Road safety update, self-sufficient school streets and the end of wheelchair confiscation? #175
The ups, the downs and the "are things improving for active mobility?" question answered...
This week, there are hints at what the forthcoming road safety review will contain; in the decade-plus since its last iteration, road casualties have fallen far too slowly. In London, school streets are quickly washing their own faces, while disabled e-mobility users may be able to breathe a sigh of relief as outdated laws hampering their use could see an overhaul.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
MOST SCHOOL STREETS QUICKLY RECOUP COSTS. Mums for Lungs sent Freedom of Information Requests to all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, revealing within two years 76% of school streets had their costs recouped. ANPR cameras, which read number plates for enforcement purposes, paid for themselves through fines of non-compliant drivers. On top of that, nitrogen dioxide outside schools - the harmful gas in exhaust emissions - dropped by 23% according to the group.
ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY - WHAT’S IN? According to the Times, drivers over 70 could face bans if they fail compulsory eye tests, in the forthcoming road safety strategy. Older drivers disproportionately contribute to collisions, but it’s also important they are given alternatives to driving. Cutting the drink drive limit is another potential change. Road safety campaigners want restrictions on younger drivers - who are even greater contributors to road collisions - notably limiting their carrying young passengers.
BEYOND GOOD WILL AND CYCLE PATHS. New research, by Oxford University, from the UK and Europe interviewed residents of five mid-sized cities, to understand what drives more cycling. The resulting five recommendations include safe, continuous routes, support for new and existing cyclists, from training to bike parking - and of course long-term capacity to deliver. Community engagement ‘early and often’ can reduce resistance and improve cycling uptake, while addressing cultural behavioural barriers can bring new riders on board, researchers conclude.
WHAT THE NEW NATIONAL CYCLING, WALKING, WHEELING NETWORK NEEDS. It may be a little ephemeral at the moment but, as Laura Laker writes for Bloomberg’s CityLab, England's National Cycling Network has a new expansion plan - and the backing of some of the country’s most prominent politicians from across the political spectrum, who are all in agreement. Of course, the usual caveats apply: the proof will be in the delivery. A handful of school streets and town centre improvements doesn’t make a network, of course, but the consensus amongst Mayors is a positive.
REVIEW OF MOBILITY AID LAW PREVENTS WHEELCHAIR CONFISCATION? The government will review laws around mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, according to disabled cycling charity, Wheels for Wellbeing. The charity says the move would be transformative for disabled people reliant on powered mobility, preventing a repeat of things like Israel Vidal’s powered wheelchair confiscated by police for 19 days for being ‘not in class’, and residential and transport e-bike bans impacting mobility aids. Current ‘invalid carriage’ regulations are nearly 40 years old, as you can tell by the totally inappropriate name.
OTHER HEADLINES
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PATH. You normally think of local authorities delivering cycle routes but in Chippenham a group of campaigners has taken matters into their own hands. Cycle Chippenham secured funding and local support for a short path that will form part of a key connection between two schools in the town - and the path officially opened last week. The group hasn’t stopped there, though, and is working on a wider north-south route.
INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK: A graphic showing just some of the mobility aids people might use. Source: https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/wheels-for-wellbeing-guide-to-mobility-aids-2/
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:
Road Safety Strategy. According to the government this will be the biggest shake up to the UK’s driving laws for decades, and the first national plan of its sort for over a decade. Recommendations from Living Streets and the Bikeability Trust on what it should include can be found here
Until next time,
Adam
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.
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