Markonthemaps (Mark Ovenden)

Stupendously Unnecessary Vehicles ( #SUV ‘s) are killing and maiming many more people in accidents than less high-fronted ones. Phase them out, tax the off the roads, stop this lunacy now. They are not needed status symbols causing death and damage. More investment in #public #transport needed!

From #secret Soviet military #maps of Britain to #bus maps, John Davies has been collecting and writing about them. He joins me on the CATCH-cast to discuss his books including 'The Rise of Demise of the Bus Map'. Listen here: www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

Time has passed to try and gently discourage the phase out of Stupendously Unnecessary Vehicles (#SUV’s). There needs to be an absolute ban on sales of these dangerous, greedy, space-hungry, road-destroying, death tractors.
#waroncars, back to #publictransport, #safercycling etc

#high-speed #rail link between #Ireland and #UK proposed: Totally wonderful vision in many ways. Brilliant it has stations in all 4 nations and Ireland. Ireland even has the coffers to support some of this but does anyone in Britain have the nous to back it?

www.propertyweek.com/news/high-sp...

Spotted this bright #fungus or #mushroom t’other day (in a rare moment of sunshine). No idea what it is. Any suggestions oh wise ones?

Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze more than $16 billion for NY tunnel project | CNN Politics A federal judge in New York ruled Friday that the Trump administration must unfreeze more than $16 billion earmarked for a major New York infrastructure project and allow construction to continue, say...

Good to see the unfreezing of funding for the #Hudson #rail #tunnel. This is the extra cost: #POTUS will “drop his freeze on the funding under the condition that Schumer agree to rename New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport after Trump. www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/p...

125 years ago, Marconi sent the first radio signal over the horizon from The Needles to The Lizard (Cornwall). Isle of Wight Radio Society chair Steve Cownley explains why it was a pivotal moment and the joys of being a radio ham. www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

70 YEARS AGO TODAY THE NEWPORT TO SANDOWN RAILWAY CLOSED Trains on the Newport to Sandown railway made their final runs on 6th February 1956, bringing to an end a

We keep hitting these anniversaries of #rail line closures. Most depressing that so few have been reversed. A huge programme of re-opening and investment would stimulate the “growth” the economy “needs”, cut pollution and help communities recover. Get it done!
www.islandecho.co.uk/70-years-ago...

Should have added the links to Sarah @sgoodyear.bsky.social , Doug @brooklynspoke.bsky.social and their podcast:
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
Great guests, so informative and covering issues we all need to think about!

With 40,000 killed on American roads every year and 22-lane highways still being built...how can they be weened off automobiles? Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon believe there is a Life After Cars and are inspired by some European lessons. Listen here: www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

One of the UK's most prolific railway book authors, Julian Holland, talks about his early trainspotting, background in design, closed railways and how met Jimi Hendrix! www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

Protest held against decision to fill in Queensbury Tunnel About 150 people gathered at Queensbury Tunnel near Bradford to protest a decision to fill it in.

#SaveQueensburyTunnel!
Seems insane to fill in this old #railway tunnel when there is such demand to retain it as a cycle way and pedestrian link.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Love "Secrets of the Underground" & "The Architecture the Railways Built"? Listen to @mrtimdunn.bsky.social explain how he got the gig & why he's so fascinated by it all. Plus how his parents met across a crowded platform...& why he also loves #modelvillages! www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...

We all live in hope Andy!

Labour revives Northern Powerhouse Rail project with pledge of £45bn funds Plan will start with TransPennine upgrade with new line connecting Liverpool and Manchester in second phase

This all sounds great of course. And is just what the #north needs. Bravo to all #mayors in pulling #Treasury to a commitment (though ideally should not be necessary).
Just worry we are in a period of long term announcements over things that later get cancelled. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Photo taken across back garden of bright red colour clouds in morning sky

Red sky in the morning and all that - now where did I leave those darn sheep? And why aren’t they pluralised with an ‘s’ at the end like most other self respecting nouns?

#Motorway Service Stations, #HolidayCamps, Train Platforms, the #Underground ...these are spaces we take for granted - but as #DavidLawrence reveals they have all be carefully crafted. Hear from a Doctor who knows...and one with a mercurial Pirate past too! www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...

YouTube video by Kinolibrary 1960s Women's Exercise Class, Stretching

Pink leotards, draughty halls and ‘Wheels Cha Cha’ on the Dansette…fond memories of mum taking me to her ‘ #KeepFit’ classes in the late 1960s (in this anniversary week of her passing a few years ago). Did you ever go to one of these? youtu.be/qW6jQSbDHs4?...
Music: youtu.be/HfvZkMUGrzU?...

Andy Burnham apologises for Manchester police homophobia - Peter Tatchell Foundation But the Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, refuses to say sorry

Here's some good news for LGBTQI+ community: @mayorofgm.bsky.social #AndyBurnham doing correct thing again: petertatchellfoundation.org/andy-burnham... But tireless campaigner @petertatchell.bsky.social right to insist #GreaterManchesterPolice also step up and issue apology for historic #homophobia.

Sharing this without comment but if you want to read about the the methodology click @brenttoderian.bsky.social for that.

Poster from 1926 shows what artists Montague Black thought London might look like in 100 years time. There are many planes and airships and exotic looking skyscrapers. Great foresight!

Was just remembering this wonderful poster from London Underground 100 years ago when I spotted Matt Brown's excellent post on it. Do delve in. Fascinating! open.substack.com/pub/londonis...

« Travel consumerism » seems the right description. We do not have a god given right to race around the planet for « fun » and with ticket prices so low that people are lured into it without considering the environmental consequences. Pricing/taxing all journeys by eco-cost could be the way forward?

Can public transport be beautiful? Daniel Wright claims it certainly can! From architecture to typefaces, posters to tickets...the & good design of buses, stations, trains, ferries & airports is discussed here (www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...) & on Daniel's great blog: thebeautyoftransport.com

UK government should end rail outsourcing ‘racket’, says union RMT estimates six cleaning, security and catering suppliers made £150m profits last year

« Since 2016, contractors have siphoned over £1.6bn out of our railway, including £152m in the last year alone ». Bring it in house and stop squandering public money on lining « the pockets of hedge funds and private equity firms ».
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Great way to start a new year: a Mayor who takes #public #transit seriously!
The swearing-in taking place in one of the city’s coolest locations pays tribute to the important role of the #Subway in NYC’s development.
www.cnn.com/2026/01/01/p...

Been foggy all day here on Isle of Wight

Crikey: end of an era as #MTV channels all closed down yesterday. Now first in the EPG is #Clubland and its sister NOW channels (which I spent several years happily working for). Also worked for MTV for a bit too so: mixed feelings. Odd to see just 8 music channels when there used to be over 20!

Sign the petition to keep chlorine-washed chicken off our shelves Here we go again. Trump has told the UK that if we want a UK-US tech deal, we need to buy chlorinated chicken from the US! 🤢🐔 How dare he try to impose poor food standards in Britain. Sign the petitio...

Say NO to #UK being pressured into accepting chicken washed in bleach. 38d.gs/cc-df

Been seeing occasional roadside #daffodils #IsleOfWight for about 3 weeks but managed to photograph some yesterday. Not a world record, but interesting to see so many blooming in December? Have you spotted many? (Mine were beside a field of #Alpaca. No relation between the two. Or is there?!) lol

And many of those original provincial big city letter codes appeared on street signs didn’t they Mike? A handful survived. Recall spotting quite a few around Manchester and Salford.