Potholes, ‘carchitecture’ and Pavement clarity #196

It’s still a post-code lottery

This week, we’ve an idea of the direction of travel for tackling pavement parking in England, and there’s some disappointment that the legislation doesn’t go further. Meanwhile, some slightly confused data on local authorities’ pothole records, more pedestrian space coming down the line, and e-bikes to the rescue - literally. We also look back to the rise of car-centric city design, and some of the well-meaning niceties of that time.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

POTHOLE PANIC? The Department for Transport launched pothole ratings for English local authorities this week, but not all councils agree with their scores. Three London councils contest their poor ‘red’ rating (amber is middling, green is best-performing). While it’s helpful to assess borough progress on fixing the roads, there needs to be a consistent and transparent way of achieving this, and the methodology doesn’t appear to be very robust. As this Road.cc piece points out, potholes can cause severe damage to your health and your bike.

PAVEMENT PARKING CLARITY FAILS TO REASSURE. Last week, it was unclear how the government was going to help local authorities reclaim pavements from the scourge of parked vehicles. Living Streets warned that giving local authorities new powers to tackle the issue locally, rather than issuing a default national ban, would create a postcode lottery. Unfortunately, that is the option chosen by the government, powers for councils to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstructions’. It is not the hoped-for solution, is open to interpretation and will mean a continued battle for pavement access in England. The people of Caterham have had enough, for one.

HOW CARS SHAPED CITIES’ PAST. A new book explores the impact of car-centric design on Britain’s cities, not least in the Midlands where ring roads became a ‘source of pride’. Christopher Beanland’s Architecture for Cars examines some surprising elements of the roadbuilding trend that ravaged cities in the 1960s and 1970s, such as public art and sculpture. It’s perhaps a cautionary tale that while car domination has fundamentally harmed our cities, its intentions and aspirations were well-meaning. Perhaps they should have paused before going all-out on those ideas though.

AND CAR-FREE FUTURES? Proposals for a pedestrianised parade in Leamington Spa received 76% support in a survey of more than 3,000 people recently. The latter won’t happen for the next couple of years, but plans are progressing. Meanwhile, parts of central London are likely to undergo substantial changes in the coming months and years. From designs for a pedestrianised Soho, to a Regent Street masterplan to transform the famous shopping street and other streets in the area for people, to Oxford Street, the capital is being reimagined for the future. Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation consultation closes this Friday.

OTHER HEADLINES

E-BIKE AMBULANCE TO THE RESCUE. Pedal-powered paramedics aren’t new - they’ve operated in London for years now - but there’s a new team on the block. The Acute Ambulance & Medical Service, from Milton Keynes, will use its e-cycle ambulances during a running event - the London Winter Run - next month. Carrying medical equipment around busy events like this is a particular challenge for the service. As AAMS director, Kieren Gibson, put it, the e-bikes let them “reach patients faster, more safely, and more sustainably than ever before.” They might just take on.

INTERESTING GRAPH(IC) OF THE WEEK: A reminder of what’s at stake in the tug-of-war over our pavements, and why action is so crucial. 41% of people would leave home more often if there were no pavement parking. That’s people who would participate in society, community, social lives, fresh air, exercise, enjoyment of life - all sacrificed at present for a driver’s convenience. Data source: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking/outcome/pavement-parking-options-for-change-government-response; graphic produced by Living Streets.

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Carchitecture - the built environment, centred around cars. Originally the title of a book celebrating mirrored car and home design it is in this sense, hopefully, a way of town planning that’s consigned to the past.

Until next time,

Adam Tranter

CEO, Fusion & Founder, #BikeIsBest

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