Notices by Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social), page 22

I’m so estranged from political processes. Someone has written a speech for Gilkinet, has put words in his mouth. There’s no engagement in his mind with what’s coming out of his mouth. #ConnectingEuropeDays

There’s going to be some “Brussels declaration” on rail priorities, trying to tell the next European Commission what to prioritise. Are even the Member States getting annoyed at Valean’s lack of action? #ConnectingEuropeDays

Also the Digital Automated Coupler is obviously a sensible idea. But can a combination of European Commission, EU Member States and rail firms *actually do it*? Without turning it into a morass of delays and complexity? #ConnectingEuropeDays

Registering for a transport event of the Belgian Presidency of the EU

Errrr, bicycle? 🤔 Or bus, tram, metro, on foot…?

@hj @pony Sure. That, on my lap, for 75 mins.

Welcome to #CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Day 21 March - Berzée - Mariembourg - Hirson - Aulnoye-Aymeries - Paris - Nuits-sous-Ravières

Today I’m crossing these borders
Anor 🇫🇷 - Momignies 🇧🇪

Map of today’s route
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#10/50.0444/4.3259

Today’s Live Blog
https://crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/live-blog-2024-extra-day-21-march-berzee-mariembourg-hirson-aulnoye-aymeries-paris-nuits-sous-ravieres/

Here’s today’s intro from a foggy Berzée #CrossBorderRail https://urbanists.video/w/3BVvVTvC9xto2U2UWd3Jiw

Edit: it’s uploaded but won’t play. I’ll fix when I’m no longer cycling to the French border

#CrossBorderRail Extra Day 21 March Train 1
R 3908
08:41 Berzée - Mariembourg 09:12
SNCB

Distance: 31km
Average speed: 60km/h

Train type: Alstom DMU, 2x 2 carriages
⛽️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (lift needed, but not obviously one at Berzée)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 😡 (graffiti outside covers windows)

Eisenbahnromantik Yves-Gomezée #CrossBorderRail

Mariembourg. Here I take to my bike for the next part to France. #CrossBorderRail

The line towards Chimay. Today it’s a Ravel cycle path. Today deserted. #CrossBorderRail

Chimay Grand Plac… ah no, sorry, Grand Parking #CrossBorderRail

No #beerontrains at Chimay. Because no trains. This is the old station #CrossBorderRail

Okay

Ah. International cooperation don’t you just love it. The cycle path laid on the old railway line ends… about 300m before the border to France 🤷♂️

Railway stations at the end of the world: Anor 🇫🇷

I remember a line in Dan Gardner’s book Risk https://dangardner.ca/publication/risk that there was a sudden increase in deadly road accidents after September 11, as people drove more instead of flying

I presume it’s statistically still safer to fly even in a Boeing plane than it is to drive?

(I’ve not flown anywhere for 4 years so this calculation isn’t for me directly)

@FiveSeventeen @forteller There are bollards blocking the entrance though, out of sight - so that's actually not the main problem. Not that it excuses this behaviour!

@FiveSeventeen @forteller It was a car showroom, now closed and empty. So yes, theoretically was for fire - and probably still is, but in practice probably that aspect of this doesn't matter much.

And I don’t know what to think about the elderly lady who - while I was photographing this - asked me if it was my car. Do I give the impression I’m someone either with that much money? Or who’d drive that antisocially?

But she was annoyed by the bad parking so I can forgive her! 🙂