#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.10
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 10 | Wednesday, April 19th 2022 | View in browser
Hello and welcome to our tenth #BikeisBest newsletter. We hope you had a great long weekend - whatever you got up to.
WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?
As well as a great way to enjoy a long weekend, cycling is all-round great for kids - their physical and mental health, and their independence and wellbeing. Those benefits can continue into older age, given the right conditions.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
BIG APPLE'S BIG LITTLE BIKE BOOM?
The New York Times reports on the city's apparent growth in kids travelling by bike - both on the back of grown-ups bikes and on their own. Author Kendra Hurley cites the availability of e-cargo bikes, convenience and a growing network of lanes for the trend - along with, of course, parents wanting to avoid public transport.
FAMILY CYCLING IN VOGUE
There must be something in the air - on both sides of the pond. Being stuck in traffic jams, queuing endlessly for petrol, inhaling other drivers' noxious fumes and parking fees are just some of the hells Vogue's Nell Frizzell avoids while transporting her kids by cargo bike.
YET TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL BIKE SHOP?
With Local Bike Shop Day under two weeks away, we're looking forward to seeing communities gathering around their bicycle hubs. If you've yet to vote for your favourite independent bike retailer, you can do so at the link below.
Vote here
HS2 CYCLEWAY A GOER?
The Times reports this week the long-discussed on-again-off-again HS2 cycleway could be happening once more, after 'ministers have belatedly tried to seize the opportunity' to get it built. A 3m- wide cycle path, alongside a 2.5m wide footpath, could link communities along the 200-mile route, the paper says.
E-BIKES: TRUE TECH OF THE FUTURE?
Tech HQ asks its readers whether the hype over electric cars isn’t misplaced, with e-bikes better suited to short urban journeys (read: more efficient, and often faster). As the author puts it “it is e-bikes — not cars — that appears to be the world’s best-selling electric vehicle”, plus oil prices, purchase price, reducing car use, etc…
VOTE WINNERS
Cycling UK has brought together the ‘overwhelming’ evidence on cycling’s benefits ahead of local elections on 5 May. From air quality to safety, health and wellbeing, to boosting local economies, Getting there with cycling reminds election candidates active travel is popular in representative poll after poll - and urgent issues, from the climate, health and cost of living crisis, to air pollution, can be improved with safer cycling infrastructure.
OTHER HEADLINES
CYCLING THROUGH RAMADAN
A social media account to watch. Miss Omar shares her cycling journey with her followers, riding here, there and everywhere on her Brompton. She’s currently observing Ramadan and is aiming to ride 500km during the month, with 300km down already. Her posts are full of the joys and experiences of cycling as a Muslim woman.
PARK ME HAPPY
The European Cyclists’ Federation has suggested amendments to an EU directive on building energy efficiency to include cycle-friendly measures like cycle parking requirements and e-bike charging, as well as reducing car parking where nearby public transport networks are good. Because secure cycle facilities matter.
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK
Speed is a key factor in road collisions, and severity of injuries - and yet some baulk at speed limiting technology in vehicles. I shared a few graphs this week explaining why trusting drivers not to speed, not least on 20mph roads where most people walk and cycle, will never give us safer roads.
Source
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; INFRASTRUCTURE
The stories this week remind us how important getting the basics right really is - and that means making cycling feel physically safe. Protected cycle lanes, low traffic neighbourhoods and school streets are all in this category.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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