Class 1 e-bikes, which require pedaling and have electric assist that tops out at 18mph, are very different than throttle-operated class 2 and 3 bikes, which are themselves very different from the bigger, faster electric motorcycles that are proliferating under the “ebike” label.

This guy needs to be put in team with Danny Kruger.

birminghamdispatch.co.uk/manchesters-ec… This article makes me angry but also determined. If Greater Manchester can improve productivity so can West Midlands. And looking forward to the day where the conparison is not London because other areas are equally rich! @richardparkerwm.bsky.social lets go

New post just out A timely guest post from John Kingman - chair of Legal + General and Barclays UK - on what Labour need to do if they're serious about getting the economy moving. More important than ever given the impact of the Trump tariffs. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

Uniqlo is set to open at the shopping centre at long last Excited!

inews.co.uk/inews-lifest... This cd be a really important pilot. A shame it's not being tried.

www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk?utm_campaign... This is a lovely read for #urbanists #brum

Got the @bbcradio6musicbot.bsky.social #timemachine right today!! If only I had time to listen live at lunch time! 😩 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

substack.com/@jamesomalle... Great piece

Donald Trump assumes office with promise to be the very bestest best

Free #cycljng lessons in #Coventry. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The spirit of Chamberlain’s municipal socialism is still here, but it has since moved north from its birthplace in Birmingham. labourlist.org/2025/01/news...

The comments under this week's newsletter, particularly from people who changed their career in their 40s, are extremely lovely. In short: it's not too late. You can still do it iandunt.substack.com/p/happy-new-...

I really value the analysis via Comment is Freed, I only pay to subscribe to a few people on Substack and this is my top pick! It helps me feel more informed and sometimes challenges my existing thinking in a constructive way. Highly recommended, especially with this new year discount ⬇️

Parish notice: am looking for a couple of people (ideally grad students with pol science or history background) to help me out with some research for a project I’m working on. Will pay for the time. DM if interested or send on to someone if you think would fit the bill.

Umm… this is a little unexpected from the Express. A short travel piece on Helsinki that praises the public transport & pedestrian friendly spaces. It highlights how: “Extensive car-free zones have transformed neighbourhoods into havens of clean air and tranquility.”

England win ODI series in South Africa after Tammy Beaumont steadies ship

I see green belts are in the news again. May I recommend this ep of Jam Tomorrow? The LSE's Paul Cheshire: 'More of Surrey is covered by golf courses than is covered by houses or domestic buildings.' podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Very much enjoyed doing the @theifs.bsky.social podcast on public service productivity with the supersmart @benzaranko.bsky.social and Paul Johnson. ifs.org.uk/articles/how...

The craziest thing about this story? It’s all legal Britain’s election laws are awful - as successive governments have been told this for years and done *nothing* And Musk has shown that he is very, very willing to funnel cash to distort democratic politics… www.thetimes.com/article/6c2c...

Why can't the British start making ebikes? Why does it have to be cars? Offer some serious subsidies to the likes of Brompton and Pashley, and to the buyers of ebikes

What urbanist, city planner, architect, urban designer, transportation planner/advocate, housing expert/activist, elected official or city champion in general would you most like to see here on Bluesky, but isn’t here yet? #UrbanistShoutOut

I've written my first editorial piece for The Teesside Lead tonight. For paid subs on Sunday, all to do with the assisted dying bill. theteessidelead.substack.com/subscribe

open.substack.com/pub/worksinp... Magnificent piece on easy architecture - the type we can all get behind. Would give me so much joy if this approach was adopted. #urbanism #yimby

Spotted on the other place many of us are “in transit” from, a great post by @createstreets about how #Leeds, like many other #UK cities, once had a huge #tram network. Now: none. But hopefully soon to return them.

📣 We need your help in a city wide data count of distracted drivers. Please take part in our survey up until Friday 29th Nov, anywhere in Brum to show how big a problem this city has with people using mobile phones whilst they drive. For more details: betterstreetsforbirmingham.org/dialling-dri...

Really important issue. We can get over NIMBYism by giving people who live near renewables cheaper local energy. www.britainremade.co.uk/cheaperlocal...

Great article on an important topic. The post 18 system can drive economic growth as well as continue to make fantastic contribution to life across the UK. UK universities are in crisis – and Labour has taken the first step towards saving them | Philip Augar

Saints aren’t getting relegated because of Russell Martin - it’s just because their players aren’t very good. 🙈 #saintsfc www.theguardian.com/football/blo...

3/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)

New: Northern Rail set to cut its Christmas timetable to improve reliability The operator told mayors that Northern can’t and won’t get to where it needs to be until 2027…more than a decade after the original franchise was hailed as the dawning of a Northern Powerhouse on.ft.com/3B2Wh02

Bluesky now has over 20M people!! 🎉 We've been adding over a million users per day for the last few days. To celebrate, here are 20 fun facts about Bluesky:

Very easy to share news stories here on Bluesky Follow Sean’s @drownedinsound.org simple steps Please repost to share

Ok, I've created a Starter Pack (but of course) of journalists who report on public services and 'social affairs' rather than Westminster - think NHS, education including SEND, housing and homelessness, benefits, disability, care services etc Reply with any suggested additions go.bsky.app/Hp9iayA

This was excellent. Wait till you get to the solutions bit in the last paragraph…

With Bluesky user numbers rocketing, more official news accounts are arriving. Here is a starter pack of major media outlets. Feel free to repost, I’ll keep this updated as more arrive.

The Day Today. Comedy at its best.

Plenty more names added to this in last day or so for anyone interested…

What ministers can learn from Manchester’s unfinished business on.ft.com/4fuikMg

Another good reminder of this today…

Perceptive piece by @eddorrell.bsky.social:

Thanks to everyone who has shared this starterpack and made recommendations on who to add. While there are several great urbanist starter packs out there, the idea behind this one is to include: -researchers -city planners -orgs -activist creators -official activists -etc @me if that's you 🧵

I've made a starter pack of all the UK think tanks I could find on bluesky so far, and staff working at them. If I'm missing any organisation/any one please do comment below so I can add in 😊 go.bsky.app/Geu9Jd8

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... Some lovely ideas here to get 2024 off to a good start. 🙏