#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No. 121

Hello and welcome to summer which [whisper it] seems to have finally arrived. For some regions, though, it’s arrived in unwanted quantities.

CLEAN AIR, BIKE LANES FOR ALL, AND WEAR A HELMET IF YOU WANT

The helmet debate has, err, reared its head again. While wearing one will protect your head if you hit it, it’s important to remember there are far bigger risks to all of our safety, on and off the bike, and motor traffic speeds are a big one. One that we are very much at the mercy of on the streets.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

LITTLE WINS. Mark Philpotts, aka Ranty Highwayman, invites us to ‘celebrate the little wins’, this time that mobility scooters are no longer technically prohibited from using cycle tracks. The ‘ridiculous rule’, he says, prevented something you regularly see in the Netherlands: cycle tracks open for mobility aids. No more. It may have changed quietly, but it’s a positive move. 

PURPLE HAZE. Voices who oppose clean air zones or CAZ’s shout louder than people in favour, making decision-makers hesitant, according to new research. Public awareness of why the measures were being proposed needed improving, though, while misinformation and a distrust of politicians hampered acceptance of policies. Thanks to Henk Swarttouw for sharing.   

ALL ALONG THE NEW BIKE LANE. Colchester has a brand new protected bike lane, and local people are happy about it. Despite concerns over ‘carnage’ and putting pedestrians in danger, the council reports positive feedback, and an FOI reveals a more than 300% increase in cyclists compared with 2019. The 212m-long route could revolutionise cycling in the town, local campaigners say, and help kids cycle to school. 

DUTCH HELMET MAGIC? As Gordon Ramsay suffered a nasty collision this week, and said the helmet saved his life (see intro), some researchers are also calling for more Dutch people to wear one, as road deaths there rise. While it’s a contentious debate, and it absolutely should be a personal choice, the researchers point out it is one way to offset collision injuries among older riders and e-bike riders, which collectively are among those growing casualties. There are legitimate worries, however, that increasing the burden on wearing safety equipment could negate the public health benefits of cycling. TLDR: It’s complex.

MESSAGE TO CYCLING. Cycling UK has launched its new strategy, seeking to normalise cycling, improve public perceptions of cycling, improve diversity and transport choice, among other things. With culture wars centring around cycling in recent years public support is key, it says, to active travel’s success in the UK. 

OTHER HEADLINES

CLEAN-UP CYCLIST. One man is cycling around Africa with a message of ‘environmental preservation and peace’. Since April 2022 26-year-old Karim Kabore has travelled to almost every country in Africa to highlight climate change and environmental degradation around the continent. Without substantial funds, he’s relying on goodwill, luck and determination. His message: ‘don’t fear anything otherwise you can’t do it’. 

INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK: 

Wales sees 32% drop in road casualties since 20mph. This is what policymakers need to focus on to cut road deaths - tackling the ‘fatal 5’, of which excess speed is one, and less focus on fringe issues. Source via Phil Jones on LinkedIn.

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Heat Dome. It may be seasonal weather here in the UK but parts of the world are searing, India and Canada included - the former for several weeks. 'Heat domes', where high pressure 'sticks', trapping and concentrating heat inside, have led to terrifying extreme temperatures, which are being exacerbated by climate change.

Until next time,

Adam Tranter