Mostly urbanism links today.
This week I recommend the talk by Cabel Sasser, it's weird and fun.
Engineering
gptel - Emacs client for all kinds of LLMs
SMURF: Beyond the Test Pyramid - everything is a tradeoff.
Environment
Tax on Europe’s frequent flyers could raise €64bn a year – study - unlikely to happen.
Fuel duty expected to rise by up to 7p a litre after the budget - it has been reduced before and had been frozen for a long time.
Urbanism
Welsh roads safer this spring compared to last – new data - low speed works. "Collisions and casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads have fallen by almost a quarter compared to the same period in 2023"
Testing back alley laneways to unlock a hidden bike network (plus a visit to a top laneway city) [YouTube] - these don't really exist around here. I imagine the main problem will be the crossings with other streets.
Barcelona tramway between Glòries and Verdaguer to come into service on November 9 - this has been taken forever, and there is still a long way to go for the full connection.
TfL seizes 1,400 vehicles from drivers who ignore London Ulez fines - nice.
Should Cities Ban Drive Thrus? [YouTube] - I would start fining people who queue on public roads. This also doesn't seem to be an issue in Europe.
Creating the First Bicycle Traffic Model of Barcelona - I am already looking forward to the results.
Towards the Renaturalization of Urban Spaces: How 08014 arquitectura's Projects are Reclaiming Barcelona's Streets - the agency behind the design of the Superblocks.
Cycling with Balloons in Amsterdam - pretty.
Milliarden-Projekt wird zur Geisterstadt [German, Video] - it looks pretty bad. I do like all the greenery.
Barcelona is turning subway trains into power stations - I think I had this before, this is a new article.
I went inside a "war on cars" neighbourhood in the UK [YouTube] - LTNs again.
Random Dogs
Dogs Are Entering a New Wave of Domestication - service dogs.
TBM 317: Yes, Or... - it depends, or does it?
Mosaic Netscape 0.9 was released 30 years ago today - I'm old.
Montserrat monastery to host stage finish of 2025 Volta a Catalunya cycling race - the race comes to my hood again.
Pluralistic: You should be using an RSS reader (16 Oct 2024) - yes!
‘We were cheeky outlaws getting away with it’: the total euphoria of Liverpool’s 90s club scene " "“It’s a luxury to have something that’s underground and intimate where you know everyone in the room [...] But it can’t last. If it’s brilliant, it’s gonna go mainstream"
Casio made a furry robot designed to cuddle and calm you down - I approve.
XOXO Cabel Sasser Panic [Video] - great talk. "Appreciate everything endlessly"