#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.62
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 62 | Tuesday 2nd May 2023 | View in browser
Hello and how do? As spring creeps slowly upon us, we’re seeing cycling and walking step up to save people money, save the planet, and generally being brilliant as usual.
CYCLING SAVES…
It’s probably quicker to do a list of things cycling doesn’t save, than listing things it does. Either way, here we are again with your weekly dose of all things pedal powered.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
HOW TO SAVE A LIFE.
We need to halve carbon emissions in the next decade if we’re to avoid runaway climate change. Recommendations tucked in the recent IPCC report on the future of the planet represent a road map for humanity. It said “a push towards public transport, bikes and e-bikes has the potential to cut emissions more than the rollout of electric cars, showing both are needed”.
HOW TO DELIVER A BOX.
A new cargo bike delivery hub has opened near Victoria in London. The idea is parcels will be delivered to the hub by van, and transferred onto electric cargo cycles, run by Delivery Mates, for the remainder of their journey. The hub is expected to deliver around 2,000 parcels a day, Ian Mansfield of IanVisits reports.
BIG BOOST FOR ACTIVE TRAVEL.
Or how to save a few quid. Active travel, aka cycling and walking, has seen the biggest growth of any activity ever according to a survey of 180,000 people by Sport England. A third of adults took part in active travel in November, and according to another survey by Sport England one in five are now replacing car trips with walking and cycling to save money as the cost of living bites.
HOW TO KIDICAL MASS.
In May and September thousands of kids and their grown-ups around the world take to the streets on cycles to show that children need safe space too. On 5 May there’ll be rides in Tyneside, Oxford, Bath and Derby, among others. For more info, and the full map, see: https://kidsonbike.org/.
HOW TO COUNTER OPPOSITION.
Back in 2020, a BikeisBest report showed most people support cycling investment, but consistently overestimate others’ opposition to it. This week campaigner Carla Francome relayed a conversation with a friend, who said neighbours were afraid to vocally support a local LTN because they felt most people were against it and would shout at them. The friend later informally polled neighbours and found the opposite. This phenomenon is called pluralistic ignorance. It might mean people just accept opposition, not counter it.
OTHER HEADLINES
CASE IN POINT.
Journalist Carlton Reid headed along to an LTN protest local to him in Jesmond, Newcastle, to hear some of the concerns around the scheme. It’s worth listening to valid worries, but also to remember that some are founded on misunderstanding, and some misrepresentation of what’s happening.
INTERESTING GRAPH(IC) OF THE WEEK:
A striking illustration of the importance of protected cycle routes. This one was shared by Greg Vann, created from research by the City of Melbourne. Source
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
Pluralistic ignorance. In social psychology, pluralistic ignorance (also known as a collective illusion) is a phenomenon which occurs when people mistakenly believe that everyone else holds a different opinion than their own.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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