices even with daytime electric prices: overnight electric prices beat gas by a factor of 3 or 4.
The media running "income tax rises scrapped" headlines then saying the tax band thresholds will be reduced in the first sentence. That's literally an income tax rise, surely they're not going to get away with that so easily?
November 14, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The media running "income tax rises scrapped" headlines then saying the tax band thresholds will be reduced in the first sentence. That's literally an income tax rise, surely they're not going to get away with that so easily?
Only 6% of purchases on C2W are done by people earning over 100k and only 6% are on bikes over £2k.
So what changes do they actually want to make? It'll barely save any money either way, while removing one of the only benefits that workers aren't means tested out of.
So what changes do they actually want to make? It'll barely save any money either way, while removing one of the only benefits that workers aren't means tested out of.
Axing the cycle-to-work scheme might seem like low-hanging fruit for a cash-strapped Treasury, but it would be a big mistake. Particularly with expensive kid-carrying cargo e-bikes, it's one of the most effective modal shift levers out there.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Rachel Reeves to cut tax benefits for workers using salary sacrifice schemes to buy bikes
Chancellor expected to introduce new limit on how much can be spent on a bicycle through cycle to work scheme
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Only 6% of purchases on C2W are done by people earning over 100k and only 6% are on bikes over £2k.
So what changes do they actually want to make? It'll barely save any money either way, while removing one of the only benefits that workers aren't means tested out of.
So what changes do they actually want to make? It'll barely save any money either way, while removing one of the only benefits that workers aren't means tested out of.
No trains running today so just a casual 50km back from Manchester to Pendle. Only took 2h30 which I thought was quite good.
Thank god for eBikes!
Thank god for eBikes!
November 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
No trains running today so just a casual 50km back from Manchester to Pendle. Only took 2h30 which I thought was quite good.
Thank god for eBikes!
Thank god for eBikes!
Was nice to see this pleasant cycling Junction in Bury as a respite from the other 50km of car centric roads I rode along today.
November 9, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Was nice to see this pleasant cycling Junction in Bury as a respite from the other 50km of car centric roads I rode along today.
Can anyone experienced with North Manchester/East Lancs cycling help me with a rough route from the city centre to Burnley? No trains tomorrow...
November 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Can anyone experienced with North Manchester/East Lancs cycling help me with a rough route from the city centre to Burnley? No trains tomorrow...
My first time using the Deansgate lane. Bloody brilliant.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
November 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
My first time using the Deansgate lane. Bloody brilliant.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
This used to be a 4 lane traffic sewer.
Some photos of the Accessible Nelson scheme going in. Look how much wider the footways are going to be, and the new cycle tracks are taking shape!
November 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Some photos of the Accessible Nelson scheme going in. Look how much wider the footways are going to be, and the new cycle tracks are taking shape!
This long term masterplan for a gyratory in Burnley seems to take a leaf out of TfL's book to me: closing off one side of a gyratory to cars and making the rest of it two way is textbook TfL.
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This long term masterplan for a gyratory in Burnley seems to take a leaf out of TfL's book to me: closing off one side of a gyratory to cars and making the rest of it two way is textbook TfL.
Interesting that BYD is trying to sell a Wall-E future, where kids doomscroll and sip drinks while they're ferried to school with no awareness of their surroundings, as a SELLING point!
Car brand BYD's new SUV ad pokes fun at people walking and cycling, comparing them to Horse & Carts.
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Interesting that BYD is trying to sell a Wall-E future, where kids doomscroll and sip drinks while they're ferried to school with no awareness of their surroundings, as a SELLING point!
Its OK, I didn't want to use the footway anyway...
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Its OK, I didn't want to use the footway anyway...
Reposted by LancsCycleSam
Salford Chapel St new cycleways under construction. @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Salford Chapel St new cycleways under construction. @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
Pleased to see some good progress on the construction of the improved footways and cycle tracks through Nelson, Lancs. I wouldn't say the designs are fully LTN1/20 compliant with lots of locations where the cycle tracks become shared footways, but it'll be the first decent onroad route in E.Lancs.
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Pleased to see some good progress on the construction of the improved footways and cycle tracks through Nelson, Lancs. I wouldn't say the designs are fully LTN1/20 compliant with lots of locations where the cycle tracks become shared footways, but it'll be the first decent onroad route in E.Lancs.