In your weekly edinburgh cycle 'digest' (bumper edition 😅): The Search for Political Will; Fundraising Opportunities; Transport & Environment Committee May Meeting Roundup; and @edfoc Kicks Off!
The importance of active travel, and the encroaching era of car-induced lethargy was a topic for discussion in 1963. Except from John McGahern's The Barracks. #books#bookstodon#cycling#activeTravel
'“We need to ensure that every child can walk or cycle to school safely”: All political parties – except the Conservatives – agree “children’s safety should be prioritised over the convenience of motorists” on “red-rated” road network, families say'
Third day in a row of 40mph winds, so no cycling for me today 😭
If there were safe, separated bike lanes in my area, I'd ride; but the risk of being blown under a vehicle on these awful car-infested roads is too great. Meh. #BikeTooter#ActiveTravel
Body of research grows that indicates the e-bike is a silver bullet for the transport ecosystem in reducing traffic & helping people become more active. Of course, mobile people stay & shop on high streets too, so not bad for the economy either: https://www.cyclingelectric.com/news/study-e-bike-riders-drive-less-trips
'Research from the UK’s biggest active travel survey, Sustrans’ Walking and Cycling Index, underlines there’s majority support for pro-walking and cycling measures. It reveals 56% of people support shifting investment from road building schemes to fund walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport, while just 17% oppose. Similarly, 65% support a pavement parking ban, vs 16% opposed.'
It looks like the Government is quietly getting on with improvements whilst the Ruling Party is fighting a #CultureWar and going on about a "war on drivers"
'£101 million investment to boost cycling and walking nationwide'
Page summary:
Newly funded projects will provide even more people, especially in rural and deprived areas, the choice to travel by walking, wheeling or cycling.'
I've shared this before but anyway, I used park my van on a quiet village street quite legally, and start and finish the day with a nice 15-20km ride into my office in #Oxford alongside the river. I returned one evening to find not one but two notes stuffed under the windscreen wipers … #cycling#activeTravel
As a UK election nears (ish), and Tories scramble to be “on the side of drivers”, a reminder that people don’t know what’s good for them ahead of positive change, but then are convinced after the fact that they did know all along
That screenshot is from a Twitter account I ran for the Portsmouth #activetravel campaign, Pompey Street Space, back in 2020 when, with COVID knocking us all sideways, the prospects for change were tantalising.
At the time, Grant Shapps and Robert Jenrick of all people, were tentative cheerleaders for emergency transport policies.
It wasn’t to be, of course. They would revert to being exactly who they have always been.
'An official study of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) ordered by Rishi Sunak amid efforts to stop them being built has instead concluded they are generally popular and effective and the report was initially buried, the Guardian has learned.'
Rishi Sunak’s report finds #LowTraffic Neighbourhoods work and are popular
Exclusive: Downing Street initially buried study, which Tories had hoped would strengthen arguments against traffic-reducing measures
“Health gains of low-traffic schemes up to 100 times greater than costs, study finds. Research looked at three London boroughs to value overall health benefits of active travel over 20 years at up to £4,800 per head” Ditch the motor. Get walking. #ActiveTravel
A thought-provoking presentation and public comments on #skateboarding for #transportation and designing cities for all sorts of small wheels. Also very cool that #SanFrancisco (SFCTA) now has a Skateboarding Subcommittee.
It’s good to be old, even elderly. But it’s downright dangerous to be inattentive and driving a car, sailing through a light that had been red for some time and a walk signal that had been green for about 5 seconds. No change in speed. I pointed straight at the driver as they passed but they didn’t notice that either. #activeTravel#Canberra
Does anyone have any helpful tips on cycling with a menstrual cup? I did that for the first time today, and let's just say it wasn't the most comfortable experience... 🤪
It was raining just before I left work, so I put on my waterproofs and the weather gods saw me and it immediately stopped raining 😂 #ActiveTravel#BikeTooter#Cycling
This week: we’re all having a moan about Leith Walk again; new consultations and local happenings to check out, and a speculative ‘Leith Loop’ route does the rounds.