The perfect equation

Although I agree with Stephen Davies’s formula (CW Oct 19) and have myself arrived at s=n+2 previously, sadly it does not allow for two more bikes since that would equal separation. It does, however, allow for one more and it will consistently allow for one more bike if ‘s’ is a variable.

For that to happen we would have to assume that tolerance increases as the partner becomes more used to further bikes appearing.

The rate of increase in ‘s’ would have to be at least equal to the rate of increase in ‘n’ so there are some coefficients to play with. If ‘s’ is a fixed number, then we are ultimately doomed!

Regards, John, email