Research is good, but I still think the focus on one feature trying to mitigate a fundamentally broken roads system is misguided because it means nobody has to talk about the bigger picture; and that's a hard subject. Sadly, NFBUK aren't interested. They want cycling for transport banned.

Yesterday I needed to visit the ‘Dutch Style’ roundabout in Sheffield. I went early to avoid the heat. The outbound train was an old one with opening windows. Sitting in a breeze feels far cooler than the usual aircon. The diesel fumes in the tunnels weren’t quite so pleasant though. (more…)

Government have tried to bury some bad news - for Rachel Reeves anyway - today as *their own* cost-benefit assessment of Heathrow expansion plan finds it would LOSE between £21 to £121 billion! A climate catastrophic boondoggle clutched for by a chancellor with no real ideas for ‘delivering growth’

Hi @manbikesdog.bsky.social . This is the cycle path crossing point on Long Hill at Cold Springs proposed by Derbyshire CC. From the right (south) the dimensions are: footway 2.2m, 3.05m traffic lane, 2.1m hatching and 3.17m lane. (more…)

Yesterday I attended the film showing highlights from the November National Emergency Briefing screened by Sustainable Hayfield. A lot on electrification and EVs, but only one diagram mentioning active travel and then only really about it's health impacts.

A bit of weirdness. Trying to book a DFDS ferry to France. If I have a car there is space. If I only have a bicycle it is sold out. I mean, bicycles only get shoved in corners...

High Peak BC have a 'Call for Sites' to inform the preparation of the Local Plan. They 'welcome submissions for sites that could be used for... ...community facilities, or other uses'. Think Active Travel! Deadline 2 July 2026. www.highpeak.gov.uk/article/8373...

I took a ride. The northern end of the High Peak has for years ended in the middle of nowhere. But within the last few years it has been extended to Sterndale Moor running along the edges of fields. It enables walkers and cyclists to avoid the A515 with its fast traffic and a high number of HGVs.

Does any cycling infrastructure geek out there know of any rural toucan crossings over unlit roads?

With the ongoing war leading to fossil fuel price and supply volatility, progressive thought is towards renewables and active travel. If you feel your active travel skills need a top up then the IHE has what you need: www.theihe.org/courses/acti... 5/6 May and 2/3 June. Go for it!!

I was just looking through some photos to find one for a course (IHE Active Travel Plannign and Design - highly recommended naturally) and came across this one from Stretford Road in Hulme (Manchester). I suppose most of the cars are mostly in the layby... Note broken glass as a warning not to park.

Traffic must be bad if it is worth advertising that it takes 24 hours to travel between Derby and Nottingham.

Kicked into action by @owlernook.bsky.social I've done my bit for Greater Manchester by answering a few questions at www.gmconsult.org/transport/tr... The short 'takes 10 minutes' questionnaire took me an hour but you can always just object to the A6-M60 and High Lane bypass if you want to save time

As a distraction from events in Manchester, those who cycle, use trains and live or travel in the North might want to participate in this short survey: surveys.northernrailway.co.uk/jfe/form/SV_... There's a free form question at the end for being creative.

TRAM TRACKS, CYCLISTS & CRASHES: About two-thirds of Sheffield's tram network is on-road, with a lot of cycle crashes as a result. In search of information regarding solutions to this that have been or are being trialled or implemented elsewhere. Grateful for retweets to extend reach.

Copenhagen is changing the green wave - from cars to bikes 🚲🚦 15 major streets will now give cyclists coordinated green lights, reducing stops and improving flow. A small but important shift in who the city is designed for. Read more: www.nordicpath.dk/copenhagen-i...

That's no orange squash for kiddies then.

Could you help us by going on a site visit this year? Sign up to be included in the first mail out. www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/new-towns-ol...

So, following the announcement that the Government want to put decisions about controlling pavement parking on local authorities, I've written to the Chair of Potholes (honestly), Highways & Transport in Derbyshire (Reform) to find out the Council's response. Keep you informed...

⚡2026 is a turning point. UK #climate & environmental activists face both crisis & opportunity. Fascism rises, the #climate agenda is under attack, & political representation is urgent. 🧵A longish thread on why we must unite behind @zackpolanski.bsky.social & the @greenparty.org.uk 💚

A reminder to people discussing the government’s road safety strategy today, bereaved families and seriously injured crash survivors will be listening. The only goal for the numbers of people killed on the road each year is ZERO.

