Good day my good friend.
Going to keep the intro short today. Lots to do and not enough time to do it in. And I have a headache.
If you have any suggestions for interesting news items or bits of research to include in this newsletter, you can email me.
James
Bus (not) W*nker!
One of the most enduring jokes about transport in the last 15 years has been the famous “Bus W*nker” joke from the British comedy The Inbetweeners (warning, the language is colourful). Ignore the equivalent joke in the American version, by the way. It’s so bad I won’t even link to it. The stereotype of the person using buses being a failure, mistakening attributed to Margaret Thatcher, is a strong one in British society. But how true is it?
There is amazingly little research into this specific phenomenon. There is one study from New Zealand that looks into the matter of public transport prejudice and reveals it does seem to exist in New Zealand. There has been a lot of work on perceptions of bus services, but almost nothing on perceptions of bus users. Maybe the words of Brian Howard are shrouded in legend far more than they are in fact.
Where the wind guides you
Every regular cyclist knows the cyclist’s number one enemy. Its not drivers of other vehicles. Its not poor infrastructure. Its wind. Strong wind. My legs still shake at remembering the 50 miles I once cycled on a training ride into a 50mph headwind. I slept for 2 days after that (i’m not joking). But the wind has a significant affect on the comfort of the ride.
This research article looks specifically at the wind from passing vehicles. The findings are very interesting. A truck passing a cyclist generates winds sufficient enough to blow them over at speeds over 25mph. Any vehicle passing less than 2 feet away can blow over a cyclist. Wind is enough of a pain to deal with, but from close passes its positively dangerous. Perhaps we should all start wearing ponytail wigs.
Random things
These links are meant to make you think about the things that affect our world in transport, and not just think about transport itself. I hope that you enjoy them.
Your political rivals aren’t as bad as you think – here’s how misunderstandings amplify hostility (The Conversation)
‘Tornado alley’ is shifting farther into the US east, climate scientists warn (The Guardian)
Hackers Can Remotely Open Smart Garage Doors Across the World (Vice)
Study uncovers social cost of using AI in conversations (PhysOrg)
Re: Oil/Inflation/USD-Clash of the Titans (Kaoboy Musings)
Something interesting
The Fully Charged Show finds out if you can covert a petrol car to an electric car. Specifically a Mini Cooper. It’s not something I would try.
If you do nothing else today, then do this
Stanford University has attempted to summarise the current state of AI in a 300+ page report. Its a meaty tome, but the best summary of the current state of play. If you have some time spare over the Easter weekend, read it.
Mobility Matters 