Went to my local library this morning to do a bit of research for my current book project and my goodness such a life-affirming space! There was an adult being taught to read on the next table, children enjoying story time, countless people taking out books. So grateful for our libraries ❤️

My favourite photo of the Skinningrove Black Redstart. Taken on the last day of his stay @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

Quickly telling someone you’ve liked something they’ve done (e.g. telling a writer you like their writing, or a researcher you like their research, or a teacher you like their teaching) has a phenomenally high effort-to-impact ratio.

Why TF would you ‘give Reform a go’? Yes. They represent change. But not good change. Not the change people want. This lot would torch everything we value and rely upon (NHS, public services, our rights, protections…) in an absolute frenzy of corruption, prejudice and uselessness. FFS. Please don’t.

"Cycling represents one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport ever invented" www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...

Timeline cleanse from Ynys Llanddwyn #YnysMôn for St Dwynwen’s Day 25th January and the Welsh patron saint of love and lovers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️

Morning rush hour. Safe routes to school. Streets designed for people to fully live their lives. Not a city (or a country) at war with its own people. ❤️ #cargobike #Utrecht

RIP Alex Pretti November 9, 1988 - January 24, 2026 A nurse who exhibited bravery and kindness. Murdered by U.S. government thugs.

A little Sunday morning romance. The Beggars Bridge at Glaisdale. The bridge is the centre of the wonderfully romantic legend of Thomas Ferris, a poor man who had been denounced as a beggar by the local squire. Thomas was in love with the squire’s daughter Agnes Richardson. Before Thomas 1/3

If you see me reposting bike/urbanism stuff today, it's not because I'm ignoring the obvious, it's because I have to have momentary distraction from it.

The original Locomotion No. 1 was built in 1825 by George and Robert Stephenson for the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world’s first public steam railway. On 27 September 1825 it hauled the inaugural train, proving that steam locomotives 1/3

If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.

In a world where so many lunatics have taken over their asylums, I’m so grateful to writers like @davidallengreen.bsky.social for brightening up my days - his piece on Rockall is outstanding davidallengreen.com/2026/01/when...

Lose yourself in... A Murmuration of Starlings 🎨 Annie Ovenden

We’re stepping away from X (Twitter). We’ll continue sharing updates on channels where our community is most active, including Instagram, Facebook, Threads and here on Bluesky. Read our full statement: ow.ly/LVx950XWAlu

The time to leave X was ages ago. Here’s your posse on Bluesky here.

Please consider donating help secure this important natural environment

Happy Jólabókaflóðið. (Bjork also always makes an appearance on the tree)

Waxwing in Port Clarence - Teesside @teesbirds.bsky.social

And it'll likely take another 10 years. 20 wasted years.

Just posting this as it was such a lovely walk. sandwiched as it was, between cloud and drizzle. A reminder that, even when the day looks unpromising, there are delightful interludes you will miss if you don’t venture out. Even the soft rain feels kindly.

Name assimilation increases immigrants' earnings A LOT. osf.io/preprints/so...

Hello Bluesky! Ahead of our Annual Scientific Meeting, which starts tomorrow, we thought we would get this account up and running. It will be curated by @robjimfleming.bsky.social for the next couple of days at least. Hopefully we will see some of you in sunny Liverpool!

Everyday life is full of small choices and opportunities to move more. Whenever possible I choose the stairs. It’s the healthier option and an easy way to add mini workouts into your daily routine. #GymOfLife

Similarly, I often cycle past 2 bagpipe players often rehearsing under a big oak tree on a quiet countryside lane. They’ve been doing this for at least 5 years now. I love bumping into them.

