Category Archives: Activism

I’m a programmer – and driverless cars scare the hell out of me

Posted on 5 June, 2018 by Joe

Tech-savvy developer types often ride bikes, and often instinctively back the idea of robot vehicles. After all, the subconscious asks, if I can code a computer to play a game, what’s so hard about getting it to move around a … Continue reading →

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Only Corbyn can save the Left

Posted on 19 April, 2017 by Joe

Labour go into this election with the dice stacked against Corbyn, as the Tories intended. But here’s the thing – he’s only an election liability *if* you believe he can win. But in fact everyone – surely even the man … Continue reading →

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‘Stretched resources’ applies to parliamentarians, too…

Posted on 2 February, 2017 by Joe

I listened to a sad story on BBCR4 today this morning – a grieving mother can’t bury her daughter, murdered, because there’s no body – in years of searching none has been found. The killer isn’t co-operating (they don’t have … Continue reading →

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Science and (small) business

Posted on 22 October, 2016 by Joe

Over the last 10-20 years there’s been a revolution in academic science (or should that be ‘coup’?) where many aspects of the job have been professionalised and formalised, especially project management but management in general. This generally includes tools like … Continue reading →

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Making progress down the road

Posted on 15 September, 2016 by Joe

Too many laws and customs of driving make speed more important than safety, from the driving instructors’ “make good progress down the road” (e.g. “hurry the fuck up”, which most drivers internalise as “drive at least as fast as the … Continue reading →

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Labour’s Corbyn election – ten thoughts.

Posted on 13 July, 2016 by Joe

Riiiight so both Corbyn and Angela Eagle can run for Labour Leader, so the election’s on. Labour’s turn to agonise about runners, riders, the gap between party members, the MPs who they volunteer for, and the public who might (or … Continue reading →

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On schools testing

Posted on 13 July, 2016 by Joe

Schools testing has been in the news again recently… are SATS etc useful objective measures of a school’s performance? Or do they add unnecessary stress and bureaucracy? Well I think we can all agree more objectivity and less stress are … Continue reading →

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An appalling, terrible, borderline-criminal proposal from Westminster Council

Posted on 12 October, 2015 by Joe

I’ve just seen the proposal from Westminster Council on a section of the Quietway Grid in their patch from Covent Garden to Waterloo Bridge. A patch, lest we forget that’s used by a lot of bikes: I’m really pushed for time … Continue reading →

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Camberwell Green consultation closing – reject these plans!

Posted on 12 August, 2015 by Joe

(Reposted from SouthwarkCyclists.org.uk…) Southwark Council propose expensive and disruptive alterations to Camberwell Green junction and area. The plans are terrible. Southwark Cyclists have thoroughly examined their proposal with expert advice and we have decided to formally reject these plans.    Please respond to the … Continue reading →

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In support of… taxis

Posted on 5 March, 2015 by Joe

Here’s where I’m coming from with this one. Let me say it simply: More regular cyclists means lower private car ownership, less congestion for taxis to deal with, and more non-car-owners taking taxi trips. OK, now for the detailed bit… … Continue reading →

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