#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No. 143

There's a new Transport Secretary, here's what it means for active travel (and other stories from this week).

Hello and welcome to this week, where it’s blustery and wet - and despite some set backs - we’re keeping our chins up and feeling optimistic about the future.

GOOD TRANSPORT SECRETARIES

…It seems that good transport secretaries are like buses: you wait ages for one to show up, and then two arrive in quick succession. I’m talking about the resignation of Louise Haigh today, who I was confident fully understood the importance of active travel. She’s been replaced by Heidi Alexander MP, former deputy mayor for transport in London under Sadiq Khan, and another politician who understands the importance of more cycling and walking to reduce congestion and improve health outcomes. It’s never a given that a transport secretary will embrace active travel so while I’m sad to see Haigh go, Heidi Alexander will be a strong advocate.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

REIMAGINING STREETS FOR KIDS. Paris has created 180 school streets, motor traffic closures outside schools to improve safety for kids. The city is on its way to 300 by 2026. Where there was once through traffic, there’s planting, street art and seating. The work is being conducted in two phases, the first using ‘tactical urbanism’, an experimental phase using simple measures like fences around the pedestrian area, which allows people to experience the changes for themselves. The second phase is permanent planting and paving - the placemaking phase. This wonderful Streetfilms episode shows what that looks like.

SCHOOL STREETS ARE GO! In England 40% of primary and 25% of secondary pupils are driven to school each day. Now, there’s new guidance for local authorities to deliver school streets to help students travel actively. The aim is for timed, rather than permanent closures, around school pick up and drop-off. The guidance covers everything from choosing suitable sites and understanding the rationales, to understanding and responding to local support and opposition, to cost and potential layouts.

ALRIGHT PARIS, NOW YOU’RE JUST SHOWING OFF. As if cutting through-traffic and transforming hundreds of streets into people-friendly places weren’t enough, Paris is also replacing parking spaces with trees. With the city somewhat overheating during the Olympics it, like many urban places worldwide, needs more tree cover for cooling and extreme weather mitigation. City officials plan to replace 60,000 parking spaces by 2030, establishing 300 hectares of new green space by 2030.

BIKEABILITY TRAINING ASSOCIATED WITH FEWER DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES. New analysis shows Bikeability training is linked to lower deaths and serious injuries (KSIs) on local roads. The research, for the Bikeability Trust by TRL, shows links between Bikeability training at an early age and fewer road incidents.

UNUSUAL USES FOR AN OIL DRUM. In 1994, 30 years ago today, there were plans to demolish a row of terraced houses in Leyton, East London, to build the A12 link road. Except residents had different ideas. Barricading themselves in and forming a DIY supply line tunnel these activists showed remarkable ingenuity and, as one participant described it, a sense of cheek. This anniversary piece documents some of the people, and actions, that sought to push back against the received wisdom of roadbuilding - many of whom are still active today.

OTHER HEADLINES

INQUIRY INTO CYCLING SOCIAL JUSTICE. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Walking and Cycling has launched an inquiry into social justice issues around access and participation in active travel in the UK. Looking at barriers to cycling, walking and wheeling, it will seek to cover infrastructure, policy and social factors around who is included, and excluded from this space. The inquiry’s evidence will help shape recommendations to expand access, and appeal, to all communities.

INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK:

Inequality in Bikeability provision. As part of the research into the impact of Bikeability (cycle training) provision, this map shows a stark geographical inequality, ranging from just 12% of pupils aged 9-21 receiving level 2 training, to 85%. With funding available, some councils can do much more to make cycling safer - through infrastructure and training to support it. Source.

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Placemaking. A holistic approach to how public spaces are planned, designed and managed. A collaborative approach to a street, neighbourhood or urban centre that connects people to each other and those places. The creation of a sense of ‘place’, rather than simply somewhere that leads somewhere else.

Until next time,

Adam

Adam Tranter

Founder, #BikeIsBest