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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK)
@ben.fiets.uk
1.2K followers 840 following 1.3K posts
Introverted advocate/blogger on UK active travel. Self-employed podcast editor. Also sustainable public transport, nature, environment, Holland. Sometimes spins vinyl, dabbles in ham radio, badly plays piano. 📍 Nuneaton, Warwickshire 🌎 fiets.uk/links
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 21d
We need to put an end to councils ignoring active travel in their highways schemes. Will you write to your MP to ask for a legal obligation on councils to cater for people walking, wheeling, and cycling? I have, but my voice alone means very little.

See my letter here: fiets.uk/2025-09-26/r...
Reform-led Council Omits Cycle Link in Highways Scheme
Warwickshire County Council has approved the design of an "upgraded" roundabout that sits between Bedworth and Coventry, just within the county border. The junction is an important link in the Coventr...
fiets.uk
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 7h
Back at the hotel after the gig - had a great time. Wonderful career-spanning songs, humorous interludes, and concluding with a meet and greet; a chance to say thanks, complete my signed vinyl collection, and get the CD of the new covers album. Never seen #NerinaPallot live? You're missing out!
Nerina Pallot on stage with an electric guitar at The Stables Milton Keynes.
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 10h
All set and the seats are good! #TheStablesMK #NerinaPallot
View of a stage illuminated in blue. A Steinway piano sits with guitars alongside, awaiting the performance
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 13h
Off with Mrs BB to Milton Keynes to catch #NerinaPallot on her "All Roads Lead To" tour! This'll be good if the Birmingham show back in February is anything to go by! Seen a few clips from other shows too (I know, spoilers!) #LiveMusic #TheStablesMK
Tour poster for Nerina Pallot's All Roads Lead To 2025 tour. Nerina, wearing a red shirt, is playing a black piano in a side on photograph.
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 15h
Was talking earlier about maybe needing a new mattress - a couple of minutes ago, Amazon pops up saying "we thought you'd be interested in a new bed or mattress".

I have not searched, I don't have Alexa, and only temporarily have had the app on my phone. Weird coincidence or they're listening...
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 2d
Oh.

Seen this @warwickshirecc.bsky.social?

Bad Parking Nuneaton: www.facebook.com/100064590556...

#BadParking #PavementParking #Nuneaton #Warwickshire
Post from Bad Parking Nuneaton on Facebook, with a photo of a Warwickshire County Council branded white Toyota Yaris parked fully on a narrow pavement. The post reads: "😂 Thought everyone could do with a good laugh! The man driving this car was actually going around giving out parking tickets near Chetwynd School... while he'd parked on the path on Gypsy Lane himself! 🙈 Parents with pushchairs couldn't even get past and traffic built up. You couldn't make it up! 🚗🤣"
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 2d
Hmm. @warwickshirecc.bsky.social knows that driving speeds over 20mph are dangerous for children. So where are our 20mph limits + School Streets? Why is Higham Lane in #Nuneaton still 40mph despite a new school+homes? Where's the onus on drivers to slow down?

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article...
Extract from a Warwickshire County Council press release announcing the launch of a new digital resource promoting road safety to primary school children: "Recent data shows a rise in pedestrian casualties, and with children among our most vulnerable road users, this resource provides timely messaging. Research also shows that young people cannot reliably judge the speed of vehicles travelling over 20mph due to limitations in children's early-stage visual processing, meaning that even when they are fully attentive, they may still fail to detect a fast-approaching vehicle."
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 2d
I'd hope this is something significantly more serious than just "kids pulling wheelies" to justify police intervention. It probably is, but it's a pity it's not reported as such. Instead, it's demonising young people enjoying their bikes - which is fine when it's safe and considerate.
Nuisance 'kids on bikes pulling wheelies' target of Coventry police sting
Officers say they are on the hunt to identify them
www.coventrytelegraph.net
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 3d
Ooh... Yes please! #Thunderbirds

gerryanderson.com/products/thu...
Thunderbirds 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition [Blu-ray] (Region ABC
Step back into the iconic world of International Rescue with this definitive collector’s edition of Thunderbirds – fully restored in original 4:3 aspect ratio, and packed with brand-new and legacy bon...
gerryanderson.com
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 4d
Interesting. North-south split has been my preference as I don't see that the single county model has served Nuneaton + Bedworth especially well. But I also want to see the area join the WMCA to enable integrated transport + maybe (based on Coventry) better cycling resources. #LocalGovernmentReform
Devolution debate sees Warwickshire 'super council' plan agreed
The debate has county councillors also agree to join the West Midlands Combined Authority.
www.bbc.com
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
If 43% of Warwickshire's population had cycled just one mile every weekday in September, the county's total mileage would be just shy of 6,000,000 miles! That would be 240 times around the world.

In context, 544 people cycling 73,237 miles doesn't sound quite so impressive!
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
Source of Netherlands cycling statistics: www.cyclinguk.org/article/camp...
Cycling levels in European countries
How does the UK's level of cycling compare with that of other European countries?
www.cyclinguk.org
ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
Context: Warwickshire's populations is about 632,207 people; 662 registrants is around 0.1%. In the Netherlands, 43% of people cycle every day.

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article...
Warwickshire residents cycle just under three times around the earth during Cycle September 2025! – Warwickshire County Council
In September, cyclists across the county got on their bikes and chose active travel for work and leisure clocking up an impressive 73,237 miles.
www.warwickshire.gov.uk
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
You're doing it all "wrong", don't you know? 😜

It's so ridiculous - I mean, a takeaway for crying out loud! And a jewellers! If it was a furniture shop saying it, I'd at least get the argument (no, I wouldn't agree with it). But these? Come on people! Think a bit!
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
Who knew - no-one wants to get a chippy dinner home on the bike. It is absolutely essential that food is only ever transported by car. Nobody told me when I've been to my local by bike. I obviously should have joined the mass of cars jamming up the nearby roads and pavements!
Extract of a road.cc article showing local business objections to cycle provision: "Installing cycle lanes may be 'politically correct, but the reality is that when they impact parking provisions, it has a detrimental effect on local businesses. We do not have the climate to prioritise cycle lanes over cars," Alleddandro Varesse, the boss at the Blue Lagoon chippy told the Daily Record. Hayley and Ewen Logan, of Logan the Jewellers, added: "We have yet to hear of a single business or resident who supports this idea, keen cyclists included. Even they like to get their takeaways home while they're still hot."
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
Yes, okay, it's a cheap MVNO. But it is run by Three, the company which recently merged with Vodafone. So, it's not a tiny, tinpot outfit. They should know and offer better.

Besides which, Giffgaff allows me to change my name on the account page on the website, seemingly without question. [4/4]
ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
The agent, to his credit, does appear to be trying to work around this once he realised he could accept a photo of current ID uploaded via the chat system. But this has been an absolute faff and their original request to share personal details via insecure email is quite worrying. [3/4]
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
You'd be wrong. I have to contact customer services on their chat, only to be told they can't do it; it has to go to a specific team, that I should *EMAIL* proof of my "name change" along with verification details. Yes, I've pushed back on this. I haven't changed my name; I'm fixing a typo. [2/4]
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 5d
For some daft reason, when I signed up to #Smarty five years ago, I accidentally added an extra letter to my first name. I'm now trying to fix it. You'd think this would be easy, wouldn't you? [1/4]
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 9d
Didn't know this was happening! I read Lord of the Flies at school and it's stuck in my head ever since - it must have been good; I remember enjoying it! I'll have to read it again before the TV adaptation next year.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

#TV #Books #WilliamGolding #LordOfTheFlies
First images emerge from new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies
Adolescence writer and producer Jack Thorne is behind the first TV adaptation of William Golding’s beloved novel
www.theguardian.com
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 16d
New announcements coming in: "if you see something that doesn't look right, don't text the British Transport Police. See it? Shut it! Ignore it!"
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 16d
This isn't good enough, though it's difficult if the resources aren't there. Can't CCTV reviews be given to admin staff rather than officers? Can technology help, with automated movement detection isolating when a theft might have occurred? A solution is needed rather than saying "sorry, tough".
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 17d
Excellent - #Cassetteboy has come for #KierStarmer! Things must be bad!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8uO...

#UKPolitics
Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer
YouTube video by cassetteboy
www.youtube.com
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 17d
Love this idea, but currently it's a no from me. Reading by app is a sub-par experience to an e-reader. So, until books are made available in a standard ePub format which I can download and keep, I'll sadly have to continue with other options (Kobo store usually). Pity.
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ben.fiets.uk
Ben (BicycleBenUK) @ben.fiets.uk · 19d
ICYMI: I want to see legal obligations on councils and highways authorities where, by default, they MUST properly provide for active travel in ALL highways schemes. If you support this, will you write to your MP to push for change?

Spread the word! Details + my letter at: fiets.uk/2025-09-26/r...
Reform-led Council Omits Cycle Link in Highways Scheme
Warwickshire County Council has approved the design of an "upgraded" roundabout that sits between Bedworth and Coventry, just within the county border. The junction is an important link in the Coventr...
fiets.uk
1
Reposted by Ben (BicycleBenUK)
ppushbike.bsky.social
Pharmacist on a Pushbike @ppushbike.bsky.social · 20d
The two tests of cycling infrastructure should be

1 - would this be okay for a 12 year old child on their own?

AND

2 - would this be okay for lone woman at night?

If the answer to either of these is NO then it's not adequate.
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