Liam Duffy
@liamduffy.dev
Software engineer based in East London. Joint co-ordinator of @hackneylcc.bsky.social
I hope this becomes a reality sooner rather than later
‘Balcony solar’ may at last become a reality for flat residents in Britain
UK to launch safety study into DIY ‘plug-in’ systems such as Germany’s Balkonkraftwerk as part of plan to triple solar capacity by 2030
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I hope this becomes a reality sooner rather than later
I very rarely use the Greenway so can't speak from personal experience, but I'd be surprised if the information on this page wasn't up to date:
newhamcyclists.uk/greenway-flu...
newhamcyclists.uk/greenway-flu...
December 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I very rarely use the Greenway so can't speak from personal experience, but I'd be surprised if the information on this page wasn't up to date:
newhamcyclists.uk/greenway-flu...
newhamcyclists.uk/greenway-flu...
As you mentioned commuting, perhaps worth mentioning if you're a regular user you can buy a carnet for 20 tickets which works out to be a 30% discount per use.
The pricing is definitely too high, and needlessly complex, though.
The pricing is definitely too high, and needlessly complex, though.
December 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
As you mentioned commuting, perhaps worth mentioning if you're a regular user you can buy a carnet for 20 tickets which works out to be a 30% discount per use.
The pricing is definitely too high, and needlessly complex, though.
The pricing is definitely too high, and needlessly complex, though.
Oh and I just remembered there is also a carnet for regular users. £57.40 for 20 uses, and valid on all the cross river routes. Works out at £2.87 a pop, so a 30% discount. Unclear if groups / families can use the same carnet at once (there is no concession pricing for cross river journeys).
December 6, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Oh and I just remembered there is also a carnet for regular users. £57.40 for 20 uses, and valid on all the cross river routes. Works out at £2.87 a pop, so a 30% discount. Unclear if groups / families can use the same carnet at once (there is no concession pricing for cross river journeys).
December 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
If the finances are tight I had a thought—maybe they could do a deal with Lime so people hiring their bikes can cross for free? Currently in the app it routes users away from using the ferries (even using the Rotherhithe tunnel in preference).
Lime seem to be happy to splash cash around.
Lime seem to be happy to splash cash around.
December 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
If the finances are tight I had a thought—maybe they could do a deal with Lime so people hiring their bikes can cross for free? Currently in the app it routes users away from using the ferries (even using the Rotherhithe tunnel in preference).
Lime seem to be happy to splash cash around.
Lime seem to be happy to splash cash around.
The Oyster fare is £4.10, right? Still ridiculous of course. That's more than the Silvertown tunnel costs to drive through at peak time. I wonder if it will ever actually carry anywhere near the touted capacity of 100 people with bikes.
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Oyster fare is £4.10, right? Still ridiculous of course. That's more than the Silvertown tunnel costs to drive through at peak time. I wonder if it will ever actually carry anywhere near the touted capacity of 100 people with bikes.
Trams would be nice too
December 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Trams would be nice too
Would be interesting to learn if there were any regulatory / admin costs that were specifically making things harder for them though. TfL and councils should be looking at why they failed, and trying to figure out how to make it more attractive to run schemes like this
December 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Would be interesting to learn if there were any regulatory / admin costs that were specifically making things harder for them though. TfL and councils should be looking at why they failed, and trying to figure out how to make it more attractive to run schemes like this
I don't see TfL wanting to take on that level of capital risk, though. Sure, make it as close to free as possible for car clubs to host fleets of vehicles in London. TfL shouldn't be buying and maintaining that fleet itself though, they have better things to be spending money on.
December 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I don't see TfL wanting to take on that level of capital risk, though. Sure, make it as close to free as possible for car clubs to host fleets of vehicles in London. TfL shouldn't be buying and maintaining that fleet itself though, they have better things to be spending money on.
Many councils seem to see it as their role to provide as much cheap or free storage of personal vehicles on public land, though. And they know that's what a lot of local voters care about. Hard to shift that as the path of least resistance.
December 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Many councils seem to see it as their role to provide as much cheap or free storage of personal vehicles on public land, though. And they know that's what a lot of local voters care about. Hard to shift that as the path of least resistance.
One car club vehicle can do the job of many private cars owned by households that either rarely use a car, or occasionally need more than one car. I think there was a Bremen study that showed each shared car can take 16 others off the roads.
December 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
One car club vehicle can do the job of many private cars owned by households that either rarely use a car, or occasionally need more than one car. I think there was a Bremen study that showed each shared car can take 16 others off the roads.
Ah, what a shame. I do think London's council's could do more to put their thumb on the scales and help car clubs compete with the "default" option of private car ownership. The "flex" zone hasn't expanded much (or at all?) since I moved to London over a decade ago.
