#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.22
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 22 | Wednesday, July 13th 2022 | View in browser
Hello and hopefully you’re managing to stay as cool as possible in this heatwave. With temperatures set to soar to the mid-30s in Coventry and around the country next week, a lot of us are reminded that action to cut carbon emissions - not least from transport - and act on climate change has never been so urgent.
BIKE ON A HOT TIN ROOF
It’s not just us: people around the world are suffering devastating extreme weather events on an increasingly regular basis. Cycling and walking are part of the puzzle of ending car dependency and the huge contribution road transport makes to global heating.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
DID CWIS2 WHIZZ BY UNNOTICED?
The government’s second installation to its Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, or CWIS2, was released last week, to little fanfare. Cycling UK’s Roger Geffen explains his disappointment at a lack of clarity, a new focus on urban journeys to meet England’s 2030 cycling and walking targets, and insufficient funding to meet the government’s aims, but notes things like new design guidance, and the presence of Active Travel England, as a reason for optimism.
WALES LEADS THE WAY ON 20MPH
Meanwhile, the Welsh Government voted this week on default 20mph on restricted roads - technically those with lampposts 200m apart and homes and shops on them. There will be exemptions, depending on the street, but with half of collisions happening on 30mph streets, 40% resulting in a serious injury or death, it’s not a problem we should ignore as a society.
CARGO BIKES BOOMING WITH FUEL PRICES
The Guardian reports continued high fuel prices are fuelling a cargo bike boom, with sales doubling in the five months to the end of May. This comes on top of massive growth last year. Supply issues continue but the trend of replacing cars and vans with pedal power shows no signs of slowing yet.
BBC POD ON GETTING PEOPLE CYCLING
The BBC’s The Climate Question podcast explores how to get more people on cycles. Visiting La Ciclovia in Bogota, where city streets are open only to walking and cycling on some days, talking to New York’s former transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, and Henk Swarttouw, president of the European Cyclists Federation, as well as Amanda Ngabirano, an urban planner in Uganda, the programme explores the role of the bicycle, its recent growth in cities around the world, and its potential for the future.
RETURN OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FILMS?
In the 1970s we learned new road rules, remembered the consequences of dangerous behaviour and taught children via public information films - some of which we recall decades later. The government’s latest THINK! Campaign finally explains some Highway Code changes, and asks road users to “Travel Like You Know Them”, remembering others on the road are people, not simply vehicles or bicycles.
NEW LONDON CYCLE ROUTE OPENS
My counterpart in London, Will Norman, announced the opening of 5km of Cycleway 9 (C9) through Chiswick. There’s a big gap at the Kensington & Chelsea boundary but it’s proving popular already - with none of the predicted cycle-jewellery heists yet.
OTHER HEADLINES
THE POWER OF PARKING
Hackney’s mayor, Philip Glanville, announced this week the entire borough is now covered by controlled parking zones. It’s a truism you can’t have a cycling and walking (and air quality) policy without a parking policy - because you need to control the volumes of cars being driven and parked on the streets before you can begin to tackle car dominance on them.
ROLLING BACK THE TIDE?
Tower Hamlets council, in East London, are proposing removing a series of street improvement schemes that reduced through traffic in the borough. Ironically the government’s THINK! Campaign, showing a cycling and walking friendly environment, was filmed just off that street. The council says it received complaints on the scheme from residents and emergency services.
CYCLING IN HOT WEATHER
Sustrans has some tips for cycling in the heat. Some may be well-known to the more seasoned cyclists, but it’s worth sharing with those newer to cycling who might be put off by hot weather. Obviously there’s a point after which cycling in the hottest part of the day is potentially unwise, and there’s weather warnings for heat this week so be careful out there.
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK
Occasionally, some people say to me we should "remove all LTNs" or "roadblocks". It's a bad idea but also impossible, because there are around 25,000 modal filters in the UK; many were installed in the 70s and 80s. Imagine the uproar if they were removed to let traffic through.
Source: #BikeIsBest study reported in The Guardian
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; MODAL FILTER
Usually, something simple like a bollard, gate or planters, so-called because they 'filter' which road users can get through. Don't think 'closed' roads for cars, think 'open' roads to people.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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