#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.61
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 61 | Friday 21st April 2023 | View in browser
Hello and welcome to this week’s newsletter. We’re talking about the wonders of cargo bikes, the joys of LTNs and the less than successful communication of the Highway Code changes.
TUNNELS, CARGO BIKES AND LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOODS
We’re underground and overground this week, wombling free. We just need bridges to make a full complement of infrastructure.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
HIGHWAY WHAT?
An investigation by Cycling Electric found last year’s Highway Code changes haven’t sunk in. Via FOI it found “The Department for Transport’s £2.2 million communications campaign to raise awareness of the changes resulted in: 36% of those surveyed “know[ing] hardly anything” anything about the Highway Code changes; the majority (66%) thinking that motor vehicles should have priority on the roads and 61% believe they already do; and 20% are at least “not very concerned with cyclists”.
TUNNEL OF (BIKE) LOVE.
The new 2.9km Fyllingsdalstunnelen opened last week in Norway. The impressive piece of engineering cuts through the Løvstakken mountain in the southwest Norwegian city of Bergen, linking the residential areas of Fyllingsdalen and Mindemyren. From there you can cycle to the centre of Bergen.
BBC PANORAMA TACKLES LTNS.
With the predictably errm, evocative, title of: Road Wars, Panorama looks at Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Overall, it was quite sensible and one of the more nuanced analyses of the topic. Sadly, it does feature Laurence Fox and Katie Hopkins, neither of whom are known for their transport expertise.
CHANGE OF HEART ON LTNS.
Guardian columnist Zoe Williams admits she was wrong to oppose Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Williams concedes she initially misunderstood how the measures worked. She writes: “Reports of a significant drop in traffic within the neighbourhoods, reduction of air pollution, disease prevention, did sound plausible. Much more importantly, I woke up one day to find myself on the same side as Laurence Fox.” People can change their minds - though, naturally, not all people will be persuaded.
CARBON-SAVING CARGO BIKES.
A report by the London Assembly recommends more support for cargo cycles to help London meet its net zero goals. Funding for cargo bike sharing, and rider training, would help businesses play their part in decarbonising freight in the city, it says. Deliveries contribute 17% to city traffic, and even more to its air pollution. Cargo bikes, it found, are 1.6 times faster, seven times cheaper to run, and 67 times less damaging to the environment than vans.
CARGO BIKE FUTURE?
On topic, from earlier this month, cargo cycle deliveries could save the taxpayer £4bn, according to Oxford-based cycle logistics firm, Pedal and Post. The company used Department for Transport and Just Economics reports to calculate the benefits of replacing vans with pedal-powered vehicles for an estimated 33% of deliveries. Savings come from a reduction in diesel pollution and road danger, among other things.
OTHER HEADLINES
CALLS CONTINUE TO REVERSE ACTIVE TRAVEL CUTS.
Cycling and walking groups point out the false economy of slashing walking and cycling budgets by 75% - and call on supporters to put pressure on politicians to reinstate the funding that’s crucial to meeting our health, environmental and congestion-cutting goals.
INTERESTING GRAPH(IC) OF THE WEEK:
This one speaks for itself. Source:
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
U-TURN. Not always a bad thing. Making mistakes is a part of being human; it's how we move forward from those mistakes that matters.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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