All around the UK this week, #161
Sharing the joy
This week, we’re firmly back in the UK to celebrate some of the great work happening to offer people genuine transport choice, and to look at what happens when that choice exists. It’s not plain sailing - there’s still plenty to do - but we’re here for it.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
WOULDN’T LESS CONGESTION BE NICE? That’s the question the City of York Council is asking residents. Highlighting findings from a public consultation on its Local Transport Strategy, the first of two films shows a range of road, cycle path and footpath users talking about a future with better transport choices. Communicating change effectively is so important and this first film brings to life the positive impact of doing things differently.
CITY CYCLING BOOM. The City of London has witnessed a 57% increase in cycling levels between autumn 2022 and 2024, data from 30 on-street counters has found. Much of this growth is from personal cycles (59%), with dockless cycle hire users increasing by 37%. In October 2024 a record 139,000 people cycled in the square mile in a day. People cycling are now 56% of all traffic at peak times, and dockless ebikes make up 17% of cycles in the square mile.
PAVEMENT PARKING BAN ‘ESSENTIAL’ FOR KIDS’ SAFETY. That’s what Oxfordshire MP, Olly Glover, has said, during a Westminster debate on active travel to schools. Glover cited a decline in kids cycling and walking to schools and mentioned side road zebra crossings and Bikeability rollout, as well as better land use planning and cycling and walking provision as among potential ways to make walking safer and reverse the trend.
SPEAKING OF WHICH. Across Greater Manchester 100 school streets are planned by 2028 and Mums for Lungs and campaign group, Walk Ride Greater Manchester, are organising a free conference on Friday to share what works, what doesn’t, how to set up a school bike bus, road safety audits and getting children and young people involved in behaviour change. It’s aimed at those involved with schools in the area, of course.
ACTION ON SPEEDING DRIVERS. It’ll be easier to tackle speeding as part of an initiative to halve deaths and serious injuries on West Midlands roads by 2030. West Midlands Police, working with the region’s seven local authorities, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the West Midlands Combined Authority, are making it easier to install new speed cameras, make better use of existing cameras, and issue more fines to law-breaking drivers. With speeding one of the biggest killers on our roads, it’s a positive step forward. It’s my view (and the view of many other road safety advocates) that local authorities should be able to retain speeding fine revenue to invest in road safety - at the moment it goes straight to the Treasury…
PARKING LEVY KLAXON. Leeds City Council is looking into a workplace parking levy (WPL) as part of its wider transport action plan. To fund things like cycling and walking improvements and mass transit, the scheme could charge businesses for each staff parking space. A WPL scheme in Nottingham has reduced congestion growth by 47%, according to Transport Action Network. Far from scaring off employers, Nottingham has seen a growth in businesses, who cite the tram, funded by the WPL, as a benefit of locating there.
OTHER HEADLINES
ON LEAVING OUR BUBBLES. OK, one tiny jaunt to the US. Car influencer, Matt Farah, is making the case to his audience that cities are better with… fewer cars. Bloomberg’s CityLab reports Farah became an unlikely proponent of walkable cities. Like James May in London, LA-based Farah believes “some of the most desirable places to live are the most walkable.”
INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK:
Cycling growth in the City of London (aka the Square Mile). Source: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Services-Environment/City-Streets-2025-Summary-Report.pdf
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
Workplace parking levy. WPLs are one way to encourage commuters to switch from driving to public transport, walking and cycling. A city charges businesses for each parking space they offer, which can be paid by business or passed on (fully or partially) to employees who use the space. The revenue raised tends to go towards improving local transport.
Until next time,
Adam
Adam Tranter
CEO, Fusion & Founder, #BikeIsBest
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