This week, there are some welcome signs of long-term thinking on transport, Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation has been running for a week and a half, and there’s a fundraising drive for kids’ bikes. Oh, and carspreading enters the dictionary.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
TIME TO STOP DEMONISING CYCLISTS. Chris Boardman this week challenged another misinformed journalist on the topic of law-breaking cyclists, this time in the Spectator. Ross Clark wrote a Spectator article criticising Boardman for wanting to prioritise the enforcement of driving, over cycling offences. Boardman says far from letting cyclists off the hook, a balanced approach tackles the greatest harm on our roads for everyone, using limited resources. Boardman also questions why we don’t champion measures like speed cameras, which demonstrably reduce collisions - without requiring huge police resources. Of course, it might have something to do with the same media narrative that demonises cyclists, but which calls anything to make roads safer a “war on motorists”.
TRANSPORT RESILIENCE STRATEGY. Climate change poses a real threat to our infrastructure. It’s a point I made with colleagues when on the Department for Transport’s Capital Review panel. From drought that undermines the stability of railway lines to flooding that engulfs our road and active travel networks and communities, these threats are unfortunately set to escalate. So it is welcome the government has set out a transport resilience strategy. This starts with understanding the transport sector’s current resilience and targeting resources appropriately, ensuring the whole system is involved, and that the government is prepared for increasingly-frequent emergencies.
CAPABILITY RATINGS FOR COUNCILS. Metro mayoral regions will take on greater powers, and retain a share of business rates locally, as part of the Burnham government’s fiscal devolution programme. This only works if funds are spent effectively. For transport, that means appropriately assessing delivery capability and upskilling regional teams accordingly. It’s welcome that this lever, already used in active travel, is being explored, via the Everitt Review. The work starts with drawing up an assessment blueprint for mayoral authorities, both existing and new, on their transport capabilities, with a view to strengthening their ability to deliver.
KILLER DRIVER HANDED LIFETIME BAN. A driver who hit a cyclist, before dragging the man under his car for miles to his death, has been convicted of murder and handed a life sentence and a rare lifetime driving ban. The story of how Simon Richardson treated his victim, Michael Mullins, is one of the most harrowing things you might ever read. His horrifying actions were, apparently, in order to avoid being caught for hitting Mullins with his car. The outcome of those actions is devastation for Michael Mullins’ family, as reported.
INVESTIGATING ACTIVE TRAVEL AROUND MAJOR ROADS. While main roads and motorways enable fast A-B journeys for drivers and freight, they can substantially sever local cycling and walking trips. Repeated efforts by campaigners, and even the Transport Select Committee, have failed to elicit an analysis of that severance impact from National Highways. It seems that active travel infrastructure on the major road network is often poor or non-existent. Journalist Laura Laker is now investigating the issue, and is looking for examples of good and bad connections and routes in and around England’s major road network.
OXFORD STREET - ONE WEEK ON. The pedestrianisation of 1km of Oxford Street, in central London, appears to be a resounding success. Some stores report increased footfall, and the response from Londoners and visitors are largely positive - though some raise concerns over access for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. One issue to still be resolved is how to cycle through the area - given the alternative route is not as direct, and is shared with general traffic. The London Cycling Campaign welcomes the move but is calling for a strategic plan for cycling - to avoid a low-traffic west end inadvertently becoming a low-cycling one.
OTHER HEADLINES
CYCLES FOR CHILDREN APPEAL. Half a million children each year learn cycling skills with Bikeability - training that should set them on the path for a lifetime of cycling. However, for one in four children aged 5-10, that could be the end of the journey rather than the start, because they don’t have access to a cycle at home. Bikeability’s new campaign, Cycles for Children, aims to change that. They are asking for donations to provide those children with a cycle and accessories like helmets, lights and a lock. It’s a great cause, to help nurture the next generation of cyclists.
INTERESTING GRAPH(IC) OF THE WEEK:
THE DIFFERENCE 5KPH MAKES. Often we hear misinformed ‘arguments’ about how little difference a bit of extra speed makes. Australian road safety advisor, Arem Gavin, shared a 20-year-old video which has aged well, showing the difference just 5kph can make in an emergency.
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
Carspreading. According to Collins dictionary, which includes the term in its words of the year, it is “the tendency of car manufacturers to build vehicles that are longer, wider and heavier with every new model.” Huge congratulations to Clean Cities’ campaigning work, which introduced this word and continue to campaign for cities to tackle the problem.
Until next time,
Adam Tranter
CEO, Fusion & Founder, #BikeIsBest
This newsletter is brought to you by Fusion, the agency for movers, specialising in communications and public affairs for active travel and mobility.
