#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.42
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 42 | Friday 2nd December 2022 | View in browser
Hello and welcome to the beginning of December, where it’s finally starting to feel like winter. This week’s newsletter has plenty of good news stories to keep you warm, and some interesting insights into behaviour change, too - if that’s your bag.
TEMPERATURES DOWN, CYCLING’S UP
It may be getting colder, and while some councils avoid introducing new cycling infrastructure during chillier months for (often unfounded) fear of low usage early on, cycling improvements are still being announced, delivered - yes, and used - up and down the country, and indeed the world.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
AUTO EXECS AMONG GROWING ACTIVE TRAVEL VOICES
“Urban centres will only accept cars - even with zero emissions - if bikes have enough room in the mix…For many of us, myself included, [driving for short distances] is a habit we must change.” That’s VW CEO Herbert Diess, while earlier this year Ford’s President, Stuart Rowley, launched a campaign called ‘Park the Car’, encouraging more active journeys to cut carbon emissions. When even the car industry wants more active travel, we should probably crack on.
CLAMOUR FOR CYCLING AT COP
After the active travel damp squib that was COP27, 400 organisations from 73 countries signed an open letter calling for investment in cycling and walking to tackle the climate and health crises. The Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH) also shared their report, Make Way for Walking and Cycling. With a global who’s who of cycling and walking, signatories included educational and health institutions, automobile groups and the World Bank.
FRANCE GOES BIG ON CYCLING
A new white paper sets out a new integrated approach to growing cycling across the Channel, from ‘reshoring and upscaling’ French bicycle manufacturing to becoming a premier cycle tourism destination, to growing the nation’s cycle infrastructure to 100,000km. Driven partly by sustainable growth, partly by transport decarbonisation goals, France sees cycling as a smart investment.
GOOD PR?
A long read on messaging around street space changes tackles the issue of communicating change to the public. From the importance of understanding people and their motivations, to simple (if not easy) ways to bring people along, to the kinds of messaging that works, this piece by Laura Laker in Smart Transport dives into what is for many local authorities a highly sticky issue.
LTN BOOSTS CYCLING AND WALKING
Last week a small study measured LTNs’ positive impact on traffic and air pollution. This week in Stoke Newington a report published by Hackney Council shows walking was up 15% and cycling 38% in September, compared with the same period previous year, reports Henry Zhang. A 13 month ‘bus gate’ filter trial on Church Street, operating 7am-7pm, has cut motor traffic by 60% during operation hours (53% at other times) and helped more people cycle safely, the council says, with just a 0.39% traffic rise on one boundary road.
OTHER HEADLINES
POMPEY POM POM
Too early for Christmas references? Too late: two new cycle links are here, ba-Pompey pom pom. Two small but useful changes in Portsmouth: installing drop kerbs on a ‘dead end’ street to create a step-free cycle link, and ‘cycle defenders’ on an existing lane, could make a big difference to everyday local trips.
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK
The impact of Stoke Newington’s bus gate in graphical form
Source
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; BUS GATE
An un-sexy but important piece of transport infrastructure prioritising active travel and public transport. Useful on high streets, a simple camera ‘gate’ permits through bus journeys and cycling, improves everyone’s safety and makes for a nicer shopping experience.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
Not for you? unsubscribe from this list.