Trek specials: Belt drive ‘crosser prototype gets a run out + Big Apple Madone

@mdavidford Nah, only a human could have written this, whatever it means: "Cycling is inherently about people, so I think stuff created by AI shouldn’t mix it, or sports in general."

@chrisonabike For the unbundling we need to start looking seriously at improving and joining up say 10-20% of our public footpath network. We have the bones of a 3rd "Mobility" network from everywhere to everywhere already in place, but no one has noticed, and landowners want to steal it and police often want to block it off. Since my LHA (ie Highways) are now Reform UK controlled, and they just want to live in an episode of Terry and June whilst the world goes to hell in a handcart, improving this is my current activism focus with stuff that I can legally enforce.

@chrisonabike I have found the "look at he untouched snow" point to be a useful tool to illustrate the issue to a general audience, who are not anti-cycling but have been put on alert by culture war rhetoric. I might then say "that means we can have a build-out to make the crossing distance for pedestrians shorter (without extending the motorist red or taking away road space they use) and we can put some bike parking on the build our without taking away parking spaces". It's not what we need, but it's a non-confrontational step in the right direction, which gives a 1+1=3 .

Really? I thought it just got you a CHF500 fine and a yellow card.

"Nevertheless, following the much-delayed consultation, in July Devon County councillors voted to revoke the ban on motor vehicles. They also agreed to extend the area’s 20mph zone and develop “traffic calming and safer walking and cycling measures”." Cognitive dissonance at its finest. On one hand they're taking measures to calm traffic, and then opening a very calm road to motor vehicles. "In January, Exeter’s Highways and Traffic Orders Committee confirmed that £55,000 of Active Travel England funding had been allocated to support public consultation activities and any ongoing work. It is expected that the total cost of the work will come to £650,000." I suggest that ATE prohibit the use of their funds for removing AT infrastructure. Devon CC is in debt to the tune of £500m, and Exeter city owe £165m, but they can waste £650k on this? Incredible. "According to the council, creating a protected bike route on the road, while retaining two-way traffic, would be “prohibitively expensive, impractical, and unviable”" So don't do it, leave it as it is and save £650k. Unfortunately, the crowdfunder appears to have finished, otherwise I'd be donating.

@open_roads Don't forget throwing a bottle – 2 years' bird.

This article reads like it was written by AI.

Deliberate sarcasm / cynicism, or sadly accurate Freudian slip?

@Freddy56 is it like not needing to use paper and a slide rule, or ... is it more like the car and "traffic in towns"? Perhaps it's no more healthy to avoid thought and mental effort than physical exercise? Perhaps we'd all avoid massive cost and health issues if - like the car - we could agree some sensible limits at the beginning? OTOH given the never-before-seen sums going in to this, and the large number of (smart and already powerful/ wealthy) folks and organisations desperately needing to make it "too big to fail" to protect their speculation ... ... and human nature (plus captive audience now we're all already online and almost everything from clothing to cereal coming with chips) ... I think you may be right in that even if we have no use for it (and it'll make us redundant), tough.

AI "slop" is a pointless finger pointing. This is the new revolution and after graphic designers and accountants and radiologists- photographers will need to retrain for the new environment. No ideal but it is real and now. Adapt and survive