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.

Two alternative views of a city through one window. Tours, France.

Big news - win for TAN transportactionnetwork.org.uk/treasury-cut...

Need to go to Tours with a bike. Tours should be good for tours right? (It is). Booking the bike onto a set of trains guaranteed to connect with the ferry was a faff not helped by the fact there is no one central depository of bikes on trains info. You also have to 'book' a train to see... (more)

I wonder whether Cambridgshire County Council have considered redesigning their logo to reflect the realities of climate breakdown.

Ooh look!!! Sustainable aviation fuel! Is this another pink unicorn hole our honourable Government is getting into? www.gov.uk/government/s...

Ooh look. Sustainable aviation fuel. Is this another pink unicorn hole the honourable Government is getting into? www.gov.uk/government/s...

The M8 and its slip roads is definitely a horrible thing to add to a city but, although I hate to say this, it's probably the most interesting motorway to drive in the UK.

One of our most popular posts on the @transportfornewhomes.org.uk blog. Happy to see this project gain momentum. www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/new-metro-fo...

The BBC reckons that the recent SC ruling on gender brings "clarity". And it does if you have a binary, zero-sum game view of humanity. But not if you understand the complexities of reality. But the insidious thing is the law being used by a well funded minority to push and agenda that may not be ..

Clearing out found a Grauniad from 2007, 'Ten steps to a fascist America'. Let's see what Naomi Wolf felt George Bush needed to do. 1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy. 2. Create a gulag. 3. Develop a thug caste. 4. Set up and internal surveillance system. 5. Harass citizens' groups

Took advantage of yesterday's sunny weather to look at some surfacing on bridleways near Marple. This rut was the worst I found. The path is gravel surfaced, on a gradient and is so narrow that horses always walk in the same place. The rutting is deeper than the drainage put in to stop it happening.

BREAKING🚨 -We've investigated the financial links between MPs and the private health sector, and can now announce which MP received the highest donation amount from individuals+companies with links to the private health sector between 2023-2025. It's Wes Streeting. Our Health Secretary. £179,575🚨

Investigating a junction in Cambridge with @transport-initiatives.com. Here's a congestion problem that councils aspiring to promote walking and cycling can only dream of. I shudder to think of what the congestion would be like if all those people were driving cars...

Sculpture or cycle parking? I think we need to know. (Home, Manchester)

With further banned words coming from the self proclaimed nation of free speech it's probably a good time to look at the map of Press Freedom (2024 edition). Norway is the most free, the UK is at 23rd and the US has fallen from 45th place in 2023 to 55th in 2024. I wonder where it'll be in 2025?

Jon Davis cartoon in the Guardian on "how the UK government is tackling the climate crisis" Or any government, for that matter... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A picture made from multiple partially transparent images. You can see some parked cars don't move very often.

Cycle tracks are red, Or blue, buff or green, It doesn't matter what colour As long as they're seen! ❤️💙💛💚

I am assuming that the 'E' in DOGE is 'eviseration' and the gulf in 'so called' Gulf of America is what's left after that eviseration.

Andrew Gywnne, MP for Gorton and Denton, has been caught saying he wanted a resident who requested cycle lanes in Manchester - as city rife with dangerous driving - to be "mown down" by a driver. What's the chance he'll be quietly welcomed back into the PLP like Rupa Huq? High.

This is a fun display at Manchester Piccadilly (aimed at staff but readable by passengers). It enables you to see where your train really is rather than relying on announcements. Provided, that is, you know its reporting number.

Today is #HMD2025 #HolocaustMemorialDay, this year marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau🕯️ A critical reminder of how division & hatred can spread to persecution & genocide. Every year we need to reinforce our commitment to peace, freedom & equality. hmd.org.uk/what-is-holo...

I drove my partner to the station in this morning's twilight. I'm glad I don't commute by car; the bright headlights are headache inducing. Also you can't see other drivers' indicators. It's a bit like LOOK AT ME I ME w ME a ME n ME t ME t ME o ME t ME u ME r ME n ME r ME i ME g ME h ME t. Obscured.

Ooh look, a bike on a tram. I can't see any problems and no one is complaining. The tram is only at Droylsden though, and further into the centre there might be more of a squeeze.

Trust me, I'm an engineer. I thought this diagram from Tortoise looked interesting. It also reminds me that I'm not paid enough.