Chair Laura Young and Brian Deegan, Director of Inspections at Active Travel England bring the #CyclingScotlandConf to a close, with a Q&A focusing on the unique benefits that cycling can bring to transport planning and the success stories already being seen across Scotland.

📣 Keynote speaker announcement! #CyclingScotlandConf Brian Deegan (@bricycle.bsky.social) is @ategov.bsky.social Director of Inspections and one of the UK’s leading experts in active travel design. 📍 Dundee 📅 10 September 2025 🎟️ Full agenda & tickets: buff.ly/cdQp0px

Quick 24hours in London doing what I like best, riding around in my suit in the sun whilst cracking deals, going for long meandering walks with experts and popping up to do optimistic speeches.

🇦🇹 4 the win.

Just when you thought London couldn't feel any more glorious, up pops this fantastic bit of cycling infrastructure - TULIP WANDS 🌷🚴‍♂️🌷🚴‍♂️! They’re being installed on Sussex Gardens and are an absolute joy to behold and causing all sorts of delight, as we discovered…

I was honoured to hear @robinlovelace.bsky.social inaugural lecture as Professor. The man is a brilliant-idea generating machine. Transport professionals should check out his work on github.

Even though we don't benefit anymore, it's interesting to see what other countries are building and the framing around tackling transport poverty. Bang on IMO . www.ecf.com/en/news/euro...

Am pleased to say that my article on Newcastle’s postwar play streets has been published www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... It draws attention to how traffic engineers framed streets as too dangerous for children’s play but not dangerous enough to warrant infrastructural changes.

Seven-year-old Betty from Manchester wrote a letter to the Prime Minister about more safe spaces for walking, wheeling and cycling 🚶👩‍🦽🚲 @chrisboardman.bsky.social met her to talk about how it will make us all happier, healthier and greener: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUWu... 🌲🌍

I wrote this several years ago but it never got published. I would probably change a lot now, but if you are interested in protected junctions for cycling, you may find it interesting: drive.google.com/file/d/1BRFs...

Friday's thinly veiled analogy: I hate dogs when I am riding, and my daughter is terrified of them, but I don't want them banned because they promote activity and increase people's health and well-being. I accept that society is not about meeting my needs but addressing everyone's needs inclusively.

🚨 Exciting #SustainableTravel #ActiveTravel event in #Shrewsbury! 🚌🚶‍♀️👩‍🦽🚲 The focus of this conference is on towns. Featuring: @peterwalker99.bsky.social @phil-pja.bsky.social @modacitylife.com @juliabuckley.bsky.social @shrewsburybid.bsky.social www.shrewsburymoves.com/festival

HOT RESEARCH NEWS! Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor... Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵

If you have never read this but are in to road safety, it is well worth it. publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/... every idea is a winner.

Being enabled to walk, ride a bike or use public transport to get to work or school is a human right and not a nice to have. I wish we could all start from a position of enshrining this first and foremost then factor in more convenient and damaging options.

Social Inclusion Work in Leicester ! Active Travel England Webinar with Jan Hudson - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vezo... - 30mins ... @activetravelcaf.bsky.social @leicsactivetravel.bsky.social @batbrighton.bsky.social @bricycle.bsky.social @leicestercyclingcg.bsky.social @jonorcutt.bsky.social

More info here www.eta.co.uk/news/informa...

If having no car puts you at a transport disadvantage then cycling is the cheapest fix to stop transport poverty. Bike infrastructure is a social justice solution. Seasons greetings one and all. I love this chart.

@shrewsburybid.bsky.social, on behalf of the Big Town Plan Partnership, is seeking an organiser to deliver a conference on the topic of movement and the future of town centres. Shrewsbury has just adopted a 10-year movement and public space plan. #ActiveTravel shrewsburybid.co.uk/invitation-t...

I am living the pedestrian pound life at the moment by walking to Aldi at least once a day and always getting a bonus item.

Neat video by the Active Travel England team about an newly pedestrianised street in Sheffield youtu.be/WdC5lYW8qgM?...

I am not sure that guardrail goes with implied roundabouts and crossings. I had to sprint out of the way of a bus whose driver was clearly not psychologically persuaded to slow down. Go all in if you are going to go,I reckon, or signal control it.

Three new assistant inspector roles with loads of development opportunities for anyone interested in active travel at Active Travel England, based in York www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...

‘Children see streets differently: Making space for children’s play and mobility’ - pleased to see this new article by @alisonstenning.bsky.social and I out today in the IPPR Progressive Review onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

youtube.com/watch?v=WcTo... my COP26 speach in honour of COP29. I arrogantly try and solve transport decarbonisation. Excuse the glasses.I was trying to channel Jonathan Meades.

Like this?

An interesting question came up today about exit gaps from protected bike lanes. Original Spanish spec was 2.5m max between intermittent protection, but I set that as a min under the motto "Protect don't trap." A long continuous strip can be a real pain to exit from.

Reflecting on my statement at the innovations conference that we need standardisation rather than standards for street design to make sure we get all the accessibility details right. I want to deliver on this promise soon. Geometric alignment is the art, but street components should be pure science.

Heading back to Manchester tomorrow to talk literally all day at the Innovations conference. Really looking forward to it even if I am sick of the sound of my voice. Doing a few interactive sessions on capability action planning.

About to celebrate 50 years cycling, 40 years in construction, and 20 years in active travel. 20 years until retirement, so I reckon I am about to hit my stride. I may have just about finally figured this thing out. Big things are coming in 2025!

A glimpse of life BBSB (before bus stop bypasses) footways pretending to be cycle tracks next to acres of road space. Dink around the back into narrow conflict. BSBs and SBBs were designed to end this common situation and improve accessibility and safety for all.

A thought for the future for when I start my run as EU president. #ishouldprobablykeepmythoughtstomyself

Off for a couple of bike rides in London today. Er.. I mean I have some meetings to attend. Any other modes where the travel is the highlight of your day?

Leeds City Square Xmas edition with escooter and bicycle in harmony

Positive and Technical is a 326 page 70mb document containing some of my favourite active-travel iinfrastructure photo tweets from the past 10 years. Some big moments are chronicled for those who care about that sort of thing. drive.google.com/file/d/14Umz...