December 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Ah, what a shame. I do think London's council's could do more to put their thumb on the scales and help car clubs compete with the "default" option of private car ownership. The "flex" zone hasn't expanded much (or at all?) since I moved to London over a decade ago.
Also nothing stopping people from getting a stocks & shares ISA and investing in low risk "money market" funds.
November 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Also nothing stopping people from getting a stocks & shares ISA and investing in low risk "money market" funds.
Aren't many of the access roads created for construction / maintenance (I gather this was up for the chop in a "cost saving" exercise but sensible voices prevailed) planned to be turned into walking / cycling routes anyway? So it's hardly a choice of one or the other in any case.
November 29, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Aren't many of the access roads created for construction / maintenance (I gather this was up for the chop in a "cost saving" exercise but sensible voices prevailed) planned to be turned into walking / cycling routes anyway? So it's hardly a choice of one or the other in any case.
Why would you ask that in response to someone being worried about a delivery bot suddenly emerging from behind parked cars as they cycle past?
November 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Why would you ask that in response to someone being worried about a delivery bot suddenly emerging from behind parked cars as they cycle past?
Maybe on quieter roads with 20mph speed limits (e.g. inside LTNs), these could travel in the main carriageway. I could imagine, somewhat annoyingly, that it's easier to get approval to test stuff like this on pavements than on the roads though.
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Maybe on quieter roads with 20mph speed limits (e.g. inside LTNs), these could travel in the main carriageway. I could imagine, somewhat annoyingly, that it's easier to get approval to test stuff like this on pavements than on the roads though.
In the video it seems to just stop if unsure, and hope that the nearby humans can figure out a solution. Which a wheelchair user may not be able to.
It also seems unwilling to travel close enough to the edge of the footpath to allow enough space for e.g. a mobility scooter or a double buggy.
It also seems unwilling to travel close enough to the edge of the footpath to allow enough space for e.g. a mobility scooter or a double buggy.
November 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In the video it seems to just stop if unsure, and hope that the nearby humans can figure out a solution. Which a wheelchair user may not be able to.
It also seems unwilling to travel close enough to the edge of the footpath to allow enough space for e.g. a mobility scooter or a double buggy.
It also seems unwilling to travel close enough to the edge of the footpath to allow enough space for e.g. a mobility scooter or a double buggy.
I'm curious, how common a sight are e-scooters (given there's one in the video) in this and other Dutch cities? As far as I understand, they are not legal for use on roads or cycle tracks. But that is true of the UK as well, and a lot of people use them regardless.
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'm curious, how common a sight are e-scooters (given there's one in the video) in this and other Dutch cities? As far as I understand, they are not legal for use on roads or cycle tracks. But that is true of the UK as well, and a lot of people use them regardless.
This loss of biodiversity cannot be tolerated
November 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This loss of biodiversity cannot be tolerated
A lot of people seem to want the ability to veto *anything* new being built near them.
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
A lot of people seem to want the ability to veto *anything* new being built near them.
I'd prefer infill development, on brown / grey field sites. Easier than trying to create neighbourhoods on the edge of suburbs (or even "new towns") with decent amenities / transport.
Wouldn't surprise me if they're being a bit creative characterising the existing land as "green belt", though?
Wouldn't surprise me if they're being a bit creative characterising the existing land as "green belt", though?
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I'd prefer infill development, on brown / grey field sites. Easier than trying to create neighbourhoods on the edge of suburbs (or even "new towns") with decent amenities / transport.
Wouldn't surprise me if they're being a bit creative characterising the existing land as "green belt", though?
Wouldn't surprise me if they're being a bit creative characterising the existing land as "green belt", though?
Ideally implemented in a way that gives metro regions devolved powers to collect revenue and set prices themselves, giving them a way to deal with congestion and raise funds for investments in public transport and active travel.
November 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Ideally implemented in a way that gives metro regions devolved powers to collect revenue and set prices themselves, giving them a way to deal with congestion and raise funds for investments in public transport and active travel.
Ah yes, good point about needing an actual physical restriction. Not much point sending someone a fine in the post if they've caused structural damage to the bridge.
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Ah yes, good point about needing an actual physical restriction. Not much point sending someone a fine in the post if they've caused structural damage to the bridge.
Plus it might avoid the need to create a bespoke shuttle service if said vehicles provide another way for people who can't walk or cycle to get across the bridge.
I'm not sure if we even have a way to create a more nuanced traffic order than "no motor vehicles" in this country, though.
I'm not sure if we even have a way to create a more nuanced traffic order than "no motor vehicles" in this country, though.
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Plus it might avoid the need to create a bespoke shuttle service if said vehicles provide another way for people who can't walk or cycle to get across the bridge.
I'm not sure if we even have a way to create a more nuanced traffic order than "no motor vehicles" in this country, though.
I'm not sure if we even have a way to create a more nuanced traffic order than "no motor vehicles" in this country, though.