Cargo Bike Ben
@cargobikeben.bsky.social
Utility cycling & active travel advocate. Passionate about ending car dependency (not banning cars), reducing urban sprawl + how bikes are the easiest and most cost effective way to achieve that. Former journalist turned software developer. r/fuckcars mod
Long story short, shit happens. Ebikes can solve it 😂
February 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Long story short, shit happens. Ebikes can solve it 😂
Walking there and back would’ve taken me the best part of 20 minutes (20 minutes I didn’t have), but the bike ended up taking me only 3 mins there and back.
And best of all, it meant one less poo on the footpath.
And best of all, it meant one less poo on the footpath.
February 6, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Walking there and back would’ve taken me the best part of 20 minutes (20 minutes I didn’t have), but the bike ended up taking me only 3 mins there and back.
And best of all, it meant one less poo on the footpath.
And best of all, it meant one less poo on the footpath.
The whole reason these 'feel' unsafe is because they're squeezed into the margins, instead of pushing private cars out, which shouldn't even be in the city centre anyway.
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
The whole reason these 'feel' unsafe is because they're squeezed into the margins, instead of pushing private cars out, which shouldn't even be in the city centre anyway.
Also, the fundamental problem, as has been pointed out time and time again by experts, is that we (in the UK) apportion road space backwards.
It should be pedestrians (and disabled people) first, then people on bikes, then public transport/deliveries. And only if there is room, private cars.
It should be pedestrians (and disabled people) first, then people on bikes, then public transport/deliveries. And only if there is room, private cars.
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Also, the fundamental problem, as has been pointed out time and time again by experts, is that we (in the UK) apportion road space backwards.
It should be pedestrians (and disabled people) first, then people on bikes, then public transport/deliveries. And only if there is room, private cars.
It should be pedestrians (and disabled people) first, then people on bikes, then public transport/deliveries. And only if there is room, private cars.
Bullshit. Does the writer want to know what's actually life threatening & has hard evidence backing it up? Expecting children and adults on bikes to share lanes with heavy motor vehicles.
Also it's the car dependent urban design that's trapping you and others in their homes; not floating bus stops.
Also it's the car dependent urban design that's trapping you and others in their homes; not floating bus stops.
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Bullshit. Does the writer want to know what's actually life threatening & has hard evidence backing it up? Expecting children and adults on bikes to share lanes with heavy motor vehicles.
Also it's the car dependent urban design that's trapping you and others in their homes; not floating bus stops.
Also it's the car dependent urban design that's trapping you and others in their homes; not floating bus stops.
It’s weird. They won’t even be using the CC number as it would be tokenised.
The system would store the token. The system should just do a check, and if the same token as an active journey is returned, that’s how you know it’s valid.
Someone’s screwed something up in the system.
The system would store the token. The system should just do a check, and if the same token as an active journey is returned, that’s how you know it’s valid.
Someone’s screwed something up in the system.
February 6, 2026 at 6:43 AM
It’s weird. They won’t even be using the CC number as it would be tokenised.
The system would store the token. The system should just do a check, and if the same token as an active journey is returned, that’s how you know it’s valid.
Someone’s screwed something up in the system.
The system would store the token. The system should just do a check, and if the same token as an active journey is returned, that’s how you know it’s valid.
Someone’s screwed something up in the system.
Reposted by Cargo Bike Ben
you don't know your neighbors because of cars
your city doesn't make enough in taxes because of cars
busses are slow because of cars
they won't build light rail because of cars
your city's air is awful because of cars
one of the leading causes of death and injury from accident: cars
your city doesn't make enough in taxes because of cars
busses are slow because of cars
they won't build light rail because of cars
your city's air is awful because of cars
one of the leading causes of death and injury from accident: cars
February 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
you don't know your neighbors because of cars
your city doesn't make enough in taxes because of cars
busses are slow because of cars
they won't build light rail because of cars
your city's air is awful because of cars
one of the leading causes of death and injury from accident: cars
your city doesn't make enough in taxes because of cars
busses are slow because of cars
they won't build light rail because of cars
your city's air is awful because of cars
one of the leading causes of death and injury from accident: cars
And as Ranty rightly pointed out, the people they are accommodating are those who are driving through to go and spend money elsewhere.
February 5, 2026 at 1:36 PM
And as Ranty rightly pointed out, the people they are accommodating are those who are driving through to go and spend money elsewhere.
It’s definitely something I’ve considered building before. The challenge is in getting the data roads. Once I have that, I can normalise it into an LTS style scorer. As with many things, the fundamental barrier is access to the data that would make it work.
February 5, 2026 at 12:21 PM
It’s definitely something I’ve considered building before. The challenge is in getting the data roads. Once I have that, I can normalise it into an LTS style scorer. As with many things, the fundamental barrier is access to the data that would make it work.
