Need a parking spot on 29th.May within 5 miles of Whitehall.

I think there's now two but the inexcusable bit is that they're too small for a lot of bikes.

Yes, large, heavy or otherwise non standard bikes have no chance. Also you need to be fit, tall and strong to lift it up. I have written and complained twice and got the usual brush off response.

Also bikes swing around like sheets in the wind, the wheel hooks are basically metal with minimal padding and if you have any kind of deep rim it's a nightmare to get your front wheel hooked on and off. Plus the stupid lowering arm that is designed to separate the two bikes but instead just thumps against both frames as the trains sway on their decrepit rails. I travel frequently by GWR and they are abject. GWRAD bring back the guard's van

Well I can’t disagree with the science, but how do you overcome the rising cost of living/accommodation associated with increases in population density. It will inevitably push those that are less well off further out, and then you’re back to square one. I am totally on board with the tackling the climate crisis we’re facing, but until there is a total policy change and it’s made easier for people to be green, it won’t happen, and being condescending to someone on here with limited options to get to the start time of an event earlier than trains will allow won’t help.

Hi Colm, I already said that the target of my comments here is not just the OP, but the normalisation of using large, harmful, unnecessary vehicles to transport very small amounts of people and kit fairly short distances. It should not be easy to park, it should be easy to get the train. I'm happy to see loads of people sharing experiences and advice on how to move bikes by train. Consumer demand is one thing that drives change.

Freeing up the obscene amount of space devoted to storing cars would go some way to alleviating the housing crisis, and high density housing is cheaper, not more expensive. We have more green spaces than (almost?) any city in Europe and they are mostly protected from development.

Consumer demand is one thing that drives change.

Having worked for some big corporations, I must say, this is a fallacy.

Only policy drives change, nothing else.

People/humans will not give up being comfortable because 'it is the right thing to do'. Its sad but they need to be told/forced to do the right thing.

And yes I agree with the larger point, idealism is great but as colm said, we cannot be dicks to people on bikes and alienate them, its a bit momentum.

Yep all we need to do is reform land law ownership, change foreign investment regulations, alter the money markets so they aren't dependent on mortgages or financial instruments to create liquidity, reform law under home and second home ownership, reform building regulations, reform urban planning processes, redirect financing for council homes and then institute rent cap. So a quick and easy complete restructure of our society

This island you run out of road for a road movie.

The car or you?

Only one ferry provider from Dover calais was running a bike service and only one running a foot service.

Customs is shit for foot passengers and car is so much easier

and settle on a tubeless standard

The car or you?

If driving you can only fill one up, but the car does hold more than me so that's ok I guess.

I had no trouble going UK to France on the ferry the two times I used it but that's a bunch of years ago now.

we cannot be dicks to people on bikes and alienate them

Does this mean you're going to stop posting in the hhsrb and gravel threads?

never, I am thinking to start posting on SSMTB as well

You're right, we can't completely restructure our society overnight. Much better to just give up and do nothing.

I went OTT listing the systemic problems of housing as a way to put consumer choice into perspective, ie haraguing someone over train vs car is not going to stop the government's unstoppable subsidies for the motor industry nor change private developer's ability to build new homes in greenfield sites away from town centres.

In essence I don't disagree with you about it, and I am with you (train or cycle only, reduce motor journeys to minimum etc), but (apologies for the pop psychology) but 'consumer choices' are in general just carefully curated end nudges that have v little impact on the environmentally devastating but well established supply chains.

haraguing someone over train vs car is not going to stop the government's unstoppable subsidies for the motor industry nor change private developer's ability to build new homes in greenfield sites away from town centres.

I think it's ok for conversations to develop from one example to take in wider issues. You've explained a root cause of the problem here, which is useful.

On a positive note Lewisham shopping centre multi storey car park is being turned into affordable housing and green spaces. Just moved to the area and watching development with interest.

On a positive note Lewisham shopping centre multi storey car park is being turned into affordable housing and green spaces. Just moved to the area and watching development with interest.

Not just that, the Catford gyratory plan for new affordable homes actively discourages car ownership by only offering something like 12 parking spaces for 600 homes. There was a good virtual town hall about this recently. https://catfordisland.commonplace.is/

And a lot of local people's primary reaction is BUT WHERE WILL THEY PARK?! I DON'T WANT THEM PARKING IN MY STREET!
It's like the idea of living in a town centre with bus and rail connections and not owning a car is inconceivable.

None of you have ever had to transport a dog and a bike home from London to Ireland once a year for Christmas holidays without a car and it shows.

on the holyhead ferry

Ask santa for an Ireland bike next year

Oh yeh the ferry is the easy bit, it’s the regional train from Crewe to Holyhead that’s a tragedy! Fine with a small dog, but not with a rescue greyhound!

Moved back to Ireland mid 2020, but I might still ask him anyway

Transporting large/ awkward things long distances is pretty much exactly what cars are needed for. Trips like yours However are used to justify the dominance of cars everywhere, all the time. You're trying to get out of London for your trip, but you're stuck in traffic for hours because the streets are fouled up with parked vehicles and people in SUVS popping to the shops. Fewer cars would be a good thing for people who need cars.

My trick for that is to not have pets and to find a way to leave bikes at any location I might visit regularly (or not that regularly, waves at Poland).

Maybe when I die I should have clues revealed for a treasure hunt for all the bikes I've scattered across the planet. :D