It is completely impossible to understand why there are still official governmental and public sector accounts on a platform owned and directed by a man who has made it clear his intention to interfere with UK governance #Twexit

📢 Key interim findings from our 2025 Census are out today 🧵 ➡️ 89% of clinical leaders report that elective surgery is being delayed because of a lack of anaesthetists. ➡️ 43% say this happens on a daily or weekly basis. Thread 1/4 👇

Farage: epic grifter

During the UK's membership of the EEC/EU, between 1973 & 2020, living standards steadily rose. In the 5 years since we left, they have consistently fallen. It's an enormous elephant in the room.

co-founded Linthorpe Art Pottery in the town, giving work to redundant ironworkers. Born in Glasgow in 1834 to a Yorkshire family he travelled widely but kept strong ties to the North East, where he was deeply concerned with unemployment. 2/3

Designer Christopher Dresser, dreamed of creating an art colony in Middlesbrough. Though overshadowed by William Morris, he was a pivotal figure in the Aesthetic Movement. Dresser pioneered some of the first designer labels in ceramics, wallpaper, glass and textiles. In 1879 he 1/3

It's all happening for us train enthusiasts (or is it just me?) as today marks 200 years since the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in 1825 - the birth of the modern railway. So here are some of the many railway linocuts I have done over the years - too many, I hear you say? Surely not… 😂

Saving lives and preventing injury should always take priority over drivers' convenience.

In the @yorkbirding.bsky.social area today, a Nightjar roosting on a garden fence in Woodthorpe, a ringtail Hen Harrier flew south west through Castle Howard Lake & 2 different Osprey along the Pocklington Canal at Hagg Bridge & Church Bridge @ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Got to hand it to the Greens. Rhetoric like this is pretty refreshing in an era of "it's too difficult to fix" and "it's all immigration's fault", which is what we seem to be getting from everyone else. Politics with a little bit of positive hope is quite nice to see while I doomscroll.

If you like this style, you may enjoy this post on the Rough Stuff Fellowship, a British cycling club. There are lots of photos of great outfits. dieworkwear.com/2019/05/25/t...

Kingfisher on the river Ure, North Yorkshire.

It is a bit crap at the moment, undeniably. It has been a bit crap for a while. However, if someone tells you that the crapness is the fault of another group in society, they are probably selling you something. Politicians do this for power. Media outlets do this for revenue. Don't be a fool.

IMPORTANT STUDY: “On average, the implementation of 30 km/h speed limits in European cities demonstrated a 23%, 37% & 38% reduction in road crashes, fatalities & injuries respectively. Lower speed limits also yielded environmental benefits.” www.nrso.ntua.gr/review-of-ci...

Worth repeating a million times.

This is spot on, and not just with regard to legal reporting. We increasingly live in a world of binary and deeply simplistic thinking. Which means that everything is slowly turned into a us-versus-them question. It is disastrous for reasoned debate.

Last week we launched the #RoyalChilternsWay “This isn’t just drawing lines on a map – it’s about relationship building, accessibility, and creating an experience that unites people for cycling.” 👉 Read Simon’s full blog at cyclinguk.org/rcw-simons-blog

We measure our days in bills, deadlines, But above a river of stars has flown for billions of years. Every triumph, every heartbreak, a flicker against the endless dark. And still… how beautiful, to be a spark in the infinite night. (Look at bottom right you'll see a galaxy!) Laugharne tonight.

The evidence is clear - 20mph zones save lives. In London, they’ve cut deaths and serious injuries by 34% and child fatalities by 75%. That's why we need to see more 20mph areas. My op-ed for @theguardian.com ⤵️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Out for an evening bike ride, so a quick #OceanDevotion for you from my secret cliff-top spot.

More Brexit dividends. What a massive scam!

🏆ARTICLE OF THE MONTH: The other side of the barrier by @doctorhelgi.bsky.social How subtle cues, teamwork & understanding between anaesthetists & surgeons improve patient safety. 👉 www.bjsacademy.com/bjs-academy/... #PatientSafety #Anaesthesia #Surgery #medsky #surgsky

Copper beeches 🌳 are at their very best right now! birdsong an added bonus 🎼🐦‍⬛🎶

A perfect example of how road design to slow speeds *and* enforcement focused on income-based consequences go hand-in-hand to force drivers to operate more safely. You can't just ask sternly and put up flashing "Your Speed" signs and hope for the best.

We've spoken before about the vastly prohibitive costs of Non-Standard cycles, and how the Wheels4Me.co.uk loan scheme seeks to ease that financial burden. Here's a graphic from the newest version of our Guide to #InclusiveCycling (coming soon!) detailing some of those eye-watering estimated costs.