Anyone work for Lime/Bird/Whoever? Any numbers that these share programs are a success? They had them in my distance suburb satellite, and lasted maybe a year. I used a bike share one way on Chicago after taking the train from Milwaukee. Anyone else love the grossness of handles and seats you can't imagine the filth of? How many units have you seen on their sides/not at docks/in canals. Are the another scam/handout band aid on the cancer of car dependency?

Heavy traffic edition

Prev: >>2003913

this is NOT a race!

Post here to discuss unraced cycling for transportation because THIS IS A TRANSPORTATION BOARD

Why don't you own one with direct front drive?

Please tell me why I shouldn’t harvest parts from abandoned bikes

December 2024 will see the launch of the first direct train serving Paris and Berlin in decades, which will use DB's ICE3 sets.

Paris-Est 09:55 - Berlin Hbf 18:03
Berlin Hbf 11:54 - Paris-Est 19:55

...so around eight hours in total, calling at Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt. Prices will be €59 in second class, and €69 in first class.

This thread is for talking about railways, and things related to railways, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - that means we're all about big intercity trains, modest rural trains, long freight trains, trips, tracks, (deep breath) trams, subways, stations, and a partridge in a pear tree~.

If you're unfamiliar with train travel, take a look at National Rail's journey planner, at nationalrail.co.uk/ - tell it where you're travelling from and to, and it'll show you a few options before handing you over to a train company so you can buy a ticket. For the same journey, they'll all charge the same price, so it doesn't matter who you buy one from. The best option for overseas visitors would be to use thetrainline.com/ - it'll support your language and payment card.

Here's a few links:
~The Man in Seat 61 (seat61.com/) - easily the best rail travel resource out there.
~A Visual History of Railway Rolling Stock in Great Britain (gaelan.me/br-stock/)
~Geoff Marshall (youtube.com/@geofftech2) - likes trains. Mostly harmless.
~Jago Hazzard (youtube.com/@jagohazzard) - London train history. Ditto.

...and some cool 'open data' stuff:
~Realtimetrains (realtimetrains.co.uk/) - live train timetables: ideal for keeping on top of ETAs and platforms.
~Openrailwaymap (openrailwaymap.org/) - not quite 'Google Maps for railway infrastructure', but close.
~TIGER (tiger.worldline.global/home/) - live station departure boards.
~Traksy (traksy.uk/live/) - live signalling information.

What's happening?
~Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3732/ - (mostly) renationalising the railway.
~Phase One of High Speed 2 (Birmingham-London): hs2.org.uk/
~Belfast Grand Central: weaverscross.co.uk/belfast-transport-hub/
~The Transpennine Route Upgrade (electrifying the Liverpool-York mainline): thetrupgrade.co.uk/
~The Midland Main Line electrification (still no website!)
~The East Coast Digital Programme: nextgenerationrailway.co.uk/

Conservatively estimating the US has spent around $20T on cars, fuel for cars and car related infrastructure, mostly on fuel for cars which only contributes to (making the car move, drill baby drill, and pollution (used to be lead pollution too) )
A similar estimate, but over a longer period of time puts trains at $2T, their fuel nowadays is electricity, which can be clean, but also creates infrastructure that contributes to society.

This estimate doesn't include private capital (aside from buying passes/tickets/gas, but I can assure you that it only puts the gap MUCH wider)

Isn't it time we give up on the frankly silly idea that everyone needs their own personal asphalt eating tank? I'm not saying you have to live in the city, i'm just saying a tram (for the disabled) to the market from a suburb or a simple direct, tree covered, bike way is more than enough.

What are your thoughts on kids bikes? Specifically, how important is it to have quality components and construction and how much of a difference is there between a lower end and a proper bike when talking about small riders?
My kid is turning 3 and has been asking for a bike. he even has specifics; he wants pedals, and knows what colour he'd like.
The only place I've found something that checks all the boxes is a hardware store kinda place. It comes with 10" wheels, which is the biggest he'll be able to ride, and training wheels. I don't particularly like it but it seems like the closest match to what he'd want. My wife is insisting it's merely a toy and is afraid it won't perform well, perhaps putting him off cycling altogether. She wants to get a balance bike instead and one that isn't the right colour either. Both are the same price range.
Obviously, I'll probably end up buying the present for my wife instead of my kid, but I'm wondering if I'm underestimating how important the difference between the two may be. Thanks

What does /n/ think of tomorrow's upgraded, more inclusive bike lanes? Cagetrolls will hate this, but I for one think it is perfectly reasonable for bike lanes to be open to any vehicle that doesn't have an ICE or require a Class A CDL to operate legally. What's the point of bike lanes if nobody is going to use them!??!?