#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.96
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 96 | Wednesday 27th December 2023 |
Hello and welcome to the final #BikeIsBest newsletter of the year. It’s been one of highs, of lows, and of everything in between. Thank you for coming along for the ride - it’s been great having you - and here’s to another year.
MAY THE BETWIXTMAS BE WITH YOU Whether you’re celebrating or not, the festive season can be an opportunity to stop and reflect, spend time with loved ones and, crucially, to down tools and regroup a bit. Do you have a favourite part of 2023? What are you hoping for in 2024? Whatever it is, I hope it works out for the best.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS I could go on about my year in review here, but I’ve already done that in audio form, with Streets Ahead. In it Ned, Laura and I talk about our highs and lows from 2023, and our hopes for next year. You can take a listen - and now also become a supporter of the podcast - here.
CITIES TURNING ON THE CAR? This piece in the Guardian explores some European cities’ attempts to tame the car and reclaim streetspace back for people. From Barcelona’s now paused Superblocks programme to Paris’ stratospheric ascent to world leader in cycling and walking friendly city status, there’s some interesting reading to be done.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS PEOPLE FRIENDLINESS Speaking of which. The Belgian city has plans to become a city in 10 minutes, with the things people need within ten minutes of where they live. This pedestrian-friendly plan will see streets and transport reimagined by 2030 and 2050.
CYCLISTS WANT POTHOLES FIXED TOO Carlton Reid, in Forbes, discusses the need to include cyclists, after the government’s recent pothole repair campaign omitted to mention them. The point the London Cycling Campaign’s new CEO, Tom Fyans, makes in the piece is salient: “Potholes are a nuisance for everybody but for cyclists they increase the risk of serious injuries and even death in some circumstances”.
MEDIA TAKING COLLISIONS SERIOUSLY? Mayor of West Mildlands, Andy Street, and I have written to the BBC after a presenter last week seemed to chuckle while showing footage of a collision. In it a driver flipped a vehicle onto the pavement, narrowly missing a woman and child in a buggy. West Midlands Police are now investigating the incident.
REINVENTING THE WHEEL? Ranty Highwayman takes aim at Groundhog Day for good walking and cycling ideas, which are trialled locally or nationally, only to be forgotten. In Highways magazine he makes the case for a repository that can help disseminate these good ideas, to stop us repeating the same mistakes, and forgetting the successes.
OTHER HEADLINES
CYCLING GOALS FOR KIDS Cycling should be fun for all ages, not least for kids. Frog Bikes has put together some fun goals children (and grown up kids) can get behind for 2024. Remember: attempt any bike stunts responsibly.
IN YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2024 The LCC Women’s Freedom Ride, fast becoming an annual fixture, is on 3 March in London, calling for gender-equal streets. The Active Travel Academy’s Cycling and Walking at Teatime, too, is also rightly establishing itself as a bastion of knowledge. You can sign up here. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking’s calendar of events, meanwhile, should be out on the website soon.
INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK:
While cycling levels grow slowly across England, there are some pockets of rapid growth, including in London. One bright spot is the growth in active travel among kids. There’s a long way to go still but things are going in the right direction. Source.
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
Consistency. Where it comes to delivering a cycling revolution, consistency is key. Without consistent funding we can’t plan long-term for infrastructure and therefore growth.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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