Women Changing Cities, #172

And cycling changing cities

This week, we’re celebrating the positive role cycling plays in transforming cities, and the crucial role women play in transforming cities too. From London to Bogota, via some media hysteria fact-checking, we are here for cycling.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

WOMEN CHANGING CITIES. Cities are, very often, run by blokes, designed by blokes, for other blokes. Often overlooked is the role women play in making cities better - and a book, out in October, is setting the record straight. Women Changing Cities, by Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, is about the city leaders, who happen to be women, shifting the dial on transport and equity around the world. In the latest Streets Ahead episode Laura Laker caught up with Melissa to talk about the importance of diversity in urban leadership.

FACT-CHECKING BIKE HYSTERIA. A claim on social media, reported in the press, reminds us of the importance of fact-checking. The Daily Record printed claims that a Scottish scheme providing free bicycles to children in low-income families had cost £700 per bike, based on a Freedom of Information request to the Scottish Government. While the scheme cost £10m for 13,244 bikes, as news outlet, the Ferret, reveals it involved more than just bikes - including things like staffing, cycle training, storage, maintenance and essential accessories.

LTNs CUT TRAFFIC DEATHS. Recent data on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) revealed the measures cut road injuries and deaths by more than a third within their boundaries, without increases on the boundaries. As is often the case with challenges to motor traffic, the claims of calamity are not backed up in reality. Genuine concerns are worth addressing around these schemes, but the evidence for their introduction is becoming harder to argue against on safety grounds, as this Evening Standard piece states.

CYCLING IN LONDON - IN PICTURES. Just a nice uplifting video showing lots of people cycling in London, following the fairly recent news cycles outnumber cars in the City of London in the morning and evening peaks. Venturing north into Hackney too, the piece features vox pops from some of the great and the good of the capital’s cycling profession, including some prominent campaigners. Courtesy of Streetfilms, which has a fantastic back-catalogue of positive pieces from around the world - often American cities, where Streetfilms is based.

OUT OF TOUCH EDITORIAL POLICY? The Telegraph often runs stories bashing cyclists. From the bizarre to the frankly wild, it seems fair game to brand cyclists, to a person, as reckless scofflaws who need bringing down a peg or two. Their readers seem to think a little differently though. In a recent poll, Telegraph readers voted for their top ten favourite cities, top of which Seville, Copenhagen and Venice. All of these, of course, are famed for either their substantial networks of bike lanes and high cycling rates or, in the case of Venice, a notable absence of roads (because, canals). Food for thought.

OTHER HEADLINES

VIDEO CALLING-WHILE-DRIVING MADNESS. Mercedes Benz clearly doesn’t think modern drivers are distracted enough behind the wheel. The motor manufacturer recently announced it will offer Microsoft Teams calling to customers, for use while driving. And yes, that includes a form of video calling. Given talking on a phone makes you a similarly bad driver as one drunk at the wheel - your reaction times are similar during both activities - this latest escalation in driver distraction seems quite insane.

INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK:

Driving simulations showed worse reaction times during handheld or even hands-free phone conversations than while under the influence of alcohol. Source: https://www.trl.co.uk/uploads/trl/documents/TRL547.pdf

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Freedom of Information. A tool used to access information from public bodies, which was made possible by the Freedom of Information Act, introduced by Parliament in the year 2000. It obliges such authorities to respond to FOI requests, within reason.

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.