Buses could be history sooner than you think – here’s why : The Conversation

In 1890, no one foresaw the rise of the internal combustion engine: horses were the fastest means of transport, and a status symbol. Today, society stands at a similar tipping point. No one can really predict how transport will be used in the coming century, or if people will even need to travel as much as they do today. But some of the most commonly used modes of public transport may be closer to extinction than previously thought.

Buses have been a reliable feature of urban and rural landscapes for more than 200 years. They have helped to define communities; think of London’s red double-decker bus, or the iconic Greyhound bus across the US. And buses have traditionally been a great social leveller: ethnic minority groups fought hard for the right to share the same seats and stops and the poor enjoy the same regulated prices as the middle class.

Yet the end of the bus has already been signalled. In the UK, there has been a reported decline in bus and train usage over recent decades – and it’s not related to the nation’s sluggish economy. Today, only 5% of journeys are made by bus, with 10% by rail, 1% by air, 1% by bicycle and 83% by car or taxi.

 

Source: Buses could be history sooner than you think – here’s why : The Conversation

Secret Life of Us – Disabled Children’s Partnership

The Secret Life of Us campaign – which has been developed in close partnership with parents – will bring to life the realities of the challenges disabled children, young people and their family’s face in living a life many of us take for granted. It will reveal the parts of their lives that most people simply do not see.

Source: Secret Life of Us – Disabled Children’s Partnership

How a driverless car sees the road

Original post from TED

‘…………….By Chris Urmson

https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/chris_urmson_how_a_driverless_car_sees_the_road.html

Statistically, the least reliable part of the car is … the driver. Chris Urmson heads up Google’s driverless car program, one of several efforts to remove humans from the driver’s seat. He talks about where his program is right now, and shares fascinating footage that shows how the car sees the road and makes autonomous decisions about what to do next.  …………’

Know Your Rights

Reblogged from Beyond Disability

Students with disabilities have the right to:

. Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the academic community. This includes access to services, benefits, co-curricular activities, housing and transportation, when viewed in their entirety, that are comparable to those provided to any student.
. Information regarding the availability of auxiliary aids and possible accommodations as well as procedures for making requests for either.

. Request reasonable accommodations which provide equal access.
Confidentiality of all information and the right to choose to whom information about their disabilities will be disclosed.
. Availability of information and access to university’s grievance procedures.
Disability Friendly institutions
Henry Kiprono

Students with disabilities have the responsibility to:

. To self-identify to the Disability Resources office and provide documentation regarding your disability from an appropriate, qualified practitioner.
. Meet with disability resources staff each semester to review course requirements and obtain accommodation letters for instructors.
. Request all services in a timely manner, and follow established procedures.
. Meet with faculty to review accommodation letter each semester.
. Report any concerns that you have regarding accommodations as soon as they arise.
. Treat all university personnel with respect.
. Meet the university’s graduation requirements and academic standards for completion of any academic program.

The University has the right to:

. Identify and establish the abilities, skills, and knowledge that are fundamental to academic programs/courses and to evaluate each student’s performance against these standards. Fundamental program and course standards are not subject to modification.
. Request and receive documentation that supports a student’s request for accommodations. The University has the right to deny a request if the documentation demonstrates that no accommodation is necessary, or if the student fails to provide such documentation.
. Select among equally effective accommodations for an individual with a disability.
. Refuse an unreasonable accommodation or one that imposes an undue hardship on the University.
courtesy of Disability resources

Cyclists and their safety

Before I make my comments I would advise that I am not a cyclist, in fact I can not ride a bike, I tried to ride one in my early teens and fell off and never went on a bike again.  This, however is not a reason for me to not comment on cyclists safety, I am concerned for their safety on the road, as I am for any road user.

Today, at approx 1.30 pm, I was driving in north Derbyshire on the road from Hope to Bamford, in the direction of going to Bamford and at the point where the 50 mile speed limit changes to 40 mile speed limit there are road works, where the traffic follow is controlled by temporary traffic lights, allowing only single lane traffic, for approx 300 – 400 yards.  When the lights changed to green, the traffic started to proceed towards Bamford. At approx. half way into this controlled flow of traffic, what do we see approaching us,, but a cyclist, although in the cycle lane for the direction he was going, it did mean that he had gone through the red traffic light, which was stopping all the other traffic.  To view this cyclist, he was dressed as through he was a seasoned cyclist, as he was in all the right attire.  What concerns me is why he thought that the red traffic light did not apply to him.  The cycle lane was only separated from the roadway by a single white line and it’s width only just sufficient to accommodate the cycle and cyclist.  He was riding as though he had no concern for his own safety from the oncoming traffic.  Only a slight deviation from either the cyclist or any of the vehicles approaching him would have caused a major accident in which many would be injured, if not dead, especially the cyclist.

Currently there is an increase in the amount of cyclists on the road, in some, no doubt, due to the successes of the Tour de France and Olympics. I do not object to the cyclists on the road, but do feel they should abide by the Highway Code.  Unfortunately the law of this country is not currently stating, that cyclists need to know the code or in fact show that they know the code or that the cycles are of road worthy condition. In fact anyone can get on a bike, go on the road with no training and no road sense.

Further on, on the road from Bamford to Hathersage, going to Hathersage, there was 2 or 3 cyclists going towards Hathersage and a car was trying to overtake them.  The car in doing so went into the flow of the oncoming traffic in the drivers frustration to get passed them. The car driver , in this instance should have waited for a suitable gap in the traffic flow approaching and then overtake, which I did.  So before someone says it is not always the cyclists, but mainly the drivers of other vehicles at fault, in most cases I would agree.  All road users need to show more consideration for their fellow road users and in doing so, the roads would be much safer for all concerned.

If any cyclists or in fact, any interested party read this, please see the following:

General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103-158)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069856

Cyclists

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/Cyclists/index.htm

Signals (103-112)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070289

109

Traffic light signals and traffic signs. You MUST obey all traffic light signals (see ‘Light signals controlling traffic’) and traffic signs giving orders, including temporary signals and signs (see ‘Signs giving orders’, ‘Warning signs’, ‘Direction signs’). Make sure you know, understand and act on all other traffic and information signs and road markings (see ‘Signs giving orders’, ‘Warning signs’, ‘Direction signs’, ‘Information signs’, ‘Road markings’ and ‘Vehicle markings’).

[Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36, 38 & 40]

You and your bicycle

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866

Rules for cyclists (59-82)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/highwaycode/dg_069837

REMEMBER the Highway Code is there for all road users to follow and to do so, is in the interests of safety for all concerned.