The driver is doing what the sign says, unless my eyesight isn't what it was and the sign actually says 'share with cars'. (Long Hill, Buxton)

Farage wants to bring a US-style insurance based healthcare system to the UK to replace the NHS. If you vote for Reform, this is what you’re voting for.

Working in St Helens on accessibility. Just found this Coop Food shop and local centre which despite having 43 parking spaces (13 occupied in this view) and three disabled spaces (none occupied), does not have a direct pedestrian access. Surely they could survive with 42 spaces?

I've responded to the Government's consultation on the third cycling and walking investment strategy. Its 'vision' is fine but its objectives are thin and targets almost non-existant. It skirts around what actually needs to be done to make safer streets. Read it, respond and tell the Government so.

The New Manchester. Tower blocks, a hoarding promising paradise and a lone tree surviving against all odds.

The New Manchester. Vibrant streets.

The New Manchester. With landscaping.

The New Manchester. Well designed public spaces. I suppose the grass has been mown.

The New Manchester. The landscaping is promised...

Further to the brief chat yesterday with @ianwalker.bsky.social, @owlernook.bsky.social and @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social about new bus routes, new developments and modal split, the figures for Northstowe and (South Cambridgeshire) are bus to work 15% (3%) and cycle to work 7% (5%).

The ”upgrade” to junction 11 on the M5 is going to cost £363mn (fuck knows where the money goes) and is going ahead Reopening the Stonehouse station on the Birmingham / Bristol line would cost around £25mn but trying to get it funded is impossible

Time to make those Christmas puddings.

Inflation data was released by the ONS this morning, in which they said that the Consumer Price Index rose by 3.8% over the last year. The largest contribution apparently was transport. Comments on whether we should focus on cheaper shorter distance travel probably didn't figure.

First newsletter published! simple.ghost.io/what-seems-t... If you like this sort of thing, sign up for more

I'm finding this type of paper railway ticket is much easier to lose the the credit card sized card ones. Hence I'm riding on a single ticket rather than the return part of one I bought earlier.

The Government's proposed New Town programme is to be welcomed provided that they can break away from the current development paradigm. i'd be worried that any railway station was at the edge of the town separated by a large car park rather than being in the centre of a high density core (more...)

There's a really nice new study using phone data from Americans who relocated from one city to another to look at the effect of walkable environments on physical activity. E.g., people move TO New York and walk more, they move FROM New York and walk less www.nature.com/articles/s41...

I need a coffee. As I'm not at home will have to buy one. Why is it that a bog standard black coffee is now called an Americano? Shouldn't we boycott this americanism and just call it coffee? People with perversions like frothy milk can call their version what they like. But coffee should be coffee

I didn’t know rabbits liked trampolines, but then again…..

The Transport Committee has a call for evidence on 'joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration'. Spread the word.

Question (for cyclists probably). Does anybody know where the Liverpool City Region Active Travel Route 11 goes? It's apparently in Runcorn but beyond that I don't know. The route is the first testing ground for a new system of wayfinding which I'd like to look at 'in the wild' so to speak.

I've just responded to the Cheshire East Active Travel Strategy. The plans are remarkably light on detail proposing inappropriate design solutions that certainly won't get funding from Active Travel England. Is this just consultants cut & pasting rubbish they got away with for their last plan?

Cheshire East’s Active Travel Consultation Including a cycling plan for Poynton that finally proposes protected cycle tracks on London Road North. Sadly still no decent link to Middlewood Way. (The inclines are right there!) surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/ActiveTrav...

Hope Valley Active Travel Masterplan survey Plenty of things that should’ve already happened a long time ago. Quite a lot of “signage and wayfinding” where I’m pretty sure it should specify 20mph limits as a minimum intervention. Please do respond! www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news...

As promised, my written evidence is now on the @cityinfinity.bsky.social website blog. It has also been acknowledged by Parliamentary support. I hope you understand why I have unusually disabled replies. cityinfinity.co.uk/2025/06/30/b...

This powerful report really helps refocus on the big picture www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Random data collection question of the day. How far (approximately) did you cycle on your last recreational cycle trip? Also what sort of bike were you riding? Either just answer or DM me off you prefer. Data will be used in an Active Travel training course. Many thanks.

Interoperability xkcd.com/3105/

There's much to gain from promoting international cycle tourism. But the treatment of cyclists (and foot passengers) at ports ranges from poor to appalling. And the access roads are usually crap too. So 👍👍👍👍👍 to the French for starting the Ouistreham - Caen cycle track metres from the port exit.