#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.17


#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 17 | Wednesday, June 8th 2022 | View in browser

Hello and hopefully the extra-long weekend was good to you, whatever you got up to.
WHAT DO WE WANT, BIKES - WHEN DO WE WANT THEM?
Now? Well last week we got them on World Bicycle Day. This week we turn our attention to a couple of stories illustrating just how wasteful our focus on motorised transport is, when a healthier, more equitable, and let’s face it more pleasant, option is staring us in the face. The fact is, we also need fewer cars.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
FUEL DUTY SUBSIDIES COULD POWER CYCLING REVOLUTION
The billions thrown at fuel subsidies could instead fuel a low-carbon transport revolution across Europe, a new report finds. CONEBI and European industry partners found reallocated subsidies could cut VAT on up to 194m cycles, or provide 5.3bn free shared cycle scheme rides. With 40% of the poorest UK citizens without a car, this would represent a much fairer use of public funds.
DOTTY USE OF ROAD SPACE
E-scooter brand Dott caught everyone’s attention cycling around Hammersmith in West London wearing a car-sized frame to highlight the ‘absurdity’ of vehicles hogging the roads. The Evening Standard notes “reducing the number of cars in the capital by 20,000 – less than 1% – would free up 55 miles (88km) of roads and create enough space for 80,000 bikes”.
ELECTRIC CARS WON’T SAVE THE WORLD, PART #398
The Guardian reports on a study finding the vast majority of toxic particles from cars come not from exhausts but tyres - almost 2,000 times as many toxic particles, in fact. The ultrafine particles released in their trillions over each km driven are concerning because they can enter organs via the bloodstream. With heavier e-cars wearing tyres faster it’s further evidence that hopes they’ll save the world are sadly unfounded.


IN SUPPORT OF PRIDE
#BikeIsBest continues to work with communities to normalise cycling for all. In our latest campaign video - part of the We Can, You Can series - we've worked with partners Pride Out to produce a new video in support of Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Watch now
DO EBIKES DREAM OF ELECTRIFYING CYCLE ROUTES?
Ebikes are revolutionising cycle travel, including how far people are willing to travel by pedal power. Journalist Laura Laker reports on a special edition of the Active Travel Academy’s journal, Active Travel Studies, and the issues it raises around the future of longer-distance cycle travel.
DELIVERY RIDER INJURIES UNDER-REPORTED?
Australian researchers found food delivery cyclists are injured at higher rates than official reports show. Of 386 adult cycling injuries in one hospital, 12% (43) were delivery riders and 46% were of unknown work status. This is against official figures of just under 10% delivery riders (37). Roads need to be safe for everyone - but injuries can mean serious financial as well as health consequences for low-paid gig economy workers.
FLAGGING JOURNALISTS FLOG HIGHWAY CODE CHANGES
After last week’s Countryfile debacle this time it’s the turn of the Spectator, having apparently run out of original opinions. TL;DR - it’s one more lazy journalist publishing prejudiced opinions on cycling and making the roads a bit more dangerous. There’s no excuse.
AND FINALLY, SOME PERSPECTIVE
Our roads may feel dangerous at times, but it’s nothing compared to the ordeal Ukranian Arif Bagirov underwent when he cycled 50 miles escaping the destruction of his city. Bagirov fled the besieged city of Severodonetsk, which is currently under attack by the Russian military, picking a path via freshly-shelled buildings knowing they wouldn’t be targeted twice.
OTHER HEADLINES
LIFT ME UP, SCOTTIE
In Ireland a Cork councillor is proposing a ‘bicycle lift’ to help people up a 14% incline in the city, as part of the Cork Bus Connects programme. One in Trondheim, Norway, requires users to put a foot on a pedal attached to a concealed cable, propelling them upward when a button is pressed. Not all cyclists have sufficient strength in their legs (think of hand-cyclists) for this design though, and it’s important any lift takes different potential users into account.
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK

Brighton Campaigners mapped where car ownership is highest (and lowest) in the city, showing where better active travel and public transport links are needed. Brighton Active Travel used data obtained by Owen Boswarva via FOI from the Department for Transport, to illustrate car dependency, by local area. Bigger blobs mean greater dependency - or as they put it ‘little spots mean lucky homes’. Read more here
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; CAR DEPENDENCY
Where your locale leaves no or little reasonable alternative to mobility than to own and drive a private car for the journeys you need to take. Good transport and land use planning can provide solutions.
Until next time,

Founder, #BikeIsBest
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