Streetspace takeover, #157

The good, the bad and the ‘what-the?’...

Not all streetspace changes are equal. Ours is the task to understand what we can change, find out what works, and try to make more good things happen.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

NEW BIKE LANE FOR BRISTOL. Bristol City Council has approved plans for a new protected bike path and bus lanes to cut motor traffic and help tackle congestion in the city. The bike lane will replace a strip of red paint and a shared pavement path, connecting the main station with an existing cycle path through Castle Park, and another route to the north. The city’s head of transport, Adam Crowther, told the BBC "What we're creating here is a network” for cycling and public transport.

SOMETIMES OPPOSITION IS JUST OPPOSITION. Change is hard. Road.cc has identified those against a path in Midlothian, Scotland, are fighting for the status quo. Locals opposing a bike lane on a busy main road it seems would prefer more traffic lanes. The received wisdom that more lanes will solve congestion has been proven wrong, time and time again. That’s why you need political will to tackle misinformed, if well-intended, opinion.

HOW SUVs WORSEN TRAFFIC. Researchers say large sports utility vehicles have reduced the capacity of freeway lanes in Minnesota, USA, by 9.5% between 1995 and 2019. Not only are the vehicles themselves bigger, but their stopping times are longer, requiring bigger gaps between them and other vehicles. SUV numbers have jumped tenfold in the study period. On British roads, where drivers of larger vehicles will struggle to squeeze past other vehicles, it would be interesting to gather data on the impact of ‘car bloat’ here, too.

PARIS GOES EVEN FURTHER IN CUTTING TRAFFIC. Parisians voted last month to close 500 more city streets to cars, at a rate of five to eight per neighbourhood. The plan, CityLab reports, will also see 10% of the city’s current parking spaces removed, and more street trees planted. While the initiative was approved by 66% of respondents, only 4% of Parisians turned out to vote. What some see as the ‘confiscation’ of city space, others may well feel indifferent to.

DELIVEROO PROFITS, AT WHAT COST? Deliveroo turned its first profit, but one rider has spoken up about the cost to riders. Shaf Hussain’s contention, as a member of the riders’ union IWGB, is workers’ rights and pay have been undermined to make that profit possible. After 12 years of venture capital investment, Deliveroo’s £3m profit pales in comparison to its 2023 £32m loss, while concerns over the cost to riders is widespread. A lack of sick or holiday pay places riders in precarious positions and encourages risk-taking and use of illegal e-motorbikes with a throttle (to avoid pedalling and expending energy).

OTHER HEADLINES

HOW TO CHANGE A STREET. Climate charity Possible wants to help people transform car parking to ‘neighbourhood hubs’. Parklets, tiny parks that replace a parking space, can be many things, from seating to greenery to cycle parking. The logistics involved in getting one started can be mind-boggling though, so Possible has created a step-by-step guide for communities and local authorities to repurpose road space for people, not just cars.

INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK: An image of what streetspace can be used for, aside from storing vehicles. Source: https://www.wearepossible.org/parklets-for-communities

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Smart Kiosks. Have you noticed the proliferation of “smart kiosks” in cities? They too often detract from the streetspace and are usually just fronts to show advertising. However, done properly, real kiosks and parklets can be hugely important assets as meeting points and for bringing communities together.

Until next time,

Adam

Adam Tranter

CEO, Fusion & Founder, #BikeIsBest