#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.45
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 45 | Wednesday 21st December 2022 | View in browser
Hello, Seasons Greetings, and welcome to this, our final #BikeIsBest newsletter of the year. Thanks for joining us on this journey, we will be taking a break for Christmas, but we will be back again in the New Year with all the news from the world of active travel.
LAST CAR-MASS I GAVE YOU MY CAR PARK
Cities are increasingly realising the importance of getting a grip on harmful levels of motor traffic, and some are even succeeding in doing so. From car parks turned over to cycling, to growing cycle routes and budgets, there’s much to be positive about in the final days of 2022.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
LET THEM CYCLE! LET THEM CYCLE! LET THEM CYCLE!
Scotland is investing a record sum into cycling, walking and wheeling, according to budget analysis by Cycling UK. With transport decarbonisation a priority, in his speech to Parliament, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the Government would “invest nearly £200 million in active and sustainable travel”. While most will go on “support” for active travel and sustainable travel, details unclear, Cycling UK’s Jim Densham concludes “the Government is planning to invest at least £189.2m in cycling, walking and wheeling, the highest annual budget yet”.
CAR PARK TO CARGO-BIKE PARK?
Active Travel England CEO, Danny Williams, flagged this story about a central London car park bought by British Land for £20m to be made a last-mile logistics hub. The idea is deliveries are collected and sent out from the hub in smaller vehicles, like cycles, electric vans and scooters, removing van and lorry traffic from the streets.
RURAL ROUTE IMPROVES CYCLING ACCESS
Sustrans and partners have delivered a new cycle path in the Highlands of Scotland. The accessible path in the village of Kinloch Rannoch connects a local primary school, health centre, a social club and hotel, and it’s wheelchair accessible. Steps were replaced with ramps, and mud and grass with a sealed all-weather surface.
MERRY GRITMAS
Many stopped cycling during last week’s snow as paths became more suited to sleighs than bikes. That didn’t stop the Telegraph claiming cyclists were getting priority in Southwark’s LTN in Dulwich, while boundary roads were left icy. Cllr Catherine Rose refuted any ideological preference as nonsense. “We grit major routes and those used by most people for public transport, cycling, walking and driving,” she said, adding funding cuts had reduced councils’ ability to grit all areas.
FAIRYTALE OF ENFIELD
Ian Barnes was deputy leader of Enfield council during the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and last week he talked to us at Streets Ahead podcast about the challenges of being a councillor, gritting, and the importance of transport in tackling the climate crisis.
OTHER HEADLINES
ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CYCLING ROUNDABOUT
One that’s been, erm, doing the rounds this week: this little cycling roundabout in Salford. It's interesting, let's say, and has sparked a debate online.
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK
The Scottish government’s record cycling investment in 2023/24, of almost £200m, will be dwarfed by the following year’s investment of more than £300m, 10% of Scotland’s transport budget. Cycling UK’s Jim Densham says: “These are early days, but it’s exciting that we may be seeing the first glimmers of a new dawn for cycling in Scotland”
Source
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; LCWIPs
AKA Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, the strategic plans many councils have produced to identify where cycling and walking routes would deliver the best outcomes (often the highest trip volumes) for that area. The idea is as funding becomes available those routes turn from lines on maps to high quality infrastructure.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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