I used a bike rack this weekend that exists because I complained about it not existing.

You can make things better, even just a little.

The state of solar: Despite partisan rhetoric, the industry is still booming Solar power is cheap, fast, and in demand as data centers consume more and more electricity.

Despite Trump's best efforts, solar is still booming in the US.

The stunning underwater world that’s at risk as the Iran war drags on | CNN Not far from the vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf is a one-of-a-kind marine ecosystem that’s home to dolphins, sea turtles and coral. How do oil slicks affect them?

A wildlife disaster unfolds alongside the human tragedy in the Strait of Hormuz

@greenpeace.org reports Iranian vessel Shahid Bagheri, stuck by a US warplane in early March, is still leaking oil near the Strait, with nearby wetlands at risk:

www.cnn.com/2026/04/17/s...
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Globe showing the Atlantic Ocean with arrows depicting the AMOC circulation: warm surface currents (pink/red) flowing northward from the tropics toward the Arctic, and cold deep return currents (blue/purple) flowing southward. The background shows sea surface temperature trends, with a prominent blue cold patch, the "cold blob", south of Greenland, contrasting with warming (orange/red) across the rest of the ocean.

1/ There's a system of ocean currents in the Atlantic that shapes Europe's #climate, drives monsoons, and keeps sea levels stable along the US coast.

In the last 5 years, the scientific evidence that it could collapse has shifted dramatically.

Most people have no idea. 🧵

Largest renewable project in U.S. history - 3.5 GW of wind in New Mexico - begins delivering power to California and Arizona.

@CaliforniaISO has taken operational control - will count as in-state wind

Will speed up California's push for 100% WindWaterSolar

www.eenews.net/articles/lar...

Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
#bikesky #filmsky #bici #vintage #photography #bicycle #bike #fahrrad #自転車 #cycling #cyclinglife #bikelife #biking #bicicleta #cycle #vélo 🚲🚴‍♀️

Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.

Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths

Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…

Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…

#Holyrood2026 #SP26

Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...

We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆

1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible

For those keeping track at home. The Iranians have now blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockading it because the Iranians had blockaded it, in response to the US attacking Iran to ensure that the Strait which was fully open at the time wasn't blockaded.

A YouGov survey of 2,099 UK adults, conducted on March 31 and April 1, indicated that driving less and increasing walking or cycling was more common than all other responses to the Iran oil crisis.

Couldn’t sleep last night. Went out for a “jazz cigarette” and found this dude in the garden. I live in a city! Lived in the UK 14 years and have never laid eyes on one of these guys alive. Only squashed ones on country roads. He was adorable!! About the size of a big fuzzy slipper.

When Angela Rayner underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty, Richard Tice said it was "morally completely indefensible” and she should resign if she had “any moral decency”.

Now we learn he set up four shell companies that let him avoid paying £100,000 he owed in tax and to then transfer the cash to Reform

I'm not joking when I say mRNA technology is more important than "AI" and it's a tragedy we're throwing billions into one while our government is aggressively defunding the other.

Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later.

"Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial: Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later."

New path entrance signage at Newton

Woodland path

Path through fields

New trees beside path

Trying out the new/upgraded path from Newton to Winchburgh in @westlothiancouncil.bsky.social Opens up some different routes to/from Hopetoun Estate if out that way.
@edi.bike @spokes.org.uk

A old dilapidated pier slowly being restored

The main pier at WSN stretching across the sand

Piers old and new at Weston Super Mare.

Pregnancy vaccine reduces baby hospital admissions for RSV by 80% A study confirms the vaccine gives excellent protection for babies against life-threatening chest infections.

Vaccines work 💪
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Photo of the South of Scotland regional ballot paper for the Scottish election on 7th May 2026. Added text identifies the "INDEPENDENT GREEN VOICE" as "NOT the Green Party" and "SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY" as "The actual Green Party".

Anyone who received their postal ballot today in the South of Scotland region, please be aware that "Independent Green Voice", which appears second on the list on the peach regional ballot paper, is NOT the Scottish Green Party. This is in fact a deliberate vote spoiling attempt by right-wingers.

Hudson Hawk 3.5 stars Prey 3.5 stars The Sky’s the Limit 2.5 stars Nightmare Alley (2021) 4 stars

Happy #LetterboxdFriday to all who celebrate! Here are my #LastFourWatched ☕️ 🪓 🕺 🐓

The Greens have proposed capping top wages in a company at 10x the level of the lowest wages - a move that 65% of Britons would support

Strongly support: 41%
Somewhat support: 24%
Somewhat oppose: 10%
Strongly oppose: 7%

yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Relocating Venice ‘may be necessary’ if sea levels continue to rise Scientists warn that no adaptation measure can sustain Venice as rising sea levels threaten to swallow the city.

'Scientists warn that no adaptation measure can sustain Venice as rising sea levels threaten to swallow the city'

The enormous cost of doing nothing:

share.google/5RAPDWU5q57E...

Exterior of a polling place in Edinburgh (Getty).

We're urging everyone who is eligible to register to vote before the deadline at 11:59pm on Monday 20 April 🗳️

You can also apply to vote by post or proxy instead of going to a polling place📮

On my walk to work through #EdinburghCentral 5 Scottish Greens signs and 1 Scottish Labour

I fucking resent the idea that my life, as a disabled person, is considered a "cost", yet this bullshit is an "investment".

Record number of homes in Great Britain turn to green energy as fuel prices soar Iran war drives demand for solar panels, heat pumps and EVs, with energy bills expected to rise 18% from July

Heat pump orders up 2x in a month. Solar panel inquiries up 250%. EV leases up 85%.

The Iran crisis has made energy security feel personal.
I understand why: I have solar panels, a heat pump & EV on a flexible tariff. When gas prices spike, my bills barely move.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

So many of our problems converge on the same, readily available, solutions.

Air pollution making people in UK get long-term illnesses earlier, study finds Pollution is ‘silent accelerator that robs individuals of their healthiest years’, say researchers

People are getting some long term health conditions up to 2 years earlier than they would if we were breathing clean air.

That's people losing up to 2 years pain free, 2 years with energy, able to do all the things that matter to them.

share.google/t61ru2BTF1Il...

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Reeves looking to break link between gas cost and electricity prices Chancellor wants to reduce impact of gas on market prices, as it almost always sets price of electricity in UK

If this change does happen, it'll be not before time.

Under the current model, gas - the most expensive form of electricity production - sets the price of energy about 85% of the time, even though it only generates about 25% of Britain's electricity.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

If you intend to vote Scottish Green this May, please be aware of potential voter confusion on the peach coloured regional list ballot paper.

Take care to mark your X next to the actual Scottish Greens and not another party which has 'GREEN' dominating their ballot insignia.

US tech firms successfully lobbied EU to keep datacentre emissions secret Legally questionable confidentiality clause adopted almost word for word from demands of Microsoft and trade groups

US tech firms successfully lobbied EU to keep datacentre emissions secret

More than 15m oysters to be released in the North Sea for UK rewilding project Exclusive: Experts say scheme will help repair damaged marine ecosystems while sequestering large amounts of carbon

More than 15m oysters to be released in the North Sea for UK rewilding project