Montane Spine 2023

[Hank]

It’s an interesting one. I can see the issue with sloganeering in sports and while I don’t disagree with the general thrust of what DH is saying, on balance I think it’s best to not allow it.

On ‘Just Stop Oil’ specifically, I don’t think it’s a helpful phrase. As has been pointed out, it’s glib and idealistic, almost to the point of irrelevance. That said, I take it as short-hand for support for a wider movement to reduce use of/reliance on fossil fuels. But taken at face value it's not hard to see why it might land as pious nonsense.

More generally though, I struggle to see it as an overall negative. Those who think it’s bollocks, regard him as a hypocrite, etc. presumably aren’t going to change their behaviour for the worse on fossil fuels, so he’s lost some potential allies/supporters, but not much more. Environmental behaviours are contested and I’m sure he’s use to taking flak for his position, so I guess he just accepts this as a consequence of putting his opinion out there in this way.

Those who might follow his example (e.g. use public transport to get to events) and might go on to explore more about reducing their own carbon footprint… well, that’s a win for everyone. Obviously it’s a massively complicated problem to crack (way beyond simple slogans), but assuming everyone wants to see an overall global reduction in the use of fossil fuels and a move to more sustainable forms of energy in the future (whatever they might be), if he contributes something to those aims, however small, he’s done something good.

[Mike T]

Interesting - quite a bit of anger about her decision on the AW FB page.

https://athleticsweekly.com/blog/fit...BZPb4uHFo-WMas

[Mark G]

I don't yet qualify for a bus pass (although I originally expected one over four years ago, until equality between the sexes meant we both now have to be 66) but I would happily use the limited bus service we have to go to Kendal and on into the Lakes - but it's prohibitively expensive and much cheaper to take the car. There is a temporary initiative to charge £2 for most single bus fares but unless something longer lasting is introduced the inevitable decline in public transport will continue. It's a vicious circle - prices go up, fewer people who have a choice use the bus so prices go up further and/or services are cut.
The bus pass is not a free entitlement. It's something we have paid taxes for all our working lives and which most of us continue to pay taxes to support in retirement. If the government were really serious about reducing emissions they could do a lot more to support public transport and get cars off the road.

True story - a few years ago my elderly parents with 4 other younger relatives walked from Ambleside to Grasmere. They had a meal in the cafe at Rydal Hall for which my father paid. When they got to Grasmere they decided to return to Ambleside on the bus. My parents had bus passes, the others did not. The cost of four single fares back to Ambleside was more than the cost of the food for six in the cafe.

[Mike T]

Prior to the short term reduced fare of £2, I am pretty sure it used to be £8 whether you went one stop or the length of Cumbria. There were family and group reductions, and you could break your journey into sections, but it was still not at all cheap. I had just got my old age bus pass when Covid came along, so I have never used it.

I think in Germany it is 9 Euro per month for unlimited train travel, apart from the real quickies.

Cheap and efficient travel should be regarded as a social service, and not just for those who use it. And the planet would thank us.

[anthonykay]

I don't yet qualify for a bus pass (although I originally expected one over four years ago, until equality between the sexes meant we both now have to be 66) but I would happily use the limited bus service we have to go to Kendal and on into the Lakes - but it's prohibitively expensive and much cheaper to take the car. There is a temporary initiative to charge £2 for most single bus fares but unless something longer lasting is introduced the inevitable decline in public transport will continue. It's a vicious circle - prices go up, fewer people who have a choice use the bus so prices go up further and/or services are cut.
The bus pass is not a free entitlement. It's something we have paid taxes for all our working lives and which most of us continue to pay taxes to support in retirement. If the government were really serious about reducing emissions they could do a lot more to support public transport and get cars off the road.

True story - a few years ago my elderly parents with 4 other younger relatives walked from Ambleside to Grasmere. They had a meal in the cafe at Rydal Hall for which my father paid. When they got to Grasmere they decided to return to Ambleside on the bus. My parents had bus passes, the others did not. The cost of four single fares back to Ambleside was more than the cost of the food for six in the cafe.

It must also be rather galling for you to see all those trains passing through Shap without stopping. Oh no, sorry, it's Avanti West Coast and Trans-Pennine Express on that line: there aren't many trains.

[brett]

And you slouch the rest of the times?

I immediately sat up straight in my chair.

[millipede]

And you slouch the rest of the times?

Hello

[Graham Breeze]

And you slouch the rest of the times?

If I had said I immediately sobered up you might have got the wrong idea.

[Graham Breeze]

Hello

Well, hellooo...stranger

[Mark G]

It must also be rather galling for you to see all those trains passing through Shap without stopping. Oh no, sorry, it's Avanti West Coast and Trans-Pennine Express on that line: there aren't many trains.

Absolutely. I've tried flagging them down but they just carry on regardless. Returning on a train with my bike once we were stopped for two hours within a few hundred yards of my house...