Oh, like Oulu, Finland?
They get far more sustained snow.
It is far colder.
Days are shorter in winter.
Every excuse in Halifax is evidence as just that - excuses - by the residents of Oulu.
They get far more sustained snow.
It is far colder.
Days are shorter in winter.
Every excuse in Halifax is evidence as just that - excuses - by the residents of Oulu.
February 5, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Oh, like Oulu, Finland?
They get far more sustained snow.
It is far colder.
Days are shorter in winter.
Every excuse in Halifax is evidence as just that - excuses - by the residents of Oulu.
They get far more sustained snow.
It is far colder.
Days are shorter in winter.
Every excuse in Halifax is evidence as just that - excuses - by the residents of Oulu.
Estates get the same underfloor battery, better aero, lower mass, and more usable space per kWh.
The Kona works because it’s only marginally taller than an equivalent hatchback. It’s a crossover, not a true SUV, so it avoids most of the efficiency penalties. It's only 7cm taller than a VW Golf.
The Kona works because it’s only marginally taller than an equivalent hatchback. It’s a crossover, not a true SUV, so it avoids most of the efficiency penalties. It's only 7cm taller than a VW Golf.
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Estates get the same underfloor battery, better aero, lower mass, and more usable space per kWh.
The Kona works because it’s only marginally taller than an equivalent hatchback. It’s a crossover, not a true SUV, so it avoids most of the efficiency penalties. It's only 7cm taller than a VW Golf.
The Kona works because it’s only marginally taller than an equivalent hatchback. It’s a crossover, not a true SUV, so it avoids most of the efficiency penalties. It's only 7cm taller than a VW Golf.
SUVs are taller and bluffer, which hurts aerodynamics and raises energy use at speed. To compensate, they need larger batteries, which adds more weight and cost, creating a negative feedback loop. That also leads to cabin room loss; hence by many have smaller footwells for rear passengers.
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
SUVs are taller and bluffer, which hurts aerodynamics and raises energy use at speed. To compensate, they need larger batteries, which adds more weight and cost, creating a negative feedback loop. That also leads to cabin room loss; hence by many have smaller footwells for rear passengers.
Battery storage isn’t the problem. Energy efficiency is.
EV batteries want a long flat floor. Extra height doesn’t meaningfully help because the battery sits under the cabin in both estates & SUVs.
The critical difference between the two is the extra height; it mostly adds mass & air resistance.
EV batteries want a long flat floor. Extra height doesn’t meaningfully help because the battery sits under the cabin in both estates & SUVs.
The critical difference between the two is the extra height; it mostly adds mass & air resistance.
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Battery storage isn’t the problem. Energy efficiency is.
EV batteries want a long flat floor. Extra height doesn’t meaningfully help because the battery sits under the cabin in both estates & SUVs.
The critical difference between the two is the extra height; it mostly adds mass & air resistance.
EV batteries want a long flat floor. Extra height doesn’t meaningfully help because the battery sits under the cabin in both estates & SUVs.
The critical difference between the two is the extra height; it mostly adds mass & air resistance.
Yup. Not surprised and well deserved. Estates/station-wagons are the perfect format for EVs, while SUVs are the worst.
Why the hell Volvo decided to stop producing the format is beyond me.
Why the hell Volvo decided to stop producing the format is beyond me.
February 5, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Yup. Not surprised and well deserved. Estates/station-wagons are the perfect format for EVs, while SUVs are the worst.
Why the hell Volvo decided to stop producing the format is beyond me.
Why the hell Volvo decided to stop producing the format is beyond me.
Nope. Not the root issue. That’s killed large catchment and infrequent purchase sales. But it isn’t why service-based and frequent purchases can’t work. That’s down to cars and distance from retailers.
February 5, 2026 at 6:22 AM
Nope. Not the root issue. That’s killed large catchment and infrequent purchase sales. But it isn’t why service-based and frequent purchases can’t work. That’s down to cars and distance from retailers.
It’s something that annoys me no end. When you suggest not driving, they default to “yeah but public transport is crap”. Yes, it often is. But yesterday, someone overtook me 2 mins into my commute. I overtook them several times and we both arrived at their destination within 20s of each other (3mi).
February 5, 2026 at 6:18 AM
It’s something that annoys me no end. When you suggest not driving, they default to “yeah but public transport is crap”. Yes, it often is. But yesterday, someone overtook me 2 mins into my commute. I overtook them several times and we both arrived at their destination within 20s of each other (3mi).
Yup. The only variable in my commute is what time I arrive at the station and if it’s that weird gap between 8:30 and 8:41 where there isn’t a train every 5 mins.
February 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Yup. The only variable in my commute is what time I arrive at the station and if it’s that weird gap between 8:30 and 8:41 where there isn’t a train every 5